History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 56

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 56

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).

Clinton Gordon Parkhurst was born at Los Angeles, California, Novem- ber 3, 1892, and is a son of Clinton E. and Martha (Gordon) Parkhurst. The father of Mr. Parkhurst belongs to an old New England family and was born in Massachusetts. He came to Los Angeles County, California, in 1882, and went into the sash and door manufacturing business.

Mr. Parkhurst had only public school advantages but developed busi- ness instinct very early, in fact is credited with beginning his career as a newsboy when only six years old, when he sold the first newspapers offered on the streets of Ocean Park and Venice. Later on he was interested for a time in the advertising business in connection with the sprightly journal known as Leslie's Weekly, but since 1909 has devoted his energies more or less to the real estate business, his present offices being located on the corner of Zepher and Trolleyway streets. As tangible proof of his respon- sibility, he has valuable properties in the Santa Monica Bay District, which he is substantially developing, and as a realtor, has in his hands some of the best business and income bringing properties in this section of Los Angeles County. He has undertaken and carried through large trans- actions. his careful study of every phase, his understanding of real estate law, and his personal business integrity all contributing to making the results satisfactory to all concerned. Mr. Parkhurst is a member of the Realty Board, and is a director in the Ocean Park Bank.

Mr. Parkhurst married, March 20, 1921, Miss Ethel M. Arbogast, who was born at Springfield, Ohio, but was educated at Los Angeles, California, to which city her father, W. A. Arbogast, came when she was young. Mr. and Mrs. Parkhurst have one son, Clinton William, who was born May 3, 1922. Mr. Parkhurst has never been unduly active in politics but never- theless is a watchful citizen in relation to the welfare of his city, and is a valued member of the Venice Chamber of Commerce.

Pourpale

34 1

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

CAPTAIN MICHAEL S. MURRAY is discharging with characteristic efficiency and loyal stewardship his official duties as quartermaster of the National Soldiers Home (Pacific Branch) at Sawtelle, Los Angeles County, and the institution can claim no more popular official.

Captain Murray was born in Peel County, Province of Ontario, Canada, on the 13th of September, 1861, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (Broderick) Murray, the former of whom was born in County Clare, Ireland, and the latter in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Patrick Murray was reared and educated in his native land and was a young man when he came to America and established his residence in Canada, where his marriage occurred and where he continued to be identified with agricultural industry until 1861, when he came with his family to the United States and engaged in farm enterprise near Geneva, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life, his widow being now a resident of the City of Cleveland, that state, and being venerable in years. She is a devout communicant of the Catholic Church, as was also her husband. Of the children the eldest surviving is Anna, who is the widow of James Faulkner and who resides in Cleveland, Ohio ; Captain Murray of this review was the next in order of birth; Martin resides at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin ; John, Cornelius and William are resi- dents of Cleveland, Ohio; Minnie is the wife of Charles Smith of that city ; Miss Catherine likewise resides in Cleveland, as do also May, who is the widow of Thomas Fleming ; and Arthur, who is the youngest of the children.

Captain Michael S. Murray is indebted to the Catholic parochial schools of Cleveland, Ohio, for his early education, which was advanced by his attending St. Mary's College in the City of San Francisco, California, in which he was a member of the class of 1882. After leaving this institution he enlisted as a private in Troop A of the Fifth United States Cavalry, with which he won promotion, in turn, the positions of quartermaster sergeant and superintendent of the commissary department. In 1898 he was pro- moted to the office of first lieutenant of engineers, and in this capacity he was in active service in the Spanish-American war, in which he became a member of the Army of Occupation in Cuba. In 1901 he was commissioned captain in the quartermaster's department of the United States Army and was assigned to duty at Washington, D. C. Later he was in service in Fort Grant, Arizona, and Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was placed on the retired list, by reason of physical disability. He then went to Roswell, New Mexico, where he organized and commanded a battery of light artillery, and in 1913 he became commissary officer at the National Soldiers Home at Sawtelle, California. In the following year he was appointed quartermaster, and of this responsible office he has since continued the efficient and valued incumbent. While at Fort Riley the captain became the organizer of the United States Army School for cooks and bakers, and his record during his long and active service in connection with the nation's military affairs has been one that shall ever reflect credit and honor upon his name. He and his wife are zealous communicants of the Catholic Church and he is actively affiliated with the Knights of Columbus.

In November, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Captain Murray to Miss Mary Quinn, who was born and reared in Ireland and who came to the United States about two years prior to her marriage, her father, John Quinn, having brought the family to this country and having established a home at Fort Supply, Indian Territory. Of the children of Captain and Mrs. Murray the eldest is Miss Josephine, who remains at the parental home; Irene is the wife of James L. O'Brien, of Hollywood, California, and they have two children, Jean and Murray J. ; William S. was graduated in the United States Military Academy, at West Point, as a member of the class of 1920, and as a first lieutenant in the United States Army he is (1922) stationed at Nogales, Arizona.

ALFORD ELIHU W. YALE, M. D. To Los Angeles County Doctor . Yale came after a successful experience as a physician and surgeon in Mich-

342

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

igan, and shortly after his honorable discharge from duty as an officer of the Army Medical Corps both in home camps and overseas.

Doctor Yale, who is a busy physician at Burbank, was born at Salis- bury, Vermont, March 20, 1879, son of William and Julia (Brown) Yale. He was reared in his native town, and attended public schools there and the South Lancaster Academy in Massachusetts. Doctor Yale graduated in medicine from the University of Michigan in 1904, and for one year was interne in St. Mary's Hospital, Saginaw, in that state. He practiced three years at Bay Port, Michigan, and was then established at Pigeon in the same state until 1917.

Soon after America entered the war against the Central powers Doctor Yale was commissioned a captain in the Medical Reserve Corps, and on being called to active duty was stationed for one year at Camp Custer. He then went overseas and for a year was in command of Ambulance Companies 340 and 339. He received his honorable discharge July 28, 1919, and soon afterward came to California. He has been located at Bur- bank since October, 1919, and carries on a general practice in both medicine and surgery. He is a past president of the Huron County Medical Society, Michigan, a member of the San Fernando Valley Branch and councillor of the Los Angeles County Medical Society, and is also a member of the State and American Medical Associations and the Association of Military Surgeons. Doctor Yale is a Knight Templar and Thirty-second Scottish Rite Mason, and while at Pigeon, Michigan, he served as master, high priest and past patron of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, the Sunset Canyon Country Club and is a post commander of American Legion Post No. 150 at Burbank. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Episcopal Church.

December 6, 1905, Dr. Yale married Miss Margaret N. Dickinson, a daughter of William and Margaret Dickinson of Lander, Wyoming. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, was educated in the public schools at Lander, Wyoming, graduated in law at the University of Michigan, 1904, and is a member of the Woman's Lawyers Club, of the Woman's Club and is a past matron of the Eastern Star. Doctor and Mrs. Yale have one son, William D. . A

COLLAMER A. BRIDGE, one of the representative younger members of the bar of Los Angeles County, is established in successful practice at Los Angeles and Hermosa Beach. He was born at Arlington, Riverside County, California, January 21, 1891, and is a son of Byron A. and Netta E. (Buckles) Bridge, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the latter in Illinois. In 1888 Byron A. Bridge came to California and engaged in ranch enterprise near Laverne, Marin County, whence he later removed to Redlands, San Bernardino County, his productive activities having also been carried forward for some time in Riverside County. He is now living virtually retired at Whittier, Los Angeles County, where he and his wife have an attractive home. The subject of this review is the elder of their two children and the younger is Lora E., who is the wife of H. S. Donovan, of Lebec, Kern County, this state.

The public schools of Redlands and Long Beach afforded Collamer A. Bridge his preliminary education, and in 1913 he graduated from the law department of the University of Southern California. His reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws was virtually coincident with his admission to the bar of his native state. He has since been engaged in the practice of law in the City of Los Angeles, besides which he maintains an office at Hermosa Beach, which attractive little city is his place of residence and which he is serving as city recorder. He has served also as justice of the .peace in Redondo Township, this county. Mr. Bridge is vice president of the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce at the time of this writing, in the autumn of 1922, is a republican in his political allegiance, and is affiliated

343

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

with the Knights of the Maccabees, in which he is a past chancellor com- mander, and with the Fraternal Brotherhood. His wife is a member of the Woman's Club and the Parent-Teacher Club of Hermosa Beach.

April 8, 1914, recorded the marriage of Mr. Bridge and Miss Estelle W. McGill, who was born in Korea, where her father was serving at the time as a medical missionary, she being a daughter of Dr. William B. and Elizabeth (Johnson) McGill, who now maintain their home at Redlands, California. Mr. and Mrs. Bridge have two children: Richard William, born August 21, 1918, and Robert Chester, born December 20, 1921.

ST. CATHERINE'S HOSPITAL, of Ocean Park, is an institution ranking with the best of its kind in Los Angeles County in point of material equip- ment and facilities, but with special distinction due to the work and service performed by its owners, three sisters of the Lowery family who are trained and graduate nurses and have been in charge for the past twelve years.

It was formerly known as the Santa Monica Bay Hospital, established about 1904 as a stock company by some of the physicians of the Bay District. In 1911 it became St. Catherine's Hospital, its new owners being Catherine T. Lowery, Helen M. Lowery and Mrs. Anna C. Taugher, three sisters who formed a co-partnership. The new name and new ownership constituted it a Catholic institution in this part of California. Its owners are Catholics, but the hospital is not conducted by a religious order. The hospital is self supporting, and has never received a contribution beyond what its service has earned. The personal qualifications of the owners and their hard work have made it one of the most successful private hospitals in Southern California.

St. Catherine's is located at the northwest corner of Fourth and Pacific, Ocean Park. The main hospital building contains nineteen private rooms, two wards of five beds each, sun parlor, operating room, X-ray room, kitchen and dining room, office and reception room and all the facilities found in a modern and thoroughly equipped hospital institution. The grounds comprise 300 by 300 feet. The hospital annex contains ten large rooms, with a capacity of forty patients, and the top floor is a large Solarium. In the rear of the annex is the nurses home. The buildings are heated by steam. All the legitimate physicians of the Bay District utilize the hospital.

The owners, Miss Catherine T. Lowery, Mrs. Helen M. Lowery Valiant and Mrs. Anna C. Lowery Taugher, were born in Chicago. They were educated by the sisters of charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and finished by graduating as nurses from St. Joseph's Hospital, Chicago. They engaged in the work of that profession, and in 1911 came to Ocean Park and took over the hospital.

Their parents were Edward and Catherine (Graham) Lowery, the former a native of Syracuse, New York, and the latter of St. Catherine's, Canada. The name of the hospital in Southern California was given in honor of the mother of the owners. Mrs. Catherine Lowery died in Chicago, December 11, 1911, and her husband passed away April 17, 1922. Mr. Lowery was for forty years an employe of the J. V. Farwell whole- sale dry goods house in Chicago. There were ten children, four of whom took up the profession of nursing. Helen M. is the wife of Charles Valiant, retired resident of Santa Monica, and they have one daughter, Catherine. attending St. Clement's Academy at Ocean Park. The daughter Anna C. married Michael Taugher, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, who is now in the real estate business at Santa Monica. Their son, Michael Clement, is a student in St. Clement's Academy.

WILLIAM FREDERICK IJAMS is associated with his older and only brother, Isaac E., in successful ranch enterprise and fruit-growing in the Lankershim District of Los Angeles County, and is one of the progressive native sons of California.

344

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Mr. Ijams was born near Julian, San Diego County, California, on the 11th of May, 1878, and is a son of Isaac C. and Edith C. (Shaw) Ijams, the former of whom was born in Logan County, Ohio, in September, 1840, and the latter was born in the State of Louisiana, their marriage having been solemnized in California.

Isaac C. Ijams was reared and educated in the old Buckeye State, and was twenty years of age when, in the early '60s, he drove across the plains to California with wagon and mule team. After remaining for a time in Los Angeles he engaged in prospecting and placer mining in San Diego County, where he likewise became identified with ranch industry, his mar- riage having been solemnized at Julian, that county. Later he engaged in the dairy business in Santa Barbara County, whence he came to Los Angeles County and engaged in farm enterprise near Calabasas, where he became a citizen of prominence and influence and where he held for sixteen years the office of justice of the peace. Finally he disposed of his property in that locality and purchased the present homestead ranch of 108 acres near Toluca, and not far distant from Lankershim, which is the postoffice address. On this ranch he is now living virtually retired, his two sons hav- ing the active management of the place, where they have a partnership alliance in the conducting of agricultural and fruit-growing operations, the property being well improved and under a fine state of productiveness. Isaac C. Ijams is a stanch advocate of the principles of the republican party, and since moving to his present home he has served as justice of the peace and as school trustee, both he and his wife being earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the four children the first born, Nettice C., is deceased ; Isaac E., as already noted, is associated in the control and management of the home ranch; Katie M. is the widow of John Haas and resides at Owensmouth, Los Angeles County; and William F., of this sketch, is the youngest of the number.

William F. Ijams is indebted to the public schools of Calabasas and Lankershim for his early educational discipline, and since leaving school he has found ample opportunity for constructive enterprise in connection with the operations of the ranch estate of the family. He is a thorough-going republican, but has manifested no ambition for political office.

August 18, 1909, recorded the marriage of William F. Ijams and Miss Margaret Fiedler, who was born at Mount Tamalpais, Marin County, California, on the 14th of July, 1889, and who received the advantages of the public schools of the City of Los Angeles, where her parents, Alfred and Carrie (Covey) Fiedler, now maintain their home. The names and respective birth dates of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Ijams are here recorded : William E., August 9, 1910; Helen M., August 10, 1911 ; Edith - C., October 25, 1916; and Robert Allen, March 7, 1920.

JOHN L. PRICE. Just as no man can live to himself alone, so does no line of business influence simply one branch of trade. Like a stone thrown into a body of water do the ripples extend further than the eye can follow into the sea of business. Therefore when certain inventors perfected the horseless vehicle they not only provided employment for the skill and ability of those to be engaged in their manufacture, but expanded old lines of business in a magical manner and created numerous new ones. Perhaps no one line of industry has been so potent a force in the building up of com- munities in every possible way as that connected with automobiles. This is. particularly true in a region like Los Angeles County where not only are there so many automobile owners, for this is a very wealthy section of the country, but where there is a constant stream of tourists at all seasons of the year, whose needs in the way of auto supplies and accessories, as well as repairs, are unending. Small wonder then that some of the most astute and alert of the business men should turn their attention to the auto busi- ness, and one of them who is achieving an enviable reputation on account of the quality of his work and the reliable character of the goods he handles

()

Del. Mathews

345

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

is John L. Price of 262 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, agent for the Hudson and Essex cars, with a large and well-equipped repair department.

John L. Price was born in Jackson County, Michigan, July 19, 1884, a son of Edward O. Price, who, coming to California, became a rancher in the Van Nuys District, but is now living retired at Van Nuys. His boyhood passed in a normal and healthy manner in his native county, where he attended the public schools through the grammar grades, John L. Price accompanied his father to California in 1912, and for a time was in the restaurant business at Van Nuys. Subsequently he began growing fruit, and in March, 1921, seeing the great future of the auto industry in this locality, he opened his present business, and has succeeded beyond his expectations. In his large garage he conducts a service and repair depart- ment second to none in the county, and has a floor space of 7,500 square feet. Eleven men are employed by him in the conduct of this business. A strong believer in the obligations of civic responsibility, he works through the medium of the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club and the Mer- chants and Manufacturers Association, and is an active force in all of these bodies. His only fraternity is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On January 20, 1904, Mr. Price married Miss Grace Hawby, of Jack- son, Michigan, and they have one son, Elvin. Mrs. Price was born in Springport Township, Jackson County, Michigan, and she was educated in her native county. Mr. Price has succeeded in his undertakings since he came to California, probably assisted by the advantageous conditions of this great commonwealth, but he is the kind of a man to whom real failure is impossible, and he would have become prosperous no matter where he saw fit to settle. He has the trenchant personality, the tenacity and thorough- ness of purpose which underlies all progress and advancement of both the individual and community, and not only pushes ahead himself, but influ- ences others to do likewise.

JAMES S. MATTHEWS. A representative of large realty interests at Hermosa Beach, James S. Matthews has been a prominent factor in the business activities of this community since his arrival in 1919. He is like- wise well known in civic affairs, and is prominent fraternally as president of the Masonic Club.

Mr. Matthews was born December 29, 1875, at Birmingham, England, and is a son of John and Ann (Smart) Matthews, both now deceased. His father brought the family to the United States in 1879, locating at Cen- tralia, Illinois, where he was a superintendent of coal mines. James S. Matthews was educated in the public schools of Centralia, and was reared to habits of industry, so that when he was only sixteen years of age he secured a position as stock boy with the Famous Shoe and Clothing Com- pany of St. Louis, Missouri. After remaining with this concern for five years he went to Atchison, Kansas, where he embarked in business on his own account as a shoe merchant, but disposed of his interests there three years later and became a traveling salesman for the Johnson-Baillie Shoe Corporation of Millersburg, Pennsylvania. He is now a large stockholder in that corporation. Mr. Matthews came to Los Angeles in 1916, and in June, 1919, located at Hermosa Beach, where he has large real estate holdings of various kinds. He has transacted several large deals since taking up his residence here, and has interested himself generally in busi- ness activities. Mr. Matthews is widely known in the shoe trade, having visited nearly every part of the country as a salesman. He holds member- ship in the Utica Travelers Association of Utica, New York ; the S. C. M. A. of Chicago; the National Shoe Travelers of Boston; and the same organ- ization of Los Angeles. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a charter member of this lodge, which was organized in 1900, and Mr. Matthews holds membership Number 16 in the lodge, of Atchison, Kansas. He is also a York Rite Mason and a Shriner. Mr. Matthews was recently elected president of the Hermosa

346

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Beach Masonic Club. He is a member and a director of the Turf and Sand Club of Hermosa Beach, which is now building a $350,000 club house, 215x85 feet, with garages in rear. The membership is limited to 1,500. He is a member of the Malibou Lake Club, a hunting and fishing club. In 1922 the First National Bank of Hermosa was organized, and Mr. Matthews is a member of its directorate. In 1921 he erected one of the first Class A buildings in Hermosa Beach, a two-story building business block. In 1922 he built a new building, Class A, eighty-feet frontage, with four stores. He has been a member and director of the Chamber of Com- merce ever since its reorganization in 1921, and through his efforts the El Camino Road has been paved for a mile from the beach. The road runs through Hermosa Beach. He organized the petition therefor and got it signed. As a substantial and practical business man he is interested in all constructive movements that contribute to the advancement of the com- munity of his adoption.

On September 21, 1898, Mr. Matthews was united in marriage with Miss Minnie L. Millar, daughter of Richard and Frances (Foreman) Mil- lar, of Lincoln, Nebraska. Mrs. Matthews was born at Lincoln and edu- cated in the public schools of that city and at the University of Nebraska. She is popular in social circles of Hermosa Beach and an active member of the Woman's Club. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mat- thews: Arden Richard and Frances Louise. Arden R. Matthews on graduating from high school, when only seventeen years of age, enlisted in the 153rd Engineers as a private, and after undergoing intensive train- ing in this country went overseas with his contingent and participated in three major engagements, as well as numerous minor affairs. In the action at Verdun he was wounded and spent five months in an army hospital and on his recovery rejoined his regiment and accompanied them with the Third Army of Occupation into Germany, where they spent one year on the Rhine. They then returned to this country and Mr. Matthews was discharged at Fort Russell in July, 1920, with the rank of corporal. He is a member of the American Legion and of the Masonic fraternity, and is associated with his father in various of his business ventures.

HARRY C. SORGENFREY. Experience has taught that the men whose life work is of the greatest value are those who have gone straight ahead, shirking no responsibilities, faithfully performing each day's duties, and at the same time preparing themselves so as to be able, when the oppor- tunity offered, to take a position a little higher up on the ladder of life. Such men do not look for an easy road to fame and fortune ; they patiently travel the difficult one of general progress, knowing that at its end they will find the rewards of good work, conscientiously performed. These steady workers are, after all, the backbone of the nation, the ones to whom the public can confidently look for sound principles and dependable action. The Bank of Van Nuys is fortunate in having as its cashier Harry C. Sorgenfrey, a man who decidedly belongs to this class of responsible citizens, and his record with this bank, as elsewhere, is one which is credi- table to him and to the concerns employing his services.

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 56

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