USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume III > Part 57
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Harry C. Sorgenfrey was born at Durant, Iowa, December 14, 1884, a son of Christian and Emma (Diehn) Sorgenfrey. Christian Sorgenfrey was born in Northern Germany, but came to the United States when he was fourteen years old, located at Durant, and in the course of time became one of its leading meat dealers, having in the meanwhile learned the trade of a butcher. Later on in life he became a farmer, but he is now deceased. His widow, who was born at Durant, survives.
Reared at Durant by careful parents, Harry C. Sorgenfrey was sent to the public schools, and was early taught the importance of industry and thrift, and these lessons have been of marked value to him in his after life. Following his completion of the courses in the public schools, he took a course at a business college of Davenport, Iowa, where he was thoroughly grounded in the fundamentals of commercial life. His first connection with
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the business world in a practical way was through a clerkship in a general store, which he held for about eighteen months, and then, moved by the same spirit which had sent his father across the ocean, he went to Bartley, Nebraska, where he was a bookkeeper for two years. From there he went to Minden, Nebraska, and for two and one-half years was engaged in a mercantile business, but as yet had not found the work for which he was best fitted. It was not until he entered the First National Bank of Omenee, North Dakota, that he felt satisfied, and he remained with that institution for eighteen months. For the subsequent six years he was cashier of the Sunbury, Iowa, Savings Bank. For a brief period thereafter he was pay- master for the R. & V. Wagon Ordnance Company of East Moline, Illi- nois, and then returned to the banking business as assistant cashier of the Durant, Iowa, Savings Bank, and held that position until he left in 1921 to assume, on November 1, the duties of cashier of the Van Nuys Bank. Mr. Sorgenfrey belongs to the Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce. High in Masonry, he belongs to the different bodies of the Scottish Rite through the thirty-second degree, and he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine.
On February 7, 1912, Mr. Sorgenfrey married Miss Cecilia Siebke, of Durant, Iowa, and they have one son, Robert H. Mrs. Sorgenfrey was born in O'Brien County, Iowa, and was educated in the public schools of Durant, Iowa. She belongs to the Order of Eastern Star and the Van Nuys Woman's Club.
REV. CLARENCE A. KIMMONS, pastor of Saint Elizabeth's Roman Cath- olic Church of Van Nuys, is one of the scholarly men of his church, and under his fostering care the parish is in excellent condition. He was born at Saint Louis, Missouri, June 8, 1885, a son of John and Mary (Monahan) Kimmons, the former born at Vincennes, Indiana, and the latter at East Saint Louis, Illinois. John Kimmons was a railroad conductor for many years, and was so serving at the time of his death in 1905. The mother survives and lives with her son.
Father Kimmons attended the parochial schools of the Holy Name Parish of Saint Louis and the University of Saint Louis, and was gradu- ated from the latter in 1904, after which he entered the University of Niag- ara, Niagara Falls, New York, and took the philosophical and theological courses. He was ordained from Kenrick University, Saint Louis, Decem- ber 17, 1910. His first charge was at Edina, Missouri, and he held it for a year. For the subsequent six months he was at Hollywood, California, from whence he was sent to Bolle Heights, Los Angeles, and then to Santa Catalina, California, where he remained for four years. After two years spent at Corona, California, he came to Van Nuys and December 6, 1920, entered upon his present duties as priest-in-charge of the parish of Saint Elizabeth.
The history of the parish of Saint Elizabeth is an edifying one and shows how the faith of a few gathered together in His Name can work marvels. Some years ago the few Catholic families living in the Van Nuys District were gathered together as a mission, and were ministered to from Burbanks for several years. The earnestness and devoutness of these few good sons and daughters of the church bore fruit in a constant increase in membership, and in 1919 the present parish was established, with Rev. Morris Harnest as the first resident pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. William Power. The present church edifice was built during the pastorate of Rev. Victor Egas in 1920, which continued from September, 1919, to December, 1920, when he, in turn, was succeeded by Father Kimmons. The present parish house was also erected by Reverend Egas. Prior to the erection of the church, services were held in the clubhouse of the Woman's Club. There are now 400 souls in the parish, and both the spiritual and material condition of it is excellent. The different church organizations and societies are flourishing and include the Young Ladies Society, the Queen's Daughters, the Holy Name Society, and the Van Nuys Chapter, Knights of Columbus, which was organized May 17, 1922, and of which
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Father Kimmons is chaplain. This chapter now has eighty-five active members. The parish owns one and a quarter acres of land, and ground was broken in February, 1923, for the erection of a substantial parochial school building. Not only is Father Kimmons an earnest and eloquent ecclesiastic, he is a splendid business man as well, and is able to secure enthusiastic co-operation from the people of his parish. A man of the highest character, he is not only reverenced and beloved by his own people, but he holds the respect and confidence of the citizens of Van Nuys, who recognize the power of his influence in behalf of moral advancement.
ROY CHARLES MASON, D. D. S. Upon the proper care and preserva- tion of the teeth depends not only the health of the individual, but often- times his life as well, and therefore it stands to reason that the calling which has for its object this most essential science is one of the most important of all of those learned professions which have as their members some of the finest men in the country. As a community progresses in its material de- velopment, its people increase their support of professional men, thus opening up new localities and creating opportunities which lead additional representatives of these callings to come in. One of the more recent ar- rivals at Van Nuys, who has already made his ability felt, is Dr. Roy Charles Mason, a most efficient dental surgeon, whose training has been long and thorough.
Doctor Mason was born at Toledo, Iowa, May 14, 1893, a son of intelli- gent parents, who encouraged him in his idea of fitting himself for a pro- fessional life. The lad attended the public schools of his native city through the high-school courses, and subsequently went through what is now Coe College. His professional training was secured in the dental department of the University of Iowa, and he was graduated therefrom in 1918, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. Following his graduation Doctor Mason entered upon the practice of his profession at Gladbrook, Tama County, Iowa, and remained there until he left that locality for Van Nuys, where since May, 1922, he has been in practice, with offices in the Bank of Van Nuys Building. Here he has every appliance and the most modern of equipment known to his calling, and his work is giving entire satisfaction.
On November 17, 1918, Doctor Mason married Miss Violet Mae Clem- ens, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and they have one son, William Charles. A firm believer in the efficacy of professional co-operation, Doctor Mason has allied himself with the Los Angeles County Dental Association, the Southern California Dental Association and the National Dental Associa- tion, and is active in all of these societies. His interests are centered in his home and profession and he has not cared to unite with any fraternities or clubs, preferring to take his relaxation and enjoyment with his family.
O. K. KIRKPATRICK. There must be some reason for the rapid develop- ment and sturdy growth that within a few years have brought Long Beach to its present position of municipal leadership in this part of Southern California apart from its beautiful location and equitable climate, and undoubtedly this reason lies in the fact that the right kind of business firms have been attracted here. Commercial prosperity is almost assured when business firms are active, energetic, broad-visioned and trustworthy. A typical firm of this kind that is well known in several lines of commercial activity, is that of Kirkpatrick & Kirkpatrick, selling agents, fiscal agents and licensed brokers, of which O. K. Kirkpatrick is general manager.
Mr. Kirkpatrick was born at Leon, Iowa, January 27, 1877, a son of W. A. and Hattie (Abernathy) Kirkpatrick. There were two sons and three daughters in their family, both sons, O. K. and J. W. living in Cali- fornia, and the daughters in Iowa and Colorado. The mother died in 1902 at Des Moines, and the father, formerly a merchant, died February 28, 1923, in Long Beach.
O. K. Kirkpatrick obtained his education in the public schools, and his first business venture was in the wholesale and retail tobacco business. In early manhood he was married to Miss Agnes Mae O'Brien, a daughter of
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Thomas and Margaret (Keefe) O'Brien, who were born in Ireland. The mother of Mrs. Kirkpatrick is deceased, but her father survives and lives at Rapid City, South Dakota.
Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick came to Long Beach, California, from Illi- nois, and for a number of years afterward conducted one of the largest grocery stores in the city, during this time winning patronage and personal esteem because of honorable and efficient business methods. In the mean- time their business sagacity led them to investigate and engage in the handling of real estate, and as owners and subdividers of the "Eldeoro" tract and "Mayfloweracres" they have made a notable success. They were fiscal agents for the Omar H. Hubbard eleven story building on the corner of Cedar and West Broadway, and also of the twelve story press building on Broadway near Pine Avenue. Their achievement in the remarkable sale of individually owned buildings has made their position permanent in the business activities of Long Beach. The firm of Kirkpatrick & Kirkpat- rick is made up of O. K. Kirkpatrick, general manager ; A. M. Kirkpatrick, assistant general manager, and J. W. Kirkpatrick, sales manager. The firm's offices are situated at 19 American Avenue, Long Beach. As one of the most progressive brokerage firms in the city, their future movements will be observed with interest especially so as their present plans under contemplation indicate heavy investment and wide expansion along the most modern lines. Mr. Kirkpatrick is a member of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Long Beach Realty Board, the California State Realty Board, and the National Realty Board. In politics he is a republican and fraternally is an Elk and Mason, belonging to the Long Beach Lodge No. 888, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Long Beach Lodge No. 327, Free and Accepted Masons.
RODNEY R. EDWARDS. The tourists who visit Van Nuys and the San Fernando Valley cannot help but be impressed by the high-class workman- ship shown in the business and residential buildings of this region, and particularly those at Van Nuys. But few of them, however, know that this important feature is due to the skill and uprightness of the contractor and builder Rodney R. Edwards, proprietor of the R. R. Edwards Building Company of Van Nuys and Los Angeles, who has erected nearly all of the structures at Van Nuys. He came to this community when the town was organized, and remained with it during its subsequent rapid growth. His company was established by him in 1905 at Los Angeles, and he still maintains a branch office at 6408 Hollywood Boulevard. His main office is 269 Sherman Way, Van Nuys. In his various operations Mr. Ed- wards employs 150 people, and does only first class construction. During the years he has been in the business he has earned the reputation of liv- ing up to the spirit as well as the letter of his contracts, and no man stands any higher in the building business than he.
Rodney R. Edwards was born at St. Louis, Missouri, September 14, 1887, a son of William P. Edwards, a successful contractor of Los An- geles, to which city he came when his son was a child. Growing up at Los Angeles, Rodney R. Edwards attended its public schools, but when he had completed his studies in them decided upon a business rather than a pro- fessional career, influenced in this decision, no doubt, by his father's suc- cess, as well as his own practical tastes. For a time he was associated with his father in the contracting business, in this connection imbibing the ideas of the elder man and adopting his high standards. Later Mr. Edwards took up interior decorating and followed that line for a time, but returned to building operations as being more congenial work. "He has also had con- siderable experience in hardwood and interior finishing, and this knowl- edge, combined with what he knows about interior decoration, has been of great value to him in his present vast undertakings. Having had a practical experience with these classes of work, he knows what is good and how quickly it can be done, and makes his contracts accordingly. Mr. Edwards is a man who does not believe in investing everything he possesses in one single line, so has bought ranches, and now has eight acres of peaches and
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apricots, a fine-bearing walnut ranch, and one devoted to poultry, on which he is caring for 4,000 hens. When he came to Van Nuys he bent his ener- gies to see that the town had every advantage for the promotion of its development, and from its inception has been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a director, and he also belongs to the Kiwanis Club. He is a life-member of the Hollywood Country Club. The Presbyterian Church has in him one of its earnest and generous members and supporters.
Mr. Edwards married Miss Laura M. Brown, who was born in San Bernardino County, but was educated at Los Angeles, where she was resid- ing at the time of her marriage. She not only attended the public schools of Los Angeles, but Woodbury Business College as well. Since coming to Van Nuys she has been one of the leading factors in its Woman's Club. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have one son, Rodney R., Junior, who is still at home.
FRED WEDDINGTON is president of the Bank of Lankershim, a substan- tial and well ordered financial institution of which specific record is given on other pages of this work, and he is one of the vital and public-spirited citizens of the progressive little. City of Lankershim.
Mr. Weddington claims the Hawkeye State as the place of his nativity, his birth having occurred at Storm Lake, Iowa, September 18, 1878. He is a son of Wilson C. Weddington, who had served as a county official in Iowa and who came with his family to California in 1890, his name being most prominently identified with the development and progress of Lan- kershim, as he was the owner of the original townsite and a pioneer in the raising of deciduous fruit in this district, where he still maintains his home.
In the public schools of his native state Fred Weddington gained his rudimentary education, and he was a lad of twelve years at the time of the family removal to California. Here he attended the schools at Lankershim and thereafter took a high-school course in the City of Los Angeles, as well as a course in a leading business college in that city. After leaving school he became identified with ranch enterprise in the Lankershim District of Los Angeles County, and for ten years he was engaged in the general merchan- dise business at Lankershim, as one of the leading merchants of the town. He finally erected a building on Lankershim Boulevard, and in the same established the offices of the Lankershim Land & Development Company, his associates in this company having been John T. Cooper and Ross E. Whitley. This corporation developed a large and important business in the selling of land in the San Fernando Valley and did much to advance civic and industrial development in that favored section. With this impor- tant real-estate enterprise Mr. Weddington continued his active alliance until 1919, when he was elected president of the Bank of Lankershim, of which he had become vice president at the time of its incorporation in 1910. He gives the major part of his time and attention to the affairs of the bank, but is still identified with the real-estate business. He is a member of the Lankershim Realty Board, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and holds membership in the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
October 12, 1914, recorded the marriage of Mr. Weddington and Miss Elizabeth O'Neal, who was at that time a resident of Los Angeles, she having been born in Missouri and having been educated in the City of Chi- cago, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Weddington have a winsome little daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who was born September 6, 1922.
THE BANK OF LANKERSHIM is a financial institution of fine stability and effective executive control, and it has played an important part in ad- vancing the civic, industrial and general business development and progress of the Lankershim District of Los Angeles County. This bank was organ- ized July 23, 1910, with a capital stock of $30,000, and with $25,000 of this capital paid in at the time of incorporation. The original executive corps
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of the bank was as here noted: H. J. Whitley, president; Fred Wedding- ton and J. W. Deupree, vice presidents ; and I. W. Kitchen, cashier. The bank opened business in a substantial brick building that was erected spe- cially for its use and that is owned by the bank corporation. The institu- tion now bases its operations on a capital stock of $50,000, and it has also a savings department, the capital of which is $25,000. In July, 1914, J. D. Marshall became president and H. H. Ferguson, cashier of the bank. In January, 1918, W. F. McCann was made president, Messrs. Weddington and Deupree continuing as vice presidents, and Henry D. Myers being cash- ier. Mr. Weddington became president of the bank in 1919, and has since continued his able administration in this executive office, Mr. Deupree and C. C. Bowerman being vice presidents, and Henry D. Myers continuing as the efficient and popular cashier.
The Bank of Lankershim was merged with the Security Trust & Sav- ings Bank of Los Angeles February 3, 1923, with officers as follows: Fred Weddington, vice president ; C. C. Bowerman, manager, and H. D. Myers, assistant manager, with advisory board as follows: J. W. Deupree, Grey Weddington, Dan Bakman, C. A. Frieburg, William Klump, R. W. Blan- chard, G. A. Huffaker, C. L. Kennedy and Fred Hartsook.
JOHN FIELDING was a pioneer of the Southwest, and in business af- fairs was for many years identified with Arizona. He was a resident of Southern California for a quarter of a century, and lived to be seventy- nine years of age.
He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, November 18, 1844, son of John and Catherine (Mahoney) Fielding. His father was a glass manu- facturer in the East. John Fielding after completing his education in Boston engaged in farming for a few years. He then accompanied his parents to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he resumed agricultural occupations, and made that his work until he was twenty-eight. After that for a time he was in the livery business.
Mr. Fielding came to the great Southwest in 1880, arriving in Arizona before any railroads had been completed through that state. He conducted a general merchandise store, and in 1883 made his first trip to California. He and his wife rode in a buck board and drove a pair of mules, and were fourteen days in reaching Los Angeles from Williams, Arizona. Rains had washed away all the roads and they had to follow the cattle trails. They arrived at Los Angeles January 12, 1884. After looking over the State of California they returned to Arizona, and at the opening of White Hills Mr. John Fielding established two general merchandise stores, and also operated lime kilns and conducted a large cattle ranch. He was the leading business man of that locality for a number of years, and for four- teen years was postmaster at Hackberry, Arizona, under William F. Vilas.
Selling out his Arizona interest he came to California in 1898. At the opening of the Imperial Valley his pioneer spirit led him to participate in the early development of that wonderful country, and from 1908 to 1915 he had important interests as a farmer and rancher there. He finally sold out all his interests about 1920, and he then lived quietly retired at his home at 303 South Serrano Street until his death on February 21, 1923.
Mr. Fielding was a man of great heart and one who ever lent a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. His friends were legion, and he gained the affection of all those with whom he came in contact. A man of sterling, upright character, he was sincerely mourned by all who knew him. His friends were numbered among the Indians as well as among whites, and he had one Haulapai Indian who was his servitor for fourteen years.
Mr. Fielding was a member of the Catholic Church and St. Vincent's de Paul charitable organization. He is survived by Mrs. Fielding. Her maiden name was Margaret Carroll, of Leavenworth, Kansas, and they were married at St. Joseph, Missouri, December 27, 1876. Mrs. Fielding is a member of the Queen's Daughters.
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HENRY W. GRISWOLD was one of the early merchants and postmasters of San Fernando, and was one of the honored and influential citizens of this place at the time of his death, December 18, 1887.
Mr. Griswold was born in the State of New York, on the 12th of September, 1854, and there he was reared and educated. As a youth he became an employe in the offices of the New York Central Railroad in the City of Buffalo, and in 1876 he came to California and entered the service of the Southern Pacific Railway Company. He had headquarters in Los Angeles until 1877, when he came to San Fernando, a new town to which the Southern Pacific was giving the initial railroad facilities. He here continued for some time in the employ of the railroad company, and he then engaged in the general merchandise business here, besides which he served as postmaster and as local agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Com- pany. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and both he and his wife became prominent and in- fluential members of the first Methodist Episcopal Church established here, he having been financial secretary of the church at the time the church edifice was erected, besides which he was a trustee of the Maclay College of Theology, a school founded and endowed by his father-in-law, the late Hon. Charles Maclay, which is now affiliated with the University of Southern California.
In San Fernando June 4, 1879, Mr. Griswold was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Maclay, who was a member of an honored and influential pioneer family of the State of California. Sylvia, the only child of this union, died at the age of three months. Mrs. Griswold pre- sides with gracious dignity in her home at San Fernando: She is a person of high ideals and refinement. She is a native daughter, born at Santa Clara, California, and her educational advantages included those of both the public schools of Santa Clara and the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. To her father, the late Hon. Charles Maclay, a memorial tribute is entered in the sketch following, so that further review of the family history is not here demanded.
Mrs. Griswold is a prominent and popular figure in the leading and cultural affairs of her home community. She is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and has been specially zealous in its cause, this church having been founded by her father. She was the first organist. She has been a trustee and a member of the Official Board of said church many years. She has been a generous contributor to the spiritual, financial and general prosperity of this church, as well as to other churches of the town. She is a charter member of the Ebell Club of San Fernando, and has been an active member since its organization. She is also a member of the Ebell Club of Los Angeles, California, and a life member of Ebell Rest Cottage of Los Angeles, also of the Red Cross Society. She is affiliated with the Gamma Upsilon College sorority, and is interested in many charitable organizations.
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