History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 126

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1700

USA > California > Orange County > History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 126

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it is fair to assume, ought to prove a valuable asset in enabling Mr. Dierker, from time to time, to be of greatest service, in various ways, to the communities with which he now has most frequent relations, and which are continually facing the multiform problems of development and building for the future.

After another four years of successful work in the city of Los Angeles, Mr. Dierker severed his connection there and bought ten acres of ten-year-old Valencia orange trees in the Commonwealth school district in Orange County, not far from Anaheim, effecting the sale in 1919, and there he has built for himself a comfortable, attractive home, made and is still making many improvements, and is farming in the most scientific manner. He owns, besides, a one-half interest in sixty-two and a half acres near Richfield, which have been leased at a handsome figure for oil purposes, and he also has a one-half interest in sixty acres southwest of Anaheim, now being developed with fine prospects to oranges.

At Kokomo, Howard County, Ind.,-the home-town of Elwood Haynes, the inventor, who in the early nineties designed and constructed there the oldest American automobile in existence, now one of the scientific treasures of the Smithsonian Institu- tion at Washington,-on September 25, 1907, Mr. Dierker was married to Miss Flora May Kirk, a native of that city and an accomplished lady, who has always found happiness in sociological and uplift work of all kinds, and who has become prominent in Christian Church circles. Mr. Dierker also has long been a leader in that well- organized communion; and having been' superintendent of the Wilshire Boulevard Christian Church Sunday School, in Los Angeles, and active in the programs of the church, he has already participated to the fullest degree possible in Christian Church work at Fullerton, doing what he can to make this desirable section of the Golden State still more attractive as a place in which not merely to labor, but to live.

MRS. CATHERINE J. DANERI .- Interesting and often inspiring, especially to youth and the mind that is ambitions of attaining all that the New West offers to those who will work and hope, is the story of Mrs. Catherine J. Daneri, one of the truly dis- tinguished pioneers of Orange County, and those associated, in one way or another, intimately with her life. She was born in Glengarry County, Canada West, now known as the Province of Ontario, the daughter of John Calnan, a well educated and well-to-do Catholic of the city of Cork, Ireland. He came out to Canada and there married Miss Annie Mclellan, a native of Canada West and the child of Scotch Presbyterians. About the time of the breaking out of the Civil War Mrs. Calnan crossed the border into the United States and moved to Willoughby, twenty miles east of Cleveland, Ohio; at this time Mr. Calnan was in the South and joining the forces of the Confederates in the Civil War, he fought under General Stonewall Jackson. He was taken prisoner by the Federals at the second battle of Bull Run and while on parole at Camp Chase, Little Miami, Ohio, during a cyclone was struck by a falling tree limb, lopped off by lightning, and instantly killed and lies buried in the local cemetery. These worthy parents had five children-three sisters and two brothers, all of whom are deceased except the subject, who was next to the youngest in the order of birth, and who was born on May 19, 1849.

Catherine attended the puhlic schools of her district, and came to California with her mother and two brothers, taking the steamer from Cleveland to Chicago, and the railroad from Chicago to Omaha, and a prairie schooner from Omaha to Lone Pine, Inyo County, Cal., where they arrived in February, 1870. They lived through the earthquake at Lone Pine, in 1872, losing everything they had, hut escaping with their lives; notwithstanding that twenty-one victims were buried in one grave.

A general merchandise store at Lone Pine was conducted by Messrs. Daneri and Stewart, and Miss Calnan there became acquainted with one of the partners, Henry B. Stewart, and there also, on August 3, 1870, married him. He was a native of Painted Post, N. Y., and came to California with his brother, driving a large mule team across the plains, and then freighting to the various mining camps, settling for a while at Marysville. From there, he came to Lone Pine and effected the partnership which was dissolved in 1873, after the earthquake, when Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and their two chil- dren moved north to Washington Territory. There, in Whatcom County, Mr. Stewart began to farm; but he was taken sick, met with reverses, lost everything and died there in 1879, leaving three children-Annie, Henry Alexander and Estella.

Mrs. Stewart married a second time, at San Francisco, in October, 1879, choosing for her husband John B. Daneri, at one time Mr. Stewart's partner. He was one of several hrothers who were pioneer merchants at San Francisco and four other places. selling both at retail and wholesale, before Jolin B. Daneri came to Lone Pine, so that he was a man of practical, valuable experience. He was born in Chiavari, near Genoa, Italy, on March 6, 1831, and after having lived for a while at Buenos Ayres, sailed

John OB Banesi

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

around the Horn, and reached San Francisco on Washington's Birthday, 1849-a gennine Argonaut.

Mr. Denari was, in fact, a merchant all his life until he went to the historic old Mission town of San Juan Capistrano in 1877 and there became a farmer, taking up the special line of the orchardist. He planted walnuts, and brought his ranch up to a high state of cultivation, and accumulated and lost several fortunes. He died, in 1907, while on a visit to his oldest danghter, Mrs. J. N. Grohe, at Sheridan, Ore., at the age of seventy-six years and was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in that place. He left four children: Angela, who owns the beautiful residence at 626 South Sycamore Street, where Mrs. Denari now lives in Santa Ana; John B., the rancher and justice of the peace, and Luigi M. and Achille F., who run Mrs. Denari's farm at San Juan Capistrano.

Mr. Denari also held the office of justice of the peace for many terms until he resigned, some years before his death, for he was not only able to speak six languages, but could read and write them as well, and was a well-read man. During much of their residence at San Juan Capistrano, Mrs. Denari attended to matters of business, and for abont twenty years she managed the farm she has now given to her children, retaining only a life interest, or lease. She is a strong and well-preserved woman-a Christian making no profession of special church association; and for years she has found her greatest pleasure in laboring for the common welfare of those about her.

WALLACE EDWIN OSWALD .- One of Fullerton's most energetic young busi- ness men, possessed of the qualities that bring success in life, coupled with the ability to rightly apply them, is Wallace Edwin Oswald; and since his advent to Fullerton not only has the city been favored with an automotive battery and electrical establish- ment worthy of such a progressive, hustling municipality, but the surrounding country as well, which looks to the Oswald establishment for the last word in dependable work- manship, has never needed to journey farther to have its wants supplied.

Born in Sanborn County, S. D., on July 10, 1888, and coming to California with his parents when he was eleven years old, Mr. Oswald, already imbued with the "go- ahead" spirit of the West, has kept pace with his progressive surroundings and so has come to take his proper place in the business circles of Fullerton, a community already widely known for its energy, ambition and productivity. He was educated in the schools of Santa Ana, where his parents had settled, but soon set out to make his own way in the world.

Taking to mechanical work from the start, Mr. Oswald spent some time in machine shops and automotive establishments, among them the Ford Motor Company of Los Angeles, thereby gaining a thorough knowledge of all the details of this work and the indispensable practical experience which has since stood him in good stead. When he returned to Fullerton he opened a small shop from which has grown the present large business establishment opened April 4, 1915. He distributes the Exide battery and other motor accessories and his thorough workmanship and ability to handle every phase of ignition and electrical trouble, and to give first-class automotive service in every particular, have brought him an ever-increasing business.

Mr. Oswald's marriage united him with Miss Pearl L. Ruddock, a native of Wis- consin, whose parents, Charles E. and Lila Ruddock, are represented elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Oswald have two children, Una and Wanda. Mr. Oswald's political preferences are Republican, and fraternally he is a Knights Templar Mason. Always patriotic and public spirited, he is first, last and always for Fullerton and Orange County.

WILLIAM G. PATTILLO .- Numbered among the prominent and rising young business men of Fullerton is William G. Pattillo, proprietor of Pattillo's Truck and Transfer Company. He was born at Hopkinsville, Christian County, Ky., August 3, 1880, was reared on the farm, educated in the public schools, and followed the occupation of farming with his father until 1900, the year he came to California. He first located at Fullerton, where he secured employment with A. V. Smith, general manager for F. and W. Thumb Company, large ranch owners in the Fullerton district and in San Diego County, and was engaged in picking fruit in their citrus groves. After becoming thoroughly acquainted with the business he became foreman, and was in the employ of the Thumb brothers for eleven years, six years of that time being foreman of their large lemon and alfalfa ranch in El Cajon Mesa, San Diego County and later at Lake- side, the same county. He returned to Fullerton in 1911, purchased a team, and began business for himself, taking care of the ranches of other people, some of whom lived in the East. He did contract work and took full charge of the development of the groves, irrigating, cultivating, fertilizing, picking fruit, etc. About two years and a half ago he gave up contracting work and established a transfer and trucking business

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at Fullerton. Aside from the general transfer and hauling business he is also a dealer in fertilizer and bean straw, which is distributed to the orange growers for use in their groves. His offices and headquarters are at 314 South Spadra Street and four large trucks are continually in use, so it is readily seen he has built up a profitable business.

Mr. Pattillo's father, John Pattillo, was a native Virginian who served four years in a Confederate regiment in the Civil War; he was commissioned a lieutenant, saw very active service and was wounded. After the war he settled in Christian County, IIl. He married Lydia Barbee also a Virginian, and- they still reside at the old home. Of their seven children, Wm. G. is the third oldest and the only one in California.

Since coming to California, twenty years ago, Mr. Pattillo was united in marriage in San Diego, October 14, 1909, with Miss Teresa McCarthy, a native of McCook, Nebr. Her father Thomas Mccarthy was a native of Lewisburg, Ohio, and was married in Nebraska to Olivia Belle Moore of lowa. He engaged in railroading until 1890, when he brought his family to Southern California. He was among the first realtors in Long Beach; afterwards he was one of the discoverers of the Tungsten mines at Atolia and was for some years manager of the Atolia Mining Company. He now resides at La Mesa, San Diego County, his wife having passed on in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Pattillo are the parents of five children: Della, Robert, Leo, Virginia and Francis. Fraternally Mr. Pattillo is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.

MRS. ELIZABETH EISMANN .- A straightforward, enterprising and altogether amiable and estimable woman, who, having been thrown upon her own resources, proved equal to the emergencies and today has a nice property valued highly, is Mrs. Elizabeth Eismann, who came to Orange at the beginning of this century, and since April, 1903, has been conducting the Depot Hotel. She was born in Westercappen, Prussia, to which district her grandparents came from Holland, the daughter of Fred- erick Kroener, a native also of Westercappen and a baker by trade. In 1865 he came to the United States, and for twenty-five years had a bakery business at Philadelphia. after which he removed to Lexington, Mo., where he was a farmer, and where he died. in 1918, at the age of ninety-two. The mother, Marguerite Eismann, also died in Missouri, aged eighty years. Five children were born of this marriage, among whom the subject of our review was the oldest.

The mother and her children joined the father in Philadelphia in 1868, and from her fourteenth year, Elizabeth Kroener was brought up in Philadelphia. Inasmuch as her mother was in ill health, it was up to Elizabeth to do most of the responsible work and otherwise mother the family. When, therefore, she was married in the City of Brotherly Love in 1874, to William Eismann, a native of her birthplace and a soldier in the Franco-Prussian War who had just come to Philadelphia, she was equipped with a valuable practical experience; and on their removal to Pittsburgh, Pa., where Mr. Eismann was for eight years in the Painter iron works, she easily established with him a comfortable home. In 1882 they pushed still further west, to Lexington, Mo., where they bought first one, and then another farm; and there they continued successfully agricultural pursuits.

In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Eismann came to Orange, Cal., and here hoped to have established themselves; but Mr. Eismann was badly injured in a runaway accident, and again it was up to Mrs. Eismann to find a way to provide for the family. In April. 1903, she purchased the lots upon which she now resides, and there built the Depot Hotel, the oldest hostelry in Orange, and one of the oldest in Orange County, for which she has always enjoyed a liberal patronage.

In August, 1911, Mr. Eismann died, mourned by all who knew him, the revered father of five children. Only one is still living-John, a painter and contractor, who is married and has six children. Mrs. Eismann is a member of the Evangelical Association Church in Santa Ana, and extends the moral uplift work commenced there in her civic activities as a Republican.

MRS. ELLEN J. STREECH .- The busy, useful life of a highly successful horti- culturist who was esteemed for both his integrity and his industry is pleasantly recalled in the story of Mrs. Streech's equally successful enterprises in continuing to manage the estate she and her husband had together, as hard working helpmates, acquired. She was horn at Rio, Columbia County, Wis., the daughter of Frank Gallagher of New York State, an agriculturist who went in for general farming, and who had married Miss Isa- helle Halpin, born in Wisconsin, and she attended the public school at Rio. When she was sixteen years of age, her parents removed to Williams County, N. D., afterwards Divide County, and there in 1907 her father homesteaded a quarter section of land, with the result that for four years she experienced the pleasures and the inconveniences of pioneer Dakota life. There she completed her education and there, too, she formed the acquaintance with the estimahle gentleman whom she afterwards married at Crosby,

Elizabeth Limon

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August 9, 1911, being united with Fred G. Streech, a native of Minnesota, where he was born on a farm near Renville, the son of Fred and Wilhelmina Streech. He attended the district school of his home place, and spent his boyhood days on his father's farm. He had been in California in 1910 and had purchased ten acres devoted to the culture of Valencia oranges on South Raymond Avenue, south of Fullerton; and as this land was under the Anaheim Union Water Company, the grove was proni- ising in every respect. Prior to his marriage, and when he was only twenty-one, Mr. Streech had also taken up homestead land in North Dakota, and he was thus prepared to develop his new California acquisition. After their marriage they spent a few months in travel until January, 1912; they located on their Fullerton ranch where Mr. Streech cared for their Valencia grove and enjoyed the salubrious climate of Southern Cali- fornia, but unfortunately he was not permitted to see the culmination of his ambitions. for death called him from his labors, on July 1, 1915. He had been a consistent Methodist, and he left a widow and two children, devoted Catholics. The children are Avery V. and Wilbur J., and with their mother they are comfortably situated on their handsome little ranch.

Mrs. Streech has shown unusual ability in the management of her property, mar- keting her choice fruit through the Placentia Orange Growers Association, and she often looks back with fondness to the six months of travel spent with her husband before they settled down to the more serious responsibilities of life.

WALTER WRAY .- A thoroughly-trained mechanic, whose ambition led him to the higher work of an engineer, and whose ability has been recognized in his appoint- ment to a responsible public office in California, is Walter Wray, a native of Ireland, where he was born on January 4, 1868. His father was Joseph Wray, and he married Miss Jane Farel. They had nine children, and Walter was the youngest.

He began his schooling in Ireland, and continued it in the United States, and in both countries attended the private rather than the public institutions. When the opportunity came his way, he took up mechanical engineering, and for nineteen years followed that line of work, for the most part in Massachusetts. Success attended his labors in the East, but the lure of California drew him more and more to the shores of the Pacific.

In 1909 Mr. Wray came to the Golden State and settled at Santa Ana. He bought a ranch, and became a California orange grower. In October, 1918, the city council of Santa Ana appointed him superintendent of water and sewers, and while still retaining his orange ranch, he entered upon his present responsibilities.

Mr. Wray's marriage united him with Miss Helen Parke Doty, a lady who has demonstrated many times her especial capabilities as a companion and helpmate. Mr. Wray is a Republican in national political affairs, but both he and his public-spirited wife support all local movements for the betterment of the community regardless of partisanship.

A thirty-second degree Mason, he is a life member of the Massachusetts Con- sistory. He is a Knight Templar, the present commander of Santa Ana Commandery No. 36, K. T., and belongs to Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Los Angeles. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows. He is still very fond of music, and has an enviable record; from his down-east days, as musician in the First Light Artillery of Massachusetts.

No better person could have been selected for the responsible post of city water and sewer superintendent, and it goes without saying that Santa Ana has a water and sewerage system that is thoroughly up-to-date and satisfactory in every respect.

FRED ROHRS, SR.,-An enterprising, progressive and self-made business man, who takes a very live interest in all that pertains to the building up of both Santa Ana and Orange County, is Fred Rohrs, the realty owner and rancher of 1245 East Seven- teenth Street, Santa Ana. With Christian standards to guide them, he has reared a family such as would do honor to anyone; and is therefore both a beloved husband and father. He had a truly historic beginning, if dates count for anything, for he was born in Germany on the birthday of Washington, in the memorable revolutionary year of 1848. When eighteen years of age he left his native land, sailing from Bremen for New York, having for his destination Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio. There he hired out as a farm hand, receiving at first only from six to seven dollars and his board a month. Then he removed to Kelleys Island, Erie County, Ohio, and became interested in horticulture, working among the vineyards and fruit orchards, and making wine for years. Two of his brothers followed him to America, and one, Henry W., is at present in Orange County.

On April 17, 1874, Mr. Rohrs married Miss Anna Gobrugge, a native of Germany. who had also come to America to better her conditions. After that, he took up a timber

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claim in the Ohio forests, and cleared some valuable land, on which he later raised grain and stock. He was not phenomenally successful, however, and could not be said to have much in return for his hard labor. Five children, however, blessed their union. Henry is a rancher in Orange; Fred, Jr., is a rancher in Santa Ana; John also has a ranch in Orange; George is farming on the home place, on Seventeenth Street; and Minnie is the wife of Charles Maier, ranching at the old home. All the sons are mar- ried, and are doing well.

When Mr. Rohrs first came to Santa Ana in the early spring of 1881, when there were no roads and no fences, he purchased a barley field of twenty-five acres, his present home place; later he added twenty acres to the home place, and also improved other acreage with the assistance of his sons. He tried first to raise grapes, then grain, then apricots; but he finally set out walnuts and both Valencia and Navel oranges. Now he has many other important interests besides his ranch home on Seventeenth Street, where he has a tractor and horses for his ranch work, and has two residences. He has built a modern, up-to-date brick business block at the southeast corner of Sycamore and Fourth Streets, 44x100 feet in size, two stories in height with a full basement, at a cost of $30,000; and he also owns another brick block, situated on West Fourth Street.

For many years Mr. Rohrs was a director of the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company, and he is at present a member of the Tri-Counties Reforestration Committee. In national politics a Republican, in his religious affiliation Mr. Rohrs is a member of the Santa Ana Evangelical Association and has always been active in promoting hetter citizenship and a higher class of clean living. When he came here he could ride horse- back through the tall mustard to the one brick store in Santa Ana; he has seen the town grow up and has taken an important part in its development, having hauled lumber from Newport for the early buildings in Santa Ana; and has seen the town built to its present size and splendor. He has always aided in the upbuilding of the city and can well exclaim, "All of which I saw and part of which I was."

CHARLES R. NUTT .- The popular and efficient city clerk of Huntington Beach, Charles R. Nutt, is a native son, born August 14, 1869, in Yankee Jims, Placer County. He is a son of Nathaniel and Helen (Keeler) Nutt, natives of Ohio and Michigan, respectively. Nathaniel Nutt was a '49er who crossed the Indian infested plains to the Golden State, where he engaged in mining. C. R. Nutt was reared at Dutch Flat and at the early age of twelve years began to work. His occupations during his career have been many and varied and include mining, saw mill and pulp mill work, railroad telegraph operator and station agent. At one time he was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railway Company in Placer County; later he was with the San Fran- cisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway, which afterwards became a part of the Santa Fe system. Mr. Nutt became agent for the Santa Fe Railway at Tulare, where he remained until 1898. Later he was associated with the Power, Transit and Light Com- pany, stationed at Bakersfield. In 1907 he located at Huntington Beach, where for three years he filled the position of bookkeeper for the Huntington Beach Company. Afterwards he opened an electric shop and engaged in contract work and did the elec- tric wiring in many of the residences and buildings in Huntington Beach.

In 1914 Mr. Nutt was elected to the important post of city clerk and ex-officio assessor of Huntington Beach. That his duties have been ably and most intelligently discharged to the entire satisfaction of the community is attested by the fact that he has thrice been reelected to this office, his last election heing for four years. Aside from his above duties he is also acting as city tax collector. During his term of office many important improvements have been made in public works, paving, sewers and a municipal gas system were installed. Mr. Nutt is especially fond of instrumental music and has the distinction of having organized the Huntington Beach band and his artistic rendition of solos, hoth on the saxaphone and melophone, have delighted the citizens of this up-to-date heach city. He is very public spirited and is always ready to give his assistance to every worthy movement that has as its aim the up- building of the best interests of Huntington Beach. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was clerk of the high school board for five years.

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History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 126

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1700

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1700