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 134

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 134

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Intimately associated with the early history of Shenandoah, Iowa. Charles F. Crose was born in a log cabin at Sidney, Fremont County, lowa, on March 16, 1856, the son of W. F. Crose, who was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., where he was born in 1824, and Eliza J. (Van Eaton) Crose, his wife, a native of Union County, Ind., born in 1825. They were married in 1845 and became early settlers in lowa where they developed a farm from the virgin prairie. They lived there at a time when Indians roamed at will over that frontier state and had many interesting experiences while developing their farm. The elder Crose died in 1895, after a long and useful career. His widow survived him until January 17, 1904.

Charles F. was educated in the public schools of his native town and was reared to farm life until he was about fifteen, when he entered the employ of his elder brother, R. B. Crose, who was a general merchant at Manti, before Shenandoah had been started. The young man was ambitious and he left the employ of his brother and started to study medicine, but after a year he gave it up and entered Bryant and Stratton's Business College in Chicago, where he pursued a commercial law and a business course for about nine months and graduated with second honors in a class of over 150. He moved his stock of merchandise on wagons from Manti to the new town of Shenandoah and there became one of the pioneer merchants. In March, 1881, Charles F. bought an interest in the business and thereafter gave his personal atten- tion to the management of the concern, and made of it an unqualified success.

While connected with the mercantile interests of the town he was active in the affairs of the Republican party and finally was persuaded to become a candidate for the general assembly, being elected in 1903 and serving for two terms, being reelected to succeed himself. For twelve years he was a member of the school board, six years as it secretary; was secretary of the Shenandoah Fair Association; director of the Shenandoah National Bank; prominent in the organization and management of the cannery and the creamery there, and in all other activities for the building up of the growing city. He also served as one of two trustees for the original donors of the Western Normal College. He had wisely invested in realty there and owned a farm and considerable business and residence property in Shenandoah. On account of the ill health of his wife he decided he would locate in California, in consequence of which he disposed of his holdings and in 1910 settled in Santa Ana in a beautiful home which they erected on the corner of Cypress and Pine streets. He had purchased a walnut grove, on which his daughter and her husband settled, and to this he gave much of his attention. He became interested in the Santa Ana Walnut Growers Association, which had suffered many set-backs and he was induced to become its secretary and manager of the packing house. He threw himself into the reorganiza- tion of this concern with his accustomed vigor and soon had it on a sound basis. He was also identified with the Orange County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company. . and was president of the State Mutual Insurance Association. In this county, while he lived, he continued to take an active interest in public affairs and was a staunch Repub- lican, though his father was a Democrat. He was a Knights Templar Mason and a Shriner, also a past patron of the Eastern Star Chapter; was also a member of the B. P. O. Elks, and an Odd Fellow, the latter membership being retained at his old home in Iowa. For years he was a consistent member of the Congregational Church and a worker in its causes. No worthy cause was ever presented to his notice, either in his Iowa or his California home that he did not give it his support.

At Afton, Union County, Iowa, on June 2, 1880, Mr. Crose was united in marriage with Miss Nina Nixon, who was horn in Morgantown, W. Va., daughter of Rev. George J., a M. E. preacher, and Sarah (Bruen) Nixon, who settled in Iowa when their daughter was eight years old. She was educated in the public schools and in Simpson College of Indianola, Iowa, and thus was well qualified to be a worthy help- mate for her gifted husband; she entered heartily into all his plans and assisted him with his work and soon became a leader in social circles in Shenandoah. She was a member, and the president for some years, of the Kappa Delta Club, also a district secretary for some time; for ten years she was president of the missionary society of the Congregational Church, and soon after settling in Santa Ana, Cal., was elected to the same position here and has served for seven years, being still in office; she is an ex-president of the Ebell Club of Santa Ana, which has a membership of over 300, and is on the executive board; is president of the County Federated Clubs; has held offices 45

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in the Woman's Club; and is on the executive board of the southern branch of the Woman's Board of Missions of the Pacific. During the World War she was active in Red Cross and other allied activities, and still retains her interest in the Red Cross; and was chairman of the educational department of the County Council of Defense of Orange County. She is a member of the Eastern Star Chapter of Santa Ana.

Mr. and Mrs. Crose became the parents of a daughter, Mabel C., now the wife of Fred C. Rowland, a prosperous rancher of McClay Street, and they have two charm- ing daughters, Nina Jeannette and Barbara Ruth. A man of broad mentality and strict integrity, who can well be called a self-made man, Charles F. Crose was called by the grim reaper on January 11, 1917, and there was left to mourn his passing a wide circle of friends in Orange County as well as in his former Iowa home, all of whom valued him for his worth as a citizen and friend.

GEORGE J. COCKING .- An enterprising and progressive native son who is making a decided success of the plumbing, heating and sheet metal business in Santa Ana, is George J. Cocking. He was born at Colton, Cal., August 28, 1888, a son of Isaac and Annie (Drown) Cocking, natives of England. Isaac Cocking came to Cali- fornia in the early eighties, locating at Colton, where he became manager for the corporation which purchased the large hill of lime rock near Colton, and which the company demolished for making building lime.

George J. Cocking received his early education in the public schools of Colton and Redlands. At Riverside he was employed by Copley Brothers, with whom he learned the trade of a sheet metal worker. Returning to Redlands he worked for Worthington, the plumber, also Kline and Underwood. In 1908 Mr. Cocking moved to Pasadena, where he was employed by the Pacific Sheet Metal Works and the Warren and Foss Company. The year 1912 marked his advent into the business life of Santa Ana, when he entered the employ of the McFadden Hardware Company and built up their department for sheet metal work and became manager. During his con- nection with the McFadden Hardware Company he installed the sheet metal work for the Santa Ana high school, the Athletic Club and the Yost Theater; also the high school building at Orange. Mr. Cocking also installed the heating and ventilating plants in the following buildings: the Methodist and Congregational churches in Santa Ana; Anaheim Public Library; other business blocks and fine residences at Anaheim.

In April, 1918, Mr. Cocking decided to enter into business for himself and since then he has been conducting his chosen line of work most successfully. He can point with pride to the following buildings where he has done the plumbing or installed the heating plants: at the Crawford Marmalade Factory, Anaheim, he installed their steam heating plant; installed the plumbing in the fine residence of C. V. Davis at Santa Ana; bungalow court at First and Court streets; the McCormick Apartments; four houses for J. W. Sackman; an apartment house for Mrs. Lowman on South Birch Street; and a number of houses built by George Barrows.

On February 2, 1912, Mr. Cocking was united in marriage with Miss Bertha J. Simpson of Kansas, and they are the parents of one son, George Richard.

WILLIAM J. SAUNBY .- Flourishing and promising Tustin numbers in its citi- zenship many progressive men, and one of the most pronounced, both in ability and accomplishment, is William J. Saunby, who owns twenty-five acres of land, twenty of which are devoted to oranges and five to walnuts. For eighteen years he has resided there, and more and more he has contributed to the growth, improvement and develop- ment of his town.

Mr. Saunby is a native of Ontario, Canada, where he was born on October 5, 1859. There, too, in his native city, London, he was reared and educated. Up to 1901 he spent his work days in the milling and grain business with his father, who owned two flour mills in London, but in that year he crossed the border into "the States," coming direct to Tustin, Cal., and as soon thereafter as he could procure his naturaliza- tion papers, he did so. Now he is a full-fledged citizen of a country he adopted with gratitude and hope. The father of Mr. Saunby was Joseph D. Saunby, a native of the Province of Quebec, and he married Miss Elizabeth Bird Elson of London, a daughter of John and Mary Elson whose family like the Saunby's is traced back to England. Two children were horn to the worthy couple, the other child being a son named Stephen, now deceased. William J. was popular and influential in his native country, where he was elected to the office of reeve, akin to mayor, at London West, a post he filled for two full years.

At London, December 30, 1886, Mr. Saunby was married to Miss Alice Cosford, the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Cosford, who was horn in Northamptonshire, Eng- land, of a splendid old North of England family; he studied classics and theology and became a minister in the Methodist Church of Canada, preaching in different

Irvin. Luruspine

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cities in Ontario for over fifty years, until his death. In Ontario he was also married, being united with Nancy Hartman of that native heath. Reverend Cosford was a man much loved in the communities where he preached for his mild and charitable disposi- tion as well as for his straightforwardness and fearlessness in speaking the truth. From the fortunate union of Mr. and Mrs. Saunby have been born five children, four of whom grew up. Sidney during the recent great war served as a member of the U. S. forces. He studied electricity and especially ignition at the government quarters in Los Angeles that he might become proficient as an automobile expert. Previous to the outbreak of the war he was with the Edison Company and he is now assisting his father in operating the ranch; Dora is a graduate nurse, now with the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago; Alice is a student nurse in the Methodist Episcopal Hospital in Los Angeles; while Ernest, the youngest, is attending Santa Ana high school.

Mr. Saunby is a believer that cooperation is the only successful method of mar- keting citrus and walnut crops, so is very naturally a member of the Santiago Orange Association and the Santa Ana Walnut Growers Association, being a member of the board of directors in the former. Both he and his estimable wife are devout Metho- dists holding membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Santa Ana where he is a member of the official board, and liberally inclined, they take an active part in the benevolences of the church. Strong advocates of temperance, they did all they could to fight the demon rum and abolish the saloon as well as working for the success of national prohibition. They have lived noble and useful lives and by their helpfulness and many charities have endeared themselves to the people of their community who appreciate them for their worth and integrity. Tustin would gladly welcome citizens and their families of the Saunby type.

IRVIN LIVENSPIRE .- A contractor very naturally in constant demand because of his technical knowledge of every kind of brick masonry, is Irvin Livenspire, who was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, on January 23, 1867. He was the son of a mer- chant, Charles Livenspire, and so came to get an insight early in life into business ways of the world. He was also fortunate in the character and devotion of his mother, who was Catherine Kellogg before her marriage, and owed much to her in his prepa- ration for the responsibilities of later years. Both parents, well known for their stand- ing in Ohio communities, are now dead.

Irvin attended the public schools of Ohio, among the best in the United States, and when he was old enough to profit from apprenticeship, he learned the brickmason's trade. He was successful from the beginning in the opportunities to work where he developed rapidly; and when he came to California in 1902, he was prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best artisans.

For five years Mr. Livenspire worked in Los Angeles, but in 1907 he removed to Santa Ana, and since then his reputation for both skill and honesty, as well as rea- sonable terms, has made him much in demand. Among important commissions, he did the mason work on the Masonic Temple, the Spurgeon Building, the West-End Thea- ter, and the Rutherford Building, and of course a great deal of other excellent work throughout the county. He is in partnership with Henry Walters, and the firm name is Livenspire and Walters. On an average, they employ twelve men.

Mrs. Livenspire was Miss Ida Blake before her marriage, and she is the mother of a son, Ralph, who is associated in business with Mr. Livenspire, and a daughter, Mildred. Mr. Livenspire is a Democrat, but first, last and always an American, and when it comes to "boosting" Santa Ana or Orange County, he forgets all about the narrowness of party lines, and seeks to support only the best, be it in men or measures designed to help the community to higher, broader and better things.

THOMAS C. H. De LAPP .- An efficient and popular public official of Huntington Beach, who has earned the confidence of his fellow-citizens and the honors bestowed upon him by the Government, is Thomas C. H. De Lapp, the postmaster. He was born in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., on September 5, 1866. the son of John M. De Lapp, a native of Cape Girardeau, Mo., a descendant of French-Huguenot stock, also a Mexican War veteran with the rank of sergeant and he helped to gain possession of California for the United States. He married Mary F. Headen, who was born in Mooresville, Tenn. For a while the parents rented a farm in Morgan County, Ill., and there they became esteemed as industrious, progressive and altogether estimable folk.

It thus happened that Thomas grew up to farm work, learning thoroughly first how to do the usual chores, and secondly the methods of agriculture then in vogue in that part of the country. When, however, he was twenty-three years of age, he removed to St. Louis, Mo., and there worked at various occupations. He found employment in planing mills, and for the remainder of five years or so was in the car factories of that city. He proved competent in every way until he broke his wrist, and then he was

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forced to seek different employment. Having become known to the street car author- ities, he was made a conductor on the Lindell Avenue Railway, and for another five years had charge of passenger traffic.

While in St. Louis on July 2, 1892, Mr. De Lapp was married to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Boggs, a relative of the pioneer, Lilburn W. Boggs, a Kentuckian born in 1798, who removed to Missouri, was elected governor in 1836, and took a prominent part in the expulsion of the Mormons. In 1846 he migrated to California, and from 1847 to 1849 was alcalde of the Sonoma district, where he became somewhat famous for the administration of office during a trying period of the interregnum, and so is deserving of prominence in the annals of California. Mrs. De Lapp was reared in Missouri, and later came to the Pacific Coast. Mr. and Mrs. De Lapp have two children: George T., who is a student in the high school; and Margaret F .. E., who is still attending the grammar school.

In November, 1899, Mr. De Lapp came out to California, and engaged with the Los Angeles Traction Company as a conductor; and for a year he resided in the metrop- olis of the Southland. Next he put in six years with the San Dimas Citrus Association, thereby acquiring a still better knowledge of the resources of the Golden State. In 1906 he came to Huntington Beach, and here he bought acreage and city property. For two years he was manager of the Tent City, and ever since he has been a genuine "booster" for the town. He was one of the first to see the importance of good roads to the district, and to advocate building the same. For four years, too, Mr. De Lapp farmed hereabouts and raised sugar beets, and in course of time he helped to get the Huntington Beach Sugar Factory, that is, to induce the Holly Sugar Corporation to build their establishment. To make the venture a success, he undertook to grow the sugar beet on a large scale, and for a while he had forty acres planted to beets.

In January, 1915, Mr. De Lapp was appointed, as a Democrat, postmaster at Huntington Beach, a position of responsibility, as the office there handles a large amount of mail. This is due largely to the presence of many tourists or visitors in the bathing season, a moving class difficult to cater to. He was reappointed to serve a second term on August 15, 1919. Two assistants aid the postmaster-Miss Abagail Crum, who is the assistant postmaster, and a clerk, Mrs. Anna Rowland-Taylor. There is also a village carrier, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Hoge, and a rural carrier, Samuel M. Hosack.

Mr. De Lapp was made a Mason some years ago, and belongs to Huntington Beach Lodge No. 383, F. & A. M. Both Mr. and Mrs. De Lapp are members of the Eastern Star. For nine years Mr. De Lapp was superintendent of the Christian Sunday school, and he helped with a generous hand to build the Christian Church at Huntington Beach. Now Mr. and Mrs. De Lapp and their family belong to the Methodist Epis- copal Church, over the Sunday school of which he has presided for one year as superintendent.

HENRY A. SKILES .- An industrious, frugal man who credits his success in business life largely to his having endeavored to lead a devout, Christian life, and his good health, enabling him at the age of seventy-two, to ride a motorcycle daily, is Henry A. Skiles, the well-known building contractor of 912 Orange Avenue. He was born at Mt. Pleasant, Ind., on July 28, 1848, the son of Henry Skiles, a native of Penn- sylvania. He came of a family of farmers, and was an early settler and builder-up of Mt. Pleasant, Ind. He had married Jane Andrews, a native of Ireland, who came to America with her parents. Henry is the fifth son in a family of seven children honoring this worthy couple.

When he was eight years old, his parents removed, first to Lee and then to Henry County, Iowa, and the lad attended a log-cabin school in the winter while he was being initiated into the details of farming, for which he early showed a liking. His father had a good farm of 160 acres, where he raised grain and stock, so that he had the best opportunity, under his guidance, to learn. After the Civil War, his folks removed to Johnson County, Mo., within fifty miles of Kansas City, where they con- tinued to farm; and at agricultural pursuits, in the service of others, in Iowa and Kansas and Missouri, he continued until he was twenty-one.

The marriage of Mr. Skiles united him with Miss Sarah Thompson, a daughter of the Rev. R. G. Thompson of Kingsville, Mo., and there, he took up farming with eighty acres, raising grain and stock. Mrs. Skiles' mother was Sarah Leland Brown, a native of Virginia, while Mr. Thompson originally came from Pennsylvania. He died at the age of seventy-nine.

In 1874, Mr. Skiles came West with his family to Oakland, and there did general carpentering, associated for four years with his uncle, Henry Brown. Meeting with James McFadden, when the latter came to Oakland, he decided to come south; and in 1878 removed to Santa Ana, shipping his effects by boat to Newport. From the first, he undertook general building and contracting, and with plenty of good help,

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he soon put up a number of the better residences, and for a quarter of a century was Santa Ana's leading building contractor.

Mr. Skiles has three acres of orchard at his home place, purchased in 1900, and ten acres of apricots at Hemet. Seven children have assisted in the daily toil, besides adding to the pleasures of domestic life. Robert, who married Katherine Brown, is deputy assessor of Orange County, and has two children, Dorothy and Corinne; Leland married E. C. Baer and is ranching at Hemet; they have two children, Rolston and Lois; Edna is the wife of A. E. Cox, a rancher living at Huntington Park; their two children are Carmen and Elwood: Leslie is also a farmer at Hemet, his wife was Frances Armstrong, and they have one child, Denton A .; Ira is a plumber at Long Beach, and is married to Lea Snyder; Earl is the husband of Louise Riley of San Fran- cisco, and the father of two children, Margaret and June; and he is the private secretary of the estate of E. T. Earl of Los Angeles; Bruce married Miss Grace Doty, and is employed by J. Tubbs of the Santa Ana Commercial Company and they have one child, Helen. Mr. Skiles is a Prohibitionist in national political affairs, and a good "booster" in everything pertaining to Santa Ana and Orange County. He and his family are consistent church members.

FRANK SAWYER .- A successful garage manager who thoroughly understands the many-sided problems of the autoist and the tourist, is Frank Sawyer, the popular proprietor of the West End Garage at Santa Ana. He was born in Pawnee City, Pawnee County, Nebr., on October 24, 1893, the son of J. B. Sawyer who had married Elizabeth A. Karnes by whom he came to have six children, three sons and three daugh- ters. He brought his family to California in December, 1912, and located at Long Beach; and both parents are still enjoying the salubrious climate of sub-tropical California.

Frank got all he could out of the excellent public schools of his neighborhood. and followed this elementary training with a course of technical studies at Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa. Appreciating the ever-expanding field of service for the motorist, since 1907 he has followed the mechanism of automobiles, and since coming to California in 1912 he continued in the automobile business and has now well established himself as one of the indispensables in Santa Ana.

In 1919, Mr. Sawyer bought his present plant and spared neither pains nor ex- pense in providing for his patrons the most modern machinery and appliances. He is thus able to execute all kinds of repair work, and his fame for doing that which so many are unable to tackle having extended even beyond the confines of Orange County, he has all the commissions which any man would care to undertake with some leisure and comfort to himself. He employs four men regularly, each like himself an expert in every kind of auto or motor renovating. Only the best of materials are used, and satisfaction to the customer is thus easily guaranteed. The West End Garage has become one of the most popular repair shops in the county.

On December 15, 1914, Mr. Sawyer married Julia Ruth Walker, a native daughter of Orange County, born ncar Santa Ana; and they have one child, Margaret Ellen. Besides taking an active part in the work of the Chamber of Commerce, to which Mr. Sawyer belongs, and participating with fellow Republicans in civic reforms, Mr. Sawyer belongs to the Elks, being a member of Santa Ana Lodge No. 794.

HARVEY GARBER .- That great progress has been made in the manufacture of brick is clearly demonstrated hy Harvey Garber, one of the most aggressively pro- gressive leaders in that field in Southern California, and a prominent business man of Santa Ana. He was born in Emmet County, Mich .. on March 28. 1879, the son of Jacob M. Garher, a native Ohian, still happily living. The good mother born in Indiana. now among the silent majority, was Libbie Shrock before her marriage, and gave early guidance to three children, among whom Harvey was the youngest.

He attended the public schools in northern Indiana, while being raised on a farm, but had to lay aside his books all too early, so that much of his real schooling came through contact with the outside, exacting world. At the age of twenty, he had learned the pressfeeder's trade, but a year later took up carpentering and followed that by preference.

On January 13, 1914. he came to California; and having had five years' experience as a contractor at South Bend, Ind., he established himself in Orange County in general contracting, with his residence at Orange. He built the grammar school in Huntington Beach, the Alfred Huhn Building at Orange, a brick block at Newport Beach, the Greenville School, the L. B. Resh brick block at Anaheim, and many fine residences in various towns in the county. In August, 1919, he bought the hrick plant at Santa Ana, and since then he has devoted all his time to the manufacture of hrick of all grades. He employs twenty-five men, and pays out over $500 weckly for wages.

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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 134

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