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 155

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 155

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Later Mr. Fischle moved to a larger store a few doors east, taking the library with him. In 1914 he moved to his present modern store at 118 West Center Street, where he does a large and profitable business; much of his confectionery is made by himself in his own factory in the rear of his store, and he also caters to dances. parties and receptions. The growth of this establishment shows what can be accom- plished in a few years by a man whose traits of character would make for success in any field of endeavor.

The marriage of Mr. Fischle united him with Elizabeth Whitefield, a native of New York State, and four children have blessed their union: Frederick C., Richard W., Charles W. and Edward. Fraternally Mr. Fischle is a member of Anaheim Lodge No. 1345, B. P. O. Elks, the Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World. In civic affairs he belongs to the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and to the Merchants Association. For the past ten years he has been a member of the Anaheim Fire Department, serving through the different offices, and in 1918 he was appointed chief of the Department. From the time he was a small boy he had been intensely interested in fire department life, and nothing kept him from running to the fires in his old home where his father was the chief, so his appointment gave him the incentive to give to the Department the same careful attention he does to his business, and the result is shown in its growth and efficiency; and the citizens show their appreciation by his being reelected chief in 1919, and again in 1920, an honor of which he can justly feel proud.

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LE ROY R. COOK .- An expert machinist who is also a successful farmer and walnut grower is Le Roy R. Cook, who lives one mile east of Capistrano on the Hot Springs Road. His father was R. B. Cook, the well-known pioneer of San Juan Capis- trano, who married Miss Hattie Congdon, and they live at 402 East Sixth Street, Santa Ana. Her father was J. R. Congdon, who died at Santa Ana, four years ago; he came to California from Hartford, Conn., when he was sixteen years old. He married Miss Mary Rouse, a sister of Mrs. Albert Fuller, and a native of the East, who crossed the plains with her parents, while she was yet a little girl. The Rouses settled at first at San Bernardino, where she grew up, met and married Mr. Congdon. He was a farmer and first had a ranch in the mountains of San Bernardino County; and there two of their children were born, while seven first saw the light here, Mrs. R. B. Cook being the oldest of the family. The Fullers and the Congdons came West together and took up a homestead about one and a quarter miles south of the Mission. Grandfather Congdon planted the first walnut orchard in what is now Orange County, in 1871, and it was the second one planted in Southern California. Though living retired at Santa Ana, Mr. and Mrs. Cook own a ranch of forty acres below San Juan Capistrano, oper- ated by their younger son, Congdon Russell Cook, who lately returned from France, where he served for twenty months in the aviation section of the U. S. Army.

Le Roy R. Cook was born at San Juan Capistrano on April 21, 1884, and bought his present homeplace four years ago, becoming a member and -stockholder of the Capistrano Walnut Growers Association at San Juan Capistrano. His father had come down to San Juan Capistrano from the San Mateo Valley, and so had early identified himself with the development of this section. The lad attended the common schools at San Juan and Santa Ana, and then worked in the railway shops at San Bernardino, continuing there for four years. After purchasing his ranch, eighty-five acres devoted principally to raising walnuts and Valencia oranges, he remodeled the residence and buildings, and made it, in accordance with his natural ambition, one of the best ranches of its size for miles around.

At Santa Ana, on June 12, 1903, Mr. Cook was married to Miss Fay McCarty, a daughter of John H. and Addie F. McCarty and a native of Athens County, Ohio. When nine years old, she came to Los Angeles with her father, who for twenty years has been the agent for the Santa Fe Railway at San Juan Capistrano, and since then she has graduated from the San Diego State Normal School. She is popular as a clever, captivating lady, and so are her children-Le Roy Glenn, a sophomore in the Santa Ana Polytechnic high school, and Florence Lenore, Elmer R., and Hilah Marie. Mr. Cook is a Republican in national political affairs, and has served as judge of election.

DR. CONRAD RICHTER .- Although he has spent many years in the successful practice of medicine and surgery and obtained a competency, Dr. Conrad Richter is still active in his profession, preferring to continue in practice from the love of his profession and the enjoyment in alleviating pain and suffering. Driven by wanderlust and a desire for the climate on the Pacific Coast, he came to San Francisco in 1903 from Milwaukee, WVis., where he had engaged in the practice of medicine on the shores of the Great Lakes. In time he became chief surgeon for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company of San Francisco and in that capacity visited the Orient, including Japan, China, the Malay Peninsula and India.

In 1916, with his wife, formerly Miss Rietta Ring of New Orleans, La., he located in Balboa, where they find much pleasure in their comfortable home on Bay Island. Dr. Richter, aside from his practice, finds time to encourage civic improvements and thus we find him an active member of the board of trustees of Newport Beach, as well as of the school board. He was an organizer and is a director in the Newport Yacht Club, and is one of its most enthusiastic members, the club having increased its membership from sixty-five to over three hundred. Dr. Richter himself a world traveler, having visited every continent on the globe, says that with perhaps the exception of Honolulu, he has never seen a more perfect climate than that of Newport Beach.

GEORGE M. TAYLOR .- The popular city marshal of the hustling city of Hunt- ington Beach, George M. Taylor, was born on a farm near Ozark, Ark., December 8, 1883. At the tender age of twelve years, he began to make his way in the world, his first work being in the coal mines of western Arkansas. He was employed by the following concerns: The Stewell Mining Company, Kemp-Small Mining Company; H. Devine Company, and the Western Coal Mining Company. After a time spent in the mines Mr. Taylor decided to try some other kind of employment and subsequently located in East St. Louis, Ill., where he secured work with the Swift Packing Company and the Nelson Morris Packing Company, and later on returned to his native state.

In 1900 Mr. Taylor came to the Pacific Coast, and on December 23, located at Smeltzer, Orange County. He secured a position on a ranch for several years and then

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became stationary engineer at the La Bolsa Tile Works and later was employed by I. J. Clark, who operated a tile ditching machine. In time George Taylor purchased a Buckeye tractor ditching machine and engaged in business for himself, contracting for drainage ditches, and he has made many thousand feet of ditches in Smeltzer and Greenville districts. In 1917 he took up his residence in Huntington Beach, where he is still engaged in contract ditch and track work. On March 15, 1920, he was appointed city marshal of Huntington Beach; he also fills the positions of superintendent of streets, pound master and truant officer. Mr. Taylor is chairman of the housing com- mittee for the Orange County Fair Association which is held annually at Huntington Beach, and has full charge of the grounds and buildings.

In Santa Ana, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Rhoda Justice, a native daughter and member of the pioneer Justice family of Orange County. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of four children: Leslie George, Lorna May, Ruby Viola and Laddie Justice. Mr. Taylor is a worthy and highly respected citizen and is making good in his responsible post of city marshal. Fraternally he is a member of Hunt- ington Beach Lodge No. 133, 1. O. O. F., and with his wife is popular in the membership of the Rebekahs.

ARTHUR H. T. OSBORNE .- As manager for the American Fruit Growers, Incorporated, buyers and shippers of fruits and vegetables, with headquarters in Fuller- ton, Orange County, Arthur H. T. Osborne is filling a position for which he is by natural ability and years of experience along that particular line of industry, peculiarly fitted. A Canadian by birth, he is a native of Thorold, Ontario, born November 6, 1871. He later resided in Toronto, and in October, 1887, arrived in Los Angeles, a youth of sixteen, with the responsibilities of a livelihood already on his young shoulders. He secured employment as clerk in a dry goods store, and later entered into the business of shipping fruit and produce, and for twenty-four years has followed the business, learning it from the bottom up to all of its branches and becoming expert in the practical application of his knowledge.

First in the employ of the Earl Fruit Company in Los Angeles, in 1900, Mr. . Osborne located in Fullerton, with the Golden West Celery and Produce Company, a part of the California Vegetable Union. For many years he was district manager for them. Later, he was again with the Earl Fruit Company, and went on the road for them, buying green fruit, with headquarters in Sacramento. Returning to Fullerton, he became district manager for the Benchley Fruit Company, and Mr. Osborne is now district manager for the American Fruit Growers, Incorporated, an extensive corpo- ration, buying and shipping dried and citrus fruits, vegetables and walnuts, with ware- houses all over the state. One of the best informed men in Southern California on the fruit and vegetable industry, and fitted by nature with the thoroughgoing methods and perseverance for which his nation is famed, Mr. Osborne is recognized as an expert in the marketing and distribution of these products, which are the backbone of California's prosperity.

The marriage of Mr. Osborne, which occurred in Los Angeles, December 9, 1896, united him with Maita Dupuy, a native of Illinois, and two children have been born to them: Harold, who for eight months saw service in France in the U. S. Heavy Artillery, and acted as interpreter, speaking both Spanish and French; he is now farm- ing on the Irvine ranch; and George, attending Fullerton Union high school. Frater- nally, Mr. Osborne is a member of Anaheim Lodge No. 1345, Elks, and is chaplain of that order: he is also a member of the Foresters. Since his first arrival in California he has been active in the development of the state's most important industries, and devotes his time and energy to further progress along those lines.

CHARLES J. BAGNALL .- Among the many men of ability who have been attracted to Southern California by her wonderful resources and phenomenal growth is Charles J. Bagnall, the efficient general foreman of The American Fruit Growers, Inc., at Fullerton. Mr. Bagnall is a native Californian, and was born January 14. 1880, at Sacramento. He is the son of Cornelius and Mary Jane (Phillips) Bagnall, natives of England. His father, one of California's pioneers, now deceased, crossed the plains by ox-team in 1852 and followed the occupation of farming in the Sacramento Valley and in Northern California. His mother is still living. Charles J. was edu- cated in the public and high schools of Sacramento, and as a young man entered the fruit and vegetable business, which he has followed ever since. He was first employed with the W. R. Strong Company of Sacramento, pioneers in shipping vegetables, who shipped the first carload of vegetables out of the state. Mr. Bagnall was with the company eight years, and worked in the various departments of seed, flower, fruit and vegetables. At the time he severed his connection with the company he was district manager of the seed department. Afterwards he engaged with the Earl Fruit Company, with whom he remained five years. He was the company's district agent in El Dorado

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County, engaged in buying and shipping fruit, with headquarters in that county. The next three years he held the same position with the Producers Fruit Company in El Dorado County, and then became allied with the Pioneer Fruit Company of Sacramento as district deputy agent for the northern counties, in charge of packing and shipping fruit. In 1914 he came to Southern California and was house manager for the American Fruit Distributors at Redlands. Afterward, for one year, he was house manager for the Placentia Mutual Orange Association, at Placentia. In 1917 he became associated with the Benchley Fruit Company until the fall of 1918, when the American Fruit Growers, Inc., started their plant at Fullerton, and he came with them in the capacity of foreman.

Mr. Bagnall's marriage united him with Miss Nina B. Mack, a native of Illinois. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Anaheim Lodge No. 1345 B. P. O. Elks, and the Suisun Lodge of Eagles. Mr. Bagnall's success is due to industry, intelligent energy rightly directed and integrity. These qualities, coupled with wide experience gained in the many important positions he has held during his business career, have placed him in the front rank among the experts in his line of business.

WILLIAM W. CROSIER .- A prominent Orange County dealer in lumber who has had the advantage of having had a valuable experience in other important lines of activity, is William W. Crosier, partner with Fred J. Crosier in the Newport Beach Lumher Company firm, and a thoroughly dependable "booster" for Newport Beach. He was born in Battle Creek, Mich., on August 12, 1854, and left his native state when he was ten years old, moving to Ontario County, N. Y., where his father farmed. He was Jefferson Crosier, a native of New York, who was both born and married in the Empire State, choosing for his wife Miss Helen Blodgett. After their marriage, they moved to Battle Creek, Mich .; and then they returned to New York state. William thus attended the public schools in both Michigan and New York.

When old enough to push out into the world for himself, he took up office work in the freight department of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad at Cleveland; and later he entered the service of the Santa Fe, their officials in Cleveland inducing him, . at the height of the boom in 1888, to come out to California and Los Angeles. He had previously married, at Cleveland, Miss Millie Mount, and he was the head of a family of two children when he first saw the City of the Angels. Later, he came to Santa Ana, as agent for the Santa Fe; and until three years ago, he made his home there, although fifteen years ago he quit railroading and embarked in lumbering instead, to the great benefit and satisfaction of Balboa, Newport Beach and Harper precinct, all of which places, thanks in part to the Newport Beach Lumber Company, are building up rapidly and at the greatest economic advantage. Three of Mr. and Mrs. Crosier's children are still living, and they are Mildred I., Florence B. and Fred J. Crosier, and with their parents they live at Balboa. They attend the First Baptist Church at Santa Ana, mem- bership in which Mr. Crosier has had for years, and where he is and has long been a deacon.

The Newport Beach Lumber Company has had an interesting history with a significance greater than that of mere commercial interest. Originally, the yard was started by the Griffith Lumber Company and the Pendleton Lumber Company, who owned it jointly; and in 1915 Mr. Crosier bought out the half-interest of the Griffith concern, and two years later the other half-interest of the Pendleton Company. It is the only yard at Newport Beach, and in its supplying of lumber, roofing, cement, stucco, and builders supplies generally it renders an invaluable service to residents and mer- chants for miles around.

VERNON C. MYERS .- One of the most popular city officials of Fullerton, Vernon C. Myers, the fearless and courageous city marshal, is a native of Saint Joseph, Mich., where he was born March 20, 1885. In 1900 he came to California and during his boyhood days was engaged as a bell-boy in various hotels in California, principally in the cities of Stockton, Sacramento and Fresno. In 1901 he became possessed of a desire to see more of the world, to engage in a more adventurous life, and to fulfill his earnest longing for a complete change of environment took a trip to Dawson, Alaska, where he remained for one year and then returned to California. In 1902 he became a professional jockey and was engaged in horse racing at Emeryville, Cal., and at Port- land, Ore. Among the well-known sportsmen who employed him were Billy Murray and Walter Jennings. In the course of time he became too heavy for a jockey and so gave up the sport and sought other employment, accepting a position with the Los Angeles Gas Company for a time, after which he was appointed to a place on the police force of Los Angeles, becoming a motorcycle officer, patrolling the highways in search of speeders. He spent five years in the service of the police department, two of which he was located in the Sawtelle district.

W.W.Crosier

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In the spring of 1917, Mr. Myers resigned to accept his present responsible post as city marshal of Fullerton, where he has been eminently successful in the discharge of his duties and has by his undaunted spirit and intrepid action freed Fullerton of criminals, to a large extent, and reduced the city's record of crimes to a minimum. Mr. Myers conducts the affairs of his office along the latest methods established in police departments of large cities. He has introduced into the Fullerton department the finger print system of identification, as well as the photographing of criminals. Few towns the size of Fullerton can boast of having such an up-to-date system. Among notorious holdup men Marshal Myers succeeded in capturing were Joe Marino and Ralph Carvornal. Mr. Myers is the owner of a pair of English bloodhounds, from the celebrated Rockwood Kennels at Lexington, Ky. He is training these dogs to become experts in tracking criminals and believes that ninety per cent of Orange County criminals could have been apprehended, if bloodhounds had been used. Mr. Myers has already made a name for himself in the discharge of his official duties.

In 1911, Mr. Myers was united in marriage with Miss Alma J. Finch of Minne- apolis, Minn., and they are the parents of three children: James, Delta and Luella. Fraternally Mr. Myers is a member of Anaheim Lodge No. 1345, B. P. O. Elks and of Fullerton Lodge of the Odd Fellows.

SAMUEL W. WHIPPO .- The efficient and successful foreman of the Fullerton Mutual Orange Distributors Association, S. W. Whippo, was born at Parkers Landing. Pa., January 27, 1889, a son of G. W. and Mary D. Whippo. The father was a rig building contractor principally in Butler and Armstrong counties and was among the pioneers of that section of the Pennsylvania oil fields. After finishing his school days, Samuel assisted his father in the construction of oil rigs. Like many another ambitious young man seeking greater opportunities for his abilities, Mr. Whippo migrated to the Golden State, arriving in Orange County in June, 1908, where he immediately secured employment with the Birch Oil Company, on the Birch lease in Brea Canyon, later for the West Coast Oil Company at Olinda.

After spending five years in the oil fields, on January 1, 1914, he entered the employ of the Fullerton Mutual Orange Distributors Association and worked in all the departments of the packing house until he gained a thorough knowledge of the business. At the expiration of four years, his service had been so efficient and loyal to the company that his abilities were recognized and on January 1, 1917, he was appointed to the responsible position of foreman of the plant. His close attention to details and natural executive ability gained for him this position as an overseer of a large number of employes, in whose welfare he takes the greatest interest and dis- charges his duties with justice and impartiality to all.

In Anaheim, Mr. Whippo was married to Miss Bertha Rickenberg, a native of Illinois. This union has been blessed with two children: Irene Alberta and Donald Leon. Mr. Whippo is a member of the First Methodist Church of Fullerton.

ALEX. HENDERSON .- With all the sturdy characteristics of his Scottish an- cestors, Alex. Henderson has made his way in life with no further aid than his own determination to succeed, and the perseverance and steady application which make for success in any walk of life. Born in the Parish of Leslie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. .March 31, 1866, when five years of age his parents, Peter and Margaret Henderson, brought him to Ontario, Canada, locating in Winterburn, and there he was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools. When nineteen years of age he was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade under Fleming Brothers at Ravenna, Gray County, Ontario, where he received able instructions for a period of three years. After this he followed the trade in Pt. Dover, then in Kitchener and next in Breslau. He had a brother, Peter Henderson, who was employed by one of the pioneer oil companies in the Puente field in California and through correspondence he became much interested in the Pacific Coast country and concluded to cast in his lot in the land of sunshine and flowers. Thus seeking new fields for his labors, in January, 1892, Mr. Henderson arrived in Fullerton, Orange County, Cal., and here opened up a blacksmith shop on Spadra Street. He was advised by the people round about that a shop would not pay in that location, but he thought otherwise and his foresight proved his business sagacity, for success attended his labors and for twenty-six years he was in business in Fuller- ton. In 1912 he had invested in eighteen acres of raw land on East Orangethorpe Avenue, which he planted to Valencia oranges; here he built his home, a fine two-story structure, and can spend the rest of his days enjoying the beautiful surroundings made possible by earlier years of energy and thrift. He also owns a five-acre walnut grove on South Highland Avenue, and other town property in Fullerton. At the time he retired from business, in 1914, he was one of the oldest blacksmiths in the county and though he was still hale and hearty he quit to devote his time to his orange and walnut orchards.

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In Ontario occurred Mr. Henderson's marriage to Miss Jessie Watt, a native of Ontario, and one child has blessed this union, James, attending school in Fullerton. She is also of Scotch descent, the daughter of Lawrence and Jessie (Smith) Watt, born in Aberdenshire, Scotland, who settled in Canada. By his former marriage Mr. Hen- derson had two daughters: Agnes Jessie, who died at 18; and Edith, Mrs. Anderson, of Los Angeles. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church in Fullerton.

Mr. Henderson was made a Mason in Anaheim Lodge, F. & A. M., and was a charter member of Fullerton Lodge No. 339, F. & A. M., and he is also a member of the Foresters. A warm friend and colleague of the late Chas. L. Ruddock, he served for some time under him as deputy city marshal of Fullerton and was pronounced a very able officer. He has from his first residence in Orange County been public-spirited to a high degree, always interested in whatever meant the forwarding of the welfare of his home community, and ready to back his interest with substantial help and the time necessary for furthering such projects. Coming to this section of California at the beginning of its upward climb, he has watched its development from small beginnings just as his own affairs have prospered, with a just pride in both his own unaided achievements and the growth and advancement of his town and county.

THOMAS EADINGTON .- Another one of the many Englishmen who have con- tributed so much, in one way or another, to the development of the best interests of California, is Thomas Eadington, the efficient and affable buyer and shipper of citrus fruit located at Placentia. He was born at Lancaster, England, September 26, 1886, and grew up on the banks of the Lune, not far from its entrance into the sea, near the hill upon whose summit is the castle fortress, erected by John of Gaunt. His birthplace is doubly interesting as the city which affords the title of Duke to the Prince of Wales. Mr. Eadington's father was George Eadington, a business man and contractor of Lan- caster, who married Mary E. I'Anson. Both parents are now dead.

Having attended the excellent common schools of England, Thomas, at the age of eighteen, took up stock brokerage in his native city, and continued a broker for several years. In 1911, he migrated to the United States, and almost immediately came to California. At Los Angeles he joined a firm of engineers and contractors as secre- tary and treasurer, but in 1915 he came to Fullerton as the secretary of the Benchley Fruit Company, in time becoming also treasurer and manager of the concern, which prospered greatly under his initiative and at the same time was an active member of the Fullerton Board of Trade. In 1920 he resigned and established himself as a fruit shipper under the name of Placentia Packing Company, with packing houses in Pla- centia, where as an independent shipper he makes a specialty of shipping all citrus fruits, i. e., oranges, lemons and grapefruit. He has remodeled his packing house, so now it is most modern and up to the minute for grading and packing citrus fruits.

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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 155

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