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 156

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 156

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On July 22, 1913, at Greeley, Nebr., Mr. Eadington was married to Miss Mary IV. Cottam, also a native of Lancaster, England, and the daughter of James and Susanna Cottam; and four children have blessed the union and added to the delightful social ties of the family. They are Thomas J., Mary W., Margaret E. and Grace M. Eading- ton. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church; Mr. Eadington belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and he is also a member of the Elks of Anaheim, as well as of the Fullerton Club. Fond of fishing and tennis-for, as an Englishman, he must needs have some sport-Mr. Eadington rejoices in outdoor life; so that it is perfectly natural that he should be appreciative of all that Orange County, above all other counties, affords to the nature lover and the health seeker, and always ready to "boost" it when he can. It is also natural that he should look upon Fullerton, where he makes his residence, as the choicest home spot in the county.

ELDO R. WEST .- The life of Eldo R. West, the efficient superintendent of the Yorba Linda Water Company, and a prominent citrus grower of Yorba Linda, began in Jennings County, Ind., where he was born September 27, 1879. He was reared on a farm and educated in the country schools, afterwards attending the Indianapolis Normal School. He taught school in Indiana, and in the spring of 1909 came to California, locating on a ranch at Whittier, where he resided two years. He is a pioneer of the Yorba Linda district, and came there before the town of Yorba Linda was in existence. He purchased a ten-acre ranch, planted it to lemons and sold it in two years' time. After coming to Yorba Linda he began working for the Yorba Linda Water Com- pany, and in 1913 was made superintendent. The officers of the company are: J. H. Barton, president; E. R. Walker, vice-president; J. W. Murray, secretary and treasurer. Directors: G. W. Wells, G. F. Collins, Arthur Staley, Thomas Hughes and E. J. Her- bert. The company furnishes water for irrigation and domestic use, and serves nearly 3.000 acres. It started with one well and two booster pumps, and now has four wells and five booster pumps. The wells are 360 feet deep and water is forced through

J. Ladington

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pipes under pressure. The main reservoir holds 4,500,000 gallons of water and the second reservoir holds 1,000,000 gallons. The water is changed every twenty-four hours and is of excellent quality and in fine condition. The company's main pipes are of reinforced steel, and they have thirty-five miles of pipe line. A 240-horsepower gas engine and new booster pump have recently been installed. Water for domestic pur- poses is placed in the homes and measured by meter with a 100-pound pressure. The company have also installed fire hydrants. The two reservoir sites are leased to the General Petroleum Oil Company and the first well is a producer, thus adding a choice asset to the company.

Mr. West married Miss Grace A. Milhous, of Indiana, and four children have been born to them: M. Jessamyn, Myron E., Clara Carmon and Merle. Mr. West built the Yorba Linda garage building, in which he was a half owner until he disposed of his interest. He owns a five-acre ranch planted to Valencia oranges and grapefruit. In his religious convictions he is a member of the Friends Church at Yorba Linda, and fraternally is a Mason, member of Yorba Linda Lodge No. 469, F. & A. M., and of Fullerton Chapter, R. A. M., and with his wife is a member of the Order of Eastern Star. He is respected for his integrity and all who know him appreciate him for the qualities of citizenship he has displayed during his residence at Yorba Linda.

WAIGHTSTILL A. MOORE .- Occupying an important position with the Stand- ard Oil Company, Waightstill A. Moore, the company's special agent at Fullerton, Cal., was born in Caldwell County, North Carolina, October 4, 1872. He acquired his education in one of the private academies common to the South in those days, and in 1890, when eighteen years old, located at Manhattan, Kans., where he entered the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. He continued in the railway business fourteen years, working his way through the various branches of road work up to the position of conductor, then gave up railroading and engaged in the mercantile business at Manhattan, Kans., following the occupation three years in that city. No- vember 22, 1910, Mr. Moore came to California, locating at Los Angeles, where he entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company as warehouseman, rising rapidly to more important positions with the company. He was their special agent at Santa Ania for two years, 1911 and 1912, and occupied the same position in Pasadena one year, going thence to Slauson Junction station in the same capacity. He came to Fullerton in 1917.

His marriage with Miss Nancy Witten, a native of Trenton, Mo., resulted in the birth of two winsome children, Nancy E. and Mary Nell. Fraternally Mr. Moore is a Blue Lodge Mason, a member of the Chapter and the Commandery, and a Shriner. He is further associated fraternally with the Trenton, Mo., Lodge No. 801, B. P. O. Elks, and is not only one of Fullerton's successful, public spirited citizens, keenly interested in Orange County, but a young man of more than ordinary ability who has won the well-merited success that attends the earnest efforts of a self-made man.

PHILIP W. DAMON .- As treasurer and manager of the Yorba Linda Citrus Association at Yorba Linda, Cal., Philip W. Damon has ably demonstrated his ability as an executive and his good business judgment. He was born December 27, 1888, at Concord, Mass., a city of interest from an historical standpoint and from the associa- tions connected with it as the home of renowned literary celebrities of past days. Young Philip's education was acquired in the public schools of his native city and supple- mented with a course at business college. His first actual business experience was acquired in Boston, Mass., where he held a position as clerk in the Old Colony Trust Company and remained three years. He came to California in 1914 and started as an orange picker in the orange groves at Uplands, San Bernardino County. After two years at Uplands he removed to San Dimas, Los Angeles County, and followed the same line of business, doing packing house work with the San Dimas Lemon Associa- tion. He then became manager of the Fallbrook Citrus Association packing house at Fallbrook, Cal., and in the fall of 1918 came to Yorba Linda, where he became asso- ciated with the Yorba Linda Citrus Association. He was with the company six months when he enlisted in the World War and became a member of the Three Hundred Forty- eighth Field Artillery, Ninety-first Division. He trained at Camp Lewis, accompanied his division overseas and trained in France. His regiment was just ready to go into action when the armistice was signed and was only six miles behind the line during the fighting. Then he spent three months with the Army of Occupation at Coblenz, Ger- many, until he returned to New York in April, 1919, and was honorably discharged at Camp Devens, Mass., the same month. After his discharge from the service he became manager of the Alta Loma Citrus Association at Alta Loma, holding the position four months and going thence to Fullerton to become assistant district manager of the Northern Orange County Fruit Exchange. He returned to Yorba Linda, November 15,

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1919, and was appointed secretary, treasurer and manager of the Yorba Linda Citrus Association, the position he now holds. This company shipped 250 cars of fruit in 1919, and are members of the California Fruit Growers Exchange. Its officers are: L. B. Pike, president; E. Albertson, of Whittier, vice-president; and P. W. Damon, treasurer and manager. Directors: V. C. Dillingham, B. F. Foss, G. W. Wells, E. Jones, and W. E. Swain, all of Yorba Linda. Fraternally Mr. Damon was made a Mason in Corinthian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Concord, Mass., as well as Concord Chapter, R. A. M. A young man of ability and energy, his wide experience in the citrus industry and thorough knowledge of the business make him an able and valuable man for the position he occupies.

SYLVESTER W. MORROW .- A native son of Orange County and the son of one of its most esteemed early settlers, George C. Morrow, Sylvester W. Morrow is justly proud of his father's pioneer history, for it is due to the courageous spirit of those who were identified with the early days of this vicinity that the present generation enjoys much of its prosperity. Sylvester W. Morrow was born on the old family ranch in Villa Park precinct, June 28, 1882, and has grown up in the environment of his childhood days. He attended what was then known as the Mountain View school, now the Villa Park grammar school. Being reared in a locality so largely given over to citrus and walnut culture it was but natural that he early acquired a practical and thorough knowledge of these industries and he now occupies the responsible position of foreman of the 150-acre ranch of Ed Farnsworth, the Santa Ana banker and financier. This choice property, which is devoted to oranges and walnuts, is now in full bearing; until the present year it was part of the great Jotham Bixby ranch and is one of the most valuable acreages in this district, and under the efficient and capable supervision of Mr. Morrow it will undoubtedly yield even more handsome returns.

On November 20, 1918, Mr. Morrow was united in marriage with Miss Flossie Essick, who was born and reared in Iowa, and they are the parents of one son, William W. They make their home on the Farnsworth ranch, six miles northeast of Orange. In 1909 Mr. Morrow was appointed state fire warden and he has served continuously ever since and has often been called upon to take an active part in fighting forest fires. Able, efficient and energetic, Mr. Morrow stands high in the regard of the community as do all the members of his family. In fraternal circles he is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Orange.

JULIAN E. THOMAS .- A rancher who is a decided credit to the Fullerton com- munity, first because of his character, his public-spiritedness and his willingness to par- ticipate large-heartedly in all worthy local movements, and secondly on account of his handsome orange grove which attests the owner's knowledge and care, is Julian E. Thomas, who was born at Hendersonville, N. C., on October 28, 1860, the son of William R. Thomas who had married Miss Minerva Dawson. Great-grandfather Thomas came from Wales and settled in New Orleans; and Julian's grandfather was born in Orange- burg. S. C., while his grandmother came from Newberry, S. C. Julian studied at the Byers Academy near Hendersonville and at the Hendersonville College, while he stayed at home and helped his father on his plantation. Then, on September 26, 1885, he was married near that town to Miss Emma Hollingsworth, who was born and reared in that vicinity and attended the same schools to which Julian had gone. She was the daughter of Isaac and Katherine Hollingsworth, and grew up to become an artist in the designing of dresses and millinery. The couple lived on the old Thomas plantation until April 5, 1888, and then they came out to the Northwest and settled at Ellensburg, Wash. There they engaged in cattle raising and general farming on a ranch of eighty acres, and for sixteen years they pursued agriculture in that state.

In 1905, Mr. Thomas sold his Washington farm and came south to Fullerton; and while making his home here, he followed carpentering for five years. He helped to erect the Dean Block, the Shumaker Building and other notable structures, and with C. H. Smith, the contractor, he engaged in building St. Agnes Church at the corner of Vermont and West Adams streets, Los Angeles.

In 1907. Mr. Thomas bought a ranch on West Orangethorpe Avenue-seventeen and a half acres near the Christlieb ranch; and when he had set out some two acres with oranges, he sold the ranch to Stern and Goodman. In turn, he purchased from Mr. Goodman six acres of vacant land on West Commonwealth and Nicholas avenues, which he has set out to Valencia oranges. He built his own home on the ranch, and there he lives in comfort, applying with his good wife the teachings of Christian Science faith and practice. Two children have brought added happiness to this worthy couple: Ralph is in business in Seattle: and Florence is employed at the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Fullerton. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas take great pride in community development work, and are always among the first to support good works, good schools and other needed and possible reforms or progress.

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FRED C. KRAUSE .- An Orange County financier influential in banking and commercial circles because of his exceptional character, valuable experience and wise leadership making for expansion and development on rational and permanent lines, is Fred C. Krause, the president of the First National Bank of Fullerton, who was born at Sumner, Iowa, on July 15, 1868. His father was Fred Krause, a native of Germany who left the land of his birth because of the tyranny of military service, and who pioneered in Iowa as a rancher. The parents are both deceased, but they are pleasantly recalled in the community in which they lived and labored, as among the builders of the state they adopted as their own.

The youngest child, Fred, enjoyed such advantages as the public school offered, supplemented by three years in Upper Iowa University at Fayette, and four years in the Northwestern College at Naperville, III., from which he was graduated in 1895, with the degree of A.B. Three years of additional study at the Pacific Theological Seminary at Oakland gave him his Bachelor of Divinity parchment in 1899, after which he spent seven years in the ministry of the Congregational Church, being pastor at East Oakland and afterwards at Spokane, Wash, He then went to Southeastern Alaska, where he was pastor of the Congregational Church at Douglas Island for one year and was then appointed United States Commissioner at Fairbanks, filling the office almost four years, when he resigned to enter the banking circles of Newport, Wash., where he organized the Security State Bank, of which he was president for three years.

Selling out his Washington interests, he came south to California and Orange County, and in 1911, bought a ranch at Anaheim, associated with Charles H. Eygabrood. There he became one of the organizers of the Anaheim National Bank, of which he was cashier and later president for five years. During this time, being interested in civics, he served as president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Orange County for one term. In March, 1917, he sold his interest in the bank, and then gave his attention to his ranch and taking a prominent part in the different war drives, serving as chairman of the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

In April, 1918, Mr. Krause purchased a large interest in the First National Bank of Fullerton, of which he is the president, giving it all of his time and contributing materially to the wonderful growth of the institution. He is also president of the Fullerton Savings Bank, an affiliated institution. He is still interested in horticulture, having five different groves in Orange County, most of them in the Richfield district.

On July 17, 1894, Mr. Kranse was married at Dubuque, Iowa, to Miss Adelaide V. Beck, a native of Iowa, who was a student at Northwestern College when they first met, and has been the truest kind of a helpmate ever since. Two children were born to them: Howard A. Krause is cashier of the First National Bank of Fullerton; and Lucile is a student at the University of California at Berkeley. The family are members of the Congregational Church, and Mr. Krause belongs to the Fullerton Club and the Hacienda Country Club at La Habra. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows and is a thirty-second degree Mason as well as a Shriner, When Mr. Krause was a student at Upper Iowa University, he belonged to the National Guard, and as a Republican he has sought to raise the standards of civic life, having rounded out a career that will prove a model and an incentive for the emulation of young men.

WILLIAM E. SCHNITGER .- A painstaking, scientific grower of effective execu- tive force and a worker in mechanical lines, so that he can help not only himself but others in difficult, everyday problems, is William E. Schnitger, the owner of twenty acres of the finest land near Garden Grove, devoted to oranges and walnuts and presi- dent of the Garden Grove Walnut Growers Association. He was born near Water- town, in Jefferson County, Wis., on September 5, 1874, the son of Adolph Schnitger, who had married Caroline Hager. He attended the common schools of his neighbor- hood and grew up on his father's farm, where he worked hard and faithfully, and early developed his talents with all kinds of tools. When about twenty years old he accom- panied his parents, and a brother and six sisters, to California, traveling hither on the last excursion train out of Chicago over the Santa Fe. in November, 1893. Adolph Schnitger had been in California the year previous and had bought forty acres now situated across the road east of William Schnitger's property, known as the Langen- berger Place; and there all went to work with a will. Within a week, however, a younger sister, Ella, was suddenly taken sick and died; and since then his father has passed to the Great Beyond. Mrs. Schnitger is still living, the center of a circle of devoted friends, at Anaheim. There were nine children in the family: Mary, the wife of Rev. J. Schneider, of Oakland; Edwin, of Watertown, Wis., who contemplates re- moving to California; William E., the subject of our review; Lydia, the wife of Martin Fisher, a gardener at Anaheim; Arthur Albert, who married Miss Helen Schneider, of Garden Grove; Pauline, the wife of H. C. Meiser, the orange grower and nurseryman at Fullerton; Ella, who died when she was eleven years old; Esther, a seamstress,

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residing with her mother at Anaheim; and Hattie, who resides at Salem, Ore., and is the wife of Henry G. Carl, a contracting carpenter and builder.

In November, 1897, Mr. Schnitger was married to Geneva E. Sherwood, born in Illinois. Not having children of their own they have adopted two boys, Ralph Merl, and Donald Lincoln Schnitger. Following his marriage, for three years he rented, then purchased his father's place of fifty acres, one and one-quarter miles northeast of Garden Grove, and there he lived until selling out, when he purchased his present place about 1904. Having come to possess exceptional common sense and good judgment, partly as the result of his self-development, Mr. Schnitger made no mistake in choosing the land lying on the north side of the road running east to Orange, only five miles away, and within twenty-five minutes' walk of Garden Grove. Here he has planted Valencia oranges and walnuts, and has brought his place up to a very high state of cultivation. Using scientific and up-to-date methods, and being systematic, he naturally reaps the desired-for results. He has built a very good country residence, and there he and his good wife dispense a generous hospitality. Both his weedless ranch, his symmetrical yards and his clean and well kept buildings speak of the orderly habits of the owner, and his belief in what makes for advancement and progress.

The qualities that made him so successful in matters of business, doubtless had much to do with his selection as one of the directors of the Garden Grove Walnut Growers Association, of which he was first a vice-president and then president. To the latter office he was elevated in 1919; and, concerning the deserved honor of re- election, the Garden Grove News of January 30, 1920, has this to say:

"The Garden Grove Walnut Association held the annual election of directors at the packing house Saturday afternoon. All the old directors were reelected, the roster for the ensuing year being as follows: William Schnitger, F. E. Farns- worth, N. I. Rice, George Cook and F. B. Cleveland. The directors reelected officers as follows: William Schnitger, president; F. E. Farnsworth, vice-presi- dent; C. K. Lee, secretary and manager; George Cook, representative to the Cali- fornia Walnut Growers Association.

"The Association is fortunate in having exceptionally efficient officers, and the business is being handled in a capable and thoroughly satisfactory manner."

VICENTE G. YORBA .- Among the most progressive and, therefore, the most influential, of all the descendants bearing the time-honored name of Yorba, should be mentioned Vicente G. Yorba, the road overseer, rancher and storekeeper at Peralta, the picturesque country village with its type of the Spanish settlement, on the Santa Ana Canyon Boulevard Road, about five miles northeast of Olive, in one of the most beautiful scenic portions of Orange County. He comes of the proud old Catalonian family who once owned the extensive Yorba Rancho.

He was born at Peralta, and is a son of the late Vicente Yorba, and a grandson of Bernardo Yorba, whose family originated in Catalonia, Spain; he first saw the light on December 13, 1874. He attended the Peralta district school, and was married in San Diego to Miss Theresa Marron, a native of that city, and they have had four children: Sophia, Rowena, Leonzio and Horace, all of whom, with himself, attend the Catholic Church. Mr. Yorba's mother was Anita Peralta, a daughter of Rafael Peralta, one of the owners of the Rancho Santa Ana de Santiago, an historical cir- cumstance the more interesting because of the Yorba associations. The Yorba family owned the great Spanish Grant known as the Rancho Yorba, comprising 167,000 acres, and extending from the Santa Ana Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. V. G. Yorba's mother was Vicente Yorba's first wife, and when our subject was about fifteen years old, she died, leaving two children-Philippa, now the wife of Juan Farias, a rancher at Santa Monica, and Vicente G. The father married again, choosing Erolinda Cota of Santa Monica as his wife, by whom he had six children-two boys and four girls. She is still living, and is active as a rancher on the Santa Ana Canyon Road, northeast of Olive. Vicente Yorba, the father, died in 1903, aged sixty-five.

When the father remarried, V. G. Yorba pushed out into the world for himself, and so early embarked upon that career which has made him so self-reliant. He first purchased the ranch he now owns, a very valuable place, beautifully located upon the highway, and there he has built a fine bungalow country house, in which he and his excellent family enjoy all the advantages of up-to-date American life. There are thirty-one acres in the ranch, devoted to Valencia oranges and walnuts. He also bought a ranch at Yorba which he set out to Valencia oranges, now bearing, which he still owns. He is also the owner of a general merchandise store at Peralta, as well as a ranch at Pomona. He is, besides, the popular road overseer, and is serving under Supervisor N. T. Edwards. He is a trustee of the Peralta school district, and for many years has been clerk of the school board. In national politics he is a Republican.

V. G. Horta

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HAROLD L. WILKINS, V. S .- Though a native of a far-off Eastern state, Harold L. Wilkins has spent most of his youth and mature life in Orange County, and has returned from his military experience with fresh enthusiasm for the practice of his profession in his home environment. Born in the town of Saint Clair, Mich., August 24, 1890, when he was seven years old the family moved to Oklahoma, and in 1910, located in Anaheim. Mr. Wilkins obtained his education in the public schools and finished with a course in the high school at Anaheim, and in Throop College, Pasadena.

Deciding on the profession of veterinary surgeon, he entered the San Francisco Veterinary College, and after a three-year course, graduated from that institution in 1917. While engaged in the practice of his profession in San Francisco, he answered the call of his country, and enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Veterinary Unit, Veterinary Reserve Corps, and was called into service just as the armistice was signed and the World War brought to an end. He then resumed his practice in San Francisco, and in June, 1919, returned to Orange County and started his practice in Anaheim and Fullerton, with offices at 219 Chestnut Street, Anaheim, and at the Eureka Stables, 201 South Spadra Street, Fullerton, as a surgeon and dentist, treating horses, cattle, dogs and cats, and, being a lover of animals and understanding them, he has met with splendid success in his work in their behalf.

The marriage of Mr. Wilkins, which occurred in Anaheim, united him with Mary Ranker, a native of Ohio, and one daughter has blessed their union, Virginia. Mr. Wilkins is a member of Anaheim Post, American Legion, and with true American spirit does his share toward promoting the welfare of his home county.

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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 156

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