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 161

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 161

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A. F. Stohlmann, the subject of our sketch, enjoyed the best common school edu- cation that the country schools of his district, supplemented by the help his parents gave, could afford, and becoming early interested in carpenter work, he soon learned the carpenter's trade under the supervision of a brother-in-law. At that time he worked for a dollar a day and his board, and it is safe to say that he earned every penny of it.

He was not satisfied, however, to stay at home, and when the first opportunity to come out to the Pacific Coast presented itself, he was wide-awake to avail himself of the chance. He accompanied a rich uncle, who was a shipper and raiser of stock, and landed in Los Angeles in the spring of 1904. This uncle was E. F. Kleinmeyer, who continued to deal heavily in livestock, and he worked for him at carpentering.

In 1906 he purchased the sixteen-acre ranch which he has since greatly improved, and he also took water stock in the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company. Now he has ten acres of Valencia oranges in full bearing and the balance in walnuts. He uses a tractor and other up-to-date farm implements and machinery. This ranch work monopolizes all his time and attention, which is rather a pity, for Mr. Stohlmann is a

Amalia Lotje

Paul John Lotze

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contractor and builder of no mean order and has again and again demonstrated his superior ability.

On April 28, 1910, Mr. Stohlmann was married to Miss June Baker, a native daughter born at Orange on June 17, 1893. Her father was M. A. Baker, a rancher at Fairview, in Orange County, and at Fairview she was educated. Five children were granted this worthy couple, and three in God's providence have survived: Frank Martin is deceased, having passed away on March 31, 1918; Alton Theo; Melvina May; Lorina June, born on December 23, 1916, died on May 1 of the following year; and Alvin Laverne. The family are active members of the Lutheran Church at Olive, and reside in a beautiful home erected in 1910, where they dispense a hospitality thoroughly Californian. Mr. Stohlmann is a Republican in matters of national political import, but first, last and all the time an American. As a result, he and his family did their full duty as American citizens in the recent trying times of the World War.

PAUL JOHN LOTZE .- There is ample opportunity in Fullerton for the exercise of the energies of those engaged in the plumbing business, and the proprietor of the Plumbing and Sheet Metal Works, in that city, Paul John Lotze, is well known as a superior workman in this industry. A native of Germany, he was born November 29, 1884, and is the fourth child in order of birth in William M. and Augusta (Simnig) Lotze's family of seven children. The father, an engineer by occupation, brought his family to California from Germany in 1900, his son Paul John having preceded him to America a year previous.

Paul John acquired his education in the public schools of Germany, and at the age of fifteen, in 1899, he emigrated to the United States, locating first in Kansas, where he remained three years working on a farm and during the winter attending school. He then journeyed west to San Bernardino, Cal., in 1902, where he remained six years, and in the meantime learned the plumbing and sheet metal trades. In January, 1908, he located at Fullerton, Cal., and established his business, beginning on a small scale and has grown and prospered ever since its inception, and in which he keeps three people employed. Among the excellent work he has done may be mentioned the plumbing in the Fullerton high school, and in the Evangelical Association Church at Anaheim, the plumbing in the residences of H. C. Ruggles, George L. Vance, J. R. Car- hart. C. C. Chapman, and many other of the best residences in the community, as well as doing work for the city of Fullerton. In 1920, Mr. Lotze erected a very modern business establishment on a lot that he owned at 124 West Commonwealth Avenue. Here he has his office and display room, as well as his workshop. The work done by Mr. Lotze is his best advertisement and he is desirous of satisfying his patrons.

The marriage of Mr. Lotze on June 30, 1910, united him with Miss Amelia Matilda Holve, a native of Germany, who came to California to make her home in 1907. They are the parents of three children-Clarence, Walter and Lucille. The family home is located on an acre of ground on South Highland Avenue, Fullerton, and the land is a fine orange grove in full bearing. Mr. and Mrs. Lotze are members of the Evangelical Association. In politics Mr. Lotze is an independent voter, supporting the best men and measures. Fraternally he belongs to the Fraternal Brotherhood. Not a little of the success achieved by this enterprising business man is the result of the encouragement and cooperation of his wife, to whom he readily gives much credit. Honorable in his dealings, industrious in disposition, his influence is ever used un- sparingly in promoting the welfare of Fullerton, and his many friends esteem him for his public zeal and his many excellent characteristics.

ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, OLIVE .- Prominent among the agencies making for permanent uplift in Orange County must be mentioned St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Olive, now under the able direction of Rev. William A. Theiss, U. A. C. of the Missouri Synod. A native son, and therefore an American thoroughly familiar with California conditions, Mr. Theiss was born at Oakland on November 9, 1889, the son of Professor J. G. and Lena (Bahls) Theiss of that city, and received his early education at the Parochial School in Oakland, presided over by his father. He then studied at Concordia College at Milwaukee, preparatory to his final course at Concordia Seminary at St. Louis.

When he was married, at the home of the bride in Milwaukee on August 19, 1913, Mr. Theiss chose for his wife and helpmate Miss Emma Juds, the daughter of August and Bertha Juds of Milwaukee. In that city she was born on January 24, 1887, and there she was educated, living at home with her parents until she was married.

The first charge of Rev. Mr. Theiss was at Petaluma, where he continued until 1916, and then he came to Olive and has since been the indefatigable pastor of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Two living children, Eleanor M. and Waldemar A., have blessed the home life of Reverend and Mrs. Theiss; and in the busy world

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this estimable pair have found congenial work in vigorously supporting the Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives, during the late World War.

The history of St. Paul's Church is full of interest. In 1907 ten active members of the St. John's Lutheran Church at Orange, all residing at Olive, asked their release in order to found a Lutheran Church at Olive; and this request having been granted by the congregation of St. John's, St. Paul's was founded when the present school building served as the main church edifice. On November 3, 1912, the corner stone of the new church was laid, and that year saw the completion of the edifice. From the small beginning noted, the church has grown until there are now 140 communi- cants, of whom forty-nine are voting members.

Important among the various activities of the church should be noted the thorough and patriotic work done by the Parochial School, with forty-eight pupils, under Prin- cipal A. W. Schmid. The sessions are held in the old church building, and the attend- ance is on the steady increase.

JOHN LE BARD .- For the past thirteen years John Le Bard has been a resident of Orange County. He is an experienced rancher of the San Joaquin precinct, where he operates a 500-acre ranch devoted to the culture of beans. He employs from fifteen to twenty hands on the ranch, and some years the ranch has yielded as high as twenty sacks of beans per acre.

He is a native of Milton, Union County, Pa., where he was born October 29, 1861, and was reared and educated in his native state and county. When eighteen he migrated to Ft. Dodge, Kans., where he rode the range on a large cattle ranch, the "R Bar S," becoming adept at roping and riding. Afterwards he was in the employ of government contractors hauling and delivering goods between Camp Supply, Indian Territory, and Ft. Elliot before the time of railroads across the continent, and he is full of remini- scences of many interesting experiences that occurred during the seven years he was thus engaged.

In 1891 he removed to California and located near Fillmore in Ventura County and engaged in farming, and in 1906 came to Orange County, where he has since resided. He is the son of Joseph and Sarah Le Bard. The father, a veteran of the Civil War, serving in a Pennsylvania regiment, was wounded while in the service of his country. In his youth the father followed a seafaring life for a number of years. Of the parental family of eight children five are living, and three of the number are residents of Cali- fornia: James, R. B. and John, our subject.

On April 3, 1893, Mr. Le Bard was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Mc- Donald, born in Truro, Nova Scotia; she was a daughter of Wm. and Lillian (Suther- land) McDonald. The father died in Nova Scotia and Mary came to California with her mother when she was nineteen years old. Mrs. McDonald spent her last days with Mrs. Le Bard, passing away in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Le Bard's union has been blessed with ten children, eight of whom are living: Adam served in the Third Supply Train in the World War and now resides in Santa Ana; Viola, a graduate nurse also lives in Santa Ana; Aubrey served at Camp Lewis, and is now assisting his father; Thomas served overseas in the World War and is also assisting on the home farm; Harry, Roy, Hugh and Grace. Mr. Le Bard is a Republican and fraternally is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

S. L. PUGH .- A well-posted, successful oil man who thoroughly understands his business is Solomon Leonard Pugh, the former superintendent of the Heffern Oil Company, now connected with the Orange County Drilling Company, a contracting concern; he is also growing oranges on his splendid nine-acre orchard, thereby demon- strating his knowledge of horticulture as well as of oil. He was born in Romney, Hampshire County, W. Va., on July 25, 1880, the son of J. W. Pugh, a farmer who came to Missouri and now resides at Mansfield in that state. He had married Miss Lillian Burkheimer, a West Virginian, and she also is living. Our subject is the oldest of the seven surviving children, and was brought up in Virginia until four years of age.

Going to Missouri with his parents, he attended the public schools there, and in that same state, on September 16, 1902, was married to Miss Lena B. Christner, after which he followed farming. He purchased a farm in Douglas County and operated it with success until he came to California in 1910.

Landing at Bakersfield, he entered the oil business, first for the Howell and Davies Oil Company, and then for several companies in Taft. He next entered the service of the Head Drilling Company, and after that with the Associated Oil Company in Taft. In 1917, he removed to Brea, to work for the Amalgamated Company, and then he helped drill four wells for the Head Drilling Company.

In 1919, Mr. Pugh became superintendent of the Heffern Oil Company, and he was also made a stockholder and a director. They have about 300 acres in their lease,

Raymond @ Finch

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

so that he had a position of much responsibility. He belongs to the Oil Workers' Union, and is likely to do his full share in the development of Orange County's hidden and untold liquid wealth.

Three children were granted Mr. and Mrs. Pugh, two still living-Thelma Marie and Everett Fowler. Mary Lillian died, aged two years and eight months. Mrs. Pugh attends the Baptist Church; Mr. Pugh belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and has been affiliated with that organization since he was eighteen years old. In national politics he is a Democrat; but he does not favor party politics in local movements. In 1918 he traded his Missouri farm for a nine-acre ranch, set out to Valencia oranges; he has a fine home there and enjoys the alternation of ranching with his oil interests.

RAYMOND C. FINCH .- A well-educated, progressive and highly successful young orchardist, operating according to the last word of science and with the most approved methods and appliances anywhere to be obtained, is Raymond C. Finch, tenant-proprietor of the celebrated Finch ranch, well situated on North Main Street, about midway between Santa Ana and Orange. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 14, 1890, and grew up in that city until the beginning of his teens, when he came to California with his parents. His father, Charles Finch, engaged in the oil business at Bakersfield and later conducted a meat market at Los Angeles, where he died in 1907. He acquired ten acres of excellent land at the above mentioned site, and it is this ranch of walnut, apricot, Valencia and Navel orange trees belonging to the Finch estate which Mr. Finch is now managing.

Mrs. Finch, whose maiden name was Elizabeth I. Robinson, died on the home ranch in the month of November, 1918, at the age of fifty-eight, much loved by her family and friends. She left five children, Alfred W., Raymond C., Jennie, John and Leonard, all of whom have succeeded in the world.

Raymond Finch enjoyed the superior advantages of an educational training at the Harvard Military School in Los Angeles, and in 1911 he began to farm. Since then he has been attaining more and more success, and consequently more and more enjoying the esteem of fellow ranchers who like to see enterprise and common sense operations in their field. Mr. Finch takes a live interest in the various political and sociological questions of the day, and stands ready at all times to "lend a helping hand."

WILLIAM J. OELKE .- The fumigating of orange groves has developed into one of the important adjuncts of citrus growing in Southern California, and the men, expert in this line of business, are indispensable to the productiveness of this principal indus- try of Orange County. Among these, William J. Oelke is well known throughout the district and is kept busy by an ever-increasing demand for his services.

Born in Summit, Essex County, N. J., June 14, 1891, when a lad he learned the trade of carpenter and followed that occupation in his native town until he located in Anaheim, in 1909. For four years after his arrival here he worked in the oil fields, doing rig building and carpenter work. In 1913 he started in as a fumigator and became foreman for the two leading fumigators in Orange County, Mr. Coffman and Mr. Bon- kosky. He had charge of the crews for these contractors and gained a thorough knowledge of the business. In the summer of 1919 he decided to go into the fumigating contracting business for himself, and in partnership with his brother, Carl F., formed the firm of Oelke Bros., which continued one year and proved very satisfactory, in fact, they had more work than they could handle with their equipment. In January, 1920, W. J. Oelke became sole owner and he has been adding enough equipment to enable him to take care of the rapidly growing business. The first season Oelke Bros. treated 70,000 trees, their territory covering the entire citrus belt of Orange County; Mr. Oelke contracts work by the tree and the gas is paid for by the owner of the grove.

William J. Oelke has made a thorough study of tree fumigating and is one of the best informed men in that line in the county. He is the first man in the Anaheim, Fullerton and Orange districts to do daylight fumigating, heretofore all the work being done at night, and has been very successful with daylight work. When he entered the business the work was done on the trees every other year; now many of the growers are fumigating every year. Mr. Oelke states that fumigating stimulates the tree and adds to its growth and advocates yearly fumigating. In connection with his work he advises with the grower, examines the grove, and in other words, acts as a "tree doctor." He has gained many friends among the growers and takes pride in having them find his work always thorough and satisfactory.

The marriage of William J. Oelke united him with Miss Osa A. Pontius, a native of Indiana, and one daughter, Coral, has blessed their union. Mr. Oelke is a member of Anaheim Lodge No. 1345, B. P. O. Elks.

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ESTABAN AND PETER OYHARZABAL .- Among the enterprising ranchers of San Juan Capistrano are Estaban and Peter Oyharzabal, natives of Basses-Pyrenees, France, born in Canton Hasparren, Arrondissement Bayonne, in 1877 and 1882, respec- tively. Their father, Jean Oyharzabal, was a business man and farmer, and died in that country. Their mother, who was Graciosa Amestoy, is still living in the vicinity of the old home, the mother of seven children, three of whom are in California; Domingo, a sheep raiser at Bakersfield, and the two brothers in Capistrano. The Oyharzabal boys were brought up in the region of the Pyrenees, receiving a good education in the local schools and at the college in Mauleon, and later at Larressore. When sixteen years of age Peter left for South America with a sister. Arriving at Buenos Ayres, he found em- ployment, and in 1899 his brother Estaban joined him. They had two uncles, Domingo and Estaban Oyharzabal, who were early settlers of San Juan Capistrano, where they were prominent merchants, so they resolved to migrate to California, and in 1904 the two brothers came on to San Juan Capistrano, where they entered the employ of their uncles, riding the range and became proficient in the care of cattle, learning to rope and brand. Later Peter entered his uncles' store as a clerk and Estaban became manager of the Oyharzabal ranch of 4,000 acres and they continued in their respective capacities until May, 1920, when the two brothers formed a partnership, leased their uncles' ranch and engaged in ranching.

The two brothers own a fine ranch of seventy-four acres on the Capistrano River, twenty-five acres being in walnuts. They also lease and operate a part of the E. Oyharzabal ranch, which they devote to raising grain, alfalfa and walnuts. The whole is under irrigation from their individual pumping plant and thus they are en- gaged in general farming. Peter Oyharzabal was married in Capistrano on April 24, 1911, to Miss Crecencia Leon, a native daughter of San Juan Capistrano, the daughter of Don Incarnacion and Juana (Mendes) Leon, born in Sonora, Mexico, who were early settlers of Capistrano, where Mrs. Oyharzabal was reared and educated in the public schools. Mr. Oyharzabal is a member of the Walnut Growers Association and in politics favors Republican principles.

G. FRED PRESSEL .- A self-made man, and public-spirited as are all men of the calibre to succeed against obstacles, G. Fred Pressel is numbered among the early pioneers of Anaheim, where he has prospered with the growth of the community and has reached a position of real success in life. A native of Obermetzbach, Bavaria, Germany, he was born December 22, 1855, and, after finishing his schooling, served three years in the army. At the age of fourteen he began the trade of a blacksmith under his father, John Pressel, and followed this work in his native land until after his father's death.

Coming to California in 1887, Mr. Pressel went direct to Anaheim, and after his arrival worked one year for Boetticker, the blacksmith, on the spot on West Center Street where he now owns his own blacksmith shop. He then located in Portland, Ore., and worked for four and a half years in a machine shop. Returning to California, he operated a shop of his own in Monrovia for a year; then selling out, in 1891, he went back to Anaheim with $300 capital, with which he bought ont his old employer and continued the business at 218 West Center Street. In 1910 he took his son Carl in as a partner and built a new shop, and was actively engaged there until September, 1915, when he retired on account of an injury to his right arm. Since then he has remodeled his building for a garage, now occupied by the Franklin Motor Company. A man of strict business integrity and farsighted in his selection of a site for future endeavors, he has increased his original capital over one hundred times, and has in the meantime taken an active part in the civic and business growth of the community. At one time he owned a twenty-acre orange grove at Placentia, which he sold. He now makes his home at 403 East Broadway, and also owns an orange grove of three and a half acres at 300 West Santa Ana Street. On retiring, Mr. Pressel sold his business to his son, who is carrying on the enterprise on Oak and Clementine streets, with the characteristic attention to details, which makes for success.

Twice married, Mr. Pressel's first wife was Margaret Mueller, a native of Ger- many, and she passed away in 1914, leaving three children: Carl, who carries on the blacksmith business, is an Odd Fellow and an Elk; Margaret is the wife of Thomas L. Hoag; and Kate, the wife of C. O. Vannatta; both sons-in-law are Masons. An example of Mr. Pressel's fine spirit may be found in the fact that he has built three fine houses, one for each of his children, on South Clementine Street, and presented to them as wedding gifts. The family are members of Zion's Lutheran Church at Anaheim.

Mr. Pressel's second marriage took place in San Francisco, when he was united with Mrs. Alma (Gerick) Miller, a union that has proven very happy to them both. She was born in Berlin, Germany, and came to Illinois with her parents, later removing

Pedro Ohayalas Crecencia Cyharzabal.

E. Cyharzabal

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to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Her parents afterwards returned to Chicago, where they resided until their death. Alma Gerick attended school in Council Bluffs, and it was in the former metropolis that she married Mr. Miller, who was engaged in the real estate business in Janesville, Wis .; he also built and owned eight bowling alleys in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. In 1909 Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to Cali- fornia and were among the first settlers of Brea, building one of the first two houses erected in that place. They also built two stores and the first livery barn, and pur- chased a ranch at Inglewood. They returned to Janesville, Wis., in 1912, and there Mr. Miller passed away in 1916. After settling her affairs there Mrs. Miller came back to California to look after her property, and located at Anaheim, from which place she superintended her interests, and she still owns her business property at Brea. In Anaheim she met Mr. Pressel and the acquaintance resulted in their marriage May 12, 1919. She was a prominent member of the Janesville Rebekah Lodge No. 171, and a past noble grand, and was representative to the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. She is now a member of Lois Rebekah Lodge of Anaheim, as well as the Royal Neighbors, and takes much pleasure in her membership in the Ebell Club. She is also a member of the ladies' society of Zion's Lutheran Church and the Woman's Relief Corps, while politic- ally Mr. and Mrs. Pressel are both strong Republicans. Mrs. Pressel is a cultured, refined woman, her taste for the beautiful finding expression in her work as an artist, in which she shows much ability, her home being replete with her own handiwork of paintings on canvas and china and water-color work.

In 1909, Mr. Pressel, accompanied by his two daughters, made a six months' trip to Europe, where he visited the old home and many other places of interest on the continent, but returned to Anaheim more pleased than ever with his adopted land.

FELIX STEIN .- One of the enterprising merchants of Orange County, Felix Stein has progressed with the growth of this section, and has reached an assured position in the community. His birth took place many miles away, in Barton, Ger- many, February 8, 1888. When a youth of sixteen he landed in New York City, in the year 1904, and for a few years he was in the employ of a wholesale clothing company there. The year 1908 marked the arrival of Mr. Stein in Fullerton, Cal., and in the spring of that year he entered the employ of Stern and Goodman, mercantile firm, as a clerk. Later he was manager for their branch stores at Anaheim and Olinda for a time. Then, in partnership with Mr. William Fassel he bought out the branch stores of Stern and Goodman in Olinda, Placentia and Yorba Linda, operating the three stores under the firm name of Stein and Fassel. In 1918 they took over the Stern and Goodman store in Fullerton, and Mr. Hax became a member of the firm in that city, and under the firm of Stein, Fassel and Hax they operate a modern and up-to-date grocery and hardware establishment at 100 South Spadra Street: they have put a new front in the store and in keeping with the other mercantile establishments in Fullerton, maintain a high grade of merchandise handled with the efficiency and good management of men experienced in their line of business.

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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 161

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