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 168

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 168

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Frank J. Dauser went to the Placentia schools, there being no Fullerton at that time, and remained at home on his father's farm until he was twenty-two years of age. Then, on February 19, 1901, he was married to Miss Mary Pratt, the ceremony taking place in Anaheim. She was born in Kankakee, Ill., and came to California and West Anaheim with her parents when she was thirteen years old. Her father was John Pratt and the maiden name of her mother was Louise Emling: and the Emlings, as well as the Pratts were well known as pioneers in Illinois. She attended school in

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Kankakee and also in Anaheim, and so saw the life of two great and distinctive regions of the United States.

After their marriage, Mr. Dauser was employed for a while in the planing mills at Fullerton, for Brown and Dauser Company, in time becoming foreman of the yard, serving in that capacity until he decided to engage in ranching, after sixteen years with that company. He then was given charge of the Brown ranch of 20 acres in La Habra which he set to Valencias and lemons, continuing there for four years, when he located on his own ranch purchased from his father. It comprises 10 acres or one- half of the original estate, which is devoted to raising oranges. His land, unusually rich and fertile, is under the Anaheim Union Water Company, and he markets through the Fullerton Mutual Orange Growers Association.

Five children are the pride of Mr. and Mrs. Dauser: Cyril J. has already grad- uated from the high school at Fullerton, now attending Woodbury's Business College in Los Angeles; Mildred attending Fullerton high, and Clarence, Vincent and Dorothy are pupils in the grammar school.

GARDNER W. CLOSSON, D. V. S .- As county livestock inspector of Orange County and veterinary surgeon of Anaheim, G. W. Closson, D. V. S., is carrying on a work of much importance to the prosperity and growth of the district, and his con- scientious attention to his duties has won him the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens in the county. A native of Kansas, he was born in Smith County, July 4, 1881. When six years old he was brought to Lincoln, Nebr., and there attended the public schools. At the age of nineteen he migrated to St. Joseph, Mo., and for two years worked in the stock yards there. He then returned to Missouri and attended the Kansas City Veterinary College, graduating in 1905.

That same year Dr. Closson came to California, and opened the practice of his profession in Santa Ana, since which time he has been in active practice in Orange County and very successful in his methods of treatment, being the oldest veterinary in point of service now in the county. For the past eight years he has been county livestock inspector and has accomplished much good during this term of service, among other things has driven out the Texas fever tick, and made the county reasonably free of glanders. In addition to his professional duties, Dr. Closson maintains a forty-cow dairy one and one-half miles east of Anaheim.

The marriage of Dr. Closson united him with Miss Wilma Crevling, a native of Iowa. Fraternally he is a member of Anaheim Lodge No. 1345, B. P. O. Elks and professionally he is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the state association and of the Southern California branch of that order, of which he is a past president and he is past president of the Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Asso- ciation. In politics he is a stanch Republican. His years of experience and practical knowledge have been of great benefit to the ranchers in Orange County, and combined with his scientific studies, it would be hard to find a man more fitted for the position he occupies in the community.

LEONARD PARKER .- A sturdy pioneer who in early days saw active service in helping to quell the Indian outbreaks in Nebraska, and who has been identified with the development of important interests in California since the middle of the nineties, is Leonard Parker, who was born at Racine, Wis., on May 16, 1851, the son of Fletcher and. Priscilla Parker, farmer-folk and among the first settlers of Racine. They moved to Eden, Fayette County, lowa, in the fall of 1854, that is, the mother and the elder hrother of our subject went there, following the death of the father in Wisconsin, and the former purchased 120 acres of Government land, where they raised stock and grain. Leonard attended the common schools of Iowa when school was kept and work per- mitted, and by industry snatched such education as he could.

When he was seventeen, he and his brother Samuel moved on to Jefferson County, Nebr., and near Meridian the brother took up 160 acres of prairie land, which he devoted to wheat, barley and corn. He joined Company C of the Nebraska Militia and soon had a hand in quieting the Indians. On October 15, 1879, he was married to Miss Mary McKenna, who was born near New York City, and the daughter of Patrick and Margaret McKenna who came to Nebraska in 1859.

In 1881, Mr. Parker moved to Pueblo, Colo., and there he was employed by the Colorado Coal and Iron Company, for the following three years. When he moved back to Nebraska, he settled in Scotts Bluff County, and taking up a quarter section of homestead land, raised grain. He stayed two years on the Nebraska homestead, and then he removed to Portland, Ore., in 1888. He went into well drilling, and for seven years helped to develop the water resources of that state.

On November 29, 1895, Mr. Parker came to California, landing first at Newport Beach but soon coming on to Santa Ana. He made this town his home, but worked in various oil fields, including those at Bakersfield, Brea, Fullerton and Los Angeles,

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as well as Whittier. In 1904, he purchased a ten-acre farm on South Sullivan Street, which he used for truck farming, raising in particular cabbages and squash; and his success in this new undertaking demonstrates his capability in general.

Five children have come to bless the fortunate union of Mr. and Mrs. Parker. Ethel is Mrs. James E. Hone of Los Angeles; Orlando lives on the ranch west of Santa Ana; Llewellyn is on the Irvine ranch; Roy is ranching west of Santa Ana. And last, but by no means least, Clarence is ranching on Buena Vista Avenue. For years, with the Jones Brothers shows, he followed the circus, traveling throughout the United States and Canada doing a contortion act, trapeze work and barrel jacking; but having recently leased some choice land on Buena Vista Street, he has resumed agri- cultural pursuits. On Washington's Birthday, 1919, he married Miss Viola Kaldenberg, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, who came to California to live with her sister, Mrs. Pittman, at Santa Ana. They have been blessed with a daughter, Ione Dora. Mr. Parker is a Republican and a member of the Fraternal Union, in which he is a favorite, esteemed for his wide experience and practical common sense.

WILBUR W. WASSER .- Few among the popular officials of fraternities so well deserve the good will showered upon them as Wilbur W. Wasser, the able secretary of the B. P. O. Elks Lodge No. 794, at Santa Ana. He comes from the Hawkeye State, where he was born in Cedar County, on January 29 of the famous Centennial Year. His father was J. S. Wasser, a cigar manufacturer, although he was originally a farmer. He came to Santa Ana in 1902, and opened a modest factory; and later he retired, and is still living at this place. Mrs. Wasser was Alice Kiser before her marriage, and she became the mother of three children, among whom Wilbur was the only boy. The good mother is now dead.

Wilbur enjoyed the advantages of both the grammar and the high schools at Tip- ton, Iowa, but later had to supplement his studies in the much harder school of practical world experience. He remained with his father on the farm until he married, and then he farmed for himself. On January 2, 1904, he came to Santa Ana, and soon after bought the livery business at the corner of Fourth and French streets, which he conducted for ten years. Then he purchased an orange ranch, which he managed for a year and still owns. Here he enlarged his experience greatly, particularly in the study of human nature-a very valuable asset in his present position of responsibility, requiring foresight, tact and common sense.

In 1915, Mr. Wasser became secretary for the B. P. O. Elks, having the honor to be the first secretary in the Elks' new home. He allows nothing to interfere with his giving the duties of that post his first consideration; but he is still interested in the culture of oranges, and is a lover of outdoor life and sport.

In Cedar County, Iowa, on August 25, 1897, Mr. Wasser was married to Miss Myrta L. Johnson, by whom he had had two attractive children-Alice E. and Donald W. Wasser. Besides belonging to the Elks, Mr. Wasser is a Knights Templar Mason, a member of the Eastern Star and also of the Knights of Pythias. In national politics a Democrat, Mr. Wasser knows no partisanship when it comes to local issues and always works for the best men and the best measures.

RAYMOND T. DIXON .- An enterprising business man is Raymond T. Dixon, the owner of Dixon's Pump Works at Santa Ana. He comes from the Hoosier State, at Vincennes, where he was born on March 10, 1885, and belongs to that army of Indianans who have contributed so much to the broad and permanent development of the Golden State.

He obtained only the usual grammar school education in his home district, and came to California in 1911, following a year after his parents, Charles E. and Mollie (Hobb) Dixon. Before coming West, he had worked at railroading for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad out of Caldwell, Kans., for a couple of years and then engaged in the automobile and garage business in Caldwell for four years.

On arriving in Santa Ana, Cal., 1912, he entered the field of irrigation machinery, and in 1915 established himself in business in Santa Ana handling and installing irriga- tion machinery beginning with a modest capital. Two years later he built his present large factory, which has a floor space 150x150 feet in size, located at corner of Fifth and Garnsey streets. He employs twenty-four men in the making and repairing of irriga- tion machinery, makes a specialty of the Dixon centrifugal turbine pump-one of the best in the country-which he invented and patented, and does work for all parts of Southern California. In addition he also built a foundry to his plant, where he manu- factures cast iron, brass and bronze castings, thus making everything for his pumps but the pipe and shafting, and throughout the factory has a large capacity which he is steadily increasing. He has also invented and patented a front wheel flange for the Samson and Fordson tractors which is shipped to the various agencies in the state.

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His machine shop is equipped with the most modern and up-to-date machinery run by electric power and he is the largest manufacturer of his special line of irrigation machin- ery in Southern California.

On August 17, 1906, Mr. Dixon and Faith Seeber were married; and now they have an attractive family of four children-Louis, Raymond, Vincent and Dorothea. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are Christian Scientists. In national politics a Republican, Mr. Dixon at all times works for the best men and the best measures when local issues are involved, and casts aside partisanship to secure the best ends.

Mr. Dixon was made a Mason in Santa Ana Lodge No. 241, F. & A. M., and was exalted in Santa Ana Chapel No. 73, R. A. M., and is also a member of Santa Ana Council No. 14, R. & S. M., as well as an active member of Santa Ana Lodge No. 794, B. P. O. Elks. Enterprising and progressive he takes a keen interest in his membership with the Merchants and Manufacturers Association as well as the Chamber of Com- merce. Though proprietor, of one of the really important and largest industrial estab- lishments of the city, Mr. Dixon is never so busy that he cannot give some time, sooner or later, to hunting and fishing, and other out-of-door life.

WILLIAM H. ROHRS .- Possessed of the qualities that make for success in life, William H. Rohrs has taken a place among the prosperous horticulturists of Orange, a business he has been familiar with from the time he was a boy.

Mr. Rohrs is a native of Ohio, having been born at Kelly Isle, Buckeye County, that state, on August 23, 1879. His parents were Henry W. and Anna (Cordes) Rohrs who brought their family to California in 1881. His mother passed away, but his father is still living and is a prosperous farmer and very highly respected citizen of Orange. The eldest of a family of five children, Wm. H. Rohrs came to California with his parents when in his second year, so this is the scene of his first recollections. They located first at Wilmington, later coming to Santa Ana in 1882, and here William re- ceived his education in the public schools, which was supplemented by a course in the Orange County Business College under R. L. Bisby. Being the eldest son, Wm. Rohrs early took a hand in the farm work, thus getting a thorough, practical knowledge of its problems and details, so that when he became of age he was ready to start ranching on his own account. In 1900 he purchased a tract of twenty acres of raw land on South Glassell Street, near Orange, which he improved and planted to walnuts and Valencia oranges. Here he put in many years of hard, industrious work, giving his trees the best possible care, and he has had his reward in seeing his ranch develop from the bare land to a prosperous and productive grove, which shows the years of careful cultivation it has received.

On February 9, 1905, Mr. Rohrs was married in Santa Ana to Miss Anna Holz- grafe, a native daughter of the Golden West, born in Santa Ana, the daughter of Fred and Helen (Shield) Holzgrafe. Mr. Holzgrafe was a pioneer manufacturer of Santa Ana, being first located on Fifth and Main streets, and later on Third and Main, where the city hall now stands. After this he purchased the corner of Second and Sycamore, and all these years he did a thriving business in the manufacture of wagons and carriages until he retired in January, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Rohrs are the parents of two children, Lester William and Evelyn Helene. The family are members of the Evangelical Church at Santa Ana. Enthusiastic in the possibilities of development of this favored section, Mr. Rohrs has identified himself with all its progressive move- ments and is a member of the Santiago Orange Growers Association, the Richland Walnut Growers Association at Orange, and of the Commercial Club of Orange. An interesting relic of the Civil War times which Mr. Rohrs treasures in his home is a copy of the issue of April 15, 1865, of the Washington Post, giving the full account of the assassination of President Lincoln and of the assassin, J. Wilkes Booth. He has had this carefully framed so as to preserve it, as its value as a historical memento will increase year by year.

GUSTAF LEANDER .- An expert mechanic who has also made a success of all that he has undertaken in other fields, working intelligently and industriously, and modestly enjoying the well-earned fruits of his labors, is Gustaf Leander, who was born in Sweden on August 12, 1871, and was educated in that country so famous for its schools and completed a course at the Agricultural College at Gotland. He came to America in 1891, landing at New York City, and proceeded directly to Los Angeles, Cal., and learned the machinist trade in the Axelson Machine Shop and then was em- ployed in other shops in Southern California and Arizona. After that, for four years, he worked in the sugar factory at Los Alamitos, where he was employed as the factory mechanic. Tiring of the work, or seeing perhaps a still greater opportunity in the con- fectionery business, Mr. Leander in 1905 came to Fullerton and bought out Steve W. McColloch; and having taken possession, he put a deal of hard work into the enter- prise, with the natural result that business rapidly increased and brought a substantial

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income from the investment. Before the days of the ice plant, he also distributed ice to the Fullerton community, purchasing the crystal blocks from the National Ice Com- pany of Los Angeles and shipping it to Fullerton. He also distributed Los Angeles newspapers and periodicals in the Fullerton and oil well districts, and enlisted a wide patronage. After several years in the confectionery field, Mr. Leander sold out his business to F. E. Copp.

He then purchased fifteen and a half acres on Orangethorpe Avenue, buying the same from J. A. Clark, and devoted ten acres to Valencia oranges and five acres to walnuts; and he obtains water service for irrigation from the Anaheim Union Water Company. After trying his latest venture long enough to form a sensible and helpful opinion, he thinks there is nothing like ranching, and has decided to stick to his trim little farm.

On December 31, 1903, Mr. Leander was married at San Diego to Miss Meriam Pearson, a native of Sweden who came to Minnesota when she was eight years old. She was reared and educated near Duluth, and 1901 came west to California. Two children have blessed this fortunate union, Otto A. and Elna Leander, and they reflect all the good qualities of their worthy parents. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, while Mrs. Leander is a member of the Christian Church in Fullerton.

TOM P. PAPPAS .- If the details of the life of Tom P. Pappas, proprietor of the Chateau Thierry cafe and confectionery, at 116 North Spadra Street, Fullerton, were written, it would make as interesting reading as a tale of fiction. A hero of the famous battle of Chateau Thierry in the late World War, he named his place of busi- ness at Fullerton in honor of that memorable battlefield.

Mr. Pappas was born March 23, 1884, in the ancient city of Athens, Greece, and at the early age of eight manfully assumed life's responsibilities and began to earn his living by selling papers on the streets of his native city, a vocation that some of our most prominent men have followed in early life. In 1906, when twenty-two years old, he came to the United States and engaged in the business of news vender on the streets of Chicago, Il1. Later, in company with his brother William, he entered the confectionery business in Chicago. The young men built up a fine business and became the owners of three confectionery stores. Mr. Pappas disposed of his interest in 1913 and came to California, locating at Whittier, where he opened a confectionery store. He was afterwards intesested in operating a chicken ranch at Montebello. In the fall of 1916 he came to Fullerton and bought out a cigar store and continued business till he went to war.

When the war broke out he sold his business to volunteer his services and enlisted in the One Hundred Forty-fourth Field Artillery (the Grizzly Regiment) and was sent to Camp Kearny. After a week there he was discharged because he was not an Amer- ican citizen. With undaunted courage and commendable zeal he returned to Orange County, took out his first citizen's papers at Santa Ana, and rejoined his regiment at Camp Kearny. After two months at the camp, volunteers were called for to fill up the regiments overseas. He volunteered, was sent overseas to France, became a mem- ber of the Thirteenth Field Artillery, Fourth Division, and was in active service on four different battle fronts, serving as a gunner working a hundred fifty-five six-inch gun. He fought at St. Mihiel, Lorraine, Chateau Thierry and the Argonne. He was gassed at Chateau Thierry, and being rescued from the field he was in the field hospital three weeks and then rejoined his regiment, being in active service until the armistice, when he was again taken ill from the former effects of being gassed and was compelled to remain in the hospital for six months. He then returned to the United States and San Francisco, May 3, 1919, receiving his honorable discharge about a week later, when he immediately returned to Fullerton and purchased the present confectionery estab- lishment from F. Ross, which he immediately remodeled, naming it the Chateau Thierry cafe and confectionery and by close application to business and affability it has become very popular, having indeed made it a most up-to-the-minute place, second to none in the county. He is interested in oil land with Thompson and Goodwin which is leased to the Union Oil Company, who have already obtained two flowing oil wells on their property. Besides he is a stockholder in seven different oil companies in the Richfield district some of them already producing oil.

Being much interested in civic improvement he is also a member of the Fullerton Board of Trade. Fraternally he is a member of the Anaheim Lodge No. 1345, B. P. O. Elks, and a charter member of Post No. 142 of the American Legion. While he gives undivided attention to his business interests, his duties as a citizen and a neighbor are never lost sight of, and his fine war record and indubitable patriotism to his adopted country deservedly entitles him to the consideration and popularity he enjoys among his fellow-citizens.

Jom P. Pappas

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FRED STRAUSS .- The business enterprise long such a characteristic feature of life in Fullerton is well reflected in the well organized and well managed establish- ment of F. Strauss and Company, whose extensive trade is chiefly in men's furnishings and shoes. Mr. Strauss, now an American of the Americans, is a native of Bavaria, one of the most progressive of all the divisions of Germany, so that he represents that fortunate combination of German organization and Yankee aggressiveness. He was born on September 28, 1889, and first came to the United States when he was sixteen years of age-just the receptive period when he would most likely respond to helpful impressions.

His father was Leopold Strauss, a successful merchant now deceased, and he married Miss Ricka Silverman, who survives him. They had four children, and Fred was the youngest of them all. He attended the schools of Bavaria, and about 1905 sailed for America.

For three years he lived in the bustling metropolis of New York, and then, having acquired the spirit of American institutions, he came west to California and located at Fullerton. This was in 1908, and the town was small and unpretentious as compared with today. There was one firm, however, among others worthy of such a growing place, and that was Stern and Goodman. He remained with them until 1917, when duty called him to the national colors.

In that year he enlisted in the U. S. Army, and served overseas for six months in France. On February 28, 1919, at the end of sixteen months, he was honorably dis- charged and returned to San Francisco. Arriving once more in Fullerton, he organized this company, and since has been doing very well. He is a Republican in national politics, but never allows political considerations to interfere with civic duty, local loyalty, business or pleasure, especially hunting and fishing, of which he is particularly fond. As might be expected, Mr. Strauss is a live wire in the Fullerton Board of Trade. Very naturally he is a member of Fullerton Post American Legion and in fraternal life, Mr. Strauss divides his time with the Anaheim Lodge of Elks and the Fullerton Club.

HARRY E. JESSUP .- Among the most enterprising, scientifically-trained ranch- ers at present devoting their best energies to the very important industry, the growing of beans, none has accomplished more for California husbandry, while attaining most profitable success for himself, than Harry E. Jessup, the oldest son of Thomas Jessup, the well-to-do farmer who is ranching both at Garden Grove and on the San Joaquin ranch. His acreage presents what is well termed one of the trim "show places" of the county, and is a delight to the eye of those daily watching the development there of the bountiful crops, and also to those who often come from afar to learn from Mr. Jessup the last word in bean culture.

He was born in Illinois on October 20, 1888, and came to California as a babe, and grew up upon his father's ranches, and attended the public schools at Garden Grove: and while he learned the ins and outs of farming in California under the best of masters, he also acquired the California spirit which has been back of all Orange County push to the fore.

In 1909 he was married to Miss Lillian Beswick, a popular lady of Garden Grove, and just the companion desirable for his future field of work and residence. Two children have blessed their union; and they hear the attractive names, as they them- selves are voted attractive by their many friends, of Catherine and Dorothy.

Mr. Jessup at present has 150 acres in lima beans, while fifty acres are planted to blackeyes. He also has thirty acres in barley. He is a member of the California Lima Bean Growers Association, profits by its service, and takes that intelligent interest in its problems and its work that enables him, from time to time, to contribute toward its prosperity. With all its present make-up, would that Orange County had thousands of ranchers more with the foresight, the reflection, the ambition and the will to do of Harry E. Jessup.

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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 168

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