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 182

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 182

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A man of unusual energy and initiative, Mr. Handy makes a success of any work that comes his way, and in addition to his profitable ranching activities he is also of an inventive turn, which frequently stands him in good stead in his ranching enter- prises. Notwithstanding a very busy life, Mr. Handy retains his prowess as a sports- man and has a fine bungalow and fishing launch at Laguna Beach, where he gets great enjoyment out of the free outdoor life. A firm believer in protection, he is naturally an adherent of the principles of the Republican party.

THEODORE REUTER .- A self-made man who has won recognition as a success- ful rancher, is Theodore Reuter, who was born at the old ranch house at 902 Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, on February 12, 1890. His father, Ludwig Reuter, a native of Germany, married a daughter of that country, Magdalena Herchert; and in 1887. when so many were flocking to California on account of the "boom," they became pioneers of Orange County, following one of Mr. Reuter's brothers, already comfortably settled here, and Mr. Reuter bought eight acres on Fruit and Grand streets.

The second son in a family of four surviving children, Theodore went to the grammar schools in Santa Ana and then took two years of the high school course; and from his seventeenth year he began to give his attention earnestly to agriculture. In 1902, Ludwig Reuter increased his holdings to twenty acres, and in time the family pur- chased and improved other ranches and then sold them at a profit. At present Theo- dore is the manager of nineteen and a half acres, in which two brothers and a sister also have a share. Ludwig Reuter died in March, 1915, aged fifty-four years; but his widow is still living at the old home ranch, aged about fifty-six.

Ludwig Reuter became an early winemaker and also wine merchant of Santa Ana, and the old Reuter home place is a landmark known to thousands throughout the county. The old house, too, was once used in Tustin as the early schoolhouse, and so it still has its associations for many. This structure was removed by the ingenious pioneer, who retained it in good condition. Now Theodore has the management of ten acres of walnuts, and about nine acres of oranges. He belongs to the Santa Ana Walnut Growers Association, and also to the Santiago Orange Growers Association.

On August 25, 1916, Mr. Reuter was married to Miss Dorothy Weber, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Weber of West Garden Grove; and one child has blessed their marriage-the baby, Jean. The family attend the Christian Church, and Mr. Reuter is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood of Santa Ana. In national politics, he is a Republican. Patriotic to the core, Mr. and Mrs. Reuter supported all the Liberty Loan drives during the war.

A sister of Mr. Reuter is Hedwig S., now the wife of Roy W. Angle, master mechanic of the Union Oil Company. A brother is H. A. Renter, and another brother is Ernest A., who is at home. H. A. Reuter, who is connected with the Santa Ana Register, enlisted in the World War, as did his brother, Ernest, in August, 1917; and for two years they both served overseas. E. A. was in the First Division of the Mobile Repair Ordnance; and H. A. was in the Supply Service at Neuf Chateau, France. In 1919, at San Francisco, they received their honorable discharges.

OTTO L. AHLEFELD .- A native of California in all but birth, Otto L. Ahlefeld has lived in Orange County since his third year, so that his memory of his childhood days does not reach beyond its borders. He was born in Lombard, a short distance from Chicago, Ill. January 4, 1894, his parents being George and Louise (Stauch) Ahlefeld, both of whom were born in Germany, the father coming to America from his old home at Hamburg when but a young lad. There were six children in the Ahlefeld family, three of whom are living: Fred E. married Miss Gertrude Lippe of Santa Ana and they are the parents of one child, Richard; Otto L., the subject of this sketch; and Ethel, the only daughter, resides with her parents in Orange.

George Ahlefeld farmed in the vicinity of Lombard, Ill., for a number of years, until 1897, when he brought his family to California, settling near Orange, where he immediately began citrus ranching. He still resides on his original purchase, which he has improved and developed, having erected a comfortable residence on the property some years ago. Otto was reared on the home place, receiving a good education in the public schools at Orange. He early began to help his father on the ranch, so was for- tunate when but a boy in getting a thorough and practical knowledge of the citrus industry. In 1916 he purchased a tract of five acres at Olive and this he has developed and improved, planting it to oranges, and he has had water piped to it for irrigation

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purposes from the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company. In 1920 he made a consider- able addition to his holdings by the purchase of a well developed ranch of ten acres on Palmyra and Santiago Creek. Five acres of this ranch are set to Valencia oranges, while the remainder of the acreage is taken up with the buildings and a thriving walnut orchard. His ranch at Olive is now leased to the Olive Petroleum Company.

On August 30, 1916, Mr. Ahlefeld was married to Miss Verona Strong, born in this county, a daughter of Carl and Alice (Straud) Strong, who were pioneers of Orange and are still ranchers in Los Angeles County, Mrs. Strong being a native daughter of California. One child, Carl G., has been born to Mr. and Mrs .. Ahlefeld. They make their home on the ten-acre ranch which Mr. Ahlefeld purchased this year and here he is devoting his time and energy to bringing the place up to the highest degree of culti- vation. Seeing the benefits accruing from organization among the growers, Mr. Ahle- feld is a member of the McPherson Heights Citrus Association and of the Olive Hill- side Growers Association, also of the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company. Politically he is a believer in the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Lutheran Church at Orange and both of them are active in its circles, where they enjoy a wide popularity.

LEROY A. WARREN .- A\ professional man whose choice of the open-air life of California made him a rancher, and whose common sense and experience have made him conservative in his progressive operations, is Leroy .A. Warren, known to those who really know him as public spirited and patriotic in every particular. He was born in Arkansas City, Kans., on September 14, 1891, the son of Thomas L. Warren, now a business man and property owner at Santa Ana, where he also has a brother in business, Howard T. Warren. Thomas Warren was born in Iowa in 1866, and later moved to Kansas. He had married Miss Elizabeth Wilson, who was born in Ohio in 1862, and they came to Santa Ana on Christmas Eve, 1900, bringing their three children -our subject, an older brother. Martin W. Warren, now in the post office at Santa Ana, and a younger brother. William H. Warren, who is with the Union Oil Company of Santa Monica.

Leroy Warren attended the grammar schools at Santa Ana, and in 1911 was graduated from the high school of this city, after which and during the academic year of 1912-13 he was a student at Occidental College. Then he matriculated at the Santa Barbara Normal school, from which he was duly graduated in 1914. He first taught in the Visalia high school, where he was the athletic trainer for a year, giving instruc- tion as well in the other city schools, and from 1917 to 1919 he was a teacher in the manual arts department of the high school at Santa Ana, and was athletic trainer and football coach at Santa Ana.

In 1919 Mr. Warren retired from his professional work and on April 26 bought three and a half acres of oranges and one and a half acres of lemons at Villa Park-a small ranch, having a fine residence and an orchard. He has five shares in the Serrano Water Company and three shares in the Santiago Well Company, and with this most adequate irrigation he is an independent shipper, and has come to enjoy an enviable reputation for the quality of his ranch products.

On December 28. 1916, Mr. Warren was married to Miss Ruth E. Alexander, of Hollywood, who was a fellow-student with Mr. Warren at the Santa Barbara Normal school. She is a lady of excellent accomplishments, who also taught school. instruct- ing in domestic science at the Inglewood schools. Their one child, James Alexander. was born on May 15, 1918. Mr. Warren supports the Community Church at Villa Park. and under the leadership of the Republican party endeavors to work for improved civic standards.

ALFRED W. LEICHTFUSS .- \ live worker and, therefore, a very live wire in the Orange Men's Club, boasting at present a membership of nearly 150, is Alfred W. Leichtfuss, who was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 1, 1883, the son of August F. Leichtfuss, also a member of that great commonwealth by reason of birth. He was a decorator and a dealer in artistic draperies; and after a long, arduous business career. which enabled him to contribute much toward the proper direction and development of artistic taste in Wisconsin, he came out to California to live in retirement, and now resides with his son, our subject, on the home ranch. He had married Miss Auguste Janicke, a native of Germany, who brought to her aid as his life companion the best traits of womanhood and domestic life in her native land, and a fine appreciation of the social institutions of America and their significance to broad-minded and large- hearted women.

Alfred Leichtfuss attended the local grammar schools in Milwaukee, and from his thirteenth year worked hard for a living. He learned the baker's trade, and was head haker of the busy shop of Beith & Porth, in Milwaukee, continuing in that business

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for four and a half years. He was the third son in a family of nine children, all still happily alive, and he made good as a salesman. He represented, also, the Edgewood Dairy Farm of Wisconsin, and for years traveled extensively for that well-known concern. In October, 1904, he came to Villa Park and worked as a rancher, and now he owns and operates for himself sixteen acres, ten of which are set out to Valencias, three to lemons and three to Navel oranges. By hard, steady work, and in various ways he greatly improved his ranch and raised it to a high state of cultivation.

On August 1, 1905, Mr. Leichtfuss was married to Miss Elsie Knuth, and they have three children, all bright students in the neighboring schools. Their names are Wilfred, Harvey and Lawrence. The family attends the Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Leichtfuss has served on the building committee. He is a member of the Villa Park Orchards and the Central Lemon Growers associations, and he marches in his civic endeavors in the ranks of the Republican party.

MANSON ROUSE .- An enterprising ranchman, with a fine knowledge of horti- culture and full of the progressive spirit of the twentieth century, is Manson Rouse, who was born at San Francisco on September 3, 1897, the son of D. M. Rouse, a native of Agency County, Iowa, where he was born in 1870. He had married Sarah Mc- Cullough, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, and came to Northern California as a boy in 1875. His success in large irrigation projects in the north has fixed his fame among the inhabitants there, where he was best known as the superintendent of the San Joaquin and Kings Rivers Canal and Irrigation Company. His death occurred at Santa Ana in 1912.

Manson Rouse was sent to the graded schools in Santa Ana, after which he took the high school course in the same city. For four years he was employed by Miller & Lux in Merced County, coming direct from the north in 1917 to Villa Park. With his mother and his younger brother, David, Mr. Rouse also began the manage- ment of a fine lemon and orange ranch of twenty acres, located on the beautiful Center Drive, and this estate, owned by his mother, he now directs. According to Mr. Rouse, nowhere in California does the lemon industry make a better showing than at Villa Park, and this opinion, founded on scientific study and practical experi- ence, is naturally of great interest to all who are essaying citrus culture in Orange County. He uses tractors on his up-to-date ranch, and with a fine system of pipe lines and a complete outfit of modern machinery he is able to maintain a "show place" and to make a very comfortable income for all concerned.

In national politics Mr. Rouse is a Republican, but he does not allow partisanship or narrow views of any kind to interfere with his vigorous and effective support of every measure or movement likely to build up or upbuild the community with which he is so vitally and so honorably associated.

WILLIAM J. S. HOLDITCH .- An enterprising, experienced and successful rancher who has made a specialty as a horticulturist, is William J. S. Holditch of Villa Park, known to everybody for miles around as a "good fellow." He was born at Sturgeon Falls. Ontario, on September 27, 1881, the son of James Holditch, a native of that place, who both kept a store and ran a ranch in Sturgeon Falls, and was honored by his fellow-citizens as their choice for mayor of that town. He came to Sturgeon Falls as a pioneer with John Parker, and married Ellen Parker. a native of England. who came to America when she was a girl. William attended the local schools in Canada, graduating from the high school of Sturgeon Falls, and as the oldest son in a family of seven children, worked for two years for an uncle in a planing mill at Sturgeon Falls.

In 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Holditch and a daughter came to California for a year. to look around and size up the country, and in 1902 they arranged for the remainder of the family to follow them here. In October of the same year our subject entered the University of Southern California, and for a couple of semesters pursued such studies as were congenial to him. He discontinued the course when the health of his father became impaired, and it was necessary for someone to take charge of the fine twenty- five acres purchased by him in Villa Park in March, 1903. This ranch has ten acres of Navel oranges, three acres of apricots, and the balance, or twelve acres, in barley. It also came to have a good well, finished by James Holditch in 1912. In course of time John Holditch, another son, bought eight of the acres.

William Holditch started a nursery of citrus trees, where he planted and grew stock both for his own ranch and for the market. In 1907 he bought from Frederick Meade of New York some twenty-one unimproved acres at Villa Park, and there he himself set out the trees. In addition to the water supply from the well dug by his father, Mr. Holditch commands other service through his holding of stock in the

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Serrano Water Association, and he is a member and shareholder in both the Central Lemon Growers and Villa Park Orchards associations.

James Holditch came west in pursuit of better health, and found the improvement desired in Orange County, Cal. He died in 1913, aged sixty-three. His widow lives contentedly, having at home a daughter, Marguerite, our subject, and two other sons. George E. and Bronson Holditch. A son, John, married Miss Myrtle Adams and lives at Villa Park; and a daughter. Anna, became the wife of W. A. Knuth. John Holditch saw active service in France as a member of the Ninety-first Division of the Three Hundred Sixty-fourth Regiment. Bronson was also in the land of the Gauls as one of the Fortieth Division in the One Hundred Forty-fifth Battery of the Heavy Artillery, and George E. Holditch was connected with the ground service in the aviation department of the U. S. Army. All received honorable discharges. John is a member of the Elks at Anaheim, while William is a charter member of, and has held office in, the Knights of Pythias of Orange.

In national politics a Republican, in local affairs a first-class nonpartisan "booster." Mr. Holditch supports the Community Church and every movement likely to result in the uplifting and upbuilding of Villa Park and her favored sister communities in the most favored of all counties, Orange.

BENJAMIN W. JEROME .- A native-born son of the state, who has come into prominence as one of the successful ranchers of Orange County, is Benjamin W. Jerome, who possesses in a large measure those qualities which have been the founda- tion of the upbuilding of the West, enterprise and determination, qualities which he no doubt inherited from his father, William Jerome, a pioneer settler with a record for valiant service in the Civil War, and later in the bloody conflicts with the Apaches, that his descendants may well cherish with pride.

William Jerome was born in London, England, on July 21, 1846, and on migrating to America located in Pennsylvania. Shortly after his arrival there the Civil War broke out, and he at once joined the colors of his adopted country and enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served throughout the conflict. After the close of the war he enlisted in the regulars and was sent to the Pacific Coast to relieve the First California Volunteers, who had restrained the depredations of the Indian tribes during these days. Coming to California via the Isthmus of Panama, they landed at San Pedro and made their way to Yuma, Ariz. Here Mr. Jerome served for two years under Captain Dunkelberger, and later in the company of Captain Bernard. and took part in the Apache campaign when Chief Cochise was at the head of the tribe. During one of the battles he was twice wounded and on account of climatic conditions and lack of hospital facilities he was sent to San Diego. After his recovery he was given his honorable discharge and mustered out and located in Los Angeles; here he was appointed as a member of the police force, and it was during this time that he made the acquaintance of Miss Martha Ward, like himself a native of London, England, who had come to California on a visit. The acquaintance continued and resulted in their marriage in 1875.

In 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Jerome removed to what is now Orange County, settling at Olive, and on September 25, 1881, he located at Tustin, where he built his home and thereafter made his residence. Here he engaged in business as a plaster and cement contractor, a trade which he had learned in Philadelphia in his early days. He was always prominent in the ranks of the G. A. R., and his passing, on August 20, 1900. at the age of fifty-four, left a heartfelt void in the ranks of his comrades. His widow survives him and makes her home with her daughter, M. Louise, on the Irvine Ranch. Five children were born to this worthy couple: William C. is the present auditor of Orange County and a partner with his brother in the ranching business; Benjamin W., the subject of this review; M. Louise leases 200 acres of the Irvine ranch; Nellie is the wife of C. E. Stone, who is foreman of the Whiting ranch operated by the Jerome brothers; Estelle is Mrs. Don Rudd of Santa Monica.

When Benjamin W. Jerome was in his second year his parents moved to Olive. Orange County, and later to Tustin, and here he has ever since made his home, attend- ing the public schools and growing up in close touch with every phase of ranch life. On reaching young manhood he and his brother, William C., started farming on the Whiting ranch, raising wheat and barley for a number of years. They worked hard and made a splendid success of their undertaking, which enabled them to branch out more extensively from year to year. The problems involving the nature, condition and needs of the soil, and properly supplying that which is lacking in order to realize the highest state of productiveness, are matters to which they give close attention. and by the scientific application of the most approved methods of culture they have demonstrated what can be accomplished by intelligent and systematic work.

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In addition to the 320-acre ranch north of Irvine on which Mr. Jerome makes his home, the brothers operate 800 acres of the Whiting ranch and the tract of 200 acres south of Irvine which their sister, M. Louise, holds under lease. They also are the owners of 200 acres, all under cultivation, 160 acres lying in the Imperial Valley and forty acres near Tustin. Formerly they devoted the greater part of their holdings to hay and grain, hut of late years they have specialized in lima beans, and in this they are most successful, producing up to twenty sacks an acre on some of their land.

Mr. Jerome's marriage. which occurred at Santa Ana on October 8, 1902, united him with Miss Effie Smithwick, who was born at Kernville, Kern County. She is the daughter of Edward Smithwick, a native of Texas, who crossed the plains in the early days. He engaged in stock raising in Tulare County, later going to Kern County, where he met and married Rebecca Reid, also a native of Texas, who had been brought across the plains by her parents when but a habe. The Smithwicks came to Santa Ana about forty years ago and Mr. Smithwick engaged in the livery business there and also occupied the office of justice of the peace; he still makes his home there. Mrs. Jerome was graduated from the Santa Ana high school and for four years was herself a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Jerome are the parents of one son, Benjamin E.

Mr. Jerome is prominent in the California Lima Bean Growers Association and in fraternal circles is a member of the Elks. Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen. being affiliated with the Santa Ana lodges of these organizations. In his political sympathies he is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party. Active, progressive and successful, the Jerome brothers are among the most energetic workers in Orange County, and they bring to bear upon all their dealings those principles of honesty and integrity that are ever the real basis of success.

ARTHUR C. PICKERING .- An optimistically inclined, self-made rancher, who is not ashamed to acknowledge that he commenced ranching in 1910 with an encum- brance of $4000 on his six acres, is Arthur C. Pickering, who may also modestly boast that today he owes no one a dollar, and now controls eleven well-developed acres, all set out successfully to citrus fruit. This remarkable prosperity, reached as a matter of fact in 1918. Mr. Pickering attributes largely to his capable, loyal wife, who has shared with him his uphill climbs and now enters in with him to enjoy the fruits of long, hard labor, clear foresight and bold, if wisely conservative, investment.

Mr. Pickering was born in Wellington, Sumner County, Kans., on February 15. 1884, the son of Loring A. and Elnora (Cummins) Pickering. both natives of Indiana. who pioneered to Kansas in the carly seventies and there broke up the virgin soil. They had to face the most adverse and discouraging conditions, and to undergo many real hardships; but they accomplished something for the new state, and when Arthur was five years old they moved back to Indiana. There the lad attended tlre district schools of Henry County, and he also worked for his father on the home farm.

When he was twenty-one Mr. Pickering proved up on some homestead land in Oklahoma, in which he had become interested. His parents had long wished to move westward, but they did not venture to do so until their home had been destroyed by fire, in 1906, when they went to Galveston, Tex .. then came to Whittier, Cal., where they now live. Arthur C. joined his parents in Texas, working on the docks and for the General Shipping Board, and he continued to work in the Lone Star State for three months. In 1907 Arthur followed to the fast-growing Quaker town, and there, working for his father, he became an enterprising rancher.

In 1910 L. A. and Arthur Pickering bought seventeen acres of open barley field in the Yorba Linda tract-six acres of which were sold-and at present the entire tract is held by our subject, who is a member and shareholder in the Yorba Linda Citrus Association, a member of both the Yorba Linda Water Company, a charter member of the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce, and the holder of stock certificate No. 1 in the Foothills Growers Association, having been instrumental in bringing to his district the branch house.

On May 9, 1907, Mr. Pickering was married to Miss Cecil E. Fadely, a schoolmate of his boyhood days, and four children blessed their happy home. The eldest was Chauncey, and then came the twins, Carolyn and Elnore, who are attending the Yorba Linda grammar school, and Elizabeth. The family reside in Yorba Linda on Park Place. Such was the promising family of this estimable couple; but Chauncey, who first saw the light of day on April 15, 1909, at Whittier, and grew up in Yorba Linda, a favorite with all who knew his sunny disposition, his thoughtful demeanor and his manly conduct, closed his eyes to the scenes of this world on June 2, 1920, the services being conducted by Rev. Ray Carter, pastor of the Friends Church, of which the boy was a member. He had just finished his fifth grade work and had been naturally delighted with his success; so much so that one cannot doubt that he was eager to enter upon that higher development awaiting every earnest soul in the unknown world.

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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 182

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