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 183

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 183

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RICHARD W. COLE .- With the dogged determination of the British race to carry on, as shown so clearly in the late war, Richard W. Cole has won his way to success over all obstacles, and with no help save that of his own energy and will power has reached an assured position in life, where he can look back and say that his work was good. Born at Chidlemolt, Devonshire, England, October 16, 1846, when five years of age he was brought to America by his parents, and the family finally settled in Ontario, Canada. At the early age of twelve years he was obliged to start to work, and was employed on farms, making his own way. In 1878 he came out to Coos Bay, Ore., and engaged in contract lumbering in the Coos Bay district for three years. He then came to California, first locating in Sonoma County, and worked on the ranch of ex-Sheriff Adams. Later he worked in the redwood lumber camps near Guerneville, that county. The year 1881 found him in San Diego County, and there he pre-empted a homestead of 160 acres near Escondido, and eighty acres of government land, proving up on his holdings and farmed them for twenty years, only to lose all he had made during the dry year in that district through lack of water for his land.

Coming to Orange County in 1902, nothing daunted by Dame Fortune turning her back on him, Mr. Cole started in anew and worked on oil wells for the Union Oil Company for nine years. During this time he bought six and one-ninth acres of raw land of the Tuffree ranch, planted this himself to Valencia oranges, and in 1917 sold the property for $20,000. He then bought his present ranch of ten and one-half acres of Valencia oranges, ten-year-old trees now in full bearing, and in 1919 he produced 4013 field boxes from the property. He is a member of the Placentia Mutual Orange Association, and a man highly esteemed by his neighbors for his sterling qualities and business ability.

The marriage of Mr. Cole, which occurred in Canada, united him with Margaret Fraser, a native of Ontario, Canada, and five children have been born to them: Ger- trude, wife of A. Addington of Arizona, and the mother of two children; Bertha I., Mrs. Bessonette of Olinda, the mother of three children; Mabel, wife of Frank Sum- mers, with the Union Oil Company, and the mother of three children; Albert, an oil man of the McKittrick district; Myrtle, wife of Ed Cline, oil man, and the mother of two children. A sad blow fell on the family December 11, 1920, when his beloved wife passed away, mourned by her family and many friends.

HERVEY D. NICHOLS .- A progressive citrus rancher, who has attained suc- cess both for himself and for others in his executive work as manager and secretary of the Villa Park Orchards Association, is Hervey D. Nichols. He was born at Enos- burg, Franklin County, Vt., December 26, 1887, the son of George H. Nichols, a Ver- monter, who married Miss Hattie Leach, also a native of that state, and became a farmer. He owned 360 acres devoted to a dairying enterprise, and had sixty head of milch cows and forty young stock. Four children were born to this worthy couple, and of these Hervey is the youngest. An older brother, George L., is the owner and manager of the old homestead which has been in the possession of the family since the historical year of 1812.

Hervey attended the Brigham Academy at Bakersfield, Vt., and then went to the University of Vermont, where he pursued an engineer's course. Having finished his studies, he became a representative for the Pugh Brothers Automobile Company of Providence, and for five years attained the most gratifying success in that field. A trip to Porto Rico led to his remaining there for a couple of years, but in 1913 he returned to the States.

On October 8. 1913, Mr. Nichols came west with his mother, who has spent four winters in California, and stopped a while in Los Angeles, later engaging in the citrus industry in Pomona; and in this field he has continued to progress. On August 11, 1915, he returned to Vermont to marry Miss Eunice Story, a native of that state, who had been a classmate with him at Brigham Academy. Two children have blessed this union-Lawrence E .. born August 4. 1918. and Winston P., born February 20, 1920. Mr. Nichols is a member of the Villa Park Community Church, where he is president of the board of church trustees: he is also a school trustee, and in national politics is a Republican.

The Villa Park Orchards Association, whose six years' existence and the last two years of successful operation is largely due to the experience and fidelity of Mr. Nichols, has 150 members and packs and distributes fruit coming from some 1250 acres. It is a non-profit-sharing, non-capital stock association, and the growers are interested to the amount of fifty dollars per acre, which is taken out of the proceeds at the rate of five cents per packed hox. The grower owns that much interest in the establish- ment, which is not transferable except through the sale of the acreage. Six years ago Mr. Nichols was house foreman for the association, and he has been a couple of years

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

in his present combined office of manager and secretary. Prior to coming here, for three years he was at La Verne and served as foreman of the Orange and Lemon Growers Association there, thus adding greatly to his experience.

The Villa Park Orchards Association now employs as many as 100 men and women during the season, and so busy is it that its offices are never closed. It fur- nishes transportation to all employees who require it, to and from Orange. It shipped 434 cars of oranges during the season of 1919. Throughout the plant the equipment is thoroughly modern, and as the fruit raised in this section is among the choicest to be found in all of California, it is not surprising that the brands-"Alphabetical," fancy, and "Bird Rocks," extra choice-are among those most eagerly sought by Easterners who know a good orange when they taste one. Three trucks are used to handle the fruit.

Mr. Nichols is a director in the Lotspeich Water Association, and one-quarter of a mile east of Villa Park he owns twelve acres of rich farm land, eleven acres of which are set out to Valencias and one acre to lemons. This property he purchased from Alfred Lecch, a well-known orange grower. It is irrigated through the Lotspeich Water Association.

At college Mr. Nichols belonged to the Delta Sigma fraternity, and now he is a Mason, affiliated with Orange Grove Lodge at Orange. A worker in church and social organizations, Mr. Nichols and his good wife enjoy a wide popularity.

JULIAN R. CRUIZ .- A young man of sterling worth, who is making good as a valued employee of the Standard Oil Company, one of the organizations best known in all the United States for taking care of those who have first shown themselves capable of faithful, disinterested service, is Julian R. Cruiz, rancher and teamster. He was born at Yorba, in the Yorba precinct, on January 28, 1888, the son of P. and Jesus Ramirez Cruiz, both of whom were natives of Sonora, Mexico. He attended the grammar school at Yorba, and from childhood was properly brought up under the supervision of the Catholic Church.

When old enough to do so, he began working out on ranches by the day, and then by the year, and in 1918 commenced to work for the Standard Oil Company. He is still with that concern, and is employed on the Kraemer leases. Being single, he is able to assist his parents, who live on a rented ranch of a couple of acres, and he furnishes the support of his maternal grandfather. A half-brother of Mr. Cruiz, George Manzo, works for the Federal Oil Company on the Stern lease; a sister, Mary, is the wife of Prudencio E. Yorba, the rancher of the Yorba precinct; and a half-sister, Claudina Asebedo, is the wife of Eugene Navarro, and lives at San Gabriel.

Mr. Cruiz takes a keen interest in all that goes on in the political as well as the business world, and is ever ready to do what he can to better the conditions of the locality in which he lives. He is a Republican in matters of national politics, but believes that when it comes to supporting or rejecting local propositions, it is better to have a free hand, untrammeled by party requirements. In various ways, therefore, although young and in modest means, Mr. Cruiz is able to do his full duty as a citizen.

LLOYD E. SHOOK .- The owner of one of the finest small citrus ranches in Orange County, Lloyd E. Shook has been one of Yorba Linda's most enthusiastic citizens since settling here in 1911. A native of Iowa, Mr. Shook was born June 25, 1891, in Buena Vista County, that state, his parents being Hiram M. and Candace (Spencer) Shook, both of whom are still living at the home place in Iowa, but have made five trips to California. Lloyd E. Shook was one of a family of five children and was reared at the parental home in the Hawkeye State, where he received his education in the public schools. When his school days were over he worked for his father on their large grain and stock farm, continuing there until his father retired in 1909. For the next two years he was associated with others of the family in farming, after which he came to California. He came to Yorba Linda, where he purchased the citrus ranch of six and a half acres on Buena Vista Street that has since been his home. It is a splendid property, bringing in an excellent income, and it shows the painstaking care bestowed upon it by its owner.

On February 10, 1917, Mr. Shook was married to Miss Thelma Lois Pike, the daughter of Loren D. Pike of Yorba Linda, and they are now the parents of two children, Allen and Dorothy. A firm believer in cooperation in all community mat- ters, Mr. Shook is a member of the Yorba Linda Citrus Association and of the Yorba Linda Water Company, and he is ever ready to lend a hand in any undertaking that will be of benefit to the neighborhood. His land is now under lease to an oil com- pany. Should this locality produce oil in commercial quantities it will increase the value of his holdings immeasurably. In politics Mr. Shook is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party.

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H. DELEMERE THURBER,-Among the younger representatives of the legal profession in Orange County, H. Delemere Thurber holds a prominent place. He was born in Bourbon, Crawford County, Mo., March 19, 1893, the son of Delos P. Thurber, a physician and surgeon who died in St. Louis before the removal of the family to California. He had married Miss Nancy Chilton, a native of Missouri, whose parents were William and Liddia Louisa (Allen) Chilton. Dr. Thurber and his wife had eight children, H. D. being the sixth child.

When he was a lad of five years H. D. Thurber was brought to California, and here he was reared and educated. He attended the grammar schools in San Diego, later the Polytechnic at Los Angeles, and he was graduated from Bell's Business College in the same city. His desire was to become a lawyer and he studied law at the University of Southern California and was graduated with the class of '15. Soon afterwards he came to Orange County, choosing Fullerton as his place of residence, and here he has built up a good clientele. In politics he is a Republican on all national issues, but in his enthusiastic devotion to Fullerton and Orange County he knows no party lines that might prevent him from advocating the best men and the best measures at all times.

In June, 1914. Mr. Thurber was united in mariage at Fullerton to Miss Lottie P. Ellis, daughter of Lee C. and Elizabeth Ellis. She was born in Pueblo, Colo., and was living in Fullerton at the time of her marriage. Two children have come to bless their home; one son bears the honored name of his father, and the second child is Robert Leland Thurber.

During the World War Mr. Thurber showed his patriotism and enlisted in the aviation section of the S. E. R. C. as a ground officer and served until honorably dis- charged. He then re-enlisted in the quartermaster corps, but on account of the armis- tice was not called into service. During the war and when not away in service he served in the California Military Reserve. He is a member of Fullerton Post, No. 142, American Legion; is a member of Anaheim Lodge, No. 1345, B. P. O. Elks; has been an active member of the Fullerton Board of Trade since 1915, and served one year as a director. Mr. Thurber is a member of the alumni of the University of Southern California College of Law, Since 1917 he has served as secretary of Loma Vista Cemetery and Continental Mausoleum. In 1919 he entered into partnership with B. F. Pinson to engage in the real estate and investment business in Fullerton.

LOREN D. PIKE .- A conservative, successful rancher and one of the most enter- prising citizens of Yorba Linda, Loren D. Pike is highly esteemed throughout Orange County by all who know and deal with him in his private capacity or as president of the Yorba Linda Citrus Association. He was born at Willoughby, Ohio, February 17, 1869, the son of J. D. Pike, a farmer of Willoughby, who had married Miss Mabel Lorinda Gray, also a native of the Buckeye State, and he is now the second eldest of the four surviving children, He attended the ordinary common school of his district. and later pursued two years of the high school course; in the meantime commencing early on his father's farm, and continuing there, in share work with his father, until he was twenty-eight years old.

When he married, June 11, 1896, he took for his life companion Miss Lucy Brott, a school teacher and the daughter of Lewis and Amanda (Hoege) Brott, of Mayfield, Ohio. She received her education in the public schools of her native district. Her paternal ancestors were Ohio pioneers, while on her mother's side her ancestors helped to clear the way for civilization in Michigan. Through this domestic relation Mr. Pike became interested with Mr. Brott in the lumber business, both in the woods and in the retail business, and they worked together in that field in Ohio for seven years. They dealt in hoth wood and coal, and established an enviable reputation for honest, prompt and reliable service.

In the fall of 1912 Mr. Pike came to California and to Fullerton, and later he removed to Yorba Linda. He purchased nine acres of citrus grove on the Yorba Linda Boulevard, and in 1914 moved his family to this district. Six children have blessed this worthy couple, and six worthier children could scarcely be found. Thelma is the wife of Lloyd E. Shook, and the mother of two children, Allen and Dorothy. Helen is Mrs. Homer Bemis and has one child, Lucie Jane. Bernice married Hugh Nixon, and is the mother of a child, Loren. Emmett Loren, Ruth Josephine and Marjorie E. are at home. Mr. Pike belongs to the Friends Church, and serves as the clerk of the monthly meeting. He is also a member of the Yorba Linda Chamber of Com- merce and of the Yorba Linda Water Company, and has served as the president of the Yorba Linda Citrus Association three years, and as a director in the same since 1914. He is also a director in the North Orange County District Exchange, represent- ing five branch houses. In national politics he is a Republican.

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HAROLD R. TAYLOR .- An efficient mechanical engineer thoroughly under- standing his business, and attractive to all who know and deal with him on account of his genial and sympathetic personality, is Harold R. Taylor, who has charge of all the great pumps for irrigating the celebrated 1000-acre walnut and citrus ranch belong- ing to the San Joaquin Fruit Company, originally a part of the great Irvine or San Joaquin ranch. He was born in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Ind., on February 11, 1883, the son of John M. and America (Johnson) Taylor, both of whom are living on a farm in Clark County, Ill .; from which county Mr. Taylor, the only representative of the family on the Pacific Coast, came out to California in 1912. He grew up on his father's farm of 160 acres in Clark County, and attended the public schools at Dennison and Patton, in Illinois. While in Indiana, at the age of twenty-one, he had the terrible misfortune to lose his right arm, which got caught in a corn-shredding machine he was running. From a hoy he displayed natural ability as a machinist and was early set to work running machinery on the farm-threshers, corn shredders, engines. In 1912 he came to California and located at Tustin, where he accepted a position as above stated.

Four hundred acres of lemons and oranges, and 600 acres of walnuts make up the area to be irrigated for the San Joaquin Fruit Company by the seven giant pumps run under Mr. Taylor's supervision, from which one may gather his degree of respon- sibility; for the quality of the fruit company's products rates among the highest sent to market from any part of California. Mr. Taylor is interested as a partner in the firm of Taylor and Sears in the growing of lima beans, and assists in the operation of 400 acres two miles north of Irvine Station, on which both partners reside. Of this, 350 acres are planted to beans, principally limas, the balance being reserved for the making of barley hay. The firm own and run a bean thresher, and engage in threshing on the Irvine ranch.

Since coming to California, Mr. Taylor was married to a lady from Clark County, 111., Miss Bertha Sears, a native of that county, who has quite fulfilled her duties as a most encouraging helpmate. She is the daughter of Lincoln and Mary Sears, born in Clark County, Ill., now residing on the Irvine ranch. Husband and wife belong to the Advent Christian Church at Tustin, and are interested in all that upbuilds their neighborhood and county. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

MRS. ROSIE J. NORTH .- A woman who has aided materially in building up and improving Orange County, is Mrs. Rosie J. North, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., a daughter of Anton and Anna (Duba) North, who were early settlers of St. Louis, where her father was a merchant tailor and both have now passed away.

Mrs. North was the next to the youngest of their seven children, and the only one who resides in California, growing up in the city of St. Louis and having the advantages of her excellent schools. Her marriage occurred in 1889, when she was united with Chas. E. North, who was born near St. Louis, where his parents were farmers. After his marriage they engaged in farming near St. Louis until March, 1908. when the family migrated to California, locating at Anaheim. They purchased ten acres of raw land on North Street, two and a half miles east of Anaheim. This he leveled and improved, establishing a nursery business; he continued this for six years and also set his place to Valencia and Navel oranges. Later he bought five acres adjoining and ten acres a mile west, which he also improved to oranges, now full- bearing groves.

However, he was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors for he passed away January 1, 1918, and since then his widow has sold ten acres and continues to care for the place in the most approved manner. In the care of the fifteen-acre ranch, she is assisted by her children and they use the latest machinery, including a Case tractor. Believing in cooperation, she is an enthusiastic member of the Anaheim Mutual Orange Distributors Association.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. North was blessed with five children: Lawrence C., who is ably assisting his mother with the care of the orange groves; Nellie, a graduate of Anaheim high school and Woodbury's Business College at Los Angeles, resides in that city: Ursula is a graduate of Anaheim Union high school; Irvine is attending Loyola Collge in Los Angeles; while Irene is attending the local school. With her children, Mrs. North is a member of St. Boniface Church in Anaheim.

Having long had a desire to make a visit to her old home in Missouri, Mrs. North satisfied her longing in 1920, twelve years after she had located in California and made a trip back to St. Louis, visiting her home and friends and relatives in that section, spending a period of four months amid the old familiar scenes, returning to California well satisfied with her trip but more pleased than ever with the state of her adoption- the land of sunshine and flowers.

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JOHN W. HARGRAVE .- In the history of this or any other country no section has developed more rapidly or more wonderfully in recent years than Southern Cali- fornia, and the men of affairs in the various smaller towns have been largely instru- mental in forwarding this growth. Prominent among the business men of Yorba Linda is John W. Hargrave, cashier of the First National Bank of Yorba Linda. Mr. Har- grave was born near Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio, August 19, 1865, and attended the public schools of his native county until thirteen years of age. His father, Robert Fleming Hargrave, was born in Virginia and came ont to Ohio, where he married Ruannah Thomas, and they were farmers in Harrison County until his death in 1878. Mrs. Hargrave was horn near Cadiz, Ohio, the daughter of Peter Thomas, born in 1782 in Virginia, who was a pioneer of Harrison County, Ohio, where he hewed a farm from the heavy timber.

In the spring of 1879, with his mother, John W. Hargrave removed to West Branch, Cedar County, Iowa, and completed his education in the public schools at that place, afterward locating at Brookings, Dakota Territory, where he was clerk in a drug store for two years, then in a general store for three years. In May, 1892, he began his banking carcer in Ipswich, S. D., as assistant cashier in the Bank of Ipswich. He was founder of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Hankinson, N. D., and became cashier of that institution September 1, 1899, continuing in that capacity until November, 1912, when he resigned to locate in California. On December 1, 1912, he became cashier of the State Bank of San Pedro, holding the position until January, 1915, when he resigned and engaged in the real estate business until he organized and promoted the First National Bank of Yorba Linda, which opened its doors for- business October 1, 1916. This bank, which has been a large factor in the growth of Yorba Linda, and has built up a fine business, owns the fine modern building which it alone occupies. Its officers and directors are: Dr. Lester Keller of Yorba Linda, president; Chas. H. Hamburg, of Whittier, vice-president; and J. W. Hargrave, cashier.

Mr. Hargrave has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Nettie Mower of Brookings, S. D., who was accidentally killed in a runaway at Clear Lake. She bore him two children: George M., who is a teacher of manual training at Covina high school; and Edgar J .; a student at Occidental College. For his second wife, he married his brother's widow, Mrs. Della (Miles) Hargrave, born in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She had two children by her first marriage: Arthur C., a graduate of the University of Northi Dakota, is superintendent of the industrial department of Chaffee high school; and a daughter, Mrs. Merl Sheets of Lemon, S. D. Fraternally, Mr. Hargrave was made a Mason in October, 1919, in Yorba Linda Lodge No. 469, F & A. M., of which he is treasurer. He is also a member of the Modern Woodman of America and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a member of the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce and of the Yorba Linda Farm Center, and during the recent World War was chairman of all Liberty Loan drives held in Yorba Linda.

HERBERT D. COON .- Prominent among the contractors, designers and build- ers who have forged their way to prosperity and success, is Herbert D. Coon, a man well known in his line of business at Fullerton, Cal. Mr. Coon was born in Santa Cruz, Cal., December 23, 1887, and comes of an early pioneer family. His father, Herbert William Coon, born in Ohio, came to California in about 1870, when he married Julia Stewart. He was a lumberman in Santa Cruz and they now make their home in Pasadena; of their six children Herbert D. Coon is the youngest. He received the foundation of his education in the schools of Santa Cruz, completed it in high school in North Chicago, IlI., and served his apprenticeship with the well-known Oakland contractor, Frank Irvine. For two years he was engaged in the building of the Terra Cotta plant at Tracy, Cal., and for the next two years was employed in construction work for the Stone Canyon Coal Company in Monterey County. In 1910 hie located at Pasadena, and engaged in the construction of high-class residences in the Orange Grove Avenue and Oak Knoll sections, the finest residence sections of the city. His next venture was in the Yellowstone National Park, where he worked for the Great Northern Railroad in construction work on hotels, etc., for two years. He then returned to Pasadena and did construction work on fine houses for many of the leading real estate firms. He afterward located at Fullerton and built bungalows for one year, then doing his bit for the war, worked in the shipyards at San Pedro for two years.

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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 183

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