USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Pomona Valley, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the valley who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 24
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NORTH GATEWAY TO POMONA COLLEGE
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other families came to town. To the houses which Mr. Barrows and Professor Brackett had built were now added those of President Baldwin (now Haddon Hall), of Mrs. Jencks and Mrs. Tolman (north of Sixth on College), of Mrs. Searle (only recently removed from east of Bridges Hall) ; and others still were added because of the growth of the college. It was often said that President Baldwin was a man of vision. This was true in a notable way in his espousal of large material projects, sometimes too far ahead of the times. His proposed electric road between Pomona and Claremont, which failed then of construction, has since been realized. His transformation of water power in San Antonio Canyon into electricity and its transmission to the Valley, while unfortunate in its financial issue, was a bold conception actually carried out, and is recognized in the electrical world as the first long-distance transmission of electric power in this country and one of the first three in the world. He was also a man of vision and faith in the highest ideals in education, many of which have since been realized. although he himself was unable to share in this issue because of financial distress and, later, of physical disability.
It was during President Baldwin's administration that Holmes Ha !! was built, as a memorial to Cyrus W. Holmes, Jr., by the gift of his wife and daughter, parishioners and friends of Mr. Sumner in Monson, Mass. It was hoped that this building, which was opened January 1, 1893, might accommodate the needs of the college for chapel and recitation rooms for a long time, but it soon proved in- adequate.
Pearsons Hall of Science, the gift of Dr. D. K. Pearsons, was erected dur- ing the presidency of President Ferguson, who followed President Baldwin. At the same time the president's residence was built at College Avenue and Fourth Street.
After a period of unrest and dissatisfaction on the part of faculty, students and constituency, another change in administration brought to the college President George A. Gates. After a most successful administration of Iowa College, at Grinnell, for thirteen years, he had been obliged to change his residence, to relieve Mrs. Gates from the suffering of asthma, and had moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., where he accomplished a notable constructive work, in church and town. Presi- dent Gates came in 1902, in the prime of life, at the age of fifty-one, with ripe experience and a circle of friends which was more than nation-wide. Seven years later he was obliged to lay down his work, broken in health and disappointed in his great ambitions, and, though still called to a last rare service at Fisk University, yet with the final sentence of death upon him. For he was peculiarly an educator and not a financier, and was crushed by the heavy burden of college finances. Educated at Dartmouth, at Andover Seminary and at a number of German univer- sities, he brought not only the learning of the schools and a technical knowledge of their conduct, but also a tremendous zeal in the education of young people, a deep confidence in his students and his colleagues, and above all an absolute sincerity and candor in all his relations with others. With such leadership the college leaped forward. Both inside and outside of the college confidence was restored so that, in his seven years of direction, the number of college students increased from 100 to over 300, the number of teachers was nearly doubled, and the gradu- ating class increased from eleven to forty-eight. New buildings arose on the campus-Smiley Hall, the Carnegie Library and the Observatory. But more valuable than buildings was the spiritual impress of his character upon the life of
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the institution. This was well expressed in the resolutions adopted by the board of trustees at the time of his retirement, which includes these words: "We recog- nize, also, that under his leadership the college has made remarkable growth, * *
* but more than all we would give grateful expression to our sense of the service that he has rendered to the college and to the broader interests of Christian education, in his personal influence upon the young men and young women of the institution. The moral earnestness and high idealism of the student body at Pomona is so marked as to impress the most casual observer. * * * This inspiration of many student lives, even more than added buildings and campus, will remain as his enduring contribution to the life of Pomona College."
A large measure of the success of the college has been due to the high pur- pose, the constant interest and the large and real sacrifices of its board of trustees. Among these have been a number of its own alumni. As has been truly said, "They have been men of vision, men of faith, men of action." This has been especially true of three who were members from the first, and whose service can fairly be said to exceed that of any others. Of these three, Mr. Nathan W. Blanchard and Mr. George W. Marston made some of the largest financial gifts and bore some of the heaviest burdens, the former always being deeply con- cerned in the welfare of the teaching staff. Mr. Marston, now for years president of the board, and Dr. C. B. Sumner, its secretary from the first (and almost con- tinuously ), are the only members of the first board now living. For his leadership in the beginnings of the college, in the first financial campaign, in the choice of teachers and in the shaping of the purpose and policy of the institution, Doctor Sumner may well be called the "Father of the College." And that title of respect and affection has been deserved ever since in continnous service and sacrifice, in supreme endeavor in many a time of crisis, and in loving interest and solicitude to the present day.
While the function of the college is primarily the training of men and women for high citizenship, yet it has also an immediate value to the town of its habita- tion, and to a larger region as well, in such centers of influence as its Music Hall, its library, its chapel and lecture rooms, its observatory, its experts in chemistry and economics and other departments, and even in its Inn and Athletic Field. A number of societies, organized at first within the college, are shared equally by people of the town, such as the Rembrandt Club, the Astronomical Society, and the "Cactus Club."
At this point we must leave this meager outline of the college story, already brought much nearer to our own time than this history is supposed to run. The Greater Pomona, greater in material equipment and resources, greater also in numbers and in power, the new administration and new workers, all belong to a later period and history.
CLAREMONT INDUSTRIES, SCHOOL AND CHURCH.
The town of Claremont has kept pace with the college in its growth, and both have grown apace. This progress may well be symbolized by the eucalyptus trees on College Avenue, planted by H. A. Palmer and the writer in 1889-native of other soil but transplanted to a Nature-favored spot, growing rapidly and vigorously after the first period of handicap and nursing, young indeed as com- pared with others that count their age by centuries, yet large and strong as they are, and withal rugged and unsymmetrical, though not unbeautiful, and of marked
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individuality, each unlike his fellows in appearance and character. Families with children to educate have come to make themselves homes here, a score or more of the faculty have built or acquired their own residences, others have been drawn by the advantages of a college town, added to the rare natural attractions of climate and location. The business has grown from the country store and post office of John Urbanus, which stood on Yale near the corner where the St. Claire Block is now, to forty or fifty places of business and offices. In business and church matters Claremont long continued to retain close relations with Pomona. Even now Claremonters go to Pomona for many things which the town does not provide. In March, 1906, the Citizens State Bank of Claremont was organized, with C. M. Parsons, L. N. Smith, George Jencks and F. E. Graham as directors, and W. N. Beach cashier. In 1909 it was converted into the First National Bank of Claremont ; and on June 30, 1918, it was combined with the Claremont Na- tional Bank, retaining the former name and moving to the fine new building of the latter bank ; the latter having been organized in 1912, with J. T. Brooks, M. F. and W. S. Palmer, A. W. Towne and L. N. Smith as directors. The oldest business in the city is the book and drug store of Mr. O. H. Duvall, who as a student in the college began to sell books for the students in a room in Holmes Hall. During most of the time he was also the village postmaster, and until Mr. Cree had become so well known and liked, it was thought that no one else could fill the place.
The chief industry in Claremont, as in other foothill towns, is the citrus industry. Though not so widely known for its oranges as are two or three other towns, yet even in this it has a certain distinction. As pointed out in a previous chapter, the first direct system of marketing fruit cooperatively was that of the Claremont California Fruit Growers Association, and their leading brand was the "Indian Hill" brand, registered at the United States Patent Office. This association was also the first to advertise its fruit abroad, sending a box to Queen Victoria in April, 1893, by fast freight over the Santa Fé to New York and thence by fast steamer to Liverpool. A cordial letter of acknowledgment was received from the Queen in reply. From this first company, packing its fruit on the north platform of the Santa Fé station, the industry has grown in area of orange groves and number of ranchers, until now it requires three associations to market the fruit-El Camino Citrus Association and the Claremont Citrus Association. each with its large packing house, and the College Heights Orange Association with two, one for oranges and one for lemons. Among the successful orange growers of Claremont is Mr. B. A. Woodford, the efficient general manager of the Cali- fornia Fruit Growers Exchange, from the time of its organization ( following the Southern California Fruit Exchange) almost to the present time.
Some indication of the material advance in the Claremont district is afforded by the assessment totals, which increased from $204,718 in 1894 to $2,104,448 in 1915.
Claremonters await with joyous interest the weekly issue of the Courier, its one paper, which is more than a newspaper, unique perhaps in the history of local journalism, because the peculiar expression of an untrammeled editorial mind.
Claremont was peculiarly fortunate from the first in its grammar school building and teachers. The attractive building was put up in the boom days as a union schoolhouse for the La Verne and Claremont school districts. Among thie early teachers were Mr. Nelson Seaver, Miss Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of H. A.
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Palmer, and long a valued teacher in the Los Angeles High School, and Miss Lulu Snook (now Mrs. F. P. Firey of Pomona). The one who served longest as prin- cipal of the grammar school, identifying himself vitally with the life in the earlier years, was Mr. Herbert Patten, who came from Redlands with his wife, beloved of both towns, to take the position. With his fine ideals and his deep affection and concern for all his boys and girls, he made a strong impress not only upon their lives but upon the whole community. As the town has grown, of course the schools have required new buildings, a grammar school, well designed for utility and to harmonize with the sycamores about it, and a high school, modern and convenient and fairly well equipped.
In one respect certainly Claremont is unique, among California towns of its size, if not anywhere in the country. Thus far a single church has served the needs of the community. Some have gone elsewhere to church on Sundays, but a large part of the church-going people, and they are a good proportion of the popu- lation, are content to attend the Claremont church. Though Congregational in its associations and confessed faith, yet it is so broadly catholic in spirit that people of all denominations unite cordially in its public worship, its school and its social life. For a time those who were associated with the college continued to attend the church in Pomona, making the weary trip in the old college bus every Sunday, in dust or in mud. Then, in 1891, a group of forty-nine, many of them from the Pomona Church, organized the Claremont Church. Mr. C. B. Sumner added the pastorate of this little flock to his other duties, and services were held in the dining room of Sumner Hall, until Holmes Hall was built and its chapel was available. In spite of distracting surroundings and associations, this ministry was very strong and helpful. Then followed Rev. W. H. McDougal, a rare spirit and a most sympathetic pastor ; Rev. H. W. Jones, fine gentleman and scholar, who in the days of his vigor was pastor of one of the leading churches in New England ; Rev. H. N. Kinney, whose brief term was so full of the finest service to the church and college, and whose wife, since his death, has recognized no distinction between church and college and town in her continued usefulness to all. In May, 1900, Dr. Henry Kingman began his service of nearly twenty years. During this time the church building has been erected and the church has become one of the largest in the State. Rarely is a small town or college church so fortunate in the leader- ship of one whose scholarship and ability are so high.
Some years before incorporating as a municipality the people of Claremont effected a town organization, known as the "Town of Claremont," with selectmen, clerk and treasurer, and adopted regulations and ordinances. Incorporation was not accomplished without much honest opposition, especially from neighboring ranchers. Other contests have arisen at times, as over the location of the high school, the voting of bonds, and political campaigns, yet the place has been ninusually free from local quarrels and the "town versus gown" spirit which exists in so many college towns is happily very little in evidence.
Though small in numbers, Claremont has always had a good number of un- selfish and capable citizens to serve the people as officers and as members of boards controlling public utilities, but the list is too long to enumerate.
Edmund Mitchell, the English novelist, once wrote of Claremont: "Many countries have I seen, many cities visited. But no spot so quickly or completely captivated me as this college town among the orange groves."
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IN CONCLUSION
The history of this Valley holds valuable lessons for its future. The nature of its growth, the development of its industries, the character of its people, are all significant. Nature has ordained that the way of the future, like that of the past, shall lie in agriculture rather than in manufacture. She invites especially those who would learn to receive hier more immediate gifts of field and orchard, rather than those who prefer the noise of machinery, the rush of the street and the excitement of the exchange.
Some who are not invited will continue to be attracted to this region. Those who seek here a climate which cures many ills and offers a new lease of life- invalids of all sorts and of every degree of need, and elderly people who after lives of hard work rejoice in lighter toil amid happier surroundings ; tourists who work in the East, and spend their winters (and a little money) here in play ; retired capitalists who would acquire large estates on which to build beautiful residences, dividing their time and interest between this and other resorts-all these will wish to come in the future, as in the past. Nor should they be refused, so long as they contribute to the welfare of the community, in some measure suitably propor- tionate to their ability and their means. Others-the grafters who find it easier here than elsewhere to live the life of a leech upon mankind, the foreigners who will not become assimilated as loyal Americans, the hobos, and the criminals of worse ilk-should be denied. In all of these, whether their object in coming be worthy or unworthy, there is much of menace. Not by them has the growth of the country been advanced or its character determined.
The progress of industries in the Valley indicates still more clearly the call of the future. The worthy purpose and industry of the Missions first lifted the country out of its native ignorance and savagery. Somewhat unrelated to this, and somewhat more primitive, was the simple, wild life of the early ranchers, herding cattle and shipping to market their hides and tallow. With the raising of grain came a higher type of life, lifting also the stock raising to a higher plane. Then came the vineyards and deciduous fruits, and again a distinct advance in the average intelligence of the people, as more knowledge and more intensive effort were required to develop these products. Finally, the citrus industry marks the highest development in the agricultural and horticultural growth of the Valley. Under its stimulation and compulsion, notable achievements have been made in other directions, as in the development and conservation of water, the transforma- tion and transmission of power, in the field of engineering ; as also in the principle of cooperative marketing in the field of economics. The high intelligence and determination to overcome difficulties, required for successful conduct of the citrus industry, have in turn raised this occupation from an ordinary trade to a science, and indeed to an art.
In short, the Valley calls for workers and producers, Nature-lovers of deter- mined purpose and high intelligence. To such it offers full scope for their powers and ample returns for their investment and effort. As in the past, so in the future, the successful growth of the country depends upon the intelligent industry of earnest, bona fide citizens, striving honestly and diligently to develop the re- sources of the country in democratic cooperation, at the same time attentive to the best teaching of school and church.
BIOGRAPHICAL
"LET THE RECORD BE MADE OF THE MEN AND THINGS OF TODAY, LEST THEY PASS OUT OF MEMORY TOMORROW AND ARE LOST. THEN, PERPETUATE THEM NOT UPON WOOD OR STONE THAT CRUMBLE TO DUST, BUT UPON PAPER, CHRONICLED IN PICTURE AND IN WORDS THAT ENDURE FOREVER."
-Kirkland.
"A TRUE DELINEATION OF THE SMALLEST MAN AND HIS SCENE OF PILGRIMAGE THROUGH LIFE IS CAPABLE OF INTERESTING THE GREATEST MAN. ALL MEN ARE TO AN UNMISTAKABLE DEGREE BROTHERS, EACH MAN'S LIFE A STRANGE EMBLEM OF EVERY MAN'S; AND HUMAN PORTRAITS, FAITHFULLY DRAWN, ARE, OF ALL PICTURES, THE WELCOMEST ON HUMAN WALLS."
-Thomas Carlyle.
АТ вичник
BIOGRAPHICAL
HON. ALVAN TYLER CURRIER
It may be doubted if any resident of the Pomona Valley is more widely known throughout California than the subject of this article. Certainly none has wielded a more potent influence in affairs that make for the upbuilding of a community and the development of its resources. For this reason, therefore, especial interest attaches to the record of his life, which is the story of a man who came to Cali- fornia poor in purse, but rich in expectation and in hope; a man of invincible determination and tireless energy, fitted by inherited endow- ments and early training for large responsibilities in the business world and in public affairs.
The management of his varied interests makes Mr. Currier a very busy man. The most important object of his care is his large alfalfa, grain, stock and fruit ranch, comprising 2500 acres, situated five miles west of Pomona, just off the Southern Pacific stations of Spadra and Walnut. Here a considerable portion of Mr. Currier's time is spent. His energy is such that he is constantly at work, direct- ing, superintending and managing every department of the farm work; this, too, although there is no longer the necessity of hard work there was in earlier years. His ranch is watered by artesian wells, thus solving for him the sometimes vexing water problem. In every respect it shows the painstaking care of the owner and his intelligent supervision.
In Franklin County, Maine, Mr. Currier was born, April 30, 1840, a son of Alvan and Nancy ( Clough) Currier, natives of Maine. His paternal ancestors are said to have been French, and his maternal ancestors were of English and Scotch extraction. His father, who was a son of Samuel Currier, of Cobb's Hill, Maine, served as a State Senator in Maine and held other official positions. The subject of this article was reared in Maine and received his education principally at the Farmington Academy. For a short time he taught school. On reaching his majority he started out in the world for himself, and in the winter of 1861-62 he saw California for the first time. However, he did not remain here, but went to Idaho and mined for gold and silver.
In the fall of 1867 he left Idaho and returned to California. Soon, however, he went back to Maine to visit his relatives and friends, and in the spring of 1868 he came via the Isthmus of Panama from New York to San Francisco. Altogether he has crossed the Isthmus three times. In the spring of 1869 he came to Los Angeles County and purchased the ranch where he still makes his home.
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Politically Mr. Currier has been an active factor in the Repub- lican party, and is counted one of its local leaders. In 1881 he was elected sheriff of Los Angeles County, which office he filled for two years. In 1898 he was elected to the State Senate from the Thirty- eighth California district. As a senator he manifested the deepest interest in the welfare of his constituents. He gave his influence to measures for the benefit of the people and the development of the state's magnificent resources. No one has had a greater faith in Cali- fornia than he, and his faith in its future has been unshaken by re- verses. With the keen, far-seeing eye of the pioneer, he has discerned the wonderful opportunities the country holds, and has never regretted casting his lot in with the people of this Valley, for his career here has been a prosperous one. In addition to his other interests, he is a director in the First National Bank of Pomona; a director in the San Antonio Fruit Exchange; was president of the San Antonio Canyon Water Company; was one of the organizers and is president of the Walnut Fruit Growers Association at Walnut; is president of the Odd Fellows Hall Association of Pomona and has been a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge for many years. He was one of the organizers of, is president and a director of the Los Angeles County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, one of the most creditable institutions in the state, organized September 19, 1899. This company has never levied an assessment and charges about one-half of the old line com- panies' rates, has over $11,000,000 insurance in force and $45,000 on hand. This is one of the mutual institutions of the state that has attracted wide attention for its method of doing business and reflects great credit on Mr. Currier's forethought and good judgment.
On March 20, 1881, Senator Currier married Mrs. Susan (Glenn) Rubottom, of Spadra, and she is an active member of the Baptist Church of Pomona and a liberal contributor to all religious and philanthropic enterprises. She shares with her husband the esteem and sincere regard of a wide circle of friends in Los Angeles County.
In Los Angeles Senator Currier is best known as the owner of the Currier Block, a large office building at 212 West Second Street. This structure is fitted with all the conveniences of a modern public building, and to the management of this building and property the Senator gives some of his attention.
Mr. Currier has been a liberal contributor to the University of Redlands, and is a director of the institution. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for many years and a trustee ever since the church was moved to Pomona, and has been a generous contributor to the church funds for the modern building and other purposes. He also showed his interest in young men by donating one-half the value of the lot, some $15,000, on which the new Young Men's Christian Association building will stand in Pomona, and in every way he has
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showed his generous nature towards all worthy enterprises for the upbuilding of the Valley and County, and in his retrospect of a life well spent he can retire with the knowledge that he has done his full share in making this section a better place in which to live.
RAMON VEJAR
If membership in one of the notable pioneer families of Southern California means anything in these matter-of-fact times-and we believe that there are many Americans who, more and more, are appreciating historic associations-then may the family and descend- ants of Ramon Vejar regard with pride the story of his life, work and accomplishment. He was born at San Gabriel Mission on December 24, 1830, the grandson of Salvador Vejar, the founder in California of the noted circle of that name. Salvador, in turn, was a native of Spain and came to Mexico, and later came north across the border to California to assist in building the Spanish Missions. He was employed, for example, in the erection of the San Gabriel Mission, founded by the Mission Fathers on September 8, 1771, and he also worked on the Church at the Plaza in Los Angeles. At the time of his death, he was very aged; while his wife, who was Josefa Lopez before her marriage, lived to be 103 years old. Their children were : Magdalena, Pablo, Ricardo, Emilio, Chrisostomo, Lazaro, Francisco, Nazaria, Ramona and José Manuel.
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