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 28
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"Now that he has been called away, we feel deeply bereaved, and sympathize with you and all your family in your loneliness, but our grief is tempered by the consideration that our loss is his gain. There is no despair in our sorrow, for we are sure that this good man has gone to his well-earned reward. And we congratulate you, as well as ourselves, on the fact that God gave him to us as a companion in the journey of life and service of Christ.
FRANK B. COWGILL, Pastor, A. B. AVIS, C. C. CAVES."
"Whereas to the Pomona W. C. T. U. has come the tidings of the sudden departure from this life of our much-esteemed brother, Ex-Senator McComas, on November 14, 1916,
"Therefore, Resolved, That as a Union we have lost one who has been a tower of strength to us in all our struggle for a clean town and in destroying the liquor traffic. Always a loyal, upright citizen
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from pioneer days; a sympathetic friend; an earnest Christian, rarely missing the weekly prayer meetings; always ready to aid in everything that would help establish righteousness in the city, state or nation. While we shall ever cherish his memory, in being thankful to the Dear Father he loved, for the beneficial influence of his noble life among us and for the gentle manner of taking him home without pain or suffering.
"To our beloved sister, Mrs. Emma McComas and her dear family we do express our sincere affection, knowing well that they have the great comfort, that in the life beyond they may be a reunited family in the heavenly home, where parting can never come.
MISS E. E. MICKLIN,
MRS. EARL,
MRS. H. W. BOWEN,
MRS. EMMA EDWARDS, MRS. ELIZA STEVENS,
MRS. C. A. LORBEER, MRS. ELLA REED."
On January 11, 1912, Miss Ethel McComas was united in mar- riage with Sidney J. Turney, and Mrs. McComas' only grandchild, Ward McComas Turney, was born about a year later. His picture appears with his grandmother in this work.
F. DE WITT CRANK, M. D.
An eminent practitioner of medicine who for thiry-five years has safeguarded the health, and alleviated the pain and, therefore, the sorrows of many, witnessing the great human drama in the develop- ment of Pomona from its unpretentious beginnings, is F. De Witt Crank, M.D. Born at Geneseo, N. Y., on October 19, 1859; when four years of age he accompanied his folks to Ohio, then to Knoxville, Tenn., and back again to Ohio and the city of Cincinnati. Finally, in the memorable Centennial year, when California was making her best bow at Philadelphia to the Nation and thousands were thinking for the first time of the Pacific Coast, the father and two sons, Hon. J. F. and F. De Witt, came to Pasadena. The father, James D., and Anna Elizabeth (Dake) Crank, were both born in New York. On arriving in California, J. F. Crank bought the Fair Oaks Rancho, and there engaged in orange and grape growing; but when F. De Witt was convinced that he was not interested in fruit culture, he determined to enter an altogether different field.
He returned East in 1879 and took up the study of medicine at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia and later he continued at the Pulte Medical College of Cincinnati. Having finished his courses with honors, he returned to California in the spring of 1884.
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and the same year located at Los Angeles for one year, then came to Pomona, where he has since followed his profession, increasing in popularity as his power of diagnosis and surgical skill became known.
In 1887, the year of the California boom, Doctor Crank bought a corner lot on Garey Avenue north of the Southern Pacific Railway, and there erected his home. There were only two houses north of the track at that time. When Pomona was incorporated, Doctor Crank served for two years as its first health officer, and for years he has been a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations, in which societies his scholarship, experience and personality count for the most progressive trends.
While at Pasadena, Doctor Crank was married to Miss Jessie Banbury, a native of Iowa, and the daughter of Jabez Banbury, who brought his family to what was known as the Indiana Colony, now Pasadena, in 1872, and built the first dwelling house there. Two daughters have been born to bless this union: One is Yvonne, an assistant librarian in the Los Angeles Public Library, and Elma, a physical director of the Pomona schools. The former is a graduate of Pomona College, and the latter of the Cumnock and Los Angeles Normal Schools and the University of California at Berkeley. Doctor Crank's fraternal associations are limited to the Knights of Pythias, but with a fortunate temperament in which more than one "touch of nature" is easily detected, he finds "the whole world kin."
NATHAN E. STRONG
Among the pioneers of Pomona of the early eighties, mention is made of Nathan E. Strong, who settled here with his family in 1885 after having spent some time in looking over Southern California in search of a favorable location, and finally selecting Pomona. This was then a small hamlet and but few orange groves had been planted, in fact but little development was in evidence in the entire Valley. He bought a five-acre tract on West Holt Avenue, set out trees and for many years devoted his time to orange growing and met with success. The place was later subdivided into building lots, but the family still occupy the home into which they first moved. Here Mr. Strong now lives retired in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest from active labors.
Nathan E. Strong was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1833, and received his education in the public schools there. He entered upon the study of pharmacy in a local drug store and thereafter fol- lowed that profession for many years. He spent some time in Colorado, then was in Waseca, Minn., where for years he was promi- nent in politics as well as in business circles, serving as a county official with satisfaction and efficiency. On account of the rigorous climate he came to California to make his home.
Mr. Strong has been twice married. He had a son, Henry
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Strong, by his first wife, who after reaching manhood was an employee for years of a bank in Waseca. He located in Pomona and engaged in the furniture business with A. G. Lorbeer, later succeeding to the entire business, and remained active until ill health necessitated his selling out. He died in 1907 at the age of fifty-two. The second marriage united Mr. Strong with Mrs. Sarah L. (Ide) Smith, and they were blessed with a son, G. Wilford, who was identified with Pomona's business circles for twelve years before he returned to Minnesota, and is now located at Waseca. By her first husband Mrs. Strong had a daughter, now Mrs. H. Irene Alden, who makes her home with her parents. Mrs. Strong is well known in Pomona, where she taught china and oil painting for twenty-five years. She is a woman of culture and refinement and with her family is esteemed by a wide circle of friends in Pomona.
JOSEPH RELTON GARTHSIDE
A pioneer who came to Pomona in the Centennial year of 1876 was the late Joseph Relton Garthside, whose widow recalls many an interesting detail of the life here in early days. He was born at Utica, N. Y., on April 20, 1846, the son of Richard G. and Isabella ( Relton) Garthside, natives of England; and representatives of some of the best stock that ever migrated to this country. The father came to the United States in 1840, and located at Utica, where he plied his trade of carpenter. Joseph, in course of time, learned the trade of carpenter and builder, and what is more, working under the direction of his father, he learned it well. In 1873 he moved as far west as Marshalltown, Iowa.
Three years later he came out to California and located at Pomona, where he bought five acres of land on East Holt Avenue, built a cottage and otherwise improved the property. In 1880 he bought five acres more, and went in for orange culture; later he bought ten acres on Laurel Avenue, and such was his observant nature and his enterprise, that he and C. E. White became the first men to plant Navel orange buds in the Pomona district.
In 1886 Mr. Garthside sold five acres of his holdings, and later he disposed of the remainder. Then he went in for contracting and building in the Valley, and he erected many homes and edifices, among them the Episcopal Church in Pomona. Afterward he followed the insurance business, and for four years served as City Clerk of Po- mona, and for years was superintendent of the Pomona Cemetery Association. He bought and sold other orange ranches, and promoted the development of city and valley in every way that he could. Then, honored by all for his high degree of public spirit and fidelity to duty, he passed away on December 16, 1910, an active member of the Episcopal Church until his death. He also belonged to the Odd Fel-
J. R jar tiside
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lows, in which he was Past Grand, was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, holding membership in Pomona Lodge No. 246, F. 8- A. M., of which he was Past Master; Pomona Commandery, K. T., and the Shrine in Los Angeles; and he belonged to the Eastern Star, of which he was Past Patron.
At Deerfield, N. Y., on December 27, 1869, Mr. Garthside mar- ried Mary E. Lewis, daughter of Rees and Jane (Jones) Lewis, both natives of Wales, but who were brought to America when children. Mary E. was herself born at Deerfield, N. Y. She was active in the Rebekahs, of which she is a charter member and is a past matron of the Eastern Star, and belongs to the Episcopal Church; and like her revered husband, she is public spirited and naturally interested in the preservation of the annals of Pomona Valley. To such a history she might easily contribute something of value, for she tells of the days when one read by candle light, when there were no roads, and when the settler shared the great, open plains with the wild antelope. So early did they pitch their tent here that their house was the fourth home on Holt Avenue.
EDWARD J. FLEMING
A worthy representative of the bar of California, Edward J. Fleming has risen to a. place of prominence in the legal profession through his own abilities.
He was born March 28, 1872, at Cambridge, Mass., and is the son of Peter and Margaret (Coleman) Fleming. The family moved to Spadra, Cal., in 1875, when Edward was but three years of age. He received his education in the public schools of Los Angeles County, attended Pomona College and studied law in the office of P. C. Ton- ner at Pomona. In 1894 he was admitted to the California bar, and later to practice in the United States Circuit and District Courts of Southern California, and the United States Circuit Court of Appeal. From 1894-1897 he was a member of the firm of Tonner and Fleming at Pomona, and from 1899 to 1901 was city attorney of Pomona. In 1902 he removed to Los Angeles, and from that time to 1907 was Deputy District Attorney of Los Angeles County, and during 1908 and 1909 was Prosecuting Attorney of Los Angeles City. From 1910 to 1912 he was a member of the firm of Fleming and Bennett. Since then he has practiced his profession in the city of Los Angeles.
His marriage with Miss Gertrude Dennis was solemnized March 27, 1898, and they reside at 148 South Mariposa Avenue, Los Angeles. Mr. Fleming's business office is in the H. W. Hellman building.
Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, and the Maccabees; and is a member of the Los Angeles Bar Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Union League and the City Clubs. In his politics he is a stanch Republican.
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FRANK PARKHURST BRACKETT, A.M.
Coming to Pomona in January, 1888, to prepare a class of students for the opening of Pomona College, Prof. Frank Parkhurst Brackett has been continuously identified with the development of this institution, whose growth and influence has steadily increased year by year.
A native of the Bay State, Professor Brackett was born June 16, 1865, at Provincetown, Mass. He comes of a family of educators, his father, S. H. Brackett, a graduate of Harvard in 1862, being for twenty-five years a teacher of science in St. Johnsbury Academy (Ver- mont), and his mother, Mary A. (Thomas) Brackett, a native of Maine, was a teacher in Cambridge, Mass., before her marriage. In addition to his scholastic work, S. H. Brackett invented and built scien- tific apparatus used in schools and colleges.
Professor Brackett began his career in early life as a district school teacher in New Hampshire, then going to St. Johnsbury Acad- emy as teacher of algebra; later he was principal of Phillips Academy at Danville, Vt., and acting principal of Caledonia Academy at Pel- ham, Vt. These positions were held previous to his graduation from Dartmouth College in 1887, and where, three years later, in 1890, he received his A.M. degree. In 1887, Professor Brackett came to Los Angeles as instructor in McPherron Academy. It was while engaged there that he was invited by Dr. C. B. Sumner to come to Pomona and begin the preparatory work for the first group of students who would enter Pomona College. Accordingly, the first of January, 1888, Professor Brackett opened the work with about a dozen students in the chapel of Pilgrim Church, and this class, with a few additions, was prepared, during the next six months, for the formal opening of the college, which occurred September 12, 1888. In 1890, when the col- lege entered upon its collegiate work, Mr. Brackett was elected to a professorship in mathematics. At the completion of Pomona College Observatory, in 1911, Professor Brackett was made director, and since then much of his time has been given to the development of this work. In 1911 he was a member of the Smithsonian Astronomical Expedi- tion to Algeria and in 1913 of the Expedition to Mt. Whitney. In 1918, during the great solar eclipse, he was a member of the Mt. Wilson Observatory Eclipse Expedition to Green River, Wyo. Pro- fessor Brackett is editor of the "Publication of the Astronomical Society of Pomona College," which brings to the college valuable exchanges from other observatories throughout the world.
In 1916 Professor Brackett was appointed American delegate on the Commission for Relief in Belgium. He remained there for six months in the relief work in the province of Brabant, with headquar- ters at Brussels. On his return home, after the entrance of America
Gavese Hacatt
Emma A. Heath
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into the war, he took up the work of secretary of the Local Exemption Board No. 2, serving until the close of the war.
In politics Professor Brackett is an Independent Republican, giv- ing his support to the best men and measures, especially in local af- fairs. He is a member of the University Club of Los Angeles, Phi Beta Kappa, and numerous national mathematical and scientific socie- ties. He was an Honorary Fellow of Clark University in 1902 and 1903.
On August 15, 1889, Professor Brackett was united in marriage with Miss Lucretia Burdick, daughter of Cyrus Burdick, Pomona's honored pioneer citizen. The story of the Burdick family and their intimate connection with the early days of Pomona is given in Chapter Four of the historical section of this volume, Professor Brackett hav- ing prepared this history, in collaboration with Mrs. Brackett. Pro- fessor and Mrs. Brackett have two sons-Frederick Sumner and Frank Parkhurst, Jr. Frederick Sumner Brackett was married in 1918 to Miss Agnes Leek, both being graduates of Pomona College. After serving for a year in the Bureau of Standards at Washington, D. C., Frederick S. Brackett is now stationed at Mt. Wilson Observatory.
COL. GEORGE HEATH
One of the early pioneers of California, and among the very first settlers in the Pomona Valley, Col. George Heath lived here through- out the decade of wonderful advancement for this section of the equally wonderful mother state, and during that time took an active part in the development work which has made the Valley a veritable "land of milk and honey." He was born near Batavia, N. Y., October 9, 1828, and when but a lad of ten years the family moved to Michigan, where they settled on a farm near Flint.
In 1852 Colonel Heath made his first trip to California, cross- ing the plains by ox teams, and returned East via Panama; he made two or three trips before finally settling in the West, and mined for a time at Yuba City, for gold, and he also had silver mining interests in the state. He decided to devote his time to agricultural develop- ment, however, and in 1878 settled in the Pomona Valley, and bought a 100-acre ranch on the site of Lordsburg, now the thriving city of La Verne. After his marriage, in 1879, which united him with Emma A. Colvin, born in Oakland County, Mich., Colonel Heath brought his young wife to his ranch and began farming operations. A Mr. J. W. Brim and Mr. Goodhue had also bought 100 acres each, and later he bought Mr. Brim's holdings and farmed the 200 acres. He fenced the land, putting up the first barbed wire fence in the Valley; built his home and barns, and windmill, and farmed to barley and wheat. In 1881 he planted a family orchard of 100 trees. In April,
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1887, when the Santa Fe Railway built their road through, Colonel Heath sold his ranch to the Townsite Improvement Company for a good price ; and also gave to them a long strip of ten acres through his property, and a depot was built on this part, with sidetrack for grain shipments. The railway built their road through his ranch, and after its sale Colonel Heath moved to Pomona, where he retired from active work. He was later appointed councilman to fill out an unex- pired term. Though never seeking office he held himself at all times in readiness to give of his time and substantial help toward advancing the best interests of his district and was recognized as a man of wise counsel and efficient execution. His passing, on August 29, 1901, was sincerely mourned by his devoted family and many friends in the Valley, who held him in high esteem.
Four children blessed the marriage of Colonel and Mrs. Heath : Mary Emma, wife of Maurice E. Ludden of Pomona and the mother of one son, Richard; George L. of Pomona; Ella, wife of Fred A. Link of Claremont; and Lieut. Colvin E., graduate of Pomona Col- lege and a member of the Twelfth Infantry, Co. E, U. S. A. The Heaths are one of the representative pioneer families of the Valley and have taken their place as such in the life of the community. Mrs. Heath is a member of the Eastern Star and the Ebell Club, and in religious faith she joins with the Methodist Church.
ANDREW AND GEORGE OSGOODBY
John Osgoodby, father of Andrew and George, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1819, a son of Harrison and Ann (Hannah) Osgoodby, both natives of England. The family emigrated to America in 1827, and located in Monroe County, N. Y., and there John was reared and schooled and followed farming for a vocation and also kept a store for a few years. He married Mary Ann Dagworthy, who was born in Devonshire, England, in 1827, and they followed farming in New York state until 1865, when they moved to Cass County, Mo., and engaged in farming there for about three years. In 1868 they removed to Miami County, Kans., there also engaging in farming and stock raising.
Feeling the call of the West, in 1877 they came to California, first locating in San Gabriel, and in 1878 moved to a point two miles south of Pomona, where they purchased from Louis Phillips forty acres of land, and this property they cultivated until 1884. That year, with his son George, John Osgoodby purchased forty acres west of Pomona, and planted it to fruit and vines. In 1887 the increasing demand for residence property induced him to sell, and the tract was subdivided and sold, being known as the Lemar Tract. A man of sterling character, John Osgoodby was a deacon in the Baptist Church and aided in every good cause for the advancement of Pomona dis-
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trict, which he watched grow from the small beginning of ten houses, the nucleus of the present city when he arrived and settled here. He passed to his reward January 6, 1908, at the venerable age of eighty- nine, active up to the time of his death. His wife died July 4, 1903.
Three sons and one daughter were born to John and Ann Osgoodby, George; Andrew ; Lucy A., who died in 1877, aged seven- teen years ; and Harrison, who died in Missouri at two years of age. Andrew, born near Rochester, in Monroe County, N. Y., November 27, 1855, was the first of the family to come to California, making the journey in 1873, and locating for a time in Merced. He returned East that same year, to come back with the family in 1877. On their arrival Andrew found employment in the distillery of a San Gabriel vineyard, and later was associated with his father in fruit raising. At present the two brothers own ten acres on Sixth and White avenues, which they planted to apricots and walnuts, both producing fine crops.
George Osgoodby was born in Monroe County, N. Y., July 4, 1853, and received a good education, being a student at William Jewell College, at Liberty, Mo., and later studied to be a teacher. In 1873 he came to California with his brother, remained about three months, then returned home and with the family came back to Cali- fornia in 1877 and associated with his brother in Pomona's fruit colony. His marriage united him with Mary E. Rhoades, a native of Illinois, and daughter of Silas C. and Ann (Quincy) Rhoades, and three children blessed their union, Charles of Pasadena and Ethel and John Logan, deceased. Mrs. Osgoodby died about 1909.
The brothers plowed up the raw land, set out vines and trees, and with pride have watched the county grow to its present prosperous condition. They sold their land to a syndicate and it was platted. The ten acres they now have was originally their father's, but they have developed it. Always active Republicans, and attending conventions at different times, interested in good schools and good government, they have exerted an influence in the community. They became owners of 145 acres of land, the headgates of the present water supply system of the Valley, and this they sold to the Pomona Valley Protective Association. This controls the flood waters of San Antonio Canyon. When they settled here there was a primitive Indian rancheria where Ganesha Park now is. The brothers raised corn on their forty acres and hauled it to San Bernardino, their nearest market.
WILLIAM PLUSH
Of French descent, William Plush has been prominent both in the Eastern states, where he followed agriculture on a large scale, and in California, where he has made horticulture his occupation, and has become a part of the increasing growth and prosperity of Pomona Valley. Progressive and keenly alive to the advancement of the times,
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he has made a place for himself in the community which he chose for his home because of its fine climate and splendid educational facilities, as well as its opportunities for a man of energy and business acumen.
William Plush was born in Linn County, Mo., December 25, 1866, on the home farm there, and received his education in the country schools of that district. When still a boy he was taken to Kansas, and he later started to farm in that state, first as a renter, and later owned and operated one of the best farms in Kingman County, raising grain and stock, and meeting with splendid success. During his years of residence in Kansas he was active in the civic and educa- tional advancement of his section of the state, and served on the school board in two different districts, also served three terms as township assessor. He was a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge there, and numbered his friends by the score.
In 1904, the ill health of his wife induced Mr. Plush to seek a milder climate, and he sold eighty acres of his holdings in the East and turned his face toward California. He spent the first five years in different parts of the state, looking for a suitable place to settle, and finally decided that the Pomona Valley offered the greatest induce- ments. In 1910 he made his permanent location here, bought an eight- acre apricot orchard at 440 East Phillips Boulevard, and joined the ranks of the prosperous horticulturists in the Valley. His ranch was somewhat run down at the time of his purchase of the property, and he at once set to work to bring it to a high state of cultivation, until it is now one of the best-kept orchards in the Valley. He erected a windmill for water for domestic use; put in cement curbing along the front of his ranch ; planted more fruit trees and a number of flowers and shade trees; installed a cement flume for irrigation purposes ; walnut trees which he planted for a border are now producing good crops, also peach trees and a family orchard. Mr. Plush keeps the land in the best of condition and has raised as high as eleven tons of apricots ; he aims to average eight tons yearly, working for a uniform yield. Three lemon trees on his ranch are exceptionally large pro- ducers also; from two pickings he has taken twenty-three boxes of the fruit. All showing the results possible from expert care and methods in the Valley.
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