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 51
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an important factor in the upbuilding of the Pomona Valley and sur- rounding territory, and as such he is known throughout Southern Cali- fornia. A man of broad understanding and ideas, he is always to be depended on when the progress of his district is at stake, and his influ- ence has been felt as a man of action in the recent years of Pomona's advancement. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masons, having joined Huron Lodge No. 26, F. & A. M., and he belongs to Pomona Lodge No. 107, Knights of Pythias.
The marriage of Mr. Jerde united him with Jessie Waltz, a native of South Dakota, and she has been a true helpmate to him, both socially and in civic matters. Mrs. Jerde is active in the auxiliary branches of the Masons and Knights of Pythias, and with her husband enjoys a large circle of friends in Pomona Valley.
JOHN W. MASON
The distinction of having successfully developed three different ranches in the Pomona Valley is accorded to John W. Mason, the subject of this review. He is a native of the Sunflower State, having been born January 20, 1860, in Linn County, Kans., near Mound City. Mr. Mason was reared on a farm and attended the country school of his district.
When he attained his majority, John W. Mason learned the harnessmaker's trade, and then engaged in business at Mound City; later, with a partner, he opened a shop at Blue Mound, and still later had a shop at Dennis. He then went to Parsons, Kans., and here he had a partner and remained in business there until 1891. Like many other residents of Kansas, Mr. Mason possessed a strong desire to see the Golden State, believing it offered greater possibilities to young men who were enterprising, industrious and thrifty. Acting upon this impulse, Mr. Mason migrated to California in 1891, locating at San Dimas, where he soon adapted himself to his new surroundings. Being anxious to obtain a thorough knowledge of the citrus industry, he worked for seven years in orange groves in the San Dimas district. While learning the business he acquired a house and two lots, which he sold in 1897. With J. M. Cardiff, Mr. Mason went to San Ber- nardino County, where they rented land, purchased stock and success- fully engaged in the stock-raising business until 1902.
In 1901, Mr. Mason purchased ten acres of raw land near San Dimas and rented out the place for four years as a nursery. The renter furnished him enough trees to plant an orange grove, raising his nursery stock between the orange trees. Mr. Mason developed the grove until it came into bearing, and in 1909 sold it at a good profit. Subsequently he purchased thirty acres of alfalfa land at Franklin and Towne avenues, which, after retaining one year, he sold, and bought his present home at 1009 East Fourth Stret, Pomona.
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For some time Mr. Mason was engaged in doing teaming and grading for the city of Pomona. In 1910 he bought a ten-acre orange and lemon ranch located in the La Verne district. The trees were then one year old and the orchard comprised one-third each of Valencia and Navel oranges, while the remaining third was devoted to lemons. Mr. Mason gives his personal attention to this grove and has brought the place to a high state of cultivation which now yields him abundant crops.
In Dennis, in 1885, John W. Mason was united in marriage with Enola Torrey, a native of Wisconsin. Her people came to San Dimas in 1888. This union was blessed with five children: Nell, who died aged eighteen; Muriel, who is now Mrs. George Boddy of San Dimas; Helen is the wife of Clarence Marshall of Pomona, and is the mother of two girls; J. Shirley Mason is married and has one son, W. Mason, Jr .; and Lizzie Marie. The career of John W. Mason is an example of well-directed efforts in his chosen line of endeavor.
HOBERT F. NORCROSS
Numbered among the successful orange growers of Pomona Valley is Hobert F. Norcross, whose career furnishes a splendid example of what energy and resourcefulness can accomplish when wisely directed and centralized. In these days of scientific horticulture the orchardist who closely studies the latest methods and adopts them in the culture of his grove, and is always eager to broaden his knowl- edge concerning soil conditions, fertilization, irrigation and all other kindred subjects, is the man who is assured larger crops, and conse- quently greater returns financially. To just such reasons as these Mr. Norcross attributes his success in orange culture.
Hobert F. Norcross was born in Warren County, Ill., August 31, 1851. He was reared on a farm, and during the Centennial year migrated to Beatrice, Gage County, Nebr., where he engaged in farm- ing, also in raising, buying and shipping horses in carload lots. Mr. Norcross was considered the best judge of horses in the county. He owned a half-section of land, and, in operating his farm, believed in using the most modern implements and up-to-date methods. While living in Nebraska Mr. Norcross served as supervisor of Gage County for six years, filling the position with credit to himself and satisfaction to the county.
For a number of years, Mr. Norcross was engaged as a traveling salesman for the Dempster Mill Manufacturing Company, selling windmills, grain drills and double-row cultivators and establishing agencies for the company. In this line he was a decided success. His territory embraced eighteen states in the Middle West. During the year 1905 he migrated to the Golden State, and after traveling
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throughout California investigating the advantages of various local- ities, Mr. Norcross was greatly impressed with the Pomona Valley and decided to make it his permanent home. Upon locating at Pomona he at once began a thorough study of orange culture, reading the best information he could find and attending lectures upon this interesting subject. His first purchase was a ten-acre orange grove on East Holt Avenue, which he afterwards sold to Fred Robbins. Mr. Norcross also owned a ten-acre grove on Ramona Avenue, but later sold it. At present he owns a grove on Alexander Avenue, north of Kingsley, also one at the corner of Ramona and Orchard Street, and one on Kings- ley, east of Ramona. Mr. Norcross gave his son a six-acre grove of oranges on East Holt Avenue, near the city limits. During the season of 1918 Mr. Norcross produced from one of his ten-acre groves 7,300 boxes of oranges. He has always been deeply interested in the devel- opment of the water supply of Pomona Valley, and for the past nine years has served as a director of the Del Monte Water Company, and is also a director of the Pomona Fruit Growers Exchange. Religiously he is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Pomona.
In 1874, at Monmouth, Ill., Hobert F. Norcross was united in marriage with Lora E. Webster, a native of Illinois, and they are the parents of two children: Bert F., who resides on his ranch on East Holt Avenue, and is the father of four girls; and Lorie, the wife of Robert Morton of La Verne, and they are the parents of two sons.
HARRY P. BROWN
One of Pomona's energetic young business men possessed of the qualities that bring success in life when coupled with the ability to rightly apply them, Harry P. Brown is a native of the Middle West, having been born in Sangamon County, Ill., June 21, 1882. While an infant in arms his parents moved to southeastern Kansas and located on a farm near the city of Pittsburg, in Crawford County. Harry was reared on the farm, attended the country schools and completed his education by a course in business college at Pittsburg, Kans. At the age of twenty he became the owner of an eighty-acre farm, upon which he lived three years. He then disposed of this property, and in 1905 came to California, locating at Pomona. Since then he has devoted his time and attention to the fruit industry. In less than a year after his advent in Pomona Valley he engaged with the Indian Hill Citrus Association, with whom he has been associated ever since, with the exception of nine months-March to December, 1918-when he filled the position of county horticultural inspector for Pomona Valley dis- trict by appointment. He first engaged with the association as picking foreman and was placed in charge of the picking crews in the orange groves; following this he was field manager of all the outside work,
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making estimates of the fruit in the groves, looking after fertilizing, pruning, spraying, etc. In December, 1918, he accepted the position of foreman of the packing house of the Indian Hill Citrus Association. His wide experience, gained in the field, and the knowledge gained as horticultural inspector, make him a competent and valuable man for the position he holds. He is the owner of a five-acre orange grove of fifteen-year-old trees on North San Antonio and Harrison avenues. The high state of cultivation in which he keeps this orchard amply repays him in the abundant crops yielded by the trees. In addition to the orchard he owns real estate in Pomona.
He was united in marriage with Miss Edna Butler of Kansas, and of the three children born of their union, Marjorie and Helen are natives of Kansas, while Ira, the youngest, was born in the Golden State. In his religious associations Mr. Brown is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Pomona.
REV. JOHN J. SHEEHY
Pomona is indeed fortunate in securing the services of so able a priest as Rev. John J. Sheehy to carry on the work of the Catholic Church in this section of Southern California. His years of experi- ence in California have made him familiar with conditions to be found here, and being a man of keen insight and broad vision, he has met his duties in a manner to be highly commended. Born in County Kerry, Ireland, December 8, 1876, Father Sheehy is a son of John J. and Julia (Stack) Sheehy, who were farmer folk in their native country. Mrs. Sheehy is still living, but the father passed on in 1900.
Reverend Sheehy is the second child in a family of eleven born to his worthy parents, and was educated in St. Michael's College, at Listowel, and at St. Patrick's College at Carlow, and was ordained June 9, 1900, for the Diocese of Los Angeles and Monterey. That same year he crossed the sea to his new field, and his first appointment was as first assistant priest at St. Andrew's Church in Pasadena. From there he went to Coronado; and then to the Immaculate Conception Church at Monrovia, where he served faithfully for fourteen years. He built the Church of St. Francis at Azusa, and also erected the Im- maculate Conception Church at Monrovia, with the rectory of the latter church as well.
On March 1, 1918, Reverend Sheehy was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Pomona, and in the short time of his labors here has made many improvements in the charge under his care. He has improved the altar and sanctuary, and has imported vestments for the service ; with his associates, he has taken the care of the Mexi- cans from the church and relieved the Welfare League. Father Sheehy is deeply interested in the advancement of Pomona Valley
J.J. Sheehy
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and lends himself to all worthy movements toward that end. He is public spirited and interests himself in local affairs, both civic and educational. The school attached to his church, the Holy Name Academy, teaches all grades, with ten teachers, and 200 pupils, thirty of them boarding pupils.
Fraternally, Father Sheehy is a member of the Knights of Co- ambus, and in political matters he votes the Democratic ticket. He is a judge of good horses, and some of his animals have taken prizes.
JAMES W. WALKER
A much-loved and esteemed man, a prominent resident of Po- mona Valley since 1890, James W. Walker, who passed away in 1912 at the ripe old age of eighty years, left the rich heritage of an exemplary life, filled with kindly deeds and accomplishments worthy of emulation. Born in Campbell County, Ky., in 1832, Mr. Walker came of an old Virginia family of Scotch descent. During his early manhood he estab- lished himself in the dry goods business at Covington, Ky., and there he married Miss Sue Holton in 1860. She was born in Falmouth, Ky., and her father, Thomas Holton, also born there, came of Old Do- minion stock. He followed farming for a time and afterwards was in the lumber business. His wife, before her marriage, was Sabina McCarty, a native of Kentucky, whose father came from Scotland. Sue Holton received a thorough education in Miss Haynes' Seminary at Covington, where she majored in music and became an accomplished young lady. There she met Mr. Walker, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage, a union that proved very happy to both of them.
Mr. Walker continued in the mercantile business in Covington, Ky., until 1889, when he sold out and came to Southern California. He spent a little more than a year in Los Angeles, and then located in San Dimas. He purchased a residence and five acres of land in San Dimas and also bought ninety acres in the west part of town. He went in for citrus growing and improved the stubble field by leveling it and setting out oranges and lemons. He gave the grove the best of care and made a success as a citrus grower. He was a stockholder in the San Dimas Land and Water Company, and, a firm believer in cooperation, was a member of the San Dimas Orange Growers Asso- ciation and the San Dimas Lemon Growers Association. He also set out and improved the five acres which he purchased at the corner of Bonita and San Dimas Avenues.
Mr. and Mrs. Walker were always familiarly known as "Uncle Jimmy" and "Aunt Sue" by their many friends and acquaintances, showing the wealth of affection in which they were held. Kind, gen- erous and hospitable to all, they radiated unbounded good will, and frequently entertained lavishly, as many as a hundred at a time, at
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their large, comfortable home. Mr. Walker was a strong Democrat and an ardent supporter of the principles of his party. He was an active and devout Baptist and a prominent member and trustee of the local organization, and was the prime mover in building the church here. While living in Kentucky he educated six young men, sending them through Georgetown College, and all of them became ministers, and they never forgot his kindness.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Walker, three of whom are living. Ella is Mrs. Potts and resides with her mother, assisting her in presiding over the home. She has one child, Rowena, reared in the Walker home, who is now the wife of Raymond I. Carruthers, district agent for the Edison Company. They reside in Visalia and are the parents of four children-Jane, Jack, Sue Virginia and James Wilson; Henry Yeamen of San Dimas and Robert of Los Angeles. Mrs. Walker a cultured and accomplished woman, still resides in the old home, and here, with the assistance of her devoted children, she dispenses a gracious hospitality. Like her husband, she is a devoted member of the Baptist Church. She organized the Emerson Club and was at one time its president, and later, when this club was abandoned, she became a charter member of the Wednesday Afternoon Club.
ELMER E. BOOTH
Among the residents from various parts of the United States who have come to the Pomona Valley to make their home is Elmer E. Booth, who was born in Glendale, W. Va., December 2, 1881. He was seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Cali- fornia in 1898 and located in Pomona. Soon after arriving in his new home he returned to his native state, enlisted in the Spanish-American War in the First West Virginia Regiment, and after seven months' ser- vice came back to Pomona and took a course in the Pomona Business College, afterwards joining his father, J. M. Booth, in the hardware business at Pomona. After a year and a half they sold the store and he and his father and brother, W. E. Booth, and G. F. Vaughn, opened a gentlemen's clothing and furnishing store under the firm name oi Booth, Vaughn and Sons, at 234 West Second Street. The firm is now known as the Booth and Dehnel Company, and a large and growing custom testifies to their success in catering to high-class trade. Their up-to-date establishment is the leader in its line of business in the city of Pomona. At the end of seven years E. E. Booth disposed of his interest in the business to W. A. Booth and opened a small garage on Second Street. His business increased to such proportions that in 1911 he bought the corner at South Park Avenue and First Street, where Pomona's pioneer livery barn stood. Tearing the old building down he erected his present commodious and modern garage, known as the
H.M. Beale
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Park Avenue Garage. Under his administration the business has prospered and increased in volume, and in 1913 he assumed the agency for the famous Paige automobile, for which he is the distributor in Pomona Valley.
Mr. Booth married Miss Cora Martin, October 12, 1914, at Nor- walk, Cal., who was born in the East, but was brought up at La Verne, Cal. Their two children are named respectively, Virginia and Ells- worth E., Jr.
In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Booth is a member of Pomona Lodge No. 107, Knights of Pythias, and also Pomona Lodge No. 789, B. P. O. Elks.
HENRY W. BEALE
An old resident of Pomona and well known and well liked in the community where he made his home for so many years, Henry W. Beale was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Philadelphia on October 24, 1860. He was raised and educated in Philadelphia and was a cab- inet maker and interior finisher by trade and an expert in his line. For twelve years he did interior finishing work on the fine cars of the Pennsylvania Railroad at their shops in West Philadelphia. His health failing, he decided to seek the less rigorous climate of Southern California and arrived in Pomona in November, 1892. He bought a five-acre fruit ranch on East Phillips Boulevard, and planted it to peaches and apricots, and there he lived, improving the place and in- creasing its productiveness.
After some years, Mr. Beale thought he wished to return East for a visit, and selling out his ranch he returned to Philadelphia. He only remained three months, however, and then returned to Pomona. For a short time he worked as clerk in the Tarr shoe store; he later established a butter and egg business and for fourteen years followed this line, establishing a route and supplying customers in Pomona and vicinity with fresh butter and eggs, and in his dealings with the public became possessed of many firm friends. During this time he bought a four-acre orange grove on Washington Avenue and later moved his family there from the home he had previously purchased on East Sixth Street. He greatly improved the ranch, piping water for irriga- tion and bringing it to a high state of cultivation.
The marriage of Mr. Beale, in Philadelphia, united him with Rose J. Weegman, also a native of that city, and one daughter, Jeane Marie, blessed their union, born in Pomona. The family attend the Congregational Church and in fraternal circles Mr. Beale was a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood. His death, December 27, 1918, left a void in the hearts of his many friends in the community, as well as in his devoted family.
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FRANKLIN SMEAD
The son of a Cincinnati banker, Franklin Smead was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 8, 1832. He was reared and educated in his native city, and as a young man entered business with his father in the bank. Not liking the indoor confinement, he purchased 500 acres of land in Winnebago County, northern Illinois, where he fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer for fifteen years. In 1872 he re- moved to Washington, Davis County, Ind., and became the owner of thirty acres of peaches and pears. His fruit was famous all over the state for its fine quality, and brought the highest prices on the market. In addition, he followed the occupation of raising stock, cattle and swine successfully.
In 1907 Mr. Smead disposed of his interests in the East and removed to Pomona, Cal. Here he purchased seven and one-half acres on Arroyo Avenue, in the Packard Tract, planted to oranges and lemons. This orchard has proved to be an excellent producer, and its owner has received as much as $800 for his lemons from one acre of trees in one year's time. His orange trees have also been prolific yielders.
Mr. Smead married Miss Sarah E. Sneath, a native of New York, now deceased. Of the twelve children resulting from their union six are living, namely: Clarence B. of Pomona, Harry of San Dimas, Roy of Pomona, Mrs. Minnie Cochran of Pomona, Mrs. Stella Lane of Decker, Ind., and Mrs. Mabel Little of Pomona.
IRA SCOFIELD
A successful and revered California rancher, now deceased, who always took an active part in Pomona Valley affairs, especially in orange culture and the problems of water development, was Ira Sco- field, a native of Montrose, Iowa. When he was a young man, his father and mother, George and Angeline Scofield, moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and there for a number of years he conducted a general store, steadily making that reputation for enterprise, reliability and a desire to please and to accommodate, so valuable to every ambitious merchant.
In 1893 Mr. Scofield moved west to Los Angeles, and in that beautiful city of the Southland he remained for five years. Then he removed to Pomona, assured of its permanent attractions, and bought ten acres of an orange grove located on Orange Avenue, near San Ber- nardino Avenue, in bearing condition, and interspersed with prunes. After a while he took out the prune trees and set out only oranges ; and when he had brought the ranch to a high state of perfection, he sold half of the grove. On the five acres remaining he erected a new home
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south of the old place; and there his esteemed widow and an only daughter now reside, for Mr. Scofield passed to his eternal reward on January 2, 1916.
Mrs. Scofield was Miss Margaret Bennett, a native of New York state and a daughter of Adam Bennett and Agnes (Young) Bennett, before her marriage, which took place at Council Bluffs, and four children blessed their union: Maie resides at the home place; Hazel, who became the wife of J. B. Mitchell of Los Angeles, is now deceased, survived by a son, Milo Mitchell; Albert and Miles live in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Fraternally, Mr. Scofield was an Odd Fellow.
As president of the Claremont Citrus Association for many years, Mr. Scofield did much to advance orange and lemon interests here, besides developing his own groves into Al producers; and as president of the Kingsley Tract Water Company, he was a good "booster" of Valley irrigation. His demise, therefore, may be said to be a public loss, for during all of his life he was preeminently public-spirited. With his family he attended the Congregational Church; but his influence for good was unhampered by any denominational lines or confines.
PROFESSOR GEORGE GALE HITCHCOCK
The strides made in modern science is well illustrated in the prep- aration and work of such men of advanced learning as George Gale Hitchcock, professor of physics in Pomona College, who was born at Galesburg, Knox County, Ill., on April 24, 1861-a notable date in the scientific world, by the way, for it was then that a partially success- ful electric telephone was first installed. He remained in his birthplace until he was fourteen years of age, attending the district schools; but in 1875 the family removed to Lincoln, Nebr. It thus came about that our subject was graduated from the University of Nebraska, 1883, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, after which he took a post- graduate course in physics and general science at the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore.
For the next six years Mr. Hitchcock was professor of science in the Presbyterian College at Pierre, S. D., and then he occupied the chair of chemistry for two years at the Washington State Agricultural College at Pullman, Wash. In January, 1893, Professor Hitchcock came to Pomona College as one of its pioneer instructors, being pro- fessor of both chemistry and physics until 1905, and since that time physics alone. During a part of this time he has been connected with the University of California, doing extension work in the line of elec- trical engineering.
On September 7, 1887, in Minnesota, Professor Hitchcock was married to Miss Abbie Williams, a native of Iowa and the daughter of A. C. Williams, D.D., a Methodist minister, who spent the last four-
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teen years of his life as a preacher in Southern California. She is an accomplished woman, who has shared a deep interest in her husband's work; and four children have added joy and honor. Edith M., who was graduated from Pomona College with the class of '14, is instructor of music in the Claremont public schools; and Harry W., who was graduated from the same alma mater with the class of '11, and later spent two years at Cornell University, is at present expert engineer with the American Telegraph and Telephone Company of New York. There are also George G., Jr., and Arthur B. Hitchcock, both of whom are at home. The latter shows marked musical talent, and at the age of seventeen is organist of the Congregational Church of Claremont.
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