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 62
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On June 5, 1909, Henry J. Brubaker was married to Miss Dora Ehersman, a native of Indiana, and they have two children, Mary Elizabeth and Stuart Brubaker. John B. Brubaker married Miss Hattie Teague, the daughter of D. C. Teague, a pioneer of San Dimas. John B. Brubaker was bereaved of his wife three years ago, leaving him a daughter, Hattie May. The Brubakers are Republicans, also members of the Pomona Lodge No. 789, B. P. O. Elks, and are active in the Chamber of Commerce.
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MARION MAPEL
That adverse conditions cannot daunt the spirit of American manhood, and but act as a stimulant to greater effort, has found con- vincing expression in the life story of Marion Mapel. Beginning his struggle for a livelihood at an early age, he has surmounted many obstacles and reached an assured position in life solely through his own efforts and persevering industry, combined with business-like methods in his agricultural work. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Mapel was born in Greene County, March 6, 1869. When he was nine years old the family moved to Ritchie County, W. Va., and settled there on a farm. The young lad started in to make his own way in the world at fourteen years of age, and for four years worked for his board and clothes, and received at the end of that time a horse, saddle and bridle. Selling these for ninety dollars, he settled up his affairs in Virginia, and bought tickets for himself and sister and went to Montgomery County, Iowa, arriving with just fifty cents left of his ninety dollars.
In his new environment, Mr. Mapel worked on a farm for two years, receiving his board and ten dollars per month for his services. He then decided to have a home of his own, and took for his wife Annie M. Fox, also a native of Pennsylvania, born near his old home. He started to farm on his own account, renting land in Montgomery County. A few years later they moved to Red Oak, the same state, and here Mr. Mapel engaged in the dairy business, milking from fifty to seventy-five cows. He had a modern plant and was the first man in the county to use milking machines, finding the appliances most successful.
After eighteen years in Iowa, Mr. Mapel came to California, and after looking over different parts of the state, decided that Pomona Valley suited him best as the place for his future home. He purchased a five-acre ranch on South Palomares Street, a part of which had just been set out to peaches, and he has developed the property into a splendid ranch, erected a modern bungalow and barns, and on ap- proaching his place one is struck with its fine appearance, everything modern and well-kept, in fact one of the show places of the district. He has never had a crop failure, and from his acreage he took six tons of peaches in 1918. From ninety apricot trees he has taken as high as twelve tons of fruit. Besides this property, Mr. Mapel owns a twenty-acre ranch on South Towne Avenue, in grain and alfalfa; at one time he engaged in orange growing, but soon gave that up.
Five children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mapel : Myrtle Florence, now Mrs. Charles F. Kinney of Pomona and the mother of two boys, Ivan and Owen; Nettie May, Mrs. F. C. Hill of Los Angeles; David McKinley and Lindsay Raymond, who both served in the United States Navy in the World War. Lindsay still
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being in the service, on the United States destroyer Ingraham; and Iva Grace. The family are members of the First Christian Church, of which Mr. Mapel is a deacon. A self-made man in every respect, he is an example of what industry and right living can accomplish, and with his family, enjoys the esteem of the community.
HERMAN L. MANNING
No valley in Southern California possesses more importance than Pomona Valley, and none have the promise of equal growth and devel- opment in the immediate future. Its past expansion in population and present importance is due largely to the successful development of water for irrigation purposes, and those engaged in this important work may justly be proud of the result attained in the visible evidence of success given in the rich fruitage of garden, orchard and field.
Herman L. Manning, the well-known well-drilling contractor, with headquarters at 820 Williams Street, Pomona, Cal., has been engaged in this important business, on his own responsibility, in Pomona Valley since 1904. He is a native of Carroll County, Ill., where he was born, near Lanark, May 29, 1874, and his early recollec- tions are in connection with farm life in Illinois, where he was reared and educated in the district schools. In 1892, at the age of eighteen, he came to Azusa, Cal. The first year in his new home he worked in a nursery, afterwards taking up the occupation of well-drilling, in which he has been successfully engaged ever since. He entered the employ of N. S. Rice, with whom he learned the business, working with Mr. Rice in boring wells for the Chino Water Company in the Chino district, Pomona Valley. For four years he was employed by the Standard Oil Company, drilling for the pipe line which they were building from Bakersfield to San Francisco. In 1904 Mr. Manning began contracting well-boring for himself in Pomona Valley. Besides boring wells in orange groves and on alfalfa ranches for private parties he has bored for the Pomona Irrigation Company and the Monte Vista Water Company, the San Dimas Land and Water Company, and others, and has been an active factor in developing water in the Valley. The deepest bore he ever made in Pomona Valley for water was 900 feet. On the Currier Ranch in the Walnut district he was rewarded by a 100-inch flow of water at the depth of ninety-five feet. He under- takes all the big contracts in the Valley, and keeps four modern motor- power well-boring rigs busy, and is obliged to refuse many contracts because of more business than he can handle.
In 1903, in Pomona, Mr. Manning married Miss Lillie Rice, a daughter of IN. S. Rice and a native of California, and they are the parents of a son, Carroll Rice Manning. Pomona has been Mr. Man- ning's home since 1906, and fraternally he is affiliated with and a charter member of Pomona Lodge No. 789, B. P. O. Elks.
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DR. MABEL E. WHITE
A member of one of the pioneer families of Pomona, Doctor White has spent most of her life here, and is now practicing her profession in the community where she was reared and received her education. Born in Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa, she is a daughter of Ira F. and Mary L. (Downing) White; the family came to Pomona in 1886, and soon after their arrival the father engaged in the hardware business, continuing in that business for a period of forty years, when he sold out and is now living retired in Pomona.
Attending the public and high school of the city, Doctor White graduated from the latter in 1890. She then took a course in Williams Business College, and from that institution went to Healdsburg Col- lege, now known as Pacific Union College, and later finished with a course in the Osteopathic College of Physicians and Surgeons, Los Angeles, in 1911. On receiving her final degree, she began the prac- tice of her profession in Ontario, and remained there five years. Doctor White is the only osteopathic physician in the Valley using the Battle Creek method of hydrotherapy in connection with osteopathy, this combination of treatments having met with marvelous success in the larger cities and Pomona is indeed fortunate to have access to them at home. Thoroughly proficient in her life work, Doctor White has built up a large practice and is looked upon as one with a future of even greater success and help to mankind.
A woman of broad views and depth of character, Doctor White has won the respect and esteem of her home community, and does her part in all affairs which mean the upbuilding of Pomona and vicinity. She is a member of the State Osteopathic Association.
WILLIAM M. MARTIN
Prominent among the orange and lemon growers of San Dimas may be mentioned William M. Martin, who, though a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, has been a resident of the United States since 1873, when as a young man he migrated to this country to estab- lish a permanent home. He is descended from a sturdy line of Scotch ancestry, his forbears coming to Canada in 1803 from their native Scotch heath. Mr. Martin went first to Virginia City, Nev., where he remained for seven years, for the most of this time working for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Later he went to Park City, Utah, where for several years he was engaged as a millwright.
It was in 1888 that Mr. Martin came to California, and for a time was employed as a rancher at Lordsburg. In 1891 he purchased has present place at San Dimas, consisting of twenty acres that had previously been a barley field. At first he planted deciduous fruits, peaches and apricots taking precedence, and later these were replaced
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by oranges, Washington Navels and Valencias being chosen, and still later lemons were added to the groves. There are three acres of lemons at the present time, they being especially fine trees and good producers. Mr. Martin also owned another property of twenty acres which he developed into a producing orange ranch and sold at a hand- some profit.
The marriage of Mr. Martin occurred in 1883, at Prince Edward Island, uniting him with Miss Mary Ann McLean, like himself a native of that island. They have one daughter, Marion Ruth, now the wife of J. C. Bowen of Pomona, and the mother of two children. Mr. Martin takes an active part in local affairs. He is a member of the San Dimas Orange Association and of the San Dimas Lemon Associa- tion. He is also member of the United Workmen, and attends the Union Church in San Dimas.
JOSEPH MULLEN
One of the oldest city officers in this neighborhood, and a pioneer who is interested in both the past history and the future development of Pomona Valley, is Joseph Mullen, the city assessor and ex-officio treasurer and tax collector. He was born in Grant County, Wis., on February 17, 1845, the son of John Mullen, a farmer, who married Margaret O'Connor, a lady of Irish descent. The family came to California in 1852, crossing the great plains by ox train and taking six months for the journey; and they first settled in Shasta County, where the parents died. The old place is still in the family, and the tradition of the early work of the Mullens as pioneers is still cherished by the residents of that section familiar with its annals.
One of a family of six boys and two girls, Joseph began his education at the Shasta County public schools, after which he remained with his father until he was thirty years of age. Then he removed to Redding, and for six years engaged in the grain, feed and livery business. When he sold out he moved to Anderson, where he resided for a couple of years.
On coming to Southern California in 1883, he located for a year at Los Angeles, and the following year came to Pomona, thus being fortunate early to associate himself with the growth and development of this part of the Golden State. He resumed his line of activity there, but after twelve months took up the transfer business, which he continued to run for three years. Then he sold out, and engaged in the livery business, and erected several business structures and dwellings.
In 1897 Mr. Mullen was elected city assessor, and that alone he remained until the new charter was adopted and the offices were com- bined; and he has been reelected to these offices ever since. Thus he
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was the first city assessor after the organization of the city of Pomona in 1888. He belongs to the Republican party and also to the Chamber of Commerce.
At Redding, Shasta County, on New Year's Day, 1878, Mr. Mullen was married to Miss Lillian G. Garnham, by whom he has had three children, each of whom has accomplished something worth while. Frank is in San Francisco; William is associated with his father in the cultivation of oranges; and Lota is at home and an assistant in her father's office. While not a member of the denomination, Mr. Mullen is an active coworker in the Christian Science Church. Fraternally he is a member of the Masons and the Elks. Like all cultured, progres- sive pioneers, he is deeply interested in the traditions and the possi- bilities of Pomona Valley.
CYRUS MASON PARSONS
Among the worthiest representatives of good old Revolutionary stock who settled in time in thoroughly American Claremont must be mentioned the late Cyrus Mason Parsons, whose taking off, on No- vember 30, 1908, was widely regarded as a public loss, and his esteemed widow, still a resident of Claremont. He was born near Davenport, Iowa, on January 14, 1856, and his father was Cyrus Mason Parsons, who maintained his physical and mental faculties wonderfully unimpaired until his ninetieth year, and died in August, 1917. His mother was Miss Eliza Hazen before her marriage, and passed away in 1912, about two months after she and her husband had celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. They were both born in Massachusetts, and their forbears belonged to those sturdy Ameri- cans who helped to found and to defend the young republic.
Commencing his studies in the public schools of his time near Davenport, Mr. Parsons was able, at the early age of twenty, to begin his self-supporting career by teaching school in Scott County, in that state; and in that field he continued for three years, thus mak- ing his contribution toward popular education in Iowa. Leaving his schoolmaster's rostrum, he engaged in farming in Iowa, from 1880 to 1893, and in the latter year removed to Fordyce, Ark., where he became interested in the lumber business. Though still retaining his interest in the company at Fordyce, as well as in the lumber mills at Lockhart, Ala., and at Crossett, Ark., he came west to California in 1903 and settled at Claremont.
Mr. Parsons' reason for taking this important and somewhat expensive step was because of the established reputation of the town as an educational center, and his desire to enable his children to attend Pomona College; for, on March 9, 1880, at Big Rock, Scott County, Iowa, he had married Miss Mary A. Gates, a native of that locality,
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and a daughter of Don C. and Cornelia (Hawkins) Gates, also descendants from the pioneers of the Revolutionary period, of old Vermont stock of English descent, and there are now six children in the Parsons family. His youngest son, Howard Brewster, enlisted for the great European war in August, 1917, and for nineteen months served at Camp Sheridan, Ala., in the quartermaster's corps and the motor transport service. The other children are: Jessie, Walter, Mrs. Nellie Belcher, Hazen and Mrs. Cornelia Spurgeon.
As a man of affairs, always looked up to in the community in which he had lived and operated, Mr. Parsons was president of the Claremont State Bank and secretary and treasurer of the Claremont Inn; and he often held various minor offices, such as secretary of the school board-all important in their way, and reflecting the esteem in which he was held by a class of fellow-citizens he was glad to live among and work for. He, as well as his family, were members of the Congregational Church in Claremont, and as trustee he was an active and loyal supporter of all that pertained thereto. Desiring no selfish benefit through political support, he gave his endorsement to prohibi- tion, and worked consistently for the day-dawn in the abolition of the saloon, a realization now at hand, in our country at least, but which he was never privileged, save by faith, to see.
No better summing up of the life, work and influence of Mr. Parsons could be made, perhaps, than in the words of his pastor, Doctor Kingman, at his demise: "A thoroughly successful man, and one who occupied conspicuous place in affairs, was C. M. Parsons, who by his business ability and genuine worth as a man became a prominent and influential factor in the well-being of Claremont."
REV. WALTER C. BUCKNER
Rev. Walter C. Buckner, who is at present in charge of the First Methodist Church of Pomona, is considered one of the most promising young ministers to come to the Coast in late years; gifted by Nature with unusual powers of personal magnetism and by grace with a heart free from all uncharitableness and narrow criticizing, he has shown how closely affiliated may be the pulpit and the pew; how a Christian may be in the world and not of it. In a comparatively short time he has made remarkable progress in the field of Christianity and his work bids fair to carry him to a prominent place among the humanitarian ministers of today.
Born in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, January 9, 1883, Reverend Buckner received his first Christian teachings in his own home, for his father was a Methodist minister who had charges all over the state of Iowa. After finishing the public schools, the young recruit attended Baker University at Baldwin, Kans., graduating in 1903 with the de-
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gree of A.B. For three years following his graduation he followed the mercantile business, and then received his first call. He was ordained a minister in 1906, and in 1907 came to Dinuba, Cal., his first charge. There he organized and built a church, and did this same arduous and important work at Sultana, Cochran and Waukena, Cal.
In 1911, Reverend Buckner was called to Tulare, and for six years bent his efforts toward the upbuilding of a strong church body in that city. He was instrumental in bringing the Chautauqua and Lyceum course there for the first time, and other public welfare work. An elo- quent speaker, he gave lectures on community cooperation in church work, one of his hobbies and one of the greatest factors for progress in church work. For three years he was district president of the Fresno district of the Epworth League; and was also chairman on evangelical work in Fresno district. He was president of the Ministerial Associa- tion in Tulare County. His unselfish work made him very popular in Tulare and a petition was circulated there and signed by all business men, requesting his services there for another year on account of the fine work he had done in building up the church and in public welfare work. During his work in Tulare a fine modern church edifice was erected.
In the fall of 1917, Reverend Buckner was called to Pomona, and in this broader field he has demonstrated his ability as an organizer and leader of men, due to his unselfish devotion to the cause of true Chris- tianity and his sincerely devout conviction that every man is worthy of redemption. Since taking charge here he has increased the member- ship of the church materially and has brought it to a splendid financial standing. Five thousand dollars was raised for benevolent purposes by the church during 1918.
While in college, Reverend Buckner was active in athletics, and he is a firm believer in this form of healthy recreation for all classes. In- cluded in his community service program, he will establish a play- ground where baseball, track athletics, clean boxing and other popular sports may be indulged; thus while trying to tell his people what they "shall not" do, he at the same time will tell them what they can do to be healthy and happy citizens. On his church Reverend Buckner will have a revolving electric cross installed, as a beacon of light. His en- thusiasm and genial nature make him popular with all audiences and for two seasons he was on the road with the Ellison-White Chautauqua and Lyceum Course.
The marriage of Reverend Buckner, in Berkeley, July 30, 1908, united him with Eva Wright, a native of Pittsburg, Kans., and three children have blessed their union : Theodore J., Gladys and Louise.
Reverend Buckner reestablished the Chautauqua and reorganized the Lyceum Course on its present effective basis in Pomona ; he is presi- dent of Pomona Valley Methodist Preachers' Meeting ; president of the
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Ministers Union of Pomona; he is on the staff of lecturers of the Parent-Teachers Association; he is vice-president of the Red Cross and director of the local Welfare League; for three years he has been on the staff of instructors of the Epworth League summer work ; and is also director of the Spanish-American Institute of Gardena and chair- man on committee of admission. While in Tulare, Reverend Buckner became a member of the Masonic order ; locally he is a member of the Y. M. C. A. and thus keeps in splendid physical condition for his labors.
PAUL W. NEWCOMER, M. D.
Among the professional men who have always served the appre- ciative community of Pomona with disinterested conscientiousness, and who was among those to volunteer his services to the American Army in the late war, is Paul W. Newcomer, the well-known physician. He was born at Petersburg, Ill., on August 22, 1874, the son of Dr. J. W. Newcomer, who was a surgeon and served in the United States Navy during the long Civil War. He married Miss Jennie White, and they had seven children-five boys and one girl, four of whom became physicians. The oldest brother, A. I., is a doctor in Oklahoma; Miss Jean teaches Latin in the Hollywood High School; J. H. is in the real-estate business in Oklahoma; Doctor Irving is in Petersburg, Ill .; and Nathan Bennett is in Sheridan, Wyo. Both of the parents are now dead.
Paul attended the Petersburg schools, graduating from the high school in the early nineties. From 1893 to 1895 he was at the University of Illinois, and in 1896 at Jefferson Medical School of Philadelphia. From 1904 to 1906 he studied at the University of Colorado, and in the latter year he was graduated from the Medical Department. Doctor Newcomer first practiced at Gillette, Wyo., in which state, in 1913, he also became a registered pharmacist. He was successful, but he came to Pomona in 1916, and each year he has been more and more favored with success and prosperity.
While at Petersburg, on July 29, 1902, Doctor Newcomer married Catherine Mary Fischer, and two daughters, Catherine Berta and Jane Elizabeth, have been born to them.
Doctor Newcomer is a Mason and belongs to the lodge, chapter, council and commandery; and is a member of the Elks and Knights of Pythias. He gives active support to the Pomona Chamber of Com- merce, and yet finds time for some of the allurements of the outside world. He is a Republican in national political affairs, but nonpartisan in local issues. The recollection, however, of his patriotism and public- spiritedness will not soon fade from his fellow Pomonans, who cannot fail to be proud of the man or woman who is willing to try to do his or her share.
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ALLEN G. MITCHELL
A rising lawyer of Pomona, with offices in the Investment Build- ing, in association with J. A. Allard, where he is becoming a potent factor in the various cases from this section of Los Angeles County, Allen G. Mitchell is well known to the citizens of Pomona and environs. A son of the late James M. Mitchell, who is mentioned on another page of this history, he was born at Montesano, Chehalis County, Wash., May 25, 1894. His mother, a native of Iowa, was in maidenhood Anna Loughrey, and is still living here.
Allen G. attended the public schools of Pomona and finished in the high school, soon after which he began to read law, and in time was admitted to the bar; then he entered the law school of the Univer- sity of Southern California and was graduated with the class of '18. Prior to his graduation he was for eighteen months connected with the Los Angeles Board of Trade. On April 16, 1918, he enlisted in the Naval Reserves and was released from active service on December 13, that year. In August, 1919, he took up his present law association with Joseph A. Allard, Jr., and since then has had his share of the law business of Pomona and vicinity.
Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage on October 4, 1916, with Miss Elva Farrar, a native daughter, born in Ventura County, and they have a daughter, Margaret Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell is interested in all projects that have for their aim the betterment of conditions for the people of this Valley, as well as the building up of the interests of the Valley itself.
EDWARD H. GAMMON
While many have found fortunes in California's gold fields, others have been equally fortunate in discovering the possibilities of the golden fruit of California orange groves as a means of reimburs- ing the owner and lining his pocket book with the precious metal.
Among the successful growers of citrus fruit in Pomona Valley, Edward H. Gammon deserves special mention. He is still a young man and his success in the culture of the orange since coming to Cali- fornia is notable. He is a native of Illinois and was born in Living- ston County, November 15, 1874. In 1884, when he was a lad of ten, he accompanied his parents to Wyoming. There were many Indian tribes in the country in those days, and the family experienced the usual hardships that attend pioneering. They traveled more than 300 miles overland and located on a large horse and cattle ranch situated 150 miles from a railroad, 100 miles from a town and forty-five miles from a postoffice. Young Edward grew up on the Wyoming ranch and started to ride the range as a cowboy when but eight years of age. He was associated with his father in the cattle business until, on ac-
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