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 64
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School teachers, and did grand work in helping increase its member- ship. The church is still following the plan she formulated. She was also secretary of the ladies' circle and of the home missionary society, and treasurer of the foreign missionary society for five years, for which she raised a large sum of money. She served one year as presi- dent of the board of directors of the David and Margaret Home at La Verne.
Mr. Fritz served as director of the Claremont Citrus Association at one time and later resigned from the association. In 1916 he again became a member of the organization and was elected president, the office he now holds. At one time Mr. Fritz represented the Claremont Citrus Association on the San Antonio Fruit Exchange of Pomona, Cal. Mr. Fritz is also president and manager of the Kingsley Tract Water Company, and both he and his wife are members of the Pomo- logical Club of Claremont, of which his wife is treasurer. Both are members of the First Congregational Church at Claremont. He is a director of the Growers Fumigation and Supply Company of Pomona.
IRA D. BAILEY
A man who thoroughly understands the technical problems of the field he set out to master is Ira D. Bailey, who has contributed to the developing of California, and who is prominent in Odd Fellow circles. He was born at Augusta, in Kennebec County, Maine, on January 25, 1877, and was educated at the local public and the Cony High School.
Leaving school, he worked in the Bodwell Granite Works at Hallowell, Maine, and at the same time played the violin in orchestral work and made himself somewhat locally famous for balls and other festal occasions. He thus prepared himself to meet with any kind of healthy, honest human nature, and in time took the move which brought him in direct contact with the varied types of western life.
In 1899 Mr. Bailey came to Pomona, and here he was soon busy installing and operating irrigating plants throughout the Valley. He entered the engineering department of the Pomona Valley Ice Com- pany in 1908, and so well has he served them that he has been their chief engineer for about eight years.
When a young man in Augusta, Mr. Bailey joined the Odd. Fel- lows; and, on coming to Pomona, he was transferred to the Pomona Lodge and all its branches. Now he is among the most active and influential in that widely-established and excellent fraternity. He is a past noble grand, a past chief patriot and a past commandant of the canton. He also belongs to the Woodmen of the World.
The wedding of Mr. Bailey and Miss Martina V. Hatton, a native of Missouri and the daughter of Jennie V. Huddleston of Co-
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vina, occurred at Covina, August 2, 1905, and they have one daughter, Virginia May, born September, 1908. The family attend the First Christian Church. Pomona has a future, and one that cannot fail to arouse the imagination; and much of it will depend on just such young men as Mr. Bailey, one of the most confident and enthusiastic of her citizens.
CHARLES J. BOOTH
The representative in America of an old English family, Charles J. Booth of Pomona was born in Lancashire, Eng., May 16, 1858. His father, who was a schoolmate and personal friend of the famous English advocate of free trade, John Bright, was the owner of a cotton-spinning factory in England, and young Charles was bookkeeper and accountant in his father's factory in his younger days.
Thirty-eight years have elapsed since he sailed from his English home for the shores of America, where, a young man of twenty-three, he arrived at Boston, Mass., September 19, 1881. He found employ- ment at Lowell, Mass., as bookkeeper for J. C. Ayer & Company, the famous patent medicine manufacturers. After spending six years in their employ he came to California, arriving at Los Angeles in 1887, where he became correspondent clerk for the wholesale grocers, M. A. Newmark & Company. In 1889 he went to Pasadena and engaged in the grocery business, conducting a store on Lake Avenue. Attracted to Pomona by its bright future prospects and beautiful and congenial surroundings, he came to this city to make a home in August, 1898, and for sixteen years he and his wife conducted the European Rooming House on Parcells and West Second streets. During this time and later, for nearly eighteen years, he was in the employ of Loud and Gerling, fruit packers, in the capacity of bookkeeper. In 1908 Mr. Booth erected two houses on land that he had acquired in Pomona, and afterwards exchanged this property for his present ten-acre ranch at 1341 East Phillips Boulevard. This land, originally a barley field, he set to Tuscan cling peaches in 1910, and now has one of the best developed peach orchards in the Valley. His success in peach culture testifies to the care bestowed upon his orchard in giving the right amount of water, fertilizer and cultivation, the wise administration of which is of vital importance in producing the best results. In 1918 the orchard yielded forty-four tons of fruit, and the crop for 1919 exceeds this. Mr. Booth started hatching the White Leghorn strain of poultry with a modern incubator, with the intention of increasing his flock to 1,000 or more laying hens.
In selecting a life partner his choice fell upon Harriett G. Eccles, a native of England, to whom he was united in marriage. Their union
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was blessed by the birth of a daughter, now Mrs. Helen M. Cleveland of Pomona. In religious associations Mrs. Booth is a member of the Pilgrim Congregational Church.
REV. CHARLES R. HUDSON
A man who would have made his mark in any walk of life, and who in his chosen vocation has proven of inestimable worth in the great work to which he has been called, as pastor of the First Christian Church of Pomona, Rev. Charles R. Hudson is but emphasizing those traits of character which have made him a prominent figure in the field of Christianity throughout the country. Born in Jennings County, Ind., he was reared there in a Christian home and a Christian com- munity. Receiving his preliminary education in the public schools, in 1890 he entered college at Lexington, Ky., and later took a classical course at Butler College, Indianapolis. In 1897 he graduated from the department of psychology and philosophy at the Indiana State University, and then took a post-graduate course at Yale University, in 1898 and 1899.
Reverend Hudson's first charge was at Franklin, Ind., from 1897 to 1904, during which time he built a new church there and strength- ened the congregation, increasing the membership to 1,050. Called · to Frankfort, Ky., for the next seven years he was a most efficient pastor there, and at the same time active in the affairs of the city; was president of the Building and Loan Association, and of the Associated Charities, and also acted as curator of Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky.
In October, 1911, Reverend Hudson was called to his present charge in Pomona, and he has answered the call with all the force of his character and personality. He has promoted a religious and educational program in the church and Sunday School, which latter reached 1,200 members. In attendance and size, his church is one of the largest and strongest of its denomination on the Coast, no small honor when considering the many beautiful Christian Churches that are active in Los Angeles and other parts of the state.
Reverend Hudson has succeeded in working out a modern educa- tional program that provides, not only for a thorough knowledge of the word of God, but for training in Christian character and for service in various departments of Christian and philanthropic work. His church has recently called a university young man, T. Charles Miller, as educational director, and he has been made dean of the entire educational program of his church. Under the supervision of Mrs. Royal J. Dye, a school of missions is conducted in this church each year, and at present eleven young people are in course of training for missionary work, either at home or abroad. This church main-
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tains three missionaries in foreign fields: Dr. C. L. Pickett, at Laoag, Philippine Islands; Mrs. Bessie Farrar Madsen, at Pendra Road, India; and Miss Nina Du Pee, at Nantungchow, Kiang Su, China; and one in Arizona and two in California.
In addition to his direct church work, Reverend Hudson was president of the Red Cross of Pomona during the war period, and has been president of the Associated Charities Welfare League of Pomona Valley since 1915, and is closely identified with other work for the public good. He was a delegate to the San Francisco meetings of the League of Nations, and was chosen by the general office in New York as one of the speakers on the Pacific Coast for the Inter-Church World Movement of America. the object of which is the cooperation of all religious denominations for the Christianization of the world. With such men as he at the helm, this wonderful movement should prove epoch-making in the history of religion and bring far-reaching results from every corner of the earth.
The marriage of Reverend Hudson, which occurred on July 28, 1906, in Mitchell, Ind., united him with Miss Harriett Hyatt, a native of Washington, Ind., and one daughter has blessed their union, Mary Hyatt. As a recreation and diversion from his arduous work for humanity, the pastor has interested himself in horticulture, and owns a lemon and orange grove in the San Dimas district. Fraternally, he is a Knight Templar Mason, and in all things he is broad and liberal in spirit, working with a largeness of purpose and a genuine devotion to the best interests of his congregation and of the growing municipality.
LYNN A. BLICKENSTAFF
A financier who has made a thorough study of that very impor- tant and comprehensive field of business endeavor and to whom much of the present success of the First National Bank of La Verne is due, is Lynn A. Blickenstaff, its present efficient cashier. Mr. Blickenstaff is a native of Cerro Gordo, Piatt County, Ill., the son of David and Hannah Blickenstaff, who were Ohioans and early settlers of Piatt County, Ill., and was educated in the public schools of that county, after which he attended Mount Morris College, at Mount Morris, Ill.
His advent into the banking business was made in the spring of 1908, when he entered the State Bank of Cerro Gordo, Ill., as a clerk. His ability and efficiency were soon recognized, and in August, 1910, Mr. Blickenstaff became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of La Verne, Cal. In his new field of operations he soon became known as a wise counselor in financial circles and his conservative policy has greatly increased the confidence of the people of La Verne and vicinity in the stability and substantiality of the First National Bank of La Verne, of which Mr. Blickenstaff became cashier in May,
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1911. The officers of the bank are: E. R. Yundt, president; H. J. Vaniman, vice-president ; L. A. Blickenstaff, cashier. The board of directors is composed of A. C. Abbott, W. M. Miller, William M. Steel, W. S. Romick and O. S. Jewett.
On May 20, 1912, Mr. Blickenstaff was united in marriage with Mary D. Brubaker, a native of Indiana, and this union has been blessed with two children, Leonard E. and David E.
Mr. Blickenstaff takes an active part in civic affairs of La Verne and is always ready to assist every worthy movement that has as its aim the advancement of the educational, social and commercial inter- ests of the community.
J. E. CAMPBELL
Another interesting instance of a Californian by adoption who touched the Coast more or less accidentally as a world voyager, and who then, liking the looks of things, decided to stay, is that of J. E. Campbell, the expert machinist, who specializes in repairs of all kinds of pumps used in irrigating and waterworks plants, and caters to the wide territory extending from El Monte east to Corona, and out as far as Victorville, in San Bernardino County, on the desert. He was born at Boston, on Washington's Birthday, 1865, and attended that city's excellent public schools.
His father was a shipbuilder, Evan by name, who married Isa- bella Scott, and the lad started from Boston, when only fourteen years of age, as a passenger on one of his father's ships for a voyage around the world. He sailed around the Horn to the Pacific, then on to Honolulu, from which port he arrived in San Francisco in 1880. Deciding to remain in the Bay City, he became an apprentice to the machinist's trade, taking a place with the Byron Jackson Machine Works, where he was employed for twelve years. He then worked for the Pelton Water Wheel Company, the Risdon Iron Works, and the Union Iron Works, all of San Francisco, and the Best Manufac- turing Company of San Leandro, Alameda County, each of which was a first-class concern. In 1906, Mr. Campbell removed to River- side, where he entered the employ of the Riverside Foundry and Machine Works.
Two years later, Mr. Campbell located in Pomona, and became foreman of the machine shop of Lee W. Matthews, for whom he conducted the establishment until Mr. Matthews sold out to the Ranchers Manufacturing Company. Then Mr. Campbell became a stockholder in the new concern, and foreman of its machine shop. Later, selling out his interest in the Ranchers Company, he entered into business for himself.
He opened up a general machine and repair shop at 365 South
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Main Street, where he is now located, and where he keeps a crew of eight men busy the year around. He has been closely identified with the water development in the Pomona Valley, and has thus worked for most of the water companies in the Pomona district. No more expert machinist, it is safe to say, could anywhere be found, nor could any community appreciate more fully than Pomona has done Mr. Campbell's exceptional skill.
In 1894, at San Francisco, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Ella Whelen, a native of Oakland and the daughter of John Whelen, who crossed the great plains to California in the good old pioneer days. Four children blessed the union: Frank enlisted in the United States Army early in the World War, in the motor truck division, and was located for awhile at Camp Fremont, and at camps in the East, but did not get to France; Earl saw active service in France with the Three Hundred Sixty-fourth Infantry, Ninety-first Division, and was wounded in the leg in one of the first engagements, and discharged from the service; and Madeline and Raymond are both at school. The family attend the Episcopal Church. Mr. Campbell has reached all the chairs in the encampment and the Canton of the Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the Maccabees.
LLOYD R. CLARK
Pomona has been fortunate in ways too numerous to mention, and not least among them is in the men it has chosen to carry on the public welfare interests; it is by their unfailing teamwork and unselfish devotion to the city's progress that much of the latter is due, and this fact makes it a city unique in many ways. Among these public-spirited citizens may be mentioned Lloyd R. Clark, the popular police commissioner, who has been a resident of the community since early childhood and has made its interests his own during the years when both he and his home section were growing and developing. Born in Plymouth, Huron County, Ohio, August 16, 1885, Mr. Clark is a son of Frederick Thomas Clark, a business man who married Miss Jennie Daniels, a native of Ohio, his birthplace being New Jersey. He first brought his family to Pomona on the death of his wife, in Ohio, in 1898. Six years later, he passed away here.
Lloyd R. was educated in the common schools of his neighbor- hood, but only until his fourteenth year, for at that early age he turned from his books to make his own way in the world, and to help shoulder the responsibility of supporting the family, five children in all, left bereaved by the early death of the parents. With his elder brother, George Earl Clark, as a partner, they engaged in the livery business, and when the automobile came into common use they ven-
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tured into that field and were among the first in Pomona to enlarge its usefulness in a commercial way. They maintain an up-to-date garage, owning the property on which the brick structure stands, and they probably utilize the largest floor space in the city for their increasing business. They are agents, under the name of Clark Brothers, for the Oldsmobile and the Maxwell cars for Pomona Valley. They also own a two-thirds interest in the Milner Bottling Works, which is also housed in their own building on Gordon and First streets. In their different enterprises they employ many men, and have a good pay roll, such as spells prosperity for any city. The Clark brothers have worked together in harmony, putting their shoul- ders to the wheel to bring them their well-merited success and to attain the position in the business and social world that they both occupy.
The marriage of Lloyd R. Clark, which occurred at Riverside, March 4, 1907, united him with Miss Leria Slanker, and two children have been born to them: Mildred J., who died aged 4 months, and Lloyd R., Jr. The family attend the Methodist Church.
A supporter of the Republican party, Mr. Clark was appointed police commissioner by the unanimous vote of the commissioners, to fill out the unexpired term of Paul Higgs, who resigned, and his re- election to that office shows that his performance of the duties of his public office was in every way satisfactory. He is an active worker in the local Chamber of Commerce, and stands ready at all times to do his share in the further development of Pomona as a city, and the agricultural interests surrounding it. He is the owner of both city and ranch property, and a firm believer in the future of his section of the state. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masons and Elks.
JACOB P. HANSEN
An experienced American rancher of Danish extraction, who came to California and was fortunate in discovering the superior advantages of Pomona, is Jacob P. Hansen, who was born at Yllen, Denmark, on July 21, 1871, where he was reared and educated up to his sixteenth year. Then he came to America alone; and having a half-brother in Benson County, N. D., he went there and for a while worked for wages on a farm. Later he took up a homestead of 160 acres and he kept buying land until he owned 800 acres, which he improved with a house, barn and the necessary outbuildings. He farmed to grain, and raised fine horses of the Percheron breed, and also shorthorn cattle; some he exhibited at local fairs.
The superior attractions of California, however, brought him here on a visit of inspection and he invested in forty-four acres at Tur- lock, in Stanislaus County ; and when he returned East, it was to dis-
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pose of his property there. In 1909 he came to Pomona, convinced that this would be a fine place in which to locate, and since locating here he has sold his Turlock property. He bought ten acres at 1304 West Fifth Street, part of which was already planted to walnuts ; and he set out more walnut trees and greatly improved the place. He was so suc- cessful in the new venture that from five acres of big walnut trees in 1919 he took over four tons of nuts; while his peach crop that year yielded him eleven tons. He also owns ten acres of orange groves at Arlington, in Riverside County ; so that, looking back to the days when he came to America a poor boy, and through all the struggles inci- dental to his becoming a "self-made" man, he feels a particular pride in his American citizenship, conferred upon him at Devil's Lake, N. D.
Mr. Hansen's marriage took place at Devil's Lake, June, 1898, when he was united with Anna C. Benson, a native of Sweden; and eight children have blessed their fortunate union. Emile has been in the United States Navy since September, 1916, and was gunner's mate in the war with Germany; Catherine and Violet are the next in the order of birth; Clarence is in the United States Navy; and Arthur, Edward, Victor and Ruth-the latter the only one born in California-are the remainder of the promising offspring. Mr. Hansen has taken two trips back to his old home in Denmark, and has enjoyed again the old- time associations, while still appreciating the land of his adoption and the new social ties in such circles as the Modern Woodmen.
IRA J. CREE
It would be hard to find a community more filled with people of culture and educational attainments than Pomona Valley. The wealth, population and influence of the Valley has increased wonder- fully with the passing of the years, and this progress is due to the public-spirited and loyal citizens who have elected to make their homes in such ideal surroundings.
Ira J. Cree, the efficient postmaster of Claremont, is a native of Pennsylvania, born January 7, 1866, in Clearfield County, a son of William and Lavina (Johnstone) Cree, of Scotch extraction. The father was a farmer and lumberman of that state, and they were the parents of five children. Both parents are now deceased.
Ira J. was educated in the schools of Bloomfield, Iowa, the family having moved there when he was a small child. He graduated from the high school of that city, and then entered the Southern Iowa Normal School of Bloomfield for a term of two years. After com- pleting his education, he taught school in Dakota, now South Dakota, for eight years, farming in the summer months and teaching during the winter. He was elected county auditor of Hand County and
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served two terms, making his residence in Miller, the county seat, afterwards engaging in banking and real-estate business, having organ- ized the Hand County State Bank in Miller, S. D., of which he was president.
In 1908 Mr. Cree came to California, and settled at Long Beach for a short time. Liking the climate and other conditions he decided to make California his residence, so returned and settled his affairs and in 1910 he located in Claremont and engaged in the development of an orange and lemon grove of fifty acres. He was appointed postmaster in April, 1915, and was reappointed in 1919, and has since served in that office. Mr. Cree is a director and one of the large stockholders in the First National Bank of Claremont; is a believer in cooperation for fruit growers and a member of the El Camino Fruit exchange. Mr. Cree has a large circle of friends in the community and he and his family enter heartily into the social and civic life of Claremont.
Mr. Cree's marriage, in October, 1893, united him with Ella Miltonberger, and two sons have been born to them : William Harold, who served as ensign in the navy during the World War, and George Earl, who served in the motor-truck service of the United States Army with the rank of corporal. The family attend the Congrega- tional Church. Fraternally, Mr. Cree is a member of the Masons; in politics he is a Democrat. Public-spirited to a large degree, he takes part in all movements for the advancement of this section, both along educational, civic and commercial lines, and is well informed on all such projects.
STACY W. CLAPP, D.D.S.
Almost a native son-for he was only three years of age when first brought to California-Stacy W. Clapp, the well-known dentist of Pomona, has grown up with the fast-developing commonwealth, and growing, has imbibed to the full the California spirit. He was born at Ashland, Crafton County, N. H., on January 17, 1882, and is the son of the late Eri G. Clapp, a native of Vermont, who married Miss Alice Keyes of New Hampshire, who is now living in Los Angeles. Eri Clapp came to California with his family in 1885 and located at Covina, where he followed orange growing and developed a number of ranches. Later he removed to Los Angeles, and in 1911 he died. Besides our subject, there were four children. Carl is a druggist of Covina ; Helen is the wife of Claire Jenks, of Los Angeles; Arthur is a rancher of Walnut Park, and Philip lives at Covina.
Stacy attended the grade schools of Covina and graduated from the preparatory department of Pomona College, Class of 1902. Four years later, he was graduated from the Dental College of the Univer-
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sity of Southern California. He practiced his profession in Los An- geles for a short time, and then located at Pomona, where he has been since 1907.
While at Pomona College he was active in athletics, and was a member of both the baseball and football teams . He is a member of the Los Angeles County Dental Association and the Tri-Counties' Dental Association ; he belongs to the Elks and is a past master of the Pomona lodge of Masons.
In 1906, and at Los Angeles, Doctor Clapp was married to Miss Fannie N. Hendricks, a native of Kansas, whose parents were Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Hendricks, of Los Angeles. Two children have come to brighten the household-Stacy W., Jr., and Lota Alice. The family attend the Episcopal Church of Pomona, and enjoy country life on the Doctor's fully-developed orange and lemon ranch of eight acres on the Base Line Road. His office is in the Investment Building at Pomona, and there, in a well-appointed suite, fitted with every modern convenience, he cares for a constantly-increasing patronage.
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