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 68
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After these years spent in teaching, Mr. Yundt was sent to the Philippine Islands as provincial treasurer in the U. S. Treasury Depart-
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ment, retaining the post for three years. He then, in 1905, came to Pomona, and in 1906 was one of the organizers of the State Bank here, and has since that date been cashier of the institution.
The marriage of Mr. Yundt, which took place in Schuyler, Nebr., in 1900, united him with Miss Grace Stanton of that city, and two children have been born to them: Deryl V. and Arlene. Mr. Yundt is a member of the Church of the Brethren and is a member and secre- tary of the board of trustees of La Verne College and deeply interest- ed in its growth and success. Politically, Mr. Yundt supports the pre- cepts of the Republican party. He is a man of keen vision and broad in his views; always active in any work going on for the advancement of his home city, he is well known and equally well liked in the com- munity. Always an athlete, during his college days he became well known through his football record, made while he was a member of the Chicago University football team. He was trained by Alonzo Stagg, the famous coach, and was a member of the team that crossed the continent and won renown and new laurels far from their home grounds. The same energy that he devoted to football in those days is now given to furthering the progress and advancement of his chosen environment, Pomona Valley, and it is the public-spirited, cultured and loyal people residing in this beautiful section which make it the highly developed spot it is today.
WILLIAM BURR FOOTE
A railway man whose experience in the handling of men proved of great value in the successful prosecution of war work, for which, with commendable patriotism, he early volunteered his services, is William Burr Foote, the affable and attentive manager of the Pacific Electric Railroad. His birthplace was in Itawamba County, Miss., where he first saw the light on April 14, 1878, and his father was William Henry Foote, a cotton buyer, farmer and merchant, who mar- ried Mary Ann Riley, the daughter of Nathan Riley. Mrs. Foote is still living, the mother of five children, among whom William was the eldest. William Henry Foote, who did his duty as he saw it in sup- porting the Confederacy as a soldier in Company C of the Thirty- fifth Alabama Regiment, is now deceased.
The schools of Whiteville and New Castle, Tenn., offered our subject his first educational advantages, and then he continued his studies at the Jackson, Miss., Commercial School, and finished at the high school at Whiteville. Then, for eight years, he was in the service of the Memphis Railroad, coming west in 1909 and passing to the service of the Pacific Electric.
In the beginning, he was in the company's employ at Los Angeles, where he remained until September, 1910; next he went to Ontario
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with the Pacific Light and Power Company; and in 1911 he came to Pomona, when the Pacific Electric took over the Ontario and San Bernardino Heights Railroad. Now he has charge of the Pomona and Ontario local lines, and the San Dimas line, and the line running from Lone Hill to the San Bernardino interurban.
On May 5, 1913, Mr. Foote was married at Ontario to Miss Elizabeth H. Mezera, a daughter of Joseph and Anna Mezera, and a native of Wisconsin; and two children have blessed this union. A son is William Stuart Foote, and a daughter has been named Marjorie Mezera. Mr. Foote is a Mason of the third degree, and Republican who served on the draft board. He was a lieutenant in all the war drives, and he was a captain in the Y. M. C. A. drive. The lure of the outdoor world appeals to him, and busy man though he be, he is par- ticularly fond of garden work and the cultivation of flowers.
CHARLES PHILLIP BAYER
A fine fellow personally, and an accomplished leader in com- munity endeavor, is Charles Phillip Bayer, whose record of accom- plishment for Pomona and the Valley is well known. He was born at Chicago, Ill., on November 4, 1888, the son of Phillip Bayer, a merchant prominent in business circles, who married Emma C. Mar- graf. Both parents, esteemed and mourned by many, are now dead.
Charles, the only child, was educated in the Hedrick, Iowa, grammar school and in 1906 graduated from the high school of that town. Pushing out into the world, he was for nine months with the Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis, and then, because of poor health, he went to Texas for a short time and worked for the engineer- ing department of the Santa Fe.
In 1907, Mr. Bayer, hearing of the attractions of Southern Cali- fornia, and convinced of the superior advantages of Pomona, came to this town, and for seven and a half years engaged in brokerage. His strong and winning personality from the beginning drew to him many friends, while his application of high standards of ethics to the trans- action of business inspired confidence and increased his patronage.
On April 1, 1915, Mr. Bayer was elected assistant secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, and on April 1, 1917, secretary. In time, too, he was made secretary of the Commercial Secretaries' Association of California and secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the San Gabriel Valley. Now he lectures daily in the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce on the resources and attractions of the Pomona Valley.
Mr. Bayer was a member of the National Guard of the State of California for seven years, and first sergeant of Headquarters Com- pany, Seventh California Infantry; and he was honorably discharged
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on the Mexican border during the late trouble there. Perhaps this military experience has had something to do with Mr. Bayer's love of the mountains and fondness for outdoor life.
On March 28, 1910, Mr. Bayer was married to Miss Florence C. MacIntyre. Mrs. Bayer, who is an accomplished musician, was secre- tary of the Ebell Club. One child blessed the union-Charles Donald. Mr. Bayer is a Republican in national politics, but a genuine "booster" without partisanship in local affairs. He is secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley, also of the California Association of Commercial Secretaries.
EDWARD A. HENZIE
A successful merchant in the college town of Claremont, Edward A. Henzie was born on a farm near Pleasant Plain, Muscatine County, Iowa, July 16, 1866, the son of John Jacob and Sarah Elizabeth Jane (Watham) Henzie, born in Pennsylanvia and London, England, re- spectively. They resided in Iowa and were farmers until they retired and now live in Grinnell, Iowa, having raised a family of three boys and three girls to aid in the world's work. The eldest child, Edward A., received his education in the public schools of his home community, and also in the school of experience, as he began helping his father on the farm from boyhood on until twenty years of age.
Leaving the farm at that age, Mr. Henzie found employment in a store at Deep River, Poweshiek County, Iowa, and remained there as clerk for the next eight years, when he bought an interest in the store and remained for fifteen years as a partner in the business. At the expiration of that time, in 1910, he sought new fields for his endeavors, and came to California, after his arrival first spending one year in Pomona, and then, in 1911, came to Claremont and engaged in his old business, opening a grocery store and meat market. His years of ex- perience in this line made success a natural outcome, as does also his reputation as being honest in all his business dealings.
Mr. Henzie spends his leisure time in orange cultivation, his orange grove being located on the base line. He divides his time be- tween his two interests, this leaving him small leisure for outside affairs, although he is deeply interested in the further growth of his home section and ready at all times to work with his fellow-citizens toward that end. A Republican in politics, he is serving as a city trustee of Claremont. In fraternal circles he is a member of the Knights of Pythias in Pomona and of the Modern Woodmen in Claremont.
The marriage of Mr. Henzie occurred at Deep River, Iowa, August 24, 1892, uniting him with Miss Sarah Elizabeth Craver, a native of that place, and a daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Light) Craver, natives respectively of New Jersey and Illinois, who
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were agriculturists and early settlers at Deep River. Her father died November 1, 1919; the mother is still living. Of their seven children, six are living, Mrs. Henzie's twin sister, Mrs. Mary Stockhouse, being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Henzie have two children. Forrest M. enlisted and served in the motor transport division of the United States Army twenty-seven months and is now an automobile dealer in Ana- heim, and Wesley C. also enlisted and served in the United States Naval, Reserve Force until mustered out, and is now in the automobile business in Ontario. One grandchild, Elizabeth Lee, brings joy to the family. Mrs. Henzie is a member of Claremont Chapter, O. E. S. They are members of the Christian Church in Pomona.
FRED W. HARTMAN
Well known in business circles in Pomona, in which city he is now a member of the firm of Miller & Hartman, dealers in new and second- hand furniture, Fred W. Hartman needs no introduction to the people of the Valley. He was born in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Ind., September 20, 1874, and attended the public schools of his native state. His school days over, he became an employe in the finishing department of the Packard Piano Works at Fort Wayne, and learned the trade of finisher, later he entered the employ of the Nickel Plate Railroad, where he remained three years as a fireman. His next step was to take up the trade of painting in Fort Wayne and this calling he followed with pronounced success until November 17, 1919, when he embarked in his present line of business in Pomona.
It was in 1906 that Mr. Hartman felt the call to come to Cali- fornia and he arrived in Los Angeles. After looking about the state in search of a location he selected Pomona as a likely field for his trade and became a permanent settler here in 1908, and soon was recog- nized as an expert workman and here he plied his trade as contracting painter and paper hanger. He kept three men continually at work and many of the homes in the Valley show his artistic touch. His work took him into Claremont and Chino, where he worked on some of the best homes and buildings. Desiring to get into another line of business he found a field in the new and second-hand furniture lines and its meet- ing with results from the start.
In selecting a life companion his choice fell upon Bertha Bru- baker, a native of Kansas, who was reared from a small child at Covina, Cal., and their union has been blessed by the birth of three native daughters of the Golden State, Hilda, Mildred and Dorothy.
Fraternally Mr. Hartman is a member of Pomona Lodge No. 246, I. O. O. F., in which he is past officer, and he is also a member of the order of Yeomen.
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HENRY M. CRAWFORD
Among the men of Pomona Valley who have worked their way to reasonable success is Henry M. Crawford, prominent and successful fruit grower and buyer for the Sunset Canning Company of Pomona.
The scenes in his early life are in connection with the Lone Star State, where he was born in Nacogdoches County, December 26, 1870. He was reared and educated in Texas and followed the merchandise business in his native state. He was the proprietor of a store at Lynn Flatt, and later at San Angelo, Texas, and was also interested in the cattle business. While living in Texas he was school trustee. Decem- ber 31, 1908, he came to Pomona, Cal., and purchased the ranch he now owns on East Grand Avenue. The property was unimproved at the time Mr. Crawford purchased it. He planted it to Tuscan cling and Phillips' cling peaches, setting out all the trees himself. The orchard is well cared for and is an abundant producer, yielding fifty tons of fruit in 1917.
Mr. Crawford was united in marriage with Miss Vannie Huff of Texas, and they are the parents of six children. Lucile is the wife of B. H. Moore of San Bernardino; New lives in Long Beach, and Paul, Gertrude, Anna L. and Joseph are at home.
Fraternally Mr. Crawford affiliates with the Woodmen of the World, and in his religious associations is a member of the First Meth- odist Church at Pomona.
ANSON C. THOMAS
Numbered among the prominent business men of Pomona we find many native sons of the city taking an active part, as is fitting, in the progress and upbuilding of their home community, and to these men all credit is due for their public-spirited activity in all work for the welfare and advancement in all directions of the city and sur- rounding country, which owes much to their efforts along public and business lines. Among these Anson C. Thomas has taken an active part. Though not a native of the city, as his birth took place many miles away, in Baraboo, Wis., August 29, 1886, he was brought here by his parents when but an infant, and was reared and educated here. His parents, Thomas C. and Isabell (Case) Thomas, were pioneers of the Valley, and did their part in the development work carried on in the formative period of its development. The father had served his country during the Civil War, in Company A, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, as first lieutenant; in 1884 he came to Pomona, and his family followed him, in 1886. Here he engaged in the real estate
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and insurance business until his death, which occurred in 1891. The mother is still living.
Anson C. Thomas was the youngest of four children born to his parents, and attended the public and high school of Pomona. He then went east and took a business college course and later worked as bookkeeper there. After remaining east three and one-half years, he returned to Pomona, in 1908, and was with the J. M. Powers Shoe Company for two and one-half years. In 1911 he came to the Triangle Shoe Company as manager, and one year later bought into the company and is now proprietor of the Triangle Shoe Store; this quick advancement in business speaks for the caliber of the man, and also for the prosperous condition of the community.
On June 8, 1914, Mr. Thomas married Miss Natalie Wilbur. He has joined in the fraternal life of the city, and is a member of the Masonic lodge; of the Elks, and in business circles belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. He is fond of outdoor life and takes his recreation in hunting and fishing and motoring, and also owns an orange grove to take up his time in horticultural development. Mr. Thomas makes the best interests of Pomona Valley his interests, and his success is deserved.
SYDNEY R. BOYD
A prominent resident and man of affairs of Pomona, who has im- plicit faith in the future of Southern California and has become a great "booster" in particular of Pomona Valley, is Sydney R. Boyd, senior member of the real estate firm of Messrs. Boyd & Gates, of 103 South Garey Avenue, Pomona, dealers in orange, lemon and grape- fruit groves, alfalfa and other country ranches, and city property. His own home ranch is a place of fifteen acres of a choice orange grove at 1406 East Fifth Street-one of the oldest orange groves in the Valley, rich in varieties of Valencias, Mediterranean Sweets, Seedling and Blood oranges.
Mr. Boyd was born in Lyon County, Ky., on February 15, 1861, and there reared until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Nashville, Tenn., and followed steamboating, clerking on steamers running on the Cumberland River. After four years, he returned to Kentucky and followed the mercantile business in the towns of Prince- ton and Fredonia, Caldwell County, Ky., until the Spring of 1906, when he decided to come to the Pacific Coast.
In April, then, he arrived in Pomona and at once located here, starting in the real estate business for himself, and this he has followed practically ever since. With Frank Smith as a partner, and under the firm name of Smith & Boyd, he put on the market the well-known sub- division, Tract No. 1007, ten acres located on North Towne Avenue,
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between Columbia and Alvarado streets. This property, in one of the best residential sections of the city, has all been sold, and many fine homes built there, so that the exploitation of the same has been a definite contribution to the proper expansion of the city.
Later, when in business alone, Mr. Boyd subdivided Tract No. 2069 on San Antonio Road and at the corner of Columbia Street, and the five acres there have all been sold and built upon. Mr. Boyd him- self erected a number of fine homes on each of these tracts, which he later disposed of, one by one, at a fair profit. He has also dealt ex- tensively in orange groves, and has bought and sold no less than twenty-five in the Valley.
He has been twice married, the first ceremony taking place at Princeton and on September 28, 1886, when Miss Jennie Easley, a charming lady, and a native of Lyon County, now deceased, became his wife. She left three sons, Sydney E., Leonard H. and John Baxter Boyd. On the occasion of his second marriage, Mr. Boyd was united to Mrs. Elvin Rice Averitt, also a native of Kentucky, and a lady representative in every way of the delightful social side of Southern life.
Mr. Boyd has served the city of Pomona for four years as a member of its City Council, when the council entered the new city hall. He belongs to the Masons, and he and his family attend the First Presbyterian Church.
ALBERT CAMPBELL GERRARD
On every hand there is convincing proof of the growth of the city of Pomona, and Albert Campbell Gerrard, president of the Alpha Beta stores, occupies a distinctive place among those who deserve their share of credit for assisting in the city's upgrowth. He is a Canadian by birth, having been born in the province of Ontario, May 18, 1876, and is the son of Alexander and Marion (Campbell) Gerrard. His father, an ex-school teacher and preacher, now retired, at the age of eighty-three, is spending his declining years at Santa Ana.
Of the ten children in the parental home, Albert Campbell is the sixth child, and received his education in the public schools of Canada. He came to California in 1890, first locating at Riverside, where he engaged in the restaurant business, afterwards being occupied in the meat business for a period of eight years in that city. He then spent six months in Long Beach, then went to Pomona and again entered the meat business, continuing the employment for seven years. He afterwards spent one year in Santa Barbara, and a year in Long Beach, and while there he invented the Butcher's Ready Reckoner. Then four years were spent in Santa Ana and once more he returned to Pomona and a year and a half ago formed the Alpha Beta Company.
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They have a chain of eight stores-the Whitehouse, established in 1917, and the Triangle, in 1914, in Pomona ; two in Santa Ana, and one in Huntington Beach, Claremont, Ontario and Riverside.
His marriage united him with Miss Emma L. Bond, October 29, 1902. The children born to them are Melvin, Francis, James, Ruth- mary and Paulhugh. In politics Mr. Gerrard is a Prohibitionist. He is a member of the Christian Church and also of the Chamber of Commerce . He is fond of music and of outdoor life and the pleasures of automobiling ; is liberal and progressive in his ideas and methods, and is imbued with a just pride in all matters pertaining to Pomona, in whose welfare he is deeply interested.
JOSEPH A. ALLARD, JR.
Among the profesional men of Pomona Valley none have shown a more willing spirit to advance the interests of the Valley and its people than J. A. Allard, Jr., of Pomona, where he is among the recognized leaders of his profession, that of the law. He was born at Waterbury, Conn., May 8, 1887, the son of Joseph A. Allard, well known as an enterprising and reliable merchant of that city, who mar- ried Miss Rosalie Carmier and they became the parents of six children.
Joseph, our subject, was the eldest of this family and he received his education in the grammar and high schools of Stratford, graduat- ing from them with honors. He then entered Yale and in 1909 he received the degree. of Ph.B. from that institution; and three years later he graduated from the Yale Law School with the degree of LL.B.
Mr. Allard then came to California and began the practice of his profession at La Verne, then Lordsburg, but a year later he took up the practice in Pomona and he has been identified with the bar here ever since. He soon established a clientele that has been ever growing with the growth of the community and has taken his place with the men who have had as a special object the betterment of conditions in general of the people and the community. He has served as city at- torney of La Verne since 1913, with the exception of two years; was active in war work in conjunction with the draft board, and is a mem- ber of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
At New Haven, Conn., on October 22, 1912, Mr. Allard was united in marriage with Miss Harriet I. Butler, a native of that state, and they have one child, a son, Joseph Gordon. The family attend the Pilgrim Congregational Church at Pomona, in which Mr. Allard is a member of the board of trustees. Mr. Allard is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a patron of the Eastern Star, a member of the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the board of directors of the Masonic Temple Association of Pomona.
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JACOB CAMERS
Not everyone who has ventured into the auto-supply field has succeeded so well in pleasing both himself and the public as Jacob Camers, one of the three partners of the Pacific Auto Wrecking Company, at 545 West Second Street, Pomona. He is a native of Russia, where he was born on May 1, 1882, and in that country of skilful journeymen he learned the trade of a custom tailor.
In 1906 he came across the ocean to the land of greater free- dom, and for six years followed his trade in New York City. Then he traveled west to Los Angeles, and in that city worked as a tailor for two years. He did so well that he formed a partnership with J. Berman for the manufacture of ladies' cloaks and suits, and the indus- trious partners had a shop on Broadway between Third and Fourth Streets.
Selling out his interest to his partner, Mr. Camers came to Po- mona in 1916, and here he entered into partnership with S. Goodman and A. Welenchik and formed the Auto Wrecking Company. They leased a stable on Third Street near Thomas for ten dollars per month, but as their business rapidly grew, they leased more exten- sive quarters on South Thomas Street, opposite the Opera Garage. In 1918 they moved to their present location, where they have the largest outfit and stock of its kind between Los Angeles and San Diego, while they also operate a branch store in San Bernardino. They started with a capital of $800, and $15,000 is now their reg- istered capital.
The Auto Wrecking Company buys autos, wrecks them and sells their parts, and they also do rebuilding. They do retreading in their own vulcanizing department, which is the largest in the Valley, oper- ating five moulds. Besides carrying a large line of second-hand tires and tubes, they are agents for the National Tire and also the Kokomo Tire.
From small beginnings, these progressive men have built up a large trade, and the partners are now Jacob Camers, A. Pall, and S. Goodman-the latter being in charge of the San Bernardino store, while Mr. Pall travels on the road, buying up autos. Such is the extent of their rapidly expanding trade, that they buy from two to three machines weekly during the year. They also carry a full line of auto parts, and have everything required by the autoist. They make old tires look and act like new, and in every department and respect, give good service.
In 1905 Mr. Camers was married in Russia to Miss Mary Stark, a native of Russia; and three girls have thus far blessed the happy union. Rosa is thirteen years of age; Sarah is eleven, while Anna is two years old.
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POMONA FIXTURE & WIRING COMPANY
A concern that enjoys the enviable distinction in Pomona com- mercial circles of being the leader in its line is the Pomona Fixture & Wiring Company, conducted under the able management of Cyrus W. Jones and J. Frank Rambo, proprietors. Mr. Jones was born in Butler County, Kans., on September 15, 1890, and as a youngster resided in Oklahoma. When he was thirteen he removed to the state of Washington, and there, at North Yakima, he attended school. His first employment was in a dry goods store in Seattle, where he profited much in not only getting acquainted with business methods, but in acquiring a knowledge of human nature; and after a year spent in his old home town in Kansas, he came to California.
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