USA > California > Riverside County > History of Riverside County, California > Part 56
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OTTO MARTINI
Patient industry and painstaking perseverance have enabled Mr. Martini to rise to a fair degree of success since he came to Riverside during 1883 and secured employment as a ranch laborer. There has been nothing spectacular in his life. The quiet discharge of each day's duties as they came, the unwearied round of toil, the careful saving of even the smallest pittance and the undismayed courage in the midst of hardships, such traits as these have con- tributed to the modest but gratifying success he now enjoys. These characteristics almost invariably form the mental endowment of the sons of Sweden, which country he claims as his native land and as the lifelong home of his parents, N. E. and Sophie Martini. Born in the southern part of that kingdom, November 14, 1861, he was sent to the local schools as soon as old enough and continued his studies until he was fourteen, after which he tilled the soil of his father's farm and also learned the trade of a stone-mason under that parent.
Crossing the ocean in 1881 Mr. Martini proceeded direct to Chicago and secured employment as a laborer in Wells & France car-shop. After six months in that place he went to Galesburg, Ill., and found employment in the C., B. & Q. car-shops, later work- ing as a house-builder. During the spring of 1883 he came to Southern California and settled at Riverside, where in a short time he secured work as a ranch hand with Edwin Hart, remaining with him for six months. For the three following years he had charge of the Benedict ranches and later he superintended for a year the
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ranch owned by Mrs. Gilliling. With the earnings of these months of arduous toil and rigid economy he invested in property, acquir- ing fifteen acres on Central and Hillside avenues. Later he bought sixty acres of farm land and since then he has successfully engaged in raising alfalfa. He erected buildings of adobe in 1890.
The home across the seas familiar to the boyhood of Mr. Mar- tini was a Christian abode and the family were earnest members of the Lutheran Church. He also from an early age has been a com- municant of that denomination and a contributor to its charities. Since he became a citizen of our country he has allied himself with the Republican party, but at no time has he been active in public affairs. The Fraternal Brotherhood is the only organization of that nature to which he belongs, it being his preference to devote himself quietly to private matters to the exclusion of fraternal and political activities. When he came to the west he was a young unmarried man of twenty-two years and it was at Riverside that he met the young lady, Miss Hannah Gustafson, whom he chose for his wife, they being united in marriage in November, 1886, in the city where they still make their home. Of their union eight children were born, six of whom are living as follows: Liley E., Olga V., Paul Gustav, Walter M., Clifford Mckinley, and Florence R. The two deceased are Verner N., and Roy.
THOMAS F. FLAHERTY
An excellent type of the self-made man is Mr. Flaherty, one of Riverside's leading real estate men, who, with unswerving optimism, a predominating characteristic of his race, has thus far made the most of his life, his good business judgment and courageous efforts having evolved from a small beginning, including the handicap of an insufficient education, success which many with similar oppor- tunities would have deemed too difficult of realization.
Mr. Flaherty was born November 1, 1876, in San Francisco, Cal., his parents being Bartholomew and Mary Flaherty, who emi- grated from Ireland to San Francisco, the former having been a . resident of that city in the early '50s. The son attended public school until the age of thirteen, when he secured a position with the Western Union Telegraph Company as messenger, his faithful ser- vice and evident ability winning him promotion to the office of clerk of the district messenger office of that city, which situation he re- tained until February, 1898, when he located in Riverside. For a short time he worked for Oscar Ford, fruit packer, later accepting a
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position as clerk in the retail grocery store of E. Michelbacher. In April, 1900, he engaged in the retail oil business in partnership with E. M. Kaufman, and after five years of success was appointed collector of the electric light department of the city, resigning after three and one-half years to become circulation manager of the River- side Enterprise. Six months later, however, he opened a real estate office, his ability in this line having since been fully demonstrated.
In Riverside, May 14, 1902, Mr. Flaherty was united in mar- riage with Miss Maude Willets, a native of Iowa. Two children have been born to them, Madge Elvina, born in 1903 and now a stu- dent in the public school, and Thomas Chauncey, born in 1906.
A stanch Republican, Mr. Flaherty has always been intensely interested in both national and municipal political issues and is secretary of the Republican county central committee and is also serving as a member of the public utilities committee of Riverside. For six months he also efficiently acted as secretary of the Johnson- Wallace Club of Riverside, and is considered one of the most public spirited and dependable citizens of the community.
GLENN A. SCHAEFER
That men of retentive minds and faithfulness to detail are rare in this age appears to be a deplorable fact, the majority of suc- cessful individuals, as well as those of mediocre prosperity, acknowl- edging their deficiency in this respect. Possessing both accuracy and ambition, supplemented by practical experience, Mr. Schaefer is well fitted for his duties as secretary and manager of the Union Title & Abstract Company of Riverside, which he organized in 1908.
Born July 8, 1880, in Valley county, Neb., Mr. Schaefer's parents were A. H. and Florence J. (Ferguson) Schaefer, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Minnesota. At an early age Glenn Schaefer journeyed with his father and mother to Salem, Ore., where he attended public school until 1895, subse- . quently serving five years in a printing office. Later, in partner- ship with his father, he engaged in the abstract business, and in 1906 located in Riverside, where he became assistant secretary of the Riverside Title & Trust Company. A year later he took his family to San Diego, where he accepted a position as searcher for the Union Title & Trust Company, but in 1908 returned to River- side, where, as heretofore mentioned, he organized the company of which he is secretary and manager, thus meeting a long-felt need
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in that community. His success has been sure and steady, his abso- lute knowledge of the business enabling him to control the work with unquestioned ability.
Mr. Schaefer was united in marriage to Miss Clara Lloyd of Salem, Ore., August 25, 1900, the event being solemnized in that city. Two children have been born to them: Florence and Arthur, both of whom are attending public school. Throughout his career Mr. Schaefer's political support has been given to the Republican party. He is a member of Riverside Camp, W. O. W., and is known among his many friends and associates as a man of conscientious and exemplary qualities.
THOMAS H. PEW
One of the large land owners of San Jacinto valley is Mr. Pew, of Hemet, well known throughout Riverside county as a man of honorable principles and excellent business- judgment. A native of Ohio, his birth having occurred August 5, 1856, in Belmont county, he received a good education, including a course at Steubenville College, and upon completion of his studies started in life for him- self. His father, John Pew, was a farmer by occupation and in 1853 was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Pittman, three chil- dren blessing their union.
In 1877 Thomas H. Pew journeyed to Nuckolls county, Nebr., where he became a teacher and also engaged in the real-estate busi- ness, in which enterprise he found great profit. At one time he owned the townsite of Deshler, Nebr., but later sold the property to the Rock Island Railroad Company. He continued his real-estate ventures until 1888, when he journeyed to San Jacinto, Cal. For a time he worked at various occupations, including carpenter work, well digging, etc., during which time he became familiar with the value of the section, and in June, having decided to remain perma- nently in the valley, sent for his wife and family. For several years he rented land near Hemet and later purchased a ten-acre tract which he planted to fruit, renting also a seventy-acre fruit ranch which he irrigated by water from a reservoir supplied by a spring and from an adjacent well. When he relinquished this tract, which was then considered one of the finest in this part of the valley, he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres which he improved by erecting good buildings and installing a system of irrigation. Upon the sale of this property in 1901 he purchased his present orchard of ten acres devoted to olives, deciduous fruits and berries and
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upon which he resides in a comfortable residence. The ranch is equipped with buildings suitable for his needs, and taken as a whole the property is among the valuable and highly cultivated tracts in that locality. Mr. Pew is still engaged in real estate enterprises and owns at present over two thousand acres of raw land which he is developing for subsequent sale, his efforts having received at all times the encouragement and assistance of his wife and sons.
Mr. Pew.was united in marriage March 11, 1883, in Hebron, Nebr., with Miss Emma J. Roripaugh, who was born in Brocton, N. Y., and who received a good education in Jamestown, N. Y., where she was reared to young womanhood. For some years prior to her marriage she taught school in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Pew have five children living and two deceased, as follows: Walter T .; Marina F., wife of W. B. Caldwell, of Hemet; John M .; Merwin E., and C. Merrill, and Florence M., and LeRoy H., who died at the age of twenty and thirteen respectively.
A Republican, keenly interested in political developments in general, Mr. Pew has never desired office, though for many years he served on the school boards in the various locations where he has lived, and as a citizen of progressive spirit is prompt to aid in all civic movements of merit.
JOHN SHAVER
One of the most highly esteemed and successful business men of San Jacinto is John Shaver, president of the Chamber of Com- merce. His birth occurred July 25, 1854, near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where he spent his boyhood on his father's farm, receiving a limited common school education. His innate intelligence and good judgment, however, enabled him to become self-educated to a high degree and in all his undertakings he has met with success.
In 1876 Mr. Shaver came to California, where for several years he mined, later establishing a lumber mill in San Bernardino. He then went to New Mexico, subsequently opening at Ensenada, Lower California, a sash and door factory in connection with a planing mill. After four years, having heard encouraging reports of San Jacinto, he moved his mill thither, continuing his business for five years, when he purchased the hardware and implement stock of a merchant of that city. His line of hardware, farming implements, wagons, etc., is most comprehensive and his trade, under his wise control, is steadily increasing. He was one of the promoters, and is still a stockholder of the San Jacinto Bank, which for several
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years he served as vice-president. In addition to a number of ex- cellent ranches, including a seven and one-half acre home place, on which he has erected a commodious residence, Mr. Shaver owns an attractive home in San Jacinto, as well as a twenty-five acre tract near town, this ranch being devoted to the breeding of high-grade horses. He was instrumental in securing the establishment of a hotel as well as a modern saw mill and was at one time interested in the motor business, but has disposed of his stock.
Mr. Shaver married in 1884, in San Bernardino, Miss Ellen Mclaughlin, who was born and educated in California and who, prior to her marriage, taught in the schools of her native state. Four children were born to them, all of whom are deceased save one, Francis, a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, and now a practical mining engineer.
Deeply interested in political developments, Mr. Shaver has always been in sympathy with the Democratic faction, and his popu- larity with his fellow citizens is attested by the fact that he served sixteen years, five consecutive terms, as county supervisor. He also efficiently served for three years as chairman of the board and as- sisted in preparing plans for Riverside county's handsome new court house, which was erected in Riverside at a cost of $150,000 and which is conceded to be one of the best in the state. As pre- viously mentioned, Mr. Shaver is president of the San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce, and is widely known and esteemed for his integrity and manly principles.
FRED H. SPEICH
To gain a fair education through his own efforts, to labor in a lowly position and from a meager wage to rise to the head of a con- cern of importance, such is the enviable record of Fred H. Speich and such the transformation he has wrought in his worldly situa- tion solely through unaided exertions. As president of the Greene & Speich Company he has control of a fruit-shipping business of magnitude and importance and has built up an organization perfect in its system of management and effective in its attainment of prac- tical results. The acquisition of a position so responsible did not come through fortuitous circumstances, but is the direct result of his own long experience, practical training and keen judgment exer- cised in all business details. It forms a tribute to the determina- tion of the man and his tireless energy.
Born in Racine, Wis., December 4, 1868, Fred H. Speich was a
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son of Mathias and Margaret Speich and belonged in a family whose modest circumstances did not allow of desired advantages being given to the children. Thus it happened that the boy, after attending the Racine schools from 1874 until 1879, gave up his studies in order to earn his livelihood as an errand clerk in a store. Care and fidelity won promotion and when he left Racine in 1885 he was holding an excellent clerkship in a retail house. It was his desire to secure better educational advantages and with this object in view he applied his earnings toward a course of study in the Metropolitan Business College, Chicago, from which institution he was graduated at the expiration of six months of study in the com- mercial department.
As a bookkeeper in the local freight department of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad for five years Mr. Speich industriously labored in the interests of the company and then resigned to take up other lines of business. Entering the employ of Thacker Bros., fruit packers and shippers, he served for three years as their cashier and claim clerk. The position was congenial, but it was his wish to engage in business independently and he therefore re- signed, after which he opened a fruit brokerage establishment for himself. Five years were given to the Chicago business and he then disposed of his interests in that city, coming to California immedi- ately afterward as general manager of four packing houses for Thacker Bros., of Chicago. At the expiration of six months he came to Riverside, January 20, 1901, and in 1903 organized the fruit-shipping firm of Fred H. Speich & Co., of which he continued as sole proprietor during the existence of the company. In Sep- tember of 1909 he consolidated the business with that of the Moul- ton & Greene Company, adopting the title of the Greene & Speich Company and entering upon the duties of president, which position he now fills with tact and energy.
While making his headquarters in Chicago Mr. Speich met and married Miss Helen Smith, their union being solemnized September 17, 1891. They are the parents of two children. The son, Vernon E., is a high-school student. The daughter, Grace E., has entered the public schools of Riverside. The family attend the Congrega- tional Church and contribute to its maintenance, as well as to other worthy religious and philanthropic movements. As past exalted ruler Mr. Speich has been identified with the local camp of Elks and his fraternal and social interests are further enlarged through service as a director of the Victoria Club. The Republican party has received the benefit of his ballot in local and general elections, while all civic enterprises for the progress of Riverside have re- ceived the impetus of his loyal support and public-spirited co-opera- tion.
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FRAZIER M. SALLEE
The successful and honorable career of F. M. Sallee, of San Jacinto, is an illustration of the incalculable value of a thorough education and training in a chosen profession. He is giving close attention to his numerous duties and laying plans for the future, enjoying to a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his friends. He was born February 23, 1870, in Callaway county, Mo. His father, Joseph W., was a native of the same place and there he married Miss Martha McKim, a native of Kentucky, and together they successfully carried on a farm for many years. The grand- father, J. P. Sallee, was a native of Kentucky, of French ancestry, and was among the very first settlers in the south, where he was united in marriage with a Miss Robinson, likewise born in that state. Joseph W. Sallee disposed of his holdings in Missouri and with his family located in Tustin, Orange county, Cal., and there was engaged in horticultural pursuits for eight years, removing to Pomona, where he developed several orchards. Still later he came to San Jacinto and bought a ranch. He passed away in 1904, aged sixty-two years, and was survived by his wife and four children.
F. M. Sallee received his preliminary education in the public schools of Los Angeles county, upon the completion of which . he entered Westminster College at Fulton, Mo., from which he was graduated in 1891, with the degree of B. S., and three years later his Alma Mater conferred upon him the M. S. degree. Upon his examination taken at the state institute he received a first grade teachers' state certificate for Missouri, after which he returned to Pomona and studied law and was admitted to practice at Pomona in October, 1893. He went at once to Los Angeles and for two years did office work, then for the next seven years he conducted an inde- pendent practice. In January, 1904, he located in San Jacinto, since which time he has met with unqualified success in his chosen calling. In 1907 he was appointed justice of the peace to fill a va- cancy and at the general election in the fall of 1910 he was elected to the office. Since 1911 he has been a member of the school board, taking great interest in educational matters. A progressive Repub- lican, Judge Sallee maintains an active interest in the issues of the day, and since 1910 has filled the office of city attorney of San Ja- cinto.
In Los Angeles, November 10, 1910, F. M. Sallee was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Taylor, a native of Newark, N. J., where she received her education. In their pleasant home at San Jacinto she shares with her husband the esteem and good will of a large circle of friends. F. M. Sallee is a member and past grand of
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San Jacinto Lodge No. 383, I. O. O. F., and is also past district deputy of district No. 51 of California. He is also affiliated with Redlands Lodge 583, B. P. O. E. As a citizen of this valley he is always ready and willing to aid every worthy movement for the general upbuilding of the county and the moral advancement of the citizens.
ROBERT M. IRVING
The brand of oranges, lemons and grape fruit that bears the trade mark of the Hawarden Citrus Association stands without a peer in Riverside county, for the fruit is uniform and dependable, in fact the choicest and best the market affords. As secretary and managing director of the association Mr. Irving takes a commenda- ble pride in the achievements and standing of the organization with which he is connected and it is just praise to say that to his per- sonal efforts is due its present enviable position. Chinook, Ha- warden, Arch and H. C. A. are the brands under which the associa- tion's fruit is shipped, and as all of the fruit is grown on its own lands there is no deviation in quality, buyers always being assured of the splendid high grade which is synonymous with the name Ha- warden.
The records of the Irving family show that it has been identi- fied with Canada for a number of generations, and it was in Kings- ton, Ontario, that Robert M. Irving was born in August, 1872, the son of William and Eliza (Gage) Irving. It was his privilege to enjoy good educational advantages, and after attending the public school of Kingston until he was eleven years of age, he was a stu- dent in the Collegiate Institute for the following three years. He was just sixteen years of age when his parents removed to Califor- nia and settled in Riverside, and here he attended high school for one year. Not feeling satisfied to close his school days with the ad- vantages which this school then offered he returned to Kingston, Canada, and matriculated as a student in Kingston University, and in 1896 he graduated from that well known institution with the de- gree of A. B.
Returning to Riverside after his graduation, Mr. Irving entered business life as an employe of the Prenda Pumping Company, with which he remained for two years engaged in installing pumping plants for the use of that company. He was subsequently asso- ciated with the Riverside Trust Company as private secretary to
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the manager, a responsible position which he filled efficiently for three years.
Upon resigning from the position last mentioned Mr. Irving became interested in the fruit business and incorporated the Ha- warden Citrus Association, of which he has ever since been the sec- retary and the managing director, J. M. Mylne being president. The eastern branch of the association is located in Utica, N. Y.
Ever since casting his first vote Mr. Irving has espoused Demo- cratic principles. Socially he is identified with the Victoria Club, and he is also a member of the Presbyterian Church of Riverside. A man of intelligence and personal worth, Mr. Irving is recognized as one of the substantial citizens of this community.
HENRY M. HARFORD
Subjected to the melting pot of life, the qualities of determina- tion, fair dealing and hard work resolve themselves into honorable success, a state aspired to by many but attained by few. Not luck but pluck, said a certain wise general, and his terse epitome finds application in the life of Mr. Harford, formerly editor of the Perris Progress, also leading real estate man.
Mr. Harford was born in Warren county, Ohio, September 22, 1872, and was educated in the Ohio Wesleyan University of Dela- ware, Ohio, graduating in the class of 1895. Going at once to Omaha, he took up the study of law and upon being admitted to the bar in 1896 he opened offices in that city, where he practiced his profession until 1900, when, for the sake of his health, he removed' to Perris valley, Cal. Several years of ranch life having restored him to physical well being, he entered the newspaper profession and through the medium of the press opened a campaign in the interests of Perris and vicinity, in whose future he has ever held the utmost confidence. Through his well directed efforts many sub- stantial settlers have located in the valley, the development of which continues apace. During his real estate career Mr. Harford has bought and sold many thousands of acres in the fertile valley, run- ning up in values of over a million dollars annually, as well as having located many industrious citizens. His first personal pur- chase in 1902 consisted of a forty-acre tract upon which he paid $270, assuming a $1500 mortgage which he later reduced, devoting the ranch to alfalfa and subsequently disposing of it for $5,000. He has since sold the property several times for various owners,
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each sale commanding a higher price than the preceding one, the last recorded being $16,000, thus showing the steadily increasing values in Perris valley. The valley is devoted largely to alfalfa and dairy pursuits and the raising of swine and is one of the most prosperous sections of the state of California. Mr. Harford owns several ranches as well as city property and deals particularly in alfalfa lands. In the fall of 1911 he disposed of his newspaper in- terests to devote his time exclusively to real estate.
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