History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 98

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923 > Part 98

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Since 1900 he has been a resident of Sacramento and his activities have been attended by a gratify- ing measure of success. He gives expert advice on orchard lands and their adaptation to the growing of fruit; his office is situated at No. 609 J Street. During the World War, when the conservation of food was of the greatest importance, he introduced the use of potato flour in the United States.

Paul H. Steude has been called the "world's cham- pion small farmer." He is, without doubt, the most successful small-space farmer in California. His res- idence at 3039 Sixth Avenue, in Sacramento, is situ- ated on a lot 40 by 151 feet. On it in 1922, he pro- duced 156 different products valued at more than $600. While his main business is real estate and farm expert work, yet he does all the labor on his place himself, and the knowledge that he acquired as a student and later as an instructor in the agricul- tural colleges in his native land stands him well in hand. He has never been afraid of hard work, and the two hours a day spent in his garden is a matter of delight to him, as it keeps him in excellent health and gives play to his generous disposition. He gives away to his friends and neighbors great quantities of his choice fruits, nuts and vegetables. Mr. Steude's garden has thirty-seven types of vegetables, seven kinds of berries, eight kinds of melons and roses of thirty varieties. Twenty-five grape-vines are twined about his house and garage, and there are twelve kinds of fruit trees. Flowers and herbs of sixty-five species are also grown on the property. Cotton was tried with success, as were a number of tropical and other vegetables. The city agriculturist estimates that he gave away bulbs and young plants valued at $700 during the season. Mr. Steude leaves for his office every morning at 8:30 o'clock and tends his garden in his spare time at the end of the day.

Mr. Steude married Miss Anna Klette and they have become the parents of two sons, Max and Bruno. The former acts as manager of Hart's lunch room at Fresno, and the latter is associated with his father in business. Mr. Steude gives his political support to the Republican party, as he believes that its principles constitute the best form of government for the ma- jority. He is a lover of flowers, of which he has many fine varieties, and was awarded first prize at the local flower show. He is broad in his views, pro- gressive in his standards and high in his ideals, and his life has been an intensely active and useful one, characterized by the successful accomplishment of valuable results.

ROBERT POWELL .- What builders have done to develop their systems, so that they may the more successfully carry out extensive contracts, is well illustrated in the operations of Messrs. Robert Pow- ell & Company, progressive contractors located at 1309 Sixth Street, Sacramento. Robert Powell was born at Manitowoc, Wis., on October 17, 1869, when he entered the family of George and Margaret (Woodfield) Powell, the former born at Shrews- bury and the latter near Manchester, England. The parents emigrated to Rhode Island in 1842, and later to Wisconsin as pioneers of the Manitowoc region. George Powell responded to the call to the colors from his adopted country and served in the 44th Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry in the Civil War. Both he and his estimable wife are now deceased.

Robert Powell attended the public schools of his locality, and then, as a young man, set out for Mas- sachusetts, where he remained twelve years. There he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. After- wards he lived for five years in Colorado Springs, Colo. He had been associated with a brother in contracting in Massachusetts, and when he came to California in 1905, he located in Sacramento and engaged in contracting and building. At the same time he continued his business with his brother in Massachusetts until about 1911, when he sold his in- terest. In California he has done a large business and been very successful. Among the buildings contracted and erected by him are the Yolo and Rio Linda schools. He also made improvements in the New- ton Booth school, and he has executed a large amount of residence work. In these activities, he has as a partner his son, Milton. The firm is one of the oldest building firms in Sacramento.

In 1889, Robert Powell was married to Miss Eliza Birdsall, born in Manitowoc, Wis., a daughter of Coe and Margaret (Spencer) Birdsall, natives of Clitheroe, England, who emigrated to Rhode Island and later to Wisconsin, where they were farmers near Manitowoc. There Mrs. Powell grew up, and there, too, she met and married Mr. Powell. Their union has been blessed with three children. Mar- guerite is the wife of L. M. Miller, of Sacramento. Milton married Miss Winnifred Kime, and they have two children, Jean and Barrett; he is now a partner of his father in the building business. Evelyn is still under the parental roof. In national politics, Mr. Powell is a Republican. He is a member of the Builders' Exchange and the Master Builders' Asso- ciation, and also of the Chamber of Commerce.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

PETER S. CHORICH .- A very enterprising, pro- gressive business firm, whose special knowledge of local conditions in Sacramento County has proven a valuable supplement to their general scientific knowl- edge of engineering, is that of Messrs. Chorich & Dider, the well-known irrigation engineers of Sacra- mento, so well represented by Peter S. Chorich. He was born in Serbia, and there attended the thorough schools of his native country, and at the age of six- teen he came to the United States, where he studied privately, for five years, with a professional engineer. Then he commenced to work for himself. He was fortunate in having the best opportunity for both theoretical and practical training, and it was inevita- ble that, when he came to be given a larger field, greater opportunity and increased responsibilities, he should rise to the occasion, and from first to last fulfill all expectations.

In 1920, with L. G. Dider, Mr. Chorich established the above-named firm, which manufactures cement pipe of all kinds, and installs complete irrigation sys- tems. Their plant is located on the Folsom Boule- vard at Perkins, where they employ twelve men, and they have made it a busy headquarters, having dem- onstrated the practicability and scientific advantage of modern irrigation systems, after frequently fur- nishing their plants to the most progressive and most successful of farmers. They have become widely and favorably known, especially in northern California, and their work may be inspected on the estates of E. F. Dalton, H. W. Bartell, W. W. Bassett, W. E. Holmes, Ed Boyles, L. B. Landsborough, the West- ern Fruit Company, and the Earl Fruit Company, all notable and extensive properties. Mr. Chorich's natural trend toward advancement in industry and in business is reflected in his Progressive political views, and his independent attitude toward men and measures; and he gives his strongest endorsement to all that affects the real welfare of Sacramento County.

EDWIN TAYLOR WALL .- A wide-awake, op- timistic executive, whose heavy responsibilities and tasks have been lightened through his invaluable ex- perience and his genial temperament, is Edwin Taylor Wall, the superintendent of dredges, with the Na- tomas Company. He was born in Pendleton, Mad- ison County, Ind., on February 2, 1867, the son of John Taylor and Phoebe Louise (Wynn) Wall, the former a division superintendent of the Bellefontaine Railroad, and also a man of wide experience, who, with his good wife, is now deceased, the worthy couple being recalled with esteem by all who knew them.

Edwin Taylor Wall received a grammar-school and high-school training, the Indiana schools of his district being unusually good. Because his father had died when he was seten years of age, he lived on the farm of an uncle unti he was eighteen and had finished his studies. Then he went to work on a dredge, digging a canal in Warren County, Ind., and he was in the employ of this county for ten years, after which he worked on a section of the drainage canal in Chicago, where for three years he had charge of steam-shovels and locomotives. Next, he went to Avon, Mont., to work on a gold dredge for W. M. Johnson, and then, in 1898, he went for two years to Oroville, for John W. Ferris.

Twenty years ago, Mr. Wall came to the Natomas Company, and with the exception of a short pericd

when he had charge of the blacksmith shop, he always acted as foreman. A man of exceptional, acknowl- edged ability, and one very devoted to whomever or whatever he associates himself with, Mr. Wall has come to be equally acceptable to his employers and his fellow employees.

Mr. Wall married Miss Jane Wallace, of Indiana, and they have had four children: R. B. is the eldest; John T. went to France as one of the United States aviators; William Wallace was chief electrician in the navy; while the youngest is Beatrice Elair, born in California. In politics, Mr. Wall is a Republican; fraternally, he is a Mason of the thirty-second de- gree and a Shriner, belongs to the Woodmen of the World, and for the past thirty-five years has been an Odd Fellow.

ALBERT MILES THATCHER .- The people of Sacramento, and the public in general, are much in- debted to Albert Miles Thatcher and his well-organ- ized and well-managed Acme Transfer Company, lo- cated at 826 Second Street, one of the most efficient agencies for busy folk in the capital. A native of Bar- ton County, Kans., he was born on July 21, 1882, the son of George W. and Mary Ann (Fores) Thatcher. The father, a real estate and insurance broker, is still living at Great Bend, Kans. Albert took high stand- ing in his grammar school and high school courses, and was graduated in 1901, after which he went to the Great Bend Normal College. For a time he fol- lowed dairying in Colorado and in California; and hav- ing come here permanently in 1906, he located at Sacramento.

In 1906 he bought the Acme Transfer Company, which he has so developed that he now uses three trucks. He gives careful attention to contracts for city-to-city moving, making long-distance hauls his specialty. He gives every want of his patrons his personal attention, and as a consequence has the hearty good-will of the people served. Being studious by nature, he studies and writes on current topics in his spare time. He was an early advocate of flood control and furnished the government with statis- tics and detailed information on the subject. As a result, the project carried and the State of California has been greatly benefited thereby. This is only one of the many and varied subjects investigated by Mr. Thatcher and brought to the notice of the public through his writings. He also maintains a live inter- est in politics, and supports Republican candidates. He is athletic, and is especially fond of outdoor life and sports.

WILLIAM J. HUNGOR, Prominent among the most experienced and enterprising of California mer- chants must be numbered William J. Hunger, the sole proprietor of the retail shoe store of Messrs. Caselli & Hunger, at 527 K Street, Sacramento, and decidedly, one of the most successful business men of the city. . A native son, he was born at Placer- ville, in Eldorado County, on April 2, 1878, the son of Fred and Caroline (Wertz) Hunger, both natives of Cincinnati, the former now deceased, and the latter still living at the age of eighty-one. The father crossed the great plains in the early fifties and located at Placerville, in Eldorado County, where he engaged in the butcher business. The old butcher shop is still standing, and is now the City Butcher Shop. He owned 300 acres of land, on which stood

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

his slaughter-house, and one-half of the land occu- pied by the race track was donated to the town of Placerville by him. He helped to build up the town, and was one of the community's most esteemed pio- neers. He was a member of St. James Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunger, of whom eight are still living.

William Hunger attended school at Placerville and Sacramento, having come to the latter place at the age of twelve with his mother, who had been a widow for six or seven years. He started in the shoe business at the age of sixteen, entering the employ of Messrs. Geiser & Kaufman, at 603 J Street. Later, he was with the Lavenson Shoe Company, and then with Charles P. Nathan & Sons.

Some seventeen years ago, Mr. Hunger entered the employ of A. Caselli, the shoe merchant, and in 1919 he became a partner in the business. Three years later, in October, he purchased the establish- ment. At one time, Mr. Hunger owned a poultry farm near Brighton; but he sold this and invested his money in Sacramento real estate.

In 1904, Mr. Hunger was married to Laura Renschler, a native of Sacramento, whose father was a sturdy and esteemed pioneer of early-settler days. Four children have blessed this union: William F. L., Loraine Clayton, Leavitt, and James, all natives of Sacramento. Mr. Hunger belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to Sunset Parlor, No. 6, Native Sons of the Golden West, and is a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce.

MRS. MAUDE I. RITZ .- Descended from a pio- neer California family, Mrs. Maude I. Ritz can well lay claim to being a native daughter of Sacramento County, for she has lived in the vicinity of her birth all her life. She is the daughter of James and Mary (Swift) Ferguson, the father a native of New York, while the mother was born at Leeds, England. James Ferguson first came to Califronia in 1851 and mined a short time, returning to New York where he was married. After living in various states he and his wife came to California in 1868, settling in Santa Clara County where they remained until 1874, then moved to Galt, where the family have since resided. A brother of James Ferguson, William Henry Fer- guson, was also an early settler of California; he was extensively engaged in freighting to the mines and was known throughout the country as "Harry of the West." James Ferguson passed away at the age of sixty-six and Mrs. Ferguson when fifty-six.

Seven children were born to this pioncer couple: Mildred died in childhood; Emma J. resides at Galt with Mrs. Ritz; Thomas S. is deceased; Elizabeth died in childhood, as did Anna and Charles; Maude 1., now Mrs. Ritz, was educated in the schools of Galt and then was connected with the Galt post office for twelve years, and was perhaps the best- informed person concerning the names of the resi- dents of the south part of the county. At Sacra- mento, on October 15, 1913, she was married to F. J. Ritz, a native of New York, born at Rochester, the son of Carl and Anna Ritz. Mr. Ritz came to California when a young man and has been engaged in business in Galt for many years, handling gasoline engines, pumps and well supplies. They are the par- ents of two children, Cleora and Martha.

Mrs. Ritz's brother, Thomas S. Ferguson, was well known as a building contractor at Galt and in 1914 he purchased the business of Don Ray & Company, the firm then being known as the T. S. Ferguson Lumber Yard, and he built up a splendid lumber business in north San Joaquin and south Sacramento Counties. Mr. Ferguson passed away July 3, 1919, leaving a wide circle of friends. His lumber business is now owned by Mrs. Ritz and her sister, Miss Emma J. Ferguson, with D. A. Williamson as man- ager. Mrs. Ritz is prominent in Chabolla Parlor, N. D. G. W., and Miss Emma Ferguson has been secretary of the Rebekah Lodge at Galt since its organization in 1888. They own and operate a ten- acre vineyard of Tokay grapes near Galt, the land lying just across Dry Creek, in San Joaquin County.

LEO KNEELAND LOBNER .- The attraction of Sacramento for both the permanent resident and the suburban visitor, who naturally depends upon the cap- ital for markets of an up-to-date character, is well illustrated in the clothing emporium of Leo Kneeland Lobner, of 905 K Street. Mr. Lobner hails from Placer County, the birthplace of so many energetic native sons, where he first saw light on July 5, 1886, the son of William B. and Margaret (Kneeland) Lob- ner, both of whom were born in California, the father at Georgetown and the mother at Colfax. Grandfather Kneeland came out here in 1850, settling first in Iowa Hill, Placer County; and three years later, Grand- father Lobner came to Georgetown, removing after- wards to Colfax. William B. Lobner died in 1905, leaving an enviable record for usefulness; but Mrs. Lobner is still living, the center of a circle of devoted friends, and makes her home with our subject.

Leo Lobner was graduated from the Portland, Ore., high school, and then entered Stanford Univer- sity; but because of the death of his father, he had to go into business and seek an immediate income. His father had been with the Wells Fargo Company for a long time, and he at first followed in his father's footsteps; but after a couple of years he became an automobile salesman, and in 1919, after some years in the latter field, he joined a partner, Walter A. Clark, and established his present business as a clothier. In 1921, he bought out Mr. Clark, and in his management of the business since that time he has been very successful. He carries only the best of everything for the prices offered; and inasmuch as it is now widely known that one may get full value at Lobner's Clothing Store, and at the same time obtain the latest in fashions and novelties, the patronage of the emporium has been steadily increasing, and now Mr. Lobner serves a select public, such as would be a compliment to any merchant, however ambitious.

In San Francisco, in 1917, Mr. Lobner was married to Miss Laura Roberts, a native of Kansas, who grew up in California; she was a daughter of Ben Roberts and his good wife, Louie (Thomas) Roberts. Two children have been granted to Mr. and Mrs. Lobner: Knecland and Ann. Mr. Lobner is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to the Elks, and is also a mem- ber and past president of Sutter Fort Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West. Besides being fond 01 hunting and fishing, Mr. Lobner is much interested in the Winter League Baseball Club, which boasts a membership of some 500 men and boys; and he gave the Leo Lobner trophy, the first cup offered.

Leo K. Lobner

ท

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

R. E. MUNSON .- A popular executive who has done much to advance certain agricultural interests in Sacramento County, is R. E. Munson, the general manager of the Rio Linda Poultry Producers' Asso- ciation, dealers in grains and poultry supplies at Rio Linda, who has been in charge of this rapidly expand- ing establishment since May, 1922. The history of the organization dates back to July 30, 1920, when it was incorporated by a group of poultry-raisers of Rio Linda. Today, it is looked upon with pride by all northern Californians, and its fame has reached far beyond the confines of the Golden State.

Mr. Munson was born in Marshall County, Iowa, on October 31, 1892, the second of three sons of M. N. Munson, a native of Illinois, where he first saw light in 1864. In 1901 the family moved to Minnesota and located at Montevideo, and there our subject and his father were formerly engaged in extensive stock and grain raising. The lad attended the thorough schools of Montevideo, and also the Windman Academy, and entered the agricultural department of the State Uni- versity at St. Paul, and was there occupied one term. During the World War, Mr. Munson was engaged in extensive farming. He is one of the organizers of the Cooperative Farmers' Stock Exchange of Monte- video, and served as president for a term; and he still has an equity in the Cooperative Exchange of St. Paul. He was also a member of the Montevideo Co- operative Elevator Company, of which his father was the president for five years, and he has also figured in all farm circles of Minnesota.

In February, 1920, Mr. Munson left the farm, and accompanied his father to California on an extended visit; and while en route they purchased eighty acres of choice land in District No. 1000, in Sutter County, which R. E. Munson farmed in 1921, and has since leased out. He had brought his family out to Cali- fornia in September, 1920, making the trip overland in nineteen days by automobile, following the Lincoln Highway. They also brought along Mr. Munson's six-months-old son Lynn.

The poultry plant at Rio Linda has more than doubled its volume of business since Mr. Munson became general manager, and he recalls with satis- faction the time when three men and one truck were all that was necessary for the entire business, whereas seven men and two trucks are now necessary. The capacity of the warehouse, too, at one time far too large, has been so overtaxed that it is proposed to add materially to the warehousing space, and it is not surprising that the ten thousand dollars of stock has turned twice recently. P. R. Lyding is president of the Rio Linda Poultry Producers' Association; James Gimblett is vice-president; N. B. Harris, treas- urer; M. L. Nelson, secretary; and R. E. Munson, manager. The directors are: M. Blocher, Daniel M. Nash. John Matushak; P. R. Lyding, James Gim- blett, N. B. Harris, and M. L. Nelson.

On June 20, 1917, Mr. Munson was married to Miss Ada M. McKay, a native of Minnesota and a graduate of the Montevideo high school, who had followed her profession of teaching for two years in Chippewa County, Minn. She is the daughter of T. G. McKay, of Montevideo, a retired merchant, held in high esteem by his former patrons, and is the eldest of four children. She is a very accomplished lady, and takes great interest in her husband's suc- cess. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal 41

Church. Mr. Munson became president of the Rio Linda Boosters' Club, formed in November, 1922, with fifty charter members; and this has grown under his guidance to a thriving organization of eighty members in March, 1923. Mr. Munson is a Repub- lican, and a member of the Blue Lodge of Masons at Montevideo, Minn.

WESLEY B. LEWIS .- A corporation representa- tive whose ability, experience, devotion to his em- ployers and never-failing attention to the wants and comforts of the public have not only made him many friends, but have contributed to effecting and main- taining a better working understanding all around, is Wesley B. Lewis, the popular station master in the service of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Fol- som City. He was born, a native son, at Rocklin, in Placer County, on August 8, 1890, the son of George L. and Isabel (Burt) Lewis, the former a native of historic England, and a seaman for years on mer- chant ships. He arrived at the Golden Gate in 1880, and was married in San Francisco to Miss Burt; and they came to Rocklin, a newly built railroad town on the Southern Pacific, where for fifteen years he conducted a furniture store. Then he took up gold- mining. He was an honored member of the Forest- ers and Druids, and his declining years were spent in the care of his son, our subject, at Folsom City, where he died, in November, 1918, at the ripe age of sixty-six. Mrs. Lewis. the devoted wife and mother, passed away at Newcastle, in 1913, at the age of fifty-two. She was survived by three children : Venus Holman lives at Klamath Falls, Ore .; Wesley B. Lewis is the subject of our review; and R. George makes his headquarters at San Francisco, and is iden- tified with the lumber business in Eastern Oregon.

Wesley B. Lewis attended the public school at El Dorado City, to which place his parents had moved in 1896, and at the early age of thirteen entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad as an ap- prentice under Agent C. E. Duden, at El Dorado City. At the end of twenty-two months, he began to go out as a relief agent on the Southern Pacific, Sac- ramento and Stockton divisions, filling offices in eighty-four different stations, where he acted as agent, up to and including Folsom City, thereby gaining a wealth of knowledge in railroad routing and the handling of traffic. He now belongs to the Telegra- phers' Union. He is distinctly progressive in politics, favors wise legislation that alike safeguards the in- ierests of the public and those of the investors in corporation stock, and is first, last and all the time for his native land and state. He has been located at Folsom City since 1916, and has been most suc- cessful in caring for the public both in respect to train service and in the freight and express business.

In 1911, Mr. Lewis was married at Auburn to Miss Clara Flannery, a native of Virginia City and the daughter of Maliche and Nellie (Blake) Flannery. The latter, born in San Francisco, still resides at Vir- ginia City, an honored pioneer of sixty-nine years. Mrs. Lewis was graduated from the University of Nevada in 1909. Having taught school for a year when she was only seventeen, after graduation she pursued her professional work for a couple of years. One son, George E. Lewis, who was born at Colusa in October, 1912, and one daughter, Muriel Arlene, born in Sacramento on March 28, 1923, have blessed

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History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 98

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026