USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 105
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with his father on the Graphic, and has worked his own way to his present position in the newspaper world of California.
The Graphic is a newsy sheet, entirely set up in the office in Santa Maria, and is the leading paper of the valley. The paper, founded by John Kryder about 1886, was formerly the Nipomo News; but when Nipomo ceased to be a "live" town, the proprietor moved his plant to Santa Maria, that place being then in its "swaddling clothes." The paper has never missed publication of an issue, has been the Democratic organ of the northern part of Santa Barbara county, and in fact is the only out-and-out Democratic paper in the county.
The paper has been under several different managements and has had dif- ferent editors, among whom W. E. Miscale and L. C. MeKenny are acknowl- edged to have been the ablest until the management and ownership went into the hands of J. F. Conkey in 1900. It has constantly grown in favor and circulation under his leadership and is recognized as the "home paper" throughout the entire valley. To its influence is due the $10,000 public library building, the good roads movement, city street improvements, and paving, which cost $35,000. It championed the sewer system, and the building of the new steel bridge in 1912 at a cost of $80,000, two miles north on the state highway. The Graphic stands for progress and every good thing for Santa Maria and its valley, and for county, state and nation.
HENRY JOHN ABELS .- The name which Henry John Abels bears is one long known and honorably associated with the history of California. Ilis father, Henry Abels, born in Prussia, was educated in German schools, entered the army and served his time, as is customary in Germany. Hle learned the trade of harness and saddle maker, and came to the United States about 1856, and to California soon after. He was married in San Francisco to Salome Blaze, who was born in German Switzerland. Of their children, only two grew up, Henry John and Sally, both of Santa Maria. Henry Abels came to San Luis Obispo and some years later removed to the Santa Maria valley. In 1882 he opened a harness and saddlery shop in Santa Maria, being one of the pioneer business men of the little town. As he prospered, he invested in property and erected business blocks and residences ; and he made this his home until his death, in September, 1912, at the age of seventy-eight.
Henry J. Abels was born July 26, 1876, in San Luis Obispo, and was six years old when his parents settled in Santa Maria. Ile attended the San Luis Obispo and Washington schools, supplementing his public school course by a business course in the International Correspondence School of Scranton. At the age of eighteen, he went to work in .A. Ward's harness shop and spent four years at the trade. Ile was then appointed U. S. Forest Ranger for the Santa Barbara forest reserve, being one of the first U. S. rangers, and at the same time he held the position of chief deputy game warden, becoming county game warden in 1899, in which office he served two terms of four years. He was appointed regular State Deputy Fish and Game Commissioner for Santa Barbara county, holding the position under civil service, which later became District No. 4, a position Mr. Abels still holds. In 1917, by unanimous vote of the board of supervisors, Mr. Abels was appointed Game Warden of Santa Barbara county.
Like his father, Mr. Abels has confidence in the future of Santa Maria and invests his surplus cash in real estate and in erecting business houses and residences ; and with his sister he is owner of valuable hoklings in the city. In the discharge of his official duty he acts without fear or favor, and the
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ability shown by him in the execution of his office is recognized generally. Though duly considerate of those with whom he has to deal, he is stern in enforcing the law. His life has not been free from menace, for in the dis- charge of his duties he has been threatened many times. He performs police duty under M. J. Connell, State Fish and Game Commissioner of Los Angeles, holding the position upon the latter's recommendation. His entire time is devoted to the discharge of his official duties.
March 2, 1907, Mr. Abels was united in marriage with Miss Rosa Weber, daughter of Rheinhold Weber, a pioneer plumber and tinsmith of Santa Maria ; and they have two children: Henry John, Jr., and Helen E. Mrs. Abels is a member of the Eastern Star. Mr. Abels is a member and also a past master of Hesperian Lodge No. 264, F. & A. M., and a member of Corinthian Chapter No. 51, R. A. M., of Santa Barbara ; Santa Barbara Coun- cil No. 19, R. & S. M .; St. Omar Commandery No. 30, K. T .: Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Los Angeles ; and Santa Maria Lodge No. 90, K. of P. He and his wife reside in their pleasant home at 208 North Lincoln Street, where they enjoy the comforts of life and the companionship of their many friends.
HARRY PARNELL .- A first-class engineer and mechanic, and junior member of the firm of Bowers & Parnell, proprietors of the Santa Maria Garage at Broadway and Church streets, Harry Parnell stands high in business circles of the city and throughout the valley. He was born in Devonshire, England, October 28, 1873, educated in the common schools, and grew up there until he was fifteen, when, with his parents, Stephen H. and Helen ( Ewens) Par- nell, he emigrated to America. The family settled at Mount Vernon, Ohio, the father being employed by the C. & G. Cooper Company, manufacturers of Corhss engines.
The eldest of five children born to his parents, Harry Parnell attended the schools of Alt. Vernon one term, then went into the factory of C. & G. Cooper Company to learn the trade of machinist and engineer, served a four years' apprenticeship and after mastering the trade remained with the company until 1909. He arrived in California in December of that year, and on Jannary 1, 1910, entered the employ of the Union Sugar Co. at Betteravia, and for two and one-half years held the position of engincer. Then he was made chief overseer of pumps, water works, gas engines, etc., and continued until March 1, 1916, when he accepted the position of assistant engineer for the Dutch Shell Oil Co. at Martinez. Soon after starting at work he had the misfortune to lose the end of one of his thumbs, and was laid up.
While employed at the Betteravia plant, Mr. Parnell became very well Acquainted with Mr. Bowers ; a warm friendship sprang up between the two oben, and when a proposition was made that they enter into business for them- wird, they soon reached an understanding by which their interests were ton-lidated. So the firm of Bowers & Parnell came into existence ; but for wore complete data of the business, see the sketch of F. J. Bowers on another tas of this work.
Inly 4, 1896, Mr. Parnell was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Rebecca Wolden daughter of James L. Waldon, a civil engineer of London, and they Inye vro children- Helen Lois, a graduate of the Santa Maria high school, [WE 61 '16, and Florence Patria. In politics Mr. Parnell is a Republican. Whole living in Mt. Vernon he served in the city council for two years. He belongs to Mt. Zion Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Mt. Vernon, and both he and
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his wife are members of the Eastern Star. He is a member of Finoy Lage No. 45. K. of P., and of the M. W. A. of that city. The family than the Episcopal church. In the seven years that Mr. Parnell has been a resident of this valley he has made a host of friends who have been drawn by him by his cheerful disposition and high moral character.
J. W. ATKINSON .- Few names in the long and illustrious roster of native Californians have become mose inseparably associated with the history of the development of Santa Maria valley than that of J. W. Atkinsth, who, as chemist, man of affairs, and manager of the Union Sugar Co., has not only promoted an enterprise of enormous importance, but has proved the value, in the highest sense, of personal character and its usefulness and ienience in relation to good citizenship. In Placer county's pictures quely -named little community of Foresthill Mr. Atkinson was born on September 28, 1861. in the very dark and electrically-charged period when the great military and civil leaders of the disputing and fast-separating sections were drilling, organizing and preparing for the first American internecine conflict. This historical circumstance is the more interesting from the fact that the dis- tinguished Betteravian may boast of blood that is the result of the union of Northern and Southern brain and sinew the amalgamation of what is best in the Pilgrim and the Cavalier.
His father, who was born in Bowling Green, Va., a descendant of the Atkinsons who came from England to that State in 1688, was named John Wesley Atkinson, and was a near relation to William Yates Atkinson, the reformed Governor of Georgia. His mother, who resides in Berkel s. was Miss Susan Elizabeth Perkins. The Perkins family trace their lineage lock to New England and the "Mayflower." Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley Wikinson. Sr., had two children: the subject of our sketch, and Mrs. Arthur GF ... who resides at Washington, D. C. The father was a miner all his life. .. came to California in 1850, where he mined for gold in Placer county in the early days of the mining excitement. He died at Betteravia.
J. W. Atkinson, having finished with the public schools of Foresthill and vicinity, moved about considerably, making his way to the various gold mining districts in California and also at Gold Hill, Nes. He went to public school for a while and then to the California Military Academy at tual He entered the University of California in 1878, and took especially Jebem istry course. In 1882, he graduated from the University of California and two years later he began actual work as a chemist.
His first engagement was with the American Sugar Refinery a Sen Francisco, and in a short time he became their superintendent From there he went to Alvarado and took charge of the factory of the Alvaradoy Suger Co., then the only sugar beet concern in the United States. This made him a co-worker with, and personal friend of, E. H. Dyer, father of the bed sig. r industry of the United States, and permitted him to become a pioneer in the same industrial venture of such great significance. While at Alvarado he married Miss Kathryn Ralph, by whom he had two children Ralph and Elizabeth.
In 1899, he came as the representative of the Umon Sugar Co,, a cor poration made up of San Francisco capitalists, to the Santa Maria villes. and having looked over the land in the vicinity of Betteravia, he helped place their factory there and to lay out their great irrigation system. He had much to do with the building of the railroad through the valley, and with making
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it an auxiliary to the activities of the sugar factory. At that time the land was only a stretch of sheep pasture, covered everywhere with sage-brush ; but in a short time, under the magic touch of Mr. Atkinson, there was a mar- velous transformation, and the company now has over ten thousand acres under irrigation and produces a hundred thousand tons of sugar beets per year, from which about sixteen thousand tons of sugar is made. At first the enterprise did not prosper, but when Mr. Atkinson was made superin- tendent and given the entire management, there was an immediate change for the better, both in the prospects of the company and in the actual output. Now Mr. Atkinson manages everything, including the Union Commercial Co., which is a subsidiary to the Union Sugar Co., and a large and well-stocked general merchandise store.
This sugar factory is the largest sugar industry in Santa Barbara county, and pays the heaviest sugar tax, expending more money than any other similar business in that county. And it feeds with its surplus beet pulp more than six thousand head of cattle owned by Wilson & Co. The head office of the Union Sugar Co. is in the Alaska Commercial building at San Francisco, and the chief officers are P. C. Drescher, president ; E. R. Lillienthal, vice- president : George E. Springer, secretary ; J. W. Atkinson, manager ; M. M. Purkiss, agriculturist ; J. T. Avington, office manager ; J. R. Rogers, superin- tendent of the factory; Alfred Palmer, master mechanic; W. J. Williams, technical superintendent ; I. M. Burola, storekeeper Union Commercial Co .; J. P. de l'Eau, consulting engineer ; John L. Harris, assistant agriculturist ; Walter Deising, assistant agriculturist at Harris Station. Directors: P. C. Drescher, Sacramento; E. L. Lillienthal, Lawrence Harris, H. S. Crocker. A. Hlaas, Joseph Hyman, and J. K. Moffatt, Berkeley and San Francisco.
HARRY C. SAUNDERS .- The leading tailoring establishment in Santa Maria is presided over by its clever proprietor, H. C. Saunders, better known by all who know him well as "Harry," a native son of Santa Barbara county. He was born in Lompoc, May 2, 1885, a son of William A. and Ella ( Ruffner) Saunders, early settlers of Santa Cruz, who later removed to Lompoc, where they were married. There the father became favorably known, serving in the city council for years, and becoming the leading grocer for many years. He died in Lompoc in 1910, aged fifty-eight years; the widow still resides there, as does her other child, a son, Ray B. Saunders.
Ilis school days over, Harry Saunders started out in the clothing busi- ness for himself and for seven years conducted a clothing and men's furnish- ing goods store at Lompoc. After selling out, he was in the employ for a year of Mullen & Bluett of Los Angeles. In 1913 Mr. Saunders returned to his native county and in Santa Maria opened a tailoring establishment which has grown from a small beginning to a business of large proportions. By square dealing and strict attention to his customers, he has built up a very profitable business. He employs the most experienced workmen known to the trade, is courteous and obliging, and numbers among his patrons the leading professional, business and oil men, as well as the ranchers, of the valley. He has in stock at all times a complete line of domestic and imported goods. And does a cleaning and repairing business.
Mr. Saunders is a member of the Moose and Red Men of Santa Maria. He was married at Lompoc to Miss Grace Hobson, who was born in Santa Cruz, a daughter of J. W. Hobson, road engineer for the Atascadero Colony in San Luis Obispo County. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders are parents of
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two unusually bright daughters, Leothel and Wilma. They are deservedby popular in their social set, and have an increasing circle of friends in thor community.
MRS. GEORGE CHAFFIN .- The influence wielded by women in the cause of education finds an illustration in the work accomplished by Mrs. George Chaffin, née Sarah E. Elvidge, as one of the trustees of the Wash ington school district. She was born in Nottinghamshire, England, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Stella (Spencer) Elvidge, and was brought by them to America when a child of six years. They settled in Santa Maria and here she attended the public schools and grew to maturity. Here also, on March 25, 1908, she was united in marriage with George W. Chaffin.
A native of Ohio, he was born January 15, 1881, near Portsmouth, was educated in the public schools there and came with his parents to California when he was nineteen. With commendable spirit, when he has twenty one. he took up a homestead of one hundred sixty acres in the Cuyama valley. Recently Mr. and Mrs. Chaffin purchased forty acres cast of the Orcutt road between Santa Maria and that town. Here they have a comfortable home which is blessed with two bright children, Lelia Vivian and George William.
Ever interested in all things making for the good of the schools and the building up of the valley, Mrs. Chaffin permitted her name to come before the people of her district for a member of the board of trustees of the Washing- ton school district, and she was elected by a large majority. Since that time she has given good satisfaction in her official capacity, devoting her best efforts to furthering the cause of education and to working in harmony with the teacher and pupils.
ROSAMEL CASTRO AND VICENTE CASTRO .- Nothing could! better serve to stimulate confidence in the upward trend of the human rue and the persistence of those dominant qualities characteristic of a family dis- tinguished for progress and success, than the example daily set by Rosamel Castro, the present-day representative of an old Spanish family renowned ter its hospitality and proud of its contributions, first to The founding here of a state, and secondly to the developing and expanding of the great Califorata commonwealth. Mr. Castro's great-grandfather was Joaquin Castro, i native of Spain, while his great-grandmother, also an early settler, ofte from France. His grandfather, Rafael Castro, on the other hand, was born at Santa Cruz. where he was well-known both as a large landowner and as a prominent physician and surgeon, who performed many difficult operations, but had for his motto, "No cure, no pay." Rafael was also a leading politician, who held various offices from the early thirties, having been alcalde m 1830, and elector in 1845. Rafael's wife before her marriage was Soledad Cota, and the couple had eight children. Jose Maria was the oldest ; They came France. Jose Antonio and Maria, as well as Maria de los Angeles, and pher the Vicente Rafaela and Agustias.
Vicente Castro was born in Santa Cruz November 25, 1835, and re ared 1 that city ; and in June, 1800, he was married at San Jose to Miss Vicenta l'en, a daughter of Antonio Maria Pico, whose father was Jose Dolores Pied Born in 1808, he was a Republican elector in 1861, and appointed by President In coln United State Register of the I and Office at Los Angeles, from which post he resigned in 1862, dying in 1869. In the meantime, as micirly Sowash Mexican, he had purchased the San Rafael Mission estate as tar back as 1820. had become second alcalde in 1847 and prefect in 1849, and had found luft-
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-elf omdinveled with the Mexican authorities through having favored the cause vi the Faited States. His wife was Pilar Bernal before her marriage, and she became the mother of three sons and three daughters. Among these three Pieni si-ters -- one of whom, Vicenta, was chosen by Vicente Castro to be his Wife-wie became famous for having raised the first American flag unfurled at San Jose. Vicenta Pico was also a niece of ex-Governor Pio Pico, the last of the Mexican governors, and Andreas Pico, a valiant general in the Mexi- man War. Particularly interesting is the connection of this family with one of the notable points in the vicinity of San Francisco; for Mare Island was Formerly owned by Victor Castro, an uncle of Vicente, who kept it as a breeding place for his thoroughbred mares until he finally sold it to the Federal Government. In 1887. Vicente Castro removed to his present place. Where he bought eleven hundred choice acres on the Tepesquet-a name he de-lires to mean, "When the fish grabs the hook"-and there. on January 10. 1915 h's good wife died.
Seren children, besides the subject of our sketch, were born to this native California couple. Andel died unmarried, while living in the Tepes- quiet valley : Rudolpho, also single, died in Mexico: Albert, never married. rests beside his brother Andel : Catalina married Leonardo de la Cuesta, and resides in Los Angeles with a family of eight children: Aurora resides at Santa Maria, the wife of August Bagdons, and the mother of four children : I'mma, married Albert Wickenden of Los Alamos, and they have four chil- Iren ; and Anita married Will Johnson, a rancher on the Santa Maria river.
Born at Santa Cruz, April 25, 1873, Rosamel Castro attended the Tepes- fiet public school and Heald's Business College at Santa Cruz, and on Sep- member 11, 1907, was married to Miss Christene Clark, of Los Angeles, well- Known in that city as one of the assistant librarians in the Los Angeles Public Jabrary. She was born in Chicago, the daughter of John Clark, and when six per- old came from the East with her parents to San Francisco, removing years later to Los Angeles, where her father took a position in the Bur- Tigton railway office. Her mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smith. mit some years ago. Two brothers survive-Harry D. Clark, with Haas, Baruch & Co., the wholesale grocers of Los Angeles, and A. J. Clark, who resides at Lemoore. Before her marriage, Miss Clark attended and grad- bated from the Los Angeles High School. after which she joined the Public Library staff.
Managing his father's ranch, and conducting four hundred sixty-five mes adjoining which he owns in his own name, Rosamel Castro has also hond time for public office, having served with entire satisfaction to his Mou -citizens as trustee of the Tepesquet public school, and as roadmaster for the Fune district.
ERNEST A. SATCHELL .- \ young Englishman who, by making good as the storekeeper for the Pan-American Investment Co., on the Bell prop- ory at los Alamos, is adding to the contribution from his native countrymen toward the commercial development of California, is Ernest A. Satchell, who wir born in London, November 12, 1889. His father was George William Satchel. a schoolmaster and the principal of a high school-a direct descend- Mi, by the way, of the Earl of Winchester ; while his mother, who, before her marriage, was Miss Mary Law May, was a schoolmistress and the principal of the girls' department of a London high school. Besides Ernest, they had
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three children, all of whom found their way to Coalinga : George E. IT . man- aging director of A. P. May, Inc., dealers in general merchandise : May Alice, the wife of (). W. May, with the Associated Pipe Line; and William Il .. . public accountant in business for himself in that town. Ernest Satchell grew up in the metropolis of the world, where he graduated from Dulwich Colleg and pursued a commercial course.
Between the ages of eighteen and nineteen, however, he came to the United States, and to Coalinga, where he was employed for a while with the A. P. May corporation as assistant manager of their oil field ranch; novin that capacity he became widely acquainted with oil men and their needs. He was then engaged by the Standard Oil Co, at the same place, and rose from roustabout to tool-dresser. He next entered the service of the Commercial Petroleum Co. as gang-pusher, and after that he went to the Nevada Pero leum Co., remaining with them three years in charge of the commercial end of their office and store. A still further venture was with the B. B. & 1 .. R Dudley Petroleum Co., in the Lost Hills, where he acted in the same capacity
At the end of another year, he came to the Pan-American Petroleum Investment Corporation, joining their forces on December 30, 1916. This famous concern has control of a ranch of ten thousand acres five miles north- west of Los Alamos, purchased by E. 1. Doheny in 1916 for $1,800,000. where great activity at present prevails. Six wells are being drilled . one. with a capacity of three hundred barrels of oil per day, is just being brought in. and another is almost ready to come. The greatest dificulty experienced by the corporation is not, as some might suppose, in during the oil from the dis tant depths, but in getting the right kind of supplies and in sufficient gnan- tity for the work. IFere is where the foresight and fidelity of Mr. Solchell come in. And there are other problems. All freight trains are now Paule 1 to the store of the Pan- American Investment Corporation from the Pan- Ameri can siding, located on the line of the Pacific Coast Railway tour miles we vid Los Alamos. As a result of representations made to the railway company. they will build a spur direct to the oil field and will have a siding near the center of activity.
Mr. Satchell is a popular member of the Sons of St. George, Of which he has also been Worthy Vice President. He is & devoted member of the Episcopal Church, and enjoys the esteem of its social circles
MRS. ALBERT J. FREEMAN .- \ women of the Santa Maria valley who has been interested in the schools of the section in which she lives. and has labored for a high standard of education, is Mrs Albert Freeman. née Emma Lenora Hardisty, since 1911 clerk and member of the board trustees of Washington school district, which is located about halten between Santa Maria and Orcutt, on the Orcutt road. During the bet few years this school has made great advancement in methods and attendance. good teachers being always sought and good salaries pan
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