History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 94

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070

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Ersternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Moose and the Modern Woodmen of America, and politically supports Republican principles.

ED STULL .- \ pioneer driller of oil wells in the Santa Maria oil fields bufpre the town of Orcutt was laid out. and at present engaged in contract dellline for the New Pennsylvania Oil Co. under the firm name of Mckee & sinl. Id Stull has become justly popular with the oil men of the com- mapy . od his experience in many fields has given him a wide and varied DoWl er of the oil "game." He was born in Crawford county. Pennsyl- Fifth Suril 24. 185. a son of J. B. and Jamima (Shorts) Stull. The father Chodeer off man of Warren county, that state, and at one time was www Dny hit like many others in the business, he lost his money, and after Is derry ly family move l onto a farm which Ed Stull managed until he

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Since then he has been engaged constantly in some line of oil pro- duction, chiefly as a driller. His first work was in the Rollerville and Gib sonburg, Ohio, fields, working as a roustabout ; he applied himself diligently to every task set for him to do, and after three years became a driller. In 1898 Mr. Stull came to California and worked for Dr. Book of Los Angeles as a driller in the Los Angeles fiells. He then spent two years in the Spindle Top fields in Texas, drilling with both rotary and cable tools. From there he went to Tampico, Mexico, to work for the Doheny interests for nine months ; and returning to California, he located in Coalinga and worked for the Standard, Union, Otai and other companies until coming again to the Santa Maria fields, where for three years he drilled wells for the Rice Ranch Oil Co.

While in Texas, Mr. Stull became acquainted with Burt Burnett and through him met the Hon. T. R. Finley and other kading men of the New Pennsylvania and Rice Ranch leases; and by all who know him, he is re- garded as a very successful man, thoroughly competent in every branch of the oil well business, careful and considerate of those under him, and enjoy ing the confidence of those higher in authority.

Mr. Stull has been twice married, but both wives are deceased. By his union with Miss Mary George he had four children, Frank and Jessie, who live in California, and David and Lizzie, who reside in Pennsylvania. His second marriage, in California, united him with Miss Emma Camp.

Mr. Stull is a Republican in politics and fraternally belongs to the Santa Maria lodge of Moose. He is a straightforward, undemonstrative, whole- hearted man, with a heart full of kindness for those less fortunate than him- self; and his greatest pleasure is in the companionship of his children and grandchildren.

JACOB B. STULL .- The active superintendent of the New Pennsyl vania Petroleum Co., Jacob Stull was born in Crawford county, Penn., Sep- tember 2, 1874, grew to manhood on his mother's farm and attended the common school in their district. At the age of twenty-two he began working in the oil fields of Rouseville, Penn., and followed the oil business there for twelve years, being in the employ of A. B. Stranh most of the time.

In 1899, Mr. Stull came to California and found work in the Los Angeles fields with Dr. Book, as a tool dresser, a department of the industry in which he was an adept. Soon after, he went to the Kern River field, in Kern county, and was in the employ of the Petroleum Development Co. for several years. Going back to Los Angeles, Mr. Stull again entered the em- ploy of Dr. Book and remained five years.

At the end of that period he made a trip back east to Pennsylvania, but returned to California within the year and located in the Coalinga field. remaining about four years. Ile again made a trip back to the state of his birth and was united in marriage with Miss Clart Bussard and engaged in farming there. After a happy married life of just one year and ten days. Mrs. Stull passed aawy. Mr. Stull then sold the farm and came back to Coalinga.

From there he went to Mekittrick and engaged with Jess Smith as a driller until 1915, when he came to the Santa Maria fields and at first engaged with the Hon. T. R. Finley of Santa Maria. His excellent work in fishing out tools stuck and lost in wells, rendering them practically useless. and in successfully re-drilling them, at once attracted attention to his geniu

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and allits. and his services were eagerly sought by A. F. Fugler of Santa Maria, president of the New Pennsylvania Oil Co., who employed Mr. Stull as superintendent.

In his new and responsible position he is succeeding remarkably well. is under his efficient management the company is being placed on a paying basis; and with the passing of time Mr. Stull is winning a place in the con- Ilence of the oil men, by whom he is known as a conservative and careful employe. In the short time he has been associated with the Santa Maria fields, he has won a wide circle of friends.

ARZA A. WHARFF .- As production superintendent of the district comprising the leases of the Union Oil Co. in the Santa Maria fields and as a thorough-going oil man, Arza A. Wharff is ably demonstrating his efficiency as one of the most popular and painstaking employes of the corporation he represents. He was born near Marietta, Washington county, Ohio, June &, 1869, a son of Amzi and Elvira (Fall) Wharff, the former a pioneer of that county, who died in 1898 aged sixty years. Mrs. Wharff is a resident of Lowell. (., and is seventy-four years okl. This worthy couple had ten chil- dren, seven now living, Arza .\. being the fourth child and the only one in ('alifornia, as well as the only one in the oil business.

Mr. Wharff attended the country schools in Ohio. remaining on the farm until he was sixteen, and then began working for wages, first in the timber and in the sawmills in various sections of that state, and then in the oil fields in Washington county, going later to West Virginia, where he worked in the Sisterville and Belmont fields. Next going to Crawford county, Ill., he continued the oil business and in 1910 came to California and the Santa Maria fields, where he was made production man of the Union Oil Co. He has steadily worked his way to the front until he reached his present enviable position of district superintendent with supervision of the pro- duction on the following leases: Newlove, Fox. Hobbs, Kaiser, Folsom, Hartnell, Escole, Effson, Ilill. Purisima and Bell.

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While living in California, Mr. Wharff was united in marriage, in 1912, with Miss Margaret Bucy of Lowell, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Dorothy. The home of Mr. Wharff and his family is on the Hobbs lease. Mr. Wharff is a Mason, is a man of public spirit, wears a smiling countenance ind radiates good cheer and optimism wherever he goes, and is highly re- pected by all who know him.

W. C. PENTZER .- The drilling foreman of the Union Oil Co. in the Sala Maria field. W. C. Pentzer is a thorough, painstaking workman, pos- king a perfect knowledge of the business in hand and enjoying the con- solence of lis employers. He is a native of Ohio, known among his intimate wow !- as "Webb," and was born at Dayton on July 1, 1870. His father, over, was a well-known oil man in the Bradford, Penn., oil fields in 1978. Going from there to Findky, Ohio, in 1886, where he drilled the first Wr p. U. he became wealthy, but lost his fortune in the Wyoming fields. Do Wonker family are of German origin, Angustus Pentzer, the grand- nather, having come to the United States and settled in Maryland.

MY Hetzer was educated in the common schools and when eleven goncalil miogin working for his father in the Allegheny oil fields, doing such work split of The tears could do. From that early beginning until the inwent ben Je Vas been identified with the oil business. . At the age of

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SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

twenty-one he was a driller. He has worked in the fields in Ohio, Wyoming and California. In partnership with a brother, E. J. Pentzer, under the name of P'entzer Bros., he engaged in contract drilling in 1894-1900.

In February of the latter year, he arrived in California and his experience soon secured him a position in the Los Angeles fields. Becoming acquainted with Thomas Hughes of Los Angeles, he was engaged by him to begin drilling on the Rice Ranch leases in the Santa Maria fields, and in 1904 Mr. Pentzer began his work here. One year later he was employed by the Union Oil Co., and from 1907 until 1908 was drilling in the Arroyo Grande section, but without results. In June, 1908, he returned to the Santa Maria fields and ever since has been employed here, his jurisdiction extending to all the leases of the Union Oil Co. in the Santa Maria field. ITis present work consists of re-drilling the old wells to deeper sands, which are from five hundred to six hundred feet below the first oil sands, thus prolonging the life of the field.

Mr. Pentzer is a member of San Luis Obispo Lodge No. 322, B. P. O. Elks. He married, in Findley, Ohio, Miss Wana Erickson.

Mr. Pentzer is a hail-fellow well met, and has a host of friends, who honor him for his integrity and thorough understanding of the oil business, and especially for the public spirit he shows on all occasions in the support of all movements for the public good.

ROSCOE E. UPTON .- A mechanical genius, fond of machinery from a boy and now holding the responsible position of chief engineer of compres- sion plant number one of the Pinal Dome in the Santa Maria oil field, Roscoe Upton is justly called a pioneer engineer of this field by reason of his assist ing in installing the first compression plant for this company. . \ native son, he was born in Tuolumne county, a son of Thomas Upton, a pioneer of 1852, who lived in various parts of the state and saw much of its early growth, and died in San Jose aged sixty-three.

Roscoe Upton received his education principally in San Jose ; and being of a mechanical turn of mind naturally turned his attention to machinery, supplementing his schooling by studying standard works pertaining to me- chanical engineering and ever since keeping abreast of the times by reading the best publications on kindred subjects.

In 1904 Mr. Upton was employed by the Western Union Oil Co., and two years later he came to the Pinal Dome Co. Of the twelve years spent in the Santa Maria fields, ten have been in the employ of this company; and for four years of this time he has filled the position of chief engineer of com pression plant number one, with seven engineers under his direction. Mr. Upton is a valued employe of the company, considerate of those under him and highly respected by all who have come in contact with him, both in business and social circles.

RANDOLPH JOSEPH STOLTZ .- The gentleman in charge of the upkeep of the pipe lines of the Union Oil Company from Orcutt to Avila, a distance of thirty-one miles, is well and favorably known in and about the Santa Maria oil fields and has been in the employ of the Union Oil Company since 1909.

A native of Missouri, R. J. Stoltz was born in St. Louis, July 12. 1875. a son of Sam Houston and Mary (Mikesker Stoltz, farmers in Missouri and in Texas, whither the family moved in 1882, when R. J. was but seven years

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old Dogs he attended the public school and grew to young manhood. He Worked 1 : the county, building roads for a time, also worked at farming, and gradu ily Amited into mechanical lines. He was employed in a boiler ale. and Host worked at drilling, first of water wells and then of oil wells.

At the bed of twenty four, in 1899, Mr. Stoltz enlisted in Co. M. 33d Big IS Not Inf., for service in the Philippines, and served two years. After luis discharge, he came to California and remained for a short time, ijten w.1 : 10 the Spindle Top oil fields at Beaumont, Tex., and worked as a well driller. He then went to Sour Lake and spent two years in the Humble of field- and then was employed as a fireman on the Texas company's pipe line running from Tulsa, Okla., to Port Arthur. Then he fired one year for the refinery and pipe line department until 1909.

The above year Mr. Stoltz came to Coalinga and engaged with the Union Oil Company in their pipe line department, since which he has done all kinds of work, from digging ditches to managing the department, his present position. Mr. Stoltz is an efficient employe, enjoys the confidence of his superior officers, and has won a place for himself by his own earnest endeavors. He has been frugal and has saved and wisely invested his money. and is now owner of two valuable ranches of one hundred sixty acres each. He is a man of strong physique, active and manly, and has a wide circle of friends. He is the sole support of a widowed sister and her four children living in Texas.

EDWIN S. JOHNSON .- The genial proprietor of the Sanitary Steam Laundry and the O. K. Restaurant of Santa Maria is the true type of the Swedish-American citizen, and in Edwin S. Johnson that city has a public- spirited. successful man. Mr. Johnson was born December 3. 1882, at Ilalm- stad, Sweden, the sixth child in order of birth of ten children born to his parents. August and Sophia ( Larson) Johnson, both natives of Sweden and the latter still living at Ilalistad.

It was in the public schools of that town that young Johnson received an education, attending until he was twelve. Then he went to work as a mes- -enger boy in a railroad office, and remained until he was twenty. He was ambitious to get ahead, and had heard of the opportunities offered energetic people in the United States. Accordingly, on March 31. 1903, he arrived in Boston, Mass, and worked at whatever came to his hands to do.

Looking for a satisfactory location in which he might settle and begin building a career for himself, and where he might familiarize himself with the methods of doing business in this country, as well as become acquainted with the English language, Mr. Johnson began traveling throughout the Conted States, working at any kind of employment to pay his way, and in this No he visited nearly forty states, reaching California in 1907.

Santa Barbara county seemed to offer what he was seeking, and in the div of that name he opened a restaurant in 1908, being successful from the Mot In Max. 1910, he was united in marriage with Miss Elise Heggen, who Wios Lam mo Valdal, Norway, and on January 2, 1911, they came to Santa To The outlook was very good for business and he opened the O. K. B Wwww ww and has carried it on ever since with a growing patronage.

Do Iniy. 1911. Mr. Johnson bought a lot and erected a building of cement biodo too. Med modern machinery and embarked in the laundry business miel . the mode of the Sanitary Steam Laundry. From time to time he has

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added modern machinery and introduced methods for the carrying on of the business, and now has very extensive patronage. The business receives his personal attention, every detail is carefully considered, and his patrons are shown all possible consideration and courtesy. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children living-Edwin, Norman and Joy. Mr. Johnson is a mem- ber of the Loyal Order of Mouse and is one of the successful business men of Santa Maria in which city he and his wife are justly popular and respected.

HENRY A. STIER .- \ mechanic and a valued employe of the Union Oif Co. at Orcutt. H. A. Stier is of German descent, and was born in Dun- kirk, N. Y., August 22, 1868. Ilis parents, both of whom are now deceased, came from Germany to the United States and located in Dunkirk. Their three children are living August, in Dunkirk ; Elizabeth, at Silver Creek : and Henry A., at Santa Maria.

He attended the public schools at Dunkirk and was apprenticed to learn the trade of machinist at the Brooks Locomotive Works in that city. serving three years: after which he continued in the employ of the company four years. He next was employed at Warren, Pa., as a machinist, later becom ing foreman of the shops. While living in Pennsylvania, Mr. Stier was united in marriage with Miss Myrtle Redmond, at New Lebanon. Three children have blessed the union : Harry and Raymond, both born in Pennsyl- vania, and Leland, in California.

In 1909 Mr. Stier came from Pennsylvania to Orentt, and at once entered the employ of the Union Tool Co. as a machinist. He is a conscientious and painstaking workman, diligent and obliging, and since taking up his resi- dence here, he has entered heartily into the affairs of the community, where he and Mrs. Stier have many friends.

About 1903 Mr. Stier took up Christian Science, and both he and his wife have gone through the class of San Jose and he has been first reader in First Society of Christ, Scientist, which he helped to organize in Santa Maria in 1913.

EDGAR CRAIG .- As superintendent of the Rice Ranch Oil Company. Edgar Craig has become one of the best-known oil men in the Santa Maria fields, where, by his painstaking efforts and thorough understanding of the business, he has demonstrated his ability in many ways. 1 native of l'enn- sylvania, he was born in Venango county-the place where drifters are made January 1, 1876, a son of M. R. Craig, one of the fir't operators in the Bradford district, who made and lost several fortunes in the business and who is now a resident of Bakersfield., He married Mary Jane Savage, a native of New York, now deceased. Their three sons and two daughters are all living. The grandfather Craig was an oil man in the Pennsylvania fields, and a great uncle. Colonel Drake, of that state, designed and built the first practical derrick for drilling oil wells and for pumping oil that was ever built. That same styk of derrick, with but few changes, is in use today.

The youngest son of the Craig family, ledgar Craig grew up in Penn- sylvania, had the advantages of the public schools and attended Western University of Pennsylvania one year taking a mechanical engineering course. When he first started to work he was but twelve years old. A brother, Allen Craig, also an oil man, had come to California and was drilling in the Fullerton fields. Edgar had thoroughly learned drilling at Oil City and Reno, Penn . and at his brother's request came to California in 1896 and went to work in

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the Los Angeles fiells. He later engaged as a driller with his brother, who was doing contract drilling. For nearly ten years Edgar Craig drilled suc- cessfully in the Fullerton fields, becoming foreman driller. His next move was to Australia, where for two years he was in the employ of the British government, drilling water wells in the state of New South Wales. In 1908 he returned to California, worked in the Fullerton district a short time, and in 1910 came to the Santa Maria district. There he worked first for the Ideal Oil Company, then came to the Rice Ranch Oil Company as foreman, and after two years was promoted to superintendent. He has installed a gas com- pressor and made many other changes for the good of the company.

Mr. Craig was united in marriage in Riverside with Miss Miriam Webb. JIe is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Fullerton lodge, and the Shrine in Los Angeles. He is popular wherever known, and is generous and public-spirited. Mrs. Craig is popular in social circles, and with her husband enjoys a wide circle of friends.

JOHN D. BAGNELL .- The production foreman on the Rice Ranch Oil Company's lease has made a record for himself during the past five years in which he has held that position in the Santa Maria oil fields, and as a popular, cheerful and optimistic citizen. John D. Bagnell has won a host of friends. Ile was born March 25, 1870, in Oneida county, N. Y., a son of William and Elizabeth ( Farrell) Bagnell, both born in Ireland and now de- ceased, the former dying in 1907. aged eighty-two years. John D. Bagnell was reared on the farm and attended the country schools of Oneida county until he was in his eighteenth year. Then, going to Syracuse, he became a driver of a horse street car and followed that two years. In 1890 he went to Cripple Creek, Colo., and engaged in gold mining, there being about five hundred men employed at the mine. In 1893 that city had a population of eleven thousand.

In 1894, Mr. Bagnell went back to New York state and remained until 1900, after which he went to work in the oil fields at Salem, W. Va., as a general all-round man. He thus became familiar with various branches of the oil business. In 1908 he came to California and secured a position with the Standard Oil Company as a pumper, and remained with them two years. when he came to Santa Maria. Ile began at the bottom and from time to time was promoted until he reached his present position. He is a painstaking workman, has the ability to get results from those under him, and knows when orders are properly carried out.

Politically he is a Democrat, in religion a Catholic, and in his fraternal relations belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Of the seven children born to his parents, he is the fifth in order of birth, the others being Laurence and William, both deceased: Daniel, of Spokane. Wash .; Christopher. of Oklahoma; Mary J., Mrs. Sigmond Zivi, of New York City, and Alice, Mrs. Tom Daniels, of Syracuse, N. Y. Mr. Bagnell is unmarried.

C. P. SKINNER .- As proprietor of the Orcutt Garage and counted upon w support all movements for the good of the community, C. P. Skinner has el niel hin elf with the best interests of the town and county. He was Lerin Perry county, Ill., March 2, 1876, attended the common schools, hemnel the machinist's trade, spending five years in the contract shop of the Blacksley Manufacturing Co. At the end of that time, he went to

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Montana and worked in the towns of Bozeman, Livingston and Red Lodge, in the latter place as assistant master machinist in the Northwestern Improve- ment Co.'s shops, then busy with making and repairing machinery used in mining coal.

In 1909 Mr. Skinner came to California and at Coalinga entered the employ of the Bunting Iron Works, after which he was engaged, for one year, at the Associated Pumping station at King City as pumper. In 1911 he came to Orcutt and for the following two years was in the employ of the Union Tool Co. as machinist. Then, in partnership with I. L. Culp under the firm name of Culp and Skinner, he erected a garage in Orcutt and estab- lished the Orcutt Machine Shop and Garage. The building is a one-story galvanized iron structure 40x56 feet, and is equipped with the most modern machinery and appliances for repairing any kind of machinery and automobile work. From a small beginning the establishment has grown to large propor- tions and is a prosperous concern. In 1914 Mr. Skinner bought his partner's interest. changed the name to the Orcutt Garage, and has given it its proper place in the business world of the Santa Maria valley.

Mr. Skinner has been twice married. His first marriage with Mary Ross, a native of Illinois, was celebrated in Perry county, and three children were born. Cynthia, Woodward and Etta. The two daughters live in Duquoin. Ill., and the son is with his father. The second marriage, in Livingston, Mont .. united Mr. Skinner with Mrs. Anna Osborne, a native of Minnesota. Mr. Skinner is a representative of a pioneer family of Illinois. His father. Ben- jamin Sprague Skinner, was born in Duquoin, and is now living in Montana as station agent for the C. M. and P. S. railway at Camp Creek. He married Etta Page, of New York, and they are aged sixty-seven and sixty-two, respectively. Two sons and two daughters are living. Grandfather Skinner came from New York in the thirties and settled in Illinois and grew up with the country there. C. P. Skinner is a member of the Moose, and is a Repub- lican. He is wide-awake, progressive and courteous, each year seeing him more firmly established in his community.

ROBERT CASSIUS GLINES .- A successful business man in Orcutt and a member of the firm of Allen & Glines, proprietors of the Orcutt Boiler Works. R. C. Glines was born in the Santa Maria valley, February 1. 1877. a son of C. H. Glines, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. R. C. Glines was educated in the public schools of Santa Maria and reared on his father's ranch, of which for two years he had charge, and carried it on with success. But wishing to embark in other lines of work, he left the ranch and for a couple of years served as United States forest ranger at Cuyama and in the Buckhorn district. He was then employe I ten years with the Union Tool Co. at Orcutt, learned the trade of blacksmith and machinist, and for four years served as head blacksmith.

Ilaving mastered the business and finding an opening at Orcutt with Frank R. Allen, he bought out Bert Neill, who had established a boller works there. That business has been developed to large proportions since they pur- chased it in 1913. The plant is fully equipped with a modern machinery, and they do all kinds of work for all the leading of companies in that dis trict and give entire satisfaction to their patrons. They employ three to five men, Mr. Allen doing the field work and Mr. Glies having charge of the shop. Since embarking in business for himself, Mr. Glines has met with suc

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 94

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837- Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1070

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070