USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 11
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WILLIAM REYNOLDS CUSHMAN.
A leading lawyer of the San Diego bar with a large practice, William Rey- nolds Cushman was born in Darmstadt, Germany, April 9, 1875. His father was Charles G. Cushman, a commander in the United States navy, who married Nan- nie M. Stewart, a representative of the distinguished family of that name of Maryland and the last lineal descendant of the famous Peggy Stewart. After the retirement of his father and the establishment of the family home in Buffalo, New York, William R. Cushman attended the public schools there, winning the "Jesse Ketchum" medal. In 1891 he was appointed from the thirty-second New York district to the United States Naval Academy by the Hon. Daniel N. Lock- wood. He served from 1891 until 1908 as a naval officer and in the latter year was retired with the rank of lieutenant. After entering the naval academy in 1891 he mastered the regular four years' course and was graduated with credit in 1895. Assigned to duty on one of the naval ships, he was at the coronation of Tsar Nicholas in 1897. The same year he passed his final examination and was commissioned an ensign. The following year he saw active duty, for the war with Spain had been inaugurated, and he was attached to the Indiana and other vessels of Admiral Sampson's fleet and now holds the United States medals for the Spanish-American war and the Cuban campaign. In 1900 he was com- missioned a lieutenant of the junior grade, in 1902 was commissioned lieutenant and thus continued until 1908, when he retired. Upon his retirement he studied law under the Chicago Correspondence School of Law and was admitted to practice in January, 1911. On the 29th of August, 1911, he was named as one of the pilot commissioners for San Diego harbor. Although his identification with the legal profession here covers but a brief period he has made rapid progress and his analytical power, his careful preparation of cases and his clear and forceful presentation of his cause have been the factors in his growing success.
Upon the 12th of March, 1898, Mr. Cushman was married at Dry Tortugas (old Fort Jefferson), Florida, to Miss Marie Caraher, a daughter of Major A. P. Caraher, of the United States army, who served as a volunteer during the Civil war and later in the regular army. Mr. and Mrs. Cushman have become the parents of two children : William Reynolds, Jr., a high-school student ; and Philip Caraher.
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Mr. Cushman belongs to the Order of Panama in which he is serving as Commandant. In politics he is a progressive, being allied with the independent movement which is one of the hopeful political signs of the times, showing that thinking men are not willing to blindly follow party leadership without ques- tioning; on the contrary his love for his country and his recognition of the duties of citizenship have led him to earnestly study and reflect upon the vital questions and conditions of the day and in this as in his law practice and other relations of life he is ever ready to take a forward step.
CHARLES B. RICHARDS.
In the course of a long and distinguished career honor and recognition have come to Charles B. Richards, upon whose shoulders eighty years rest lightly. His life has been largely devoted to public service in a beneficial capacity and he has attained prominence as lawyer, as judicial officer on the bench, as pro- moter, mine owner and financier, and in the latter capacity he was particularly helpful in guiding a great financial institution of the city through the shoals and rifts of the panic of 1893. Living practically retired, Mr. Richards still fills the position of president of the San Diego Ice & Cold Storage Company. He was born at Warrensburg, Warren county, New York, August 13, 1832, and attended the district schools until he had passed the age of eight years, when he was sent to North Granville, Glenn Falls and Kinderhook Academies successively, and also the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York, being grad- uated from the last named in 1854. He studied law with the Hon. Joshua A. Spencer, of Utica, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1855. He was then appointed by the governor of New York as brigade engineer of the militia with the rank of major on the staff of General Thomas S. Gray, who laid out the camps of the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Regiments at Lake George and at Plattsburg. In 1856, however, he resigned his position to follow the call of the west and came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, a young and struggling city on the western prairie where he engaged in law practice. His legal ability was soon recognized and he was elected to the position of prosecuting attorney of Webster county, which at that time contained what is now Webster, Humboldt and Ham- ilton counties and to which were attached some twelve or fifteen unorganized counties of the northwest for electoral and judicial purposes. Six months later he became county judge and served in that capacity until 1858. His decisions were based upon a knowledge of the law and tempered with the kindness which makes an officer on the bench of real value. He was then appointed by Gover- nor Grimes and later by Governor Lowe of Iowa as commissary general of Iowa and ably served in that important position until 1861, when he received the appointment by President Lincoln as registrar of the land office for the Fort Dodge district for four years. He had every opportunity to display in this position his legal talent in allotment of the government land and in giving decisions in regard to controversies arising from the same. He was reappointed for another four years and then resigned his position and established the First National Bank of Fort Dodge, Iowa, creating an institution for which a long-felt
Chats. Richards
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want existed in the fast-growing community. He became the first president of the bank and served in this capacity for ten years, at the same time attending to his law practice which was of an extensive and important nature. At the end of that period he sold out his interests and, once more feeling the spirit of the west, removed to Monarch, Colorado, where he invested heavily in mines. He later organized his interests into a company to which he admitted Major Hewitt, Edwin C. Cooper, Augustus G. Payne, R. W. Raymond and Anton Eilors, all of New York, and erected the Colorado Smelting plant at Pueblo, which later was merged into the American Smelting & Refining Company, in which he is still interested. Having obtained a comfortable competence in 1888 he came to San Diego to enjoy the fruits of his labor on the sunny California coast, but in 1893 he was called from retired life to take charge of the First National Bank, which institution had closed its doors during the panic, and he helped to bring the bank through those troublous days to safety, giving freely of his valuable experience and plentifully of his means. During that time he served for one year as vice-president and manager and a director of that institution. He again retired from active life after having seen the bank fully reestablished, but in 1904 became instrumental in establishing the San Diego Ice & Cold Storage Company, of which he was elected president and in which capacity he now serves, although he is practically retired, leaving most of the active work to his two sons who are both officers of this corporation. The company is one of the important enterprises of this kind in the city and its business has rapidly expanded since its organization.
In June, 1857, Mr. Richards was married in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Miss Mary J. Olcott and two children have been born to them : Charles Olcott, vice president of the San Diego Ice & Cold Storage Company; and Herbert S., secretary and treasurer of that corporation. Mr: Richards has been a lifelong republican and takes an active interest in the issues of that party. His fraternal connections are confined to membership in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Richards is passing the evening of his life in that serene quietude born of assur- ance of a man's life work well done. He is endowed with that clear perception which makes his old age richer and out of his vast store of experience he gives freely to all who seek his advice. The unselfish services he rendered in connection with the troublous days of 1893 are not forgotten and insure him, in a large measure, the gratitude and esteem of his fellowmen.
HUGO H. KERBER.
Hugo H. Kerber, president of the Standard Wine & Liquor Company, is one of the many valued and enterprising business men whom Germany has given to America. He was born in Prussia, October 3, 1875, and began his education in Berlin, where he .emained until 1884. In that year his parents came to America and settled in St. Joseph, Missouri, where Mr. Kerber attended the German Lutheran school for two years. His education was completed in the public schools of San Diego in 1889 and immediately after laying aside his books he worked for his father in the hotel business and was identified with Vol. II-6
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this line of occupation afterward for eleven years. He remained in his first position until 1893 and then spent two years as a bell boy in the Hotel Coronado. Afterward he became head waiter in the Brewster Hotel and at the end of three years leased the Horton House in order to engage in business for him- self. This enterprise, however, he conducted only three months and then was engaged as waiter for the Model Restaurant, and he remained in that position until 1900, when he became connected with the retail liquor business. He was successful in this for a number of years and only abandoned it in July, 1911, to become president of the Standard Wine & Liquor Company. His business affairs are capably conducted and all of his enterprises have been successful because he possesses the energy, ability and discriminating judgment which lead to rapid prosperity.
On December 23, 1896, Mr. Kerber married Miss Edith Brown, of San Diego, and they have two children, Ella, aged fifteen, and Harry, aged four- teen, who attend the public schools. Mr. Kerber belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the San Diego Turnverein and the Sons of Herman. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he takes an active inter- est in the affairs of the community, although this never takes the form of office seeking. He is enterprising and energetic and, being still a young man, his progressive spirit will undoubtedly make him a still more influential factor in business circles of San Diego.
MICHAEL SCHWAB.
Michael Schwab, proprietor and manager of a brass foundry at 585 New- ton street, is one of the fortunate men who possessed a decided bent from early childhood. In his case the inclination lay along mechanical lines and his talent in this direction has been carefully trained from his youth. He has, therefore, the advantage of special efficiency as well as of excellent general business ability and the combination has resulted in making him one of the successful men of San Diego. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, August 5, 1885, and is a son of Edward and Isabelle Schwab. His education was begun in the public schools of his native city and was completed in Los Angeles, California, whither his parents had come when he was still a child. His talent for mechanics showed itself early in life and immediately upon completing his studies he entered a machine shop in order to get the advantage of practical work and experience. Through successive stages of progress and advancement he worked his way upward in his chosen line, becoming identified with some of the larg- est shops in southern California, one of his positions being as foreman with the Hodge Brothers Machine Company. Eventually, feeling that he had thor- oughly mastered every detail of modern mechanics, he determined to make his knowledge more effective and in association with his brother, George C. Schwab, established the brass foundry with which he is connected. Their partnership continued for some time but recently Mr. Schwab of this review purchased his brother's interest and has assumed entire control, with every pros- pect of continued success. He is a member of the Universal Order of Foresters
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and belongs to the Fraternal Brotherhood of Los Angeles and the Guiding Stars. Most of his time and attention, however, are given to the promotion of his busi- ness interests, and his judgment and discernment are rapidly placing his foundry among the most important industrial institutions of the city. It is devoted to jobbing work of every description and is specially equipped for the manufacture of automobile and ship parts and tank flanges. It is easy to trace the causes which have contributed to the rapid development of Mr. Schwab's brass foundry, for they lie in the special ability of the owner, who is a master mechanic, and in the shrewdness and discrimination which make his knowl- edge effective in a business way.
PAUL SCHIEFER.
Commercial activity is the foundation of municipal growth and is entirely dependent upon the character of the men who dominate and control important business and industrial enterprises. Accordingly, as they are progressive, active, able and enterprising the business interests of the community will expand and develop along normal lines and as a natural result the city will grow. Among the men in San Diego whose positions at the head of large concerns make them influential factors in development is Paul Schiefer, a partner in the firm of Schiefer & Sons, manufacturers of show cases, bank, store and office fix- tures, and all kinds of refrigerators and mirrors. Although still a young man Mr. Schiefer has already accomplished a definite success, for he has the faculty of using the opportunities which his ability and his position in business circles place in his way. He was born in Galveston, Texas, January 24, 1882, and is a son of Frank and Amelia Schiefer.
Paul Schiefer was only a young boy when his father moved to San Diego and his education was received in the public schools of this city. He followed the usual course of study until he was sixteen years of age and then took a course in drawing from the International Correspondence Schools of Scran- ton, Pennsylvania. Being ambitious, enterprising and energetic, he studied nights and worked early and late, to learn his father's business and advanced from a minor position to a partner in the firm, which now operates under the name of Schiefer & Sons. The enterprise which the firm controls is one of the important industrial concerns in San Diego and it owes a great deal of its rapid growth and expansion to the activities of Paul Schiefer, who has ably supple- mented the work of his father along all lines and given his own progressive ideas and energies to the promotion of the interests of his firm. He is justly accounted one of San Diego's most promising young business men and the success he has won is well merited for it has come as the result of earnest, per- severing and well directed labor.
Mr. Schiefer married in San Diego on January 21, 1911, Mrs. Young and both are well known in social circles of the city, where their many charming qualities have won them a wide acquaintance. Mr. Schiefer gives his alle- giance to the democratic party and is always ready to cooperate in move- ments looking toward the public growth. It is significant of the trend of
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modern times that more and more important business affairs are being entrusted to young men, who are proving their ability by the excellent results which they accomplish and by the progressive policies which they advocate. Mr. Schiefer is one of the most prominent men of this class in San Diego and has done much by his quick rise and rapid success to justify the modern idea.
WILLIAM KETTNER.
One of the successful insurance firms of San Diego is that of Kettner & Salmons, of which William Kettner is the senior partner. Moreover, he is a recognized leader in democratic circles, his opinions carrying weight in party councils, while his official record has been a credit and honor to the district that has honored him. Mr. Kettner is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was born November 20, 1864, to the marriage of John F. and Fredericka Kettner, who in 1871 removed with their family to St. Paul, Minnesota, where William Kettner, then about seven years of age, entered the public schools, which he attended until thirteen years of age. At that time he began earn- ing his own living, working as a bell boy in the Metropolitan Hotel for two years. He afterward drove a dray for a wholesale hardware house until he attained his majority, after which he made his way to San Diego and thence into the San Jacinto mountains in San Diego county. He brought with him seven hundred dollars which he had saved from his earnings in St. Paul and this he lost during his mining ventures in the mountains. But with character- istic energy he bravely faced the situation, knowing that success will ulti- mately crown the efforts of the industrious and energetic man. He went to Julian, this county, where for six months he engaged in teaming for James Tally and then returned to the city of San Diego, where for a half year he acted as driver on one of the horse cars. He next proceeded to Santa Ana, California, where for a year he engaged in the hotel business on his own account. On the expiration of that period he became advertising solicitor for the Santa Ana Free Press and filled that position for a year. Afterward, at Visalia, California, he became business manager of a newspaper, the Visalia, Delta, with which he was thus connected for five years, when he turned his attention to the insurance business in that city, there remaining until 1907. He not only gained a good clientage in the insurance field but also became recog- nized as a local political leader and made a most excellent record during his service as councilman of Visalia, being largely instrumental in securing a franchise for the gas plant, which he then installed, and also for the establish- ment of the water system. In 1907 he removed to San Diego, where he opened an insurance office, and in 1911 he sold a half interest in his business to Frank A. Salmons, thus organizing the present firm of Kettner & Salmons. They have been very successful in building up a large business, writing many poli- cies each year, and their enterprise and business capability are bringing to them well deserved and substantial success. Here Mr. Kettner has also con- tinued active as a democratic leader. He was elected to congress from his district by a majority of three thousand four hundred, notwithstanding that
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this is recognized as a strong republican district. There were only twenty thou- sand democrats registered and seventy thousand republicans, yet such is his personal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him that he not only overcame the republican majority but won the election.
Mr. Kettner was married in Oakland, California, to Miss Marion C. Mor- gan on the 24th of August, 1905. He has pleasant social relations in many organizations with which he is identified. He ranks very high in Masonry, having been accorded the honorary thirty-third degree. He is a past master of Visalia Lodge, No. 128, F. & A. M .; is a past high priest of Visalia Chap- ter, No. 44; a past commander of Visalia Commandery, No. 26, K. T .; a past patron in the Eastern Star; has been grand marshal of the grand lodge of the state of California for a number of years and still holds that position; is a past royal patron of Amaranth and has taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite, his prominence in Masonry ultimately winning for him the thirty-third degree. He likewise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a past grand of Four Cricks Lodge at Visalia, and a past chief patriarch of Damascus Encampment of Visalia, California. His name is also on the membership rolls of the Elks lodge and the Knights of Pythias and he belongs to the Cuya- maca Club, Coronado Country Club, and San Diego Rowing Club and the Ger- mania Turnverein. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and is active in connection with associations looking to the betterment and welfare of the city, being a director of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Merchants Association. His activities are broad and resultant, for his efforts of a practical nature have constituted a cooperant factor in the achievement of many purposes which have been directly beneficial to the city.
GEORGE M. HAWLEY.
George M. Hawley has for many years been connected with the real-estate operations of San Diego and is now engaged in handling University Heights and Normal Heights property, together with city real estate. He has recently also organized the Guarantee Mortgage Company of San Diego. San Fran- cisco numbers him among her native sons. In his youthful days he there learned the hardware business and became a member of the Hawley Brothers Whole- sale Hardware Company of that city. His experiences in that connection made him thoroughly acquainted with that line of trade-and when in 1888 he removed to San Diego he opened a small hardware store on Eighth street, remaining at that location for a year. Subsequently he removed to a large store on Fifth street, establishing a wholesale department, and afterward sought more com- modious quarters on Fourth and G streets. He next bought out the iron hard- ware and steel department of the Klauber & Levi Company, continuing the business with success for twelve years, at the end of which time he disposed of the establishment to the Western Metal Supply Company. Mr. Hawley then went abroad for a two years' trip around the world, spending many happy months in travel. Upon his return to San Diego he engaged in the real-estate business in partnership with D. C. Collier, which association was maintained
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for five years. They organized the Southwestern Investment Company, the Ralston Realty Company and had heavy holdings in Point Loma lands. Mr. Hawley likewise organized the Western Investment Company but later retired from that firm and has since been handling real estate at University and Normal Heights in connection with city property. His efforts have been an element in the substantial growth and progress of this district. He has thoroughly informed himself concerning property values and speaks with authority con- cerning real estate in this city and adjoining districts. San Diego has not only benefited indirectly but also directly from the efforts of Mr. Hawley, who has served as a member of the board of harbor commissioners and also as a mem- ber of the city council. He holds membership with the Elks and is appreciative of the social amenities of life, rejoicing in strong and enduring friendships of which many have been accorded him.
JEROME WINDER.
The rapidity of the growth and advancement of any city is directly depend- ent upon the prosperity and expansion of its business institutions. This pros- perity and expansion in turn has many influencing qualities but the most potent is beyond all question the character and ability of the men who dominate and control commercial and industrial activity. Among the men whose progres- sive spirit and untiring energy are contributing to the business greatness of San Diego is Jerome Winder, who controls the Benson Lumber Company, operating one of the largest concerns of its kind on the Pacific coast.
Mr. Winder was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1869, and is a son of J. E. and Jeannette Winder. His early education, which was received in the pub- lic schools of his native city, was supplemented by a course in the State University at Ann Arbor. After his graduation he obtained employment as assistant lumber purchasing agent for the Michigan Peninsular Car Company and in this capacity he acted for seven years. After he came to San Diego he assumed control of the Benson Lumber Company and his progressive spirit and straightforward methods have dominated and influenced its policy since that time. The business which the company operates is one of the largest on the Pacific coast and the market for its output extends throughout all the western states. Its high standing and increasing prosperity is direct evidence of the conspicuous ability of its owner, Mr. Winder, who has given his entire attention and his unusual business discrimination to its upbuilding and develop- ment.
In 1894 Mr. Winder was united in marriage to Miss Rogers and they are the parents of two sons, Jack and Jerome, former students in the Pacific Military School, who are now touring Europe with their mother. The fam- ily is well known in social circles of San Diego and Mr. Winder has many important club affiliations, prominent among which may be mentioned his mem- bership in the Cuyamaca Club. Fraternally he belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is an active member of the Black Cats, a well known lumber organization. He gives his allegiance to the republican party
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