USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 15
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ROLLAND C. SPRINGER.
Rolland C. Springer, attorney for the Union Title & Trust Company and one of the most promising young lawyers of San Diego, was born in Lincoln, Kansas, March 27, 1887. His parents moved to San Diego when the subject of this review was only two years of age and he therefore attended the public schools of this city, graduating from the San Diego high school in 1904. He afterward supplemented this by a one year's course in the University of California and in 1906 became identified with the Union Title & Trust Company as clerk. His ambition, how- ever, lay along legal lines and he studied law in connection with his other duties and was admitted to the bar of California in 1911. Since that time he has acted as attorney for the Union Title & Trust Company and has been signally success- ful in caring for their interests.
On the 6th of July, 1909, Mr. Springer married Miss Clara M. Caldwell, of Claremont, California, and during the three years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Springer have become well known and widely popular in social circles of
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the city. Mr. Springer is a republican in his political beliefs and actively inter- ested in the progress and growth of his city and county. Judged by the work he has already done he is on the road to prominence and success as a corpora- tion lawyer. In looking after the affairs of the Union Title & Trust Company in a professional way he has demonstrated his shrewdness, his keen discernment and his quickness to perceive and coordinate causes. With these qualities as a foundation he cannot fail to win rapid advancement in a profession in which they are practically indispensable.
S. L. WARD.
In the practice of his profession of civil engineering, S. L. Ward has been connected with some important development work in San Diego city and county and has gained through the force of merit and ability a high place in public con- fidence and esteem. He is able as a business man and efficient as a public official and has besides the added distinction of long service in the Civil war. He came to San Diego in 1878 and has consequently seen the development of a great city and to a large extent been identified with it.
A native of Indiana, Mr. Ward was born in Clinton county, February 9, 1847, and grew up on his father's farm, receiving what education the country schools afforded. In October, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was later reorganized into the Eighth Volun- teer Cavalry. Mr. Ward served first under Colonel Harrison and later under Colonel F. A. Jones and saw hard service in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. He was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. Previous to this time he had been captured at the battle of Stone river and was confined for six weeks in Libby prison. He was wounded at Averysboro, North Carolina, March 16, 1865, and in the same year was mustered out at Greensboro, in the same state, with honorable discharge. He returned immediately to Indiana, where he resumed his interrupted education, attending high school at Kokomo and later the State University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he was a roommate of United States Senator Kern, of Indiana, who is still his stanch friend. After his graduation he immediately began the practice of civil engineering, in which profession he has since been prominent and successful. He spent four years in Kansas, working upon the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, which was being built into Texas at that time. When the work of construction was completed Mr. Ward returned to Indiana and taught school in that state until he came to San Diego, July 20, 1878. Here also he taught school for two years and then bought an eighty acre ranch near Ramona, which he operated successfully for almost seventeen years. In 1898, however, he was elected county surveyor of San Diego county and served with ability and conscientiousness until 1903, and since that time he has devoted himself entirely to the practice of his profession. In this connection he has been identified with the engineering work of several important subdivision projects and has laid out tracts of land at La Jolla, Pacific Beach and Silver Gate Park.
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In 1876 Mr. Ward married Miss Ella Kirkman, a native of Howard county, Indiana, and they are the parents of three sons: Raymond E. and Herbert, both of whom are civil engineers; and Beverly. Mr. Ward gives his allegiance to the progressive party and besides the offices which he has held in the line of his profession was school census enumerator of San Diego in 1879. At that time there were four hundred children enrolled in the public schools of the city. He keeps in touch with his comrades of fifty years ago by his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and is widely and favorably known as a man of exemplary character. As one of the early residents in San Diego he has been connected with an important period in the history of the city and is numbered among the contributing elements in its expansion. He has many friends, for he is a man of sterling character and has always merited and received the confidence and respect of all with whom professional, official or social relations have brought him in contact.
WILL S. KING.
The rapid expansion of the city of San Diego has been due to a number of causes, including natural conditions making for quick development, the indus- trial facilities which the location offers and the spirit of enterprise which animates the citizens. Not the least important of the contributing causes to growth are the activities of the men who are planning subdivisions, exploiting and developing lands and making the physical expansion of the city the object of their work and interests. Among these may be mentioned Will S. King, who since 1887 has been doing surveying and engineering work throughout San Diego county and all of lower California and who by a natural development of interests is gaining success and prosperity in dealing in suburban divisions near the city. He was born in New York city in December, 1867, and with his parents moved to San Jose, California, in 1876. In 1884 he came to San Diego in order to do surveying work for the San Diego Central Railway Company, and after one year went to lower California in charge of a surveying party. In 1890 he returned to San Diego and engaged with a number of engineering companies as surveyor until 1896, when he moved to San Francisco to become chief draftsman of the mineral division in the general office of the United States surveyor. Here he remained for five years, doing able and efficient work and gaining valuable experience in the details of his profession. When he came again to San Diego in 1901 he estab- lished himself in business independently and has since been doing general survey- ing in connection with subdivision development. Mr. King has been successful because his business standards are high, his ability practical and his judgment sound. He has steadily adhered to the most progressive methods and has pro- moted by industry, perseverance and business acumen a prosperity which places him among the representative and substantial business men of San Diego.
Mr. King married, in San Diego, in June, 1902, Mrs. Rosella Elliott, and both are well known and popular in social circles of the city. Mr. King's allegiance is given to the republican party. He has been in San Diego over twenty-eight
Hierof Jing
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years and his career has been in all its phases upright, straightforward and hon- orable. By adhering to standards of efficiency and of personal integrity he has gained a reputation as an able business man and has achieved a high place in the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
DAVID H. ELLIOTT, A. B., A. M., D. O.
The history of the medical fraternity of San Diego county must necessarily contain reference to Dr. David H. Elliott, who for twelve years has been engaged in the practice of osteopathy in the city of San Diego. During this time he has made steady advancement and has proven his ability and skill in the excellent results which have attended his labors. Dr. Elliott was born in Hartleton, Penn- sylvania, October 2, 1875, and is a son of William B. and Mary H. Elliott. His early education was received in the public schools of his native section and he was later graduated from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania in 1898 and Mas- sachusetts College of Osteopathy in 1900. In January, 1901, he came to San Diego, being the first osteopathic physician to be licensed to practice in the city. He lately has moved his office to the new Spreckels building. He is regarded throughout the city as an able and reliable practitioner, for it is well known that he is careful in diagnosis and scientific in treatment, never neglecting anything which he believes will be of value in checking or preventing disease and promot- ing health.
Dr. Elliott married Miss Mabel Florence Morgan, who was a college mate and a leading society girl of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and they have one child. The Doctor is well known in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and in the Masonic order, and holds membership in the University, Country and the Cabrillo Clubs. He has made an excellent professional record, as is indicated by the lucrative practice now accorded him, and he is, moreover, a progressive and public-spirited citizen.
J. Z. TUCKER.
J. Z. Tucker, a practitioner in the courts of southern California and now United States referee in bankruptcy for San Diego, was born in Washington, D. C., August 19, 1867. He comes of a family of lawyers. It would be per- haps difficult to determine whether inherited tendency, environment or natural predilection had most to do with shaping his career. Perhaps all entered in. His grandfather and his father were both able members of the bar and he has two brothers who are prominent attorneys in the nation's capital. The atmosphere in which he was reared acquainted him from his earliest youth with different phases of the work of the courts and when but a boy of sixteen years he figured in those circles where the laws of the land are made, for at that time he became a clerk in the United States senate in which position he remained for three years, being the youngest official ever serving in congress. He was about twenty years Vol. II-8
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of age when, in 1887, he came to San Diego, where he entered upon the study of law in the office and under the direction of the firm of Conklin & Hughes. In 1890 he was admitted by examination to practice law in the superior court and in 1892 he was admitted to the supreme court of the state. His professional duties have been of an important character, indicative of his ability to handle intricate and involved legal problems. His mind is naturally analytical, logical and in- ductive, his reasoning is clear, his deductions sound and his arguments largely incontrovertible.
On the 28th of September, 1900, Mr. Tucker was appointed by United States District Judge Wellborn, to the position of United States referee in bankruptcy for San Diego and from that jurist has received appointment to the same office for six consecutive terms. Otherwise he has held no public position, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his professional duties, yet the demo- cratic party recognizes in him a stanch advocate.
In 1890, Mr. Tucker was united in marriage to Miss Emma B. Frevert, a native of Indiana, and unto them have been born two sons, Henry and Charles. Mr. Tucker is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has many sterling qualities which have gained for him the favor and high regard of his fellow townsmen and he thus figures prominently in those social circles where intelligence and true worth are received as the passports into good society. San Diego numbers him among her leading lawyers and his position is an honorable one.
DON M. STEWART.
Don M. Stewart is justly numbered among the important men in San Diego, for he has been connected with representative business interests here since 1891 and is at present serving with energy and ability as city treasurer and tax collector. He was born in San Diego, August 3, 1873, and is a son of Daniel and Mary A. Stewart. His father's birth occurred in Kent county, England, in October, 1832. He attended the public schools of that section until he was fifteen years of age and then went to sea in the English revenue service. He later became identified with the British transport service and retained his connection with it until 1858, when he entered the employ of the West India Steamship Company .. With this concern he remained until 1863, when he came to America and settled in San Francisco, where he worked as a steward for the Panama Steamship Company for two years. At the end of that time he established himself in the retail grocery business but disposed of his enterprise in 1868 and came to San Diego, where he became connected with various important commercial enterprises. He retired from active life in 1887 and died February 22, 1898.
Don M. Stewart attended the public schools of San Diego until he was eighteen years of age and then laid aside his books, securing employment as a clerk in the Lion Clothing Store, where he remained for four years. At the end of that time he became connected with the building and contracting business as foreman under Frank Missner. In this position he remained for two years and then engaged as clerk with the Western Metal Supply Company, being later
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promoted to the office of manager of the iron department. After six years of successful activity he formed a partnership with Harry Fisher in the conduct of a real-estate business but after three years sold out his interests to become chief clerk for the Pacific Coast Steamship Company. At the end of one year and a half he resigned this position in order to assume the duties of city treasurer and tax collector. In the conduct of the affairs of this office he has proved himself a true public official, energetic in the discharge of his duties, keen in his judgment of men and conditions, broad-minded, industrious and strictly honest, with standards of integrity which have never been questioned. Although he is still a young man, Mr. Stewart has proved himself equal to the test of public responsibility and is unquestionably at the beginning of a successful political career.
Mr. Stewart married, in San Diego, September 21, 1902, Miss Maud Wilson, and they have two children, Donald Mckenzie, aged seven, and Marjorie May, seventeen months old. Fraternally Mr. Stewart is identified with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is one of the most prominent figures in local politics and served from 1903 to 1905 as a member of the city council from the third ward. His public spirit takes the form of active work in the promotion of movements for the general welfare. He has been commanding officer of the Third Division California Naval Militia, for the past seven years and recently went before the state legislature in order to secure an appropriation of three thousand five hundred dollars for the building of the first state armory in California. This is now completed at the foot of Twenty-eighth street and is a valuable addition to the municipal beauty of San Diego. Mr. Stew- art is numbered among the prominent and able men in his community. His life has not been unusually conspicuous but its activities are always straightforward and honorable, his interest in the affairs of his city intelligent and his public spirit broad and effective. These qualities as elements in his character have made him successful according to the truest standards and he is a native son of whom San Diego has every reason to be proud.
HERBERT E. DOOLITTLE.
Herbert E. Doolittle, for two terms president of the San Diego Bar Associa- tion and active as a practitioner in the courts of his district, was born in Paines- ville, Ohio, June 26, 1864. His boyhood days were passed in Illinois from 1869 until 1885 and after attaining his majority he returned to his native state, spend- ing two years in Ohio. In 1888 he arrived in San Diego, California, where he has since made his home. In the pursuit of his education he attended Monmouth College, at Monmouth, Illinois, and afterward entered Dennison University at Dennison, Ohio, from which he was graduated in January, 1886. Upon the foundation of good literary training he therefore built the superstructure of pro- fessional knowledge, and a thorough course in law qualified him for admission to the bar in San Diego. He has since been engaged in active practice here and for ten years he served continuously as city attorney, his reelection being incon- trovertible proof of the ability and faithfulness which he displayed in that office.
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His standing among his professional associates is indicated in the fact that he has twice been honored with election to the presidency of the San Diego Bar Association. In addition to his professional interests-and his clientage is now large and of a distinctively representative character-he has been a director in . the Silver Gage Loan Association of San Diego since 1892. His social interests, as represented by fraternal connections, make him a Mason and an Elk.
C. G. GOATLEY.
C. G. Goatley, president of the Snowflake Baking Company and by virtue of his position and his force of character and ability one of the foremost men in business circles of San Diego, was born in Malott, Jefferson county, Kentucky, in 1872, a son of Henry and Nancy Goatley.
The Snowflake Baking Company was established twenty years ago and Mr. Goatley has been connected with it from an early stage of its progress. He has seen it develop from a small and unimportant enterprise into one of the largest baking companies in San Diego. He has seen its patronage gradually increase and its markets become more extensive and has eagerly watched its growth along modern lines of advancement. He has not only witnessed these changes but has been one of the dominant factors in promoting them. His straightforward and progressive methods have been powerful in establishing the concern among the representative business enterprises of the city and in gaining for him a place of prominence.
Mr. Goatley married, in June, 1904, Miss Izora Jane Kyser, of Buechel, Kentucky, and they became the parents of two children, both of whom are attend- ing school in San Diego. Mr. Goatley is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters but the greatest interest of his life is given to his business affairs, which are ably conducted, making him a prosperous and distinctly successful man.
EGBERT C. BANGS.
Egbert C. Bangs, who has charge of all the Ocean Beach property controlled by D. C. Collier & Company, dealers in real estate in San Diego, was born in Clinton, New York, February 19, 1878, and is a son of Charles C. and Sarah (Le Roy) Bangs. He began his education in the public schools of his native section and continued it in Detroit, Michigan, where he went with his parents when he was ten years of age. He later attended the public schools of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, for two years and then moved to Carlisle, in the same state, and studied in a preparatory school for four years. He spent one year in Dick- inson College at Carlisle and at the end of that time laid aside his books and went to New York city, where he engaged as a reporter on the Wall Street Jour- nal until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time he came west and settled in Sierra Madre, California, where for two and one-half years he worked as a clerk in a mercantile store. At the end of that time he came to San Diego and
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worked in the interests of the San Diego Consolidated Gas & Electric Company in various capacities for three years. He then established himself in the retail grocery business at Fifth and E streets and conducted a large enterprise of this kind for five years, after which he sold out his interests and accepted the position of salesman for D. C. Collier & Company, dealers in real estate. His ability gained him rapid advancement and he has recently been put in charge of all the details connected with the Ocean Beach property owned by the company and he has been unusually successful in managing the affairs entrusted to him. He is an excellent judge of land values and a true salesman and consequently he has become one of the most valuable representatives of the company in whose inter- ests he works.
On June 9, 1900, Mr. Bangs was united in marriage in San Diego to Miss Jessie Holden and both are well known and widely popular in social circles of the city. Mr. Bangs has extensive fraternal relations, being past chief ranger of the Foresters of America, past master of San Diego Lodge, F. & A. M., and a member of the Shrine. He is also past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star and active in the affairs of the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He gives his allegiance to the republican party but is not active politically, preferring to give his entire time to the other interests of his life. He is still a young man and in the conduct of the affairs of his responsible position he has demonstrated business ability of a high order and an energetic, enterprising and progressive spirit which will undoubtedly carry him forward swiftly to prominence and success.
MAJOR HUGH G. GWYN.
Major Hugh G. Gwyn was senior partner of the firm of Gwyn & Lancaster, conducting a fire insurance, bonding and real-estate business, until January I, 1913, since which time he has been living retired. Born in the north of Ireland on the 20th of June, 1840, he was but a small boy when his parents made the voyage across the Atlantic and became residents of Louisville, Kentucky, where his forbears had been among the earliest settlers. Educated in the schools of that city he became a civil engineer but all business and personal considerations were put aside at the time of the Civil war. His sympathies being with the south- land, he enlisted in 1861 as a private in the Confederate army but was promoted through successive grades to the rank of adjutant of the Twenty-third Tennessee Infantry. Three times he was wounded, in the leg, hand and side. His promo- tion to the position of adjutant came to him at the battle of Shiloh and he served in that position for three years. After General Morgan's escape from prison, at his solicitation he joined his command as inspector general with the rank of major. His services in great part were with the Army of the Tennessee and he participated in the hotly contested battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Chickamauga and was in the trenches before Petersburg, being mustered out at Augusta, Georgia, at the close of the war. His brother, James Gwyn, who went to Phil- adelphia when a young man, joined the Union army at the outbreak of the Civil war as captain and became a major general and received medals for bravery and gallantry.
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At the close of hostilities between the North and South Major Gwyn removed to Washington county, Mississippi, where he engaged in planting and raising cotton for several years. He spent a short time in the drug business in Nash- ville, Tennessee, and was afterward associated with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. Eventually he turned his attention to the insurance business, becom- ing secretary of the Home Fire Insurance Company of Nashville. Mr. Gwyn's residence on the Pacific Coast dates from 1878, in which year he became a resident of San Diego. He afterward filled the position of postmaster at Coro- nado for four years under President Cleveland and following his return to San Diego engaged in the fire insurance business as a partner of George Foster under the firm name of Foster & Gwyn. When that connection was discontinued he conducted the business under his own name until 1900, when he was joined by Mr. Lancaster under the firm style of Gwyn & Lancaster. They were conducting a fire insurance, bonding and real-estate business in partnership, having an excellent clientage, their enterprise, executive ability and commendable ambition bringing to them substantial success, until January 1, 1913, when Major Gwyn retired from active work.
As the years have passed Mr. Gwyn has become an active and helpful factor in many affairs relating to the progress of San Diego and is a supporter of all those activities which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. He has long been an active and valued worker in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, was a member of the board of trustees and chairman of the visiting com- mittee of the San Diego lodge and is still an active representative of the society. He has figured in many notable public functions in San Diego and is one of her best known and representative citizens. When Admiral Evans' fleet visited this port on the trip around the world Major Gwyn was selected by the military committee as grand marshal and took charge of the troops and led the grand parade-one of the notable events in southern California. When the Grand Army of the Republic of California and Nevada met at San Diego in 1895 Major Gwyn organized and headed the parade, an honor never before or since conferred upon a Confederate officer and one of which he has every reason to be proud. It was an indication that in all sections all feeling of strife is fast disappearing and there has come to be a mutual realization of what the poet has termed "the long blended ranks of the gray and the blue."
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