USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 24
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residences in San Diego and has done a great deal of business building. Its work is of excellent quality because it furnishes all its own material and makes a special point of durability and quality. Mr. Williams was one of the pro- moters and organizers of this concern, which is typical of the nature of his interests. He has made it through his well directed efforts, his discriminating policy and his intelligent labor one of the most important institutions in National City and he is generally regarded as an able, progressive, energetic and deter- mined business man.
Mr. Williams was married in 1886 to Miss Jane S. Lott, a native of Wis- consin, and they have four children, Ralph, Lila, Doris and Jean. Mr. Williams occupies a very prominent place in business circles of his city, where his advice is eagerly sought and his business judgment considered sound. In the twelve years of his residence here he has aided materially in upbuilding and advance- ment and has been particularly active as a real-estate promoter. He readily and correctly judges the value of any situation in its bearing upon business con- ditions and has so managed his affairs that he has made steady and substantial progress and become an important factor in the general commercial activity.
JOHN A. GILLONS.
There is no record which the American citizen holds in higher honor than that of the man whose strength of character and determined purpose have enabled him to work his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence and who throughout his business career has followed a straightforward and honorable course to prosperity. Such has been the history of John A. Gillons, president and manager of the Benbough & Gillons Company, and when a little boy of twelve began to earn his own living and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He is one of the influential business men of San Diego and one of the greatest individual forces in promoting mercantile progress in the city. Mr. Gillons was born in Toronto, Canada, July 9, 1880, and is a son of Cooper and Mary Jane Gillons. In the acquirement of an education he attended the public schools of his native section until he was twelve years of age and then laid aside his books in order to engage as cash boy in the depart- ment store conducted by Robert Simpson. He acted in this capacity for some time, but his ability afterward gained him promotion to the position of clerk. The entire period of his connection with this enterprise occupied five years, after which he moved to Riverside, California, where he managed a store of a similar character for ten years. The next eight months were spent in Los Angeles, California, where he managed the hat department for the Broadway Department Store. When he resigned this position he came to San Diego and here formed a partnership with Mr. Doud in the conduct of a men's clothing establishment. After four years he sold out his interest in this business and in association with P. J. Benbough established the firm of Benbough & Gillons. Mr. Benbough retained his connection with the enterprise for some time but has now retired. On September 1, 1910, Mr. Gillons incorporated the company, retaining the
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position of president and manager. Since that time he has given his entire attention to the promotion of his business interests and has built up one of the representative mercantile enterprises in the city. He handles a general line of men's and boys' clothing and furnishings and has made it his aim to keep everything about the store in perfect condition, to superintend the operation of the various departments and to conduct the concern along most modern and progressive lines. Being a careful and conservative buyer and a close observer of styles most in demand in his line of goods, he keeps his stock always up-to- date and modern.
Mr. Gillons has extensive club affiliations in San Diego and is well known in social circles. He belongs to the Cuyamaca and Cabrillo Clubs and is an active and loyal member of the San Diego Rowing Club. Fraternally he belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World and is prominent in the affairs of both organizations. He belongs to the Metho- dist church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. There is no foundation for success so certain and solid as long familiarity with one's special line of work. Since the beginning of his career Mr. Gillons has been engaged in the mercantile business and each year of his activity has added to his knowledge of controlling conditions and of methods of operation, so that today his efficiency is developed to its highest point, making him one of the most successful merchants in San Diego.
E. STRAHLMANN.
For thirty-six years E. Strahlmann has been identified with the drug business and now conducts on a prominent business corner in San Diego one of the largest pharmacies in southern California. He has also other important interests, all of a representative kind, and has gradually been carried forward into close connection with the general business life of the city.
A native of Germany, Mr. Strahlmann was born June 26, 1859, and he received his education in the public schools of his native country. Later he came to America and from 1876 to 1881 conducted a drug store in New York city. In the latter year he came west and settled in San Francisco, where he was successful in the management of a similar enterprise until 1885, when he sold his store and came to San Diego. Here he established himself in business at Fourth and D streets, one of the busiest corners in the city, where he con- ducts a modern and thoroughly up-to-date drug store. The situation of his enterprise is important because it shows the accuracy of Mr. Strahlmann's busi- ness judgment. It has been of very little consequence, however, in the develop- ment of his prosperity when compared with the energy, ambition and efficiency which have been forces in Mr. Strahlmann's success. He is an expert pharmacist and his broad knowledge of business conditions, gained by intelligent study and observation, forms an excellent foundation for his special skill. He neglects nothing which will add to his enterprise in any way, either in completeness of equipment or efficiency of methods, and he gives to the more popular lines of goods as much attention as to his complete drug department.
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In 1888 Mr. Strahlmann married, in San Diego, Miss Louise Mayer, and they have two sons. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Independent Order of Foresters. While he may be called a specialist in his par- ticular line of occupation, he has not allowed his drug business to monopolize his attention or narrow his interests, but is active in every phase of the business life of San Diego. He is interested in the organizations which have for their object the promotion of the general development and is a member of the Mer- chants Association and the Chamber of Commerce. His public spirit takes this form instead of that of office seeking and is made doubly effective in this way.
E. THELEN.
The name of E. Thelen, mayor of National City and one of the active forces in public and business life, has grown to be synonymous with progress and devel- opment, with the public spirit which builds up and develops, with the business foresight which evidences itself in the establishment and promotion of local interests. There is scarcely a line of legitimate activity in which Mr. Thelen is not prominent and the development of which he has not influenced and sup- ported by his ability and keen discrimination. He is one of the many sturdy, forceful and successful men whom Germany has given to America and was born in Prussia, January 28, 1851.
Mr. Thelen received an excellent education at Bonn University, on the river Rhine, and in 1873 crossed the Atlantic to America. He settled first in Polk county, Nebraska, and there remained for five years, leaving the vicinity in order to become active in the foundation of Rising City, Butler county, that state. There he engaged in the mercantile business for some time before he came to National City. He established his residence here in 1888 and was rapidly drawn into important relations with the general business life. His connections along this line include affiliation with some of the largest and most influential con- cerns in National City. In 1889 he established the People's State Bank and was cashier of that institution until 1905, when he sold out his interests. He is a director and was one of the founders of the Vulcan Oil Refining Company of Bakersfield, Kern county, an institution which directly influences the business development of National City, since many of the most prosperous men of this city have invested extensively in it. He has always been interested in the ex- pansion of public school facilities and was one of the founders of the new National City high school, one of the finest educational institutions in the state of California, of which he is now president of the governing board. Immediately after his arrival in National City he bought fifteen acres of land, known as the Rancho Valencia, located on First street, and set out one of the first lemon orchards in the town. This is probably his most important work for it aided in the development of what is now classed among the representative and profitable industries of San Diego county.
In 1881 Mr. Thelen married Miss Fannie J. Byerhoffer, a native of Wisconsin. Her father was professor of philosophy at the University of Marburg and she has inherited much of his broad-minded interest in all phases of culture and
& Phelen
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education. At the present time she is a member of the National City library board and of the Friday Club and is a very active worker in the affairs of National City which are directly or indirectly connected with her special interests, while she is also a member of the College Woman's Club and Amphion Club of San Diego. Mr. and Mrs. Thelen have three sons, of whom they are justly proud for all have attained conspicuous success in business. Max is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and a post graduate of Harvard University and is now acting as attorney for the California railroad commission, of whichi he is an active member. Paul, also a graduate of the State University, is like- wise connected with the California railroad commission. He is an expert in investigating and establishing railroad values in California. The youngest son in this family is Rolf, who after his graduation from the University of California became chief engineer of the forestry department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Mr. Thelen's success in business is equaled only by his prominence in politics. He is independent and has served three terms as city trustee and is at the present time acting as chairman of the board. His career has been inseparably connected with the later development of National City along all lines and has been a domin- ating force in municipal expansion. As mayor he has given to the city an able, straightforward and progressive administration and has evinced in all the phases of his public life the integrity, unselfishness and loyalty of the true servant of the people, who possesses high standards of political morality and a conspicuous ability never unworthily used.
H. D. TROUNCE.
With the development and improvement of San Diego, H. D. Trounce has been closely associated during the past two or three years. He is a young man who has brought to the west the enterprising, hopeful spirit of youth, to which has been added the sound judgment and keen discrimination of advancing years. He follows the profession of civil engineering, in which connection he has done much in laying out additions and subdividing city property. He was born in Cornwall, England, August 30, 1885, and after pursuing his education in the schools of that country came to America in 1906.
He afterward attended the School of Mines at Golden, Colorado, where he studied civil and mining engineering, and when qualified by thorough collegiate training he did survey work for mining companies and the railroads of that state.
In 1910 Mr. Trounce arrived in San Diego and was employed by the city and county of San Diego on highway surveys and harbor improvements. In 1911 he opened an office independently and for some time practiced his profes- sion alone. He has laid out a number of tracts of land in and around the city, among the most important those of the Cardiff Villa Tract, comprising about eighty acres; Homedale, comprising twenty acres ; Mission Bay Park, two hun- dred and forty acres; Turnbull's subdivision, twenty acres; Alhambra Park, forty-six acres; Belmont, twenty acres; Avenue Courts, twenty acres; Logan Park, five acres; Stratford Park, twelve acres; Avalon Heights, fourteen acres ;
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North La Mesa, two hundred and forty acres; Fairhaven Acres, sixteen acres ; Fair Oaks, two hundred acres; portions of Kensington Park, etc., being men- tioned, and a number of other more or less well known tracts. He has also done considerable work in the line of his profession for most of the large real- estate firms of this city and some of Los Angeles. He possesses expert profes- sional knowledge and ability and that his work has given immense satisfaction is indicated by his fast growing patronage.
Mr. Trounce has already won many warm friends during his residence in San Diego, where he has become known as a popular member of the University Club, Point Loma Golf Club, Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus and Order of Panama.
Mr. Trounce has recently gone into partnership with Mr. William J. Gough of this city, the firm being known as Gough & Trounce, civil and construction engineers. Messrs. Gough and Trounce are largely adding to the scope of their work, and are now undertaking most of the actual construction as well as the engineering work involved in their practice. Mr. Gough was formerly employed as an engineer by the Spreckels companies for a number of years. He is an associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
TUDOR S. RODGERS.
Tudor S. Rodgers has been engaged in the practice of law in San Diego for little more than one year, but has already achieved a prominence in his profes- sion which places him among the rising young men of the city. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, October 4, 1885, and is a son of W. J. and Mary R. Rodgers. When he was still a child his parents moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where Mr. Rodgers attended the public schools, leaving the high school in 1898. When he came to California he settled in Los Angeles and there attended the University of Southern California and was graduated from the academic depart- ment in 1904. Afterward he was appointed assistant chemist for the city of Los Angeles and served with ability and conscientiousness for one year. At the end of that time he left California and went to Prescott, Arizona, as superin- tendent of the Arizona Chief Gold Mines Company. There he remained until 1908 and then determined to supplement his former excellent education by study- ing law. He accordingly went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and entered the Chatta- nooga University, graduating from the law department in June, 1911, with the degree of LL. B. In the same year he came to San Diego and formed a partner- ship with James E. Wadham under the firm name of Wadham & Rodgers. This association continued one year and was then dissolved, and since that time Mr. Rodgers has been practicing alone. In little more than a year his ability has gained him an extensive clientage and has brought him into connection with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of the district. He possesses the logical, systematic and concise qualities of mind necessary for success in his chosen profession and he combines thorough knowledge and training with the business aggressiveness which is an important factor in all attainment.
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On August 16, 1911, Mr. Rodgers married, in Los Angeles, Miss Edna May White, and both have become well known in social circles of San Diego. Mr. Rodgers gives his allegiance to the republican party and is actively interested in the political affairs of the city, although he never seeks public office. He belongs to the Cuyamaca Club and is prominent in the affairs of Theta Lambda Phi, the Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Rowing Club. He is only twenty-seven years of age and he brings to the development of his legal success the modern spirit of progress which is dominating and influencing all business and professional activity. There is no reason to believe that in the development of the career upon which he has just begun he will modify or change his stand- ards and methods and he is, therefore, upon the road to an honorable prosperity.
GEORGE H. SHREVE.
Every state in the Union has furnished its quota to the citizenship of San Diego. This growing western city, with its pulsing industries and profes- sional activities, has drawn to it men from all walks of life and in the growing opportunities of a western country they have found the chance to effectively use time and talent for personal advancement. Among the number is George H. Shreve, a young practicing lawyer of San Diego, whose residence here, although covering but a comparatively brief period, has established him as an able and progressive lawyer. He was born in Butler county, Alabama, April 14. 1881, and after pursuing his early education in the public schools entered the Mercer University at Macon, Georgia. He pursued a course in law and upon graduation won his professional degree. He then located for practice at Montgomery, Alabama, where he remained for a few years, when, attracted to the west, he came to San Diego in August, 1911. Here he at once opened an office and in February, 1912, was appointed deputy district attorney of the county by H. S. Utley, who was filling the position of district attorney. This was a compliment to a newcomer but his ability was recognized by his superior officer. In his law practice Mr. Shreve has been successful and his official duties have been discharged with a sense of conscientious obligation, coupled with compre- hensive and accurate knowledge of the law. He holds membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Red Men, and possesses attractive social qualities which render him popular with those with whom he comes in contact.
WILLIAM E. AGARD.
William E. Agard is one of the native sons of California and has studied the conditions of living and standards of development in various parts of the state. He is recognized as an authority on all matters relating to further expan- sion, for he has had opportunities to observe influencing conditions and is known to be capable of making use of them. For twenty-six years he has been closely
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associated with business interests of San Diego and his residence has covered a critical period in the city's growth. Of late he has given his attention largely to dealing in real estate and has built up an extensive and rapidly growing busi- ness along this line.
Mr. Agard came to San Diego in the early days and can remember beautiful Coronado Beach when it was a tract of land covered with sagebrush. At the present time it is considered the most attractive spot in California and the homes of many of the prominent men of the state are located there, including the beautiful residence of John D. Spreckels. There is a million dollar hotel, thea- ters, and other places of amusement and attractive parkways and drives. For six years and half Mr. Agard was connected with the United States department of immigration. He made use of the opportunities thus afforded him to observe and study conditions and prospects of the country and its people and is consid- ered today the best informed man in the state on land values. He came to San Diego in 1886 and established himself in the hotel business and finally entered the real-estate business, where his special knowledge and former training made him immediately successful.
Mr. Agard married Miss Clara A. Kent and they have one son, Claude E., who is associated with the Southern Title & Guaranty Company. William E. Agard is prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership in the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Women of Wood- craft. He has seen 'San Diego develop from a village into a modern city and in more than an ordinary way has been connected with the expansion, for his work has directly affected growth. During the years he has made many friends, who have been attracted to him by his high sense of honor and his fine qualities of character.
J. FRED TRAGGARDH.
For twelve years J. Fred Traggardh has been connected with the Spreckels Companies, a corporation controlling vast interests of all kinds throughout Cali- fornia, and through successive stages of progress and advancement he has worked his way upward until he holds the position of manager of the land department of the companies. This is an office of extreme responsibility, its duties including the management of all the real estate, taxes and insurance and it can only be filled by an unusually able business man. Mr. Traggardh's suc- cess has proven his capability and placed him among the most prominent employes of this company as well as among the representative business men of San Diego. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1876, and was educated in the public schools of that city and in a commercial college. He was twenty-one years of age when he came to California and settled with his father on a fruit ranch in the El Cajon valley in San Diego county, where he resided for two years and a half. In 1900 he entered the employ of the Spreckels Companies in San Diego, first as a clerk in the Hotel Coronado at Coronado Beach, which enter- prise the company controls. His able work in this capacity won him promotion to the position of assistant business manager of the Southern California Moun-
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tain Water Company. The Spreckels Corporations then made him assistant auditor of all their interests and he was advanced from this position to his pres- ent one of manager of the land department, with control of all the real estate în possession of the companies and with charge of the taxes and insurance. This is one of the most important offices within the gift of the companies and calls for keen discrimination, cool judgment and executive force. It is to his posses- sion of these qualities that Mr. Traggardh owes his rapid rise and they have put him at an early age in a position to make important use of the many opportunities which his ability commands. The important position Mr. Traggardh holds in social and fraternal circles is indicated by his membership in the Cuyamaca Club and the Elks.
C. J. JONES.
Since 1904 C. J. Jones has built up a large patronage as a contractor and builder in San Diego and has gained a prominence in business circles which places him among the men who influence the general development of the city. Mr. Jones was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1874, a son of Evan E. and Jane Jones. When he had completed his education in the public schools of Dubuque he went to the state of Washington and spent five years in Spokane. In 1904 he came to San Diego and since then has devoted all of his time to his contracting and building business in the city. In eight years his patronage has increased rapidly and has reached gratifying proportions at the present time. He keeps in touch with the modern trend of activity along his special line by his member- ship in the San Diego Builders Exchange and in the Master Carpenters Associa- tion.
Politically Mr. Jones is a stanch republican and is active and loyal in all matters of citizenship, although he never seeks public office. He belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is well known in San Diego both among the men engaged in contracting and building and in social circles, where his genial and friendly qualities have gained him well deserved popularity. Business men respect him for his shrewd ability, his dis- cerning judgment and his keen discrimination, which as qualities in his character have brought him a success which places him in the front ranks of representa- tive citizens.
FRANCIS M. GREEN.
More than a quarter of a century has passed since Francis M. Green came to San Diego, and throughout the entire period he has been engaged in the real- estate business, handling both city and ranch properties. He was born in Frank- lin county, Alabama, October 5, 1844, and was a lad of ten years when the family removed with ox teams to Arkansas, settling in Batesville. His father, the Rev. Jesse Green, was a Methodist minister, preaching the gospel at various
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