USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 26
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On the 16th of June, 1886, on Long Island, New York, Admiral Sebree was married to Miss Annie Bridgman, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Lieutenant
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Colonel Bridgman, who recently passed away at the notable old age of ninety- two years. Admiral and Mrs. Sebree have one son, John B., who was born in Portland, Oregon, and is now twenty-three years of age. Their attractive home on Ocean boulevard in Coronado is a most hospitable one and they are well established in a prominent position in the social circles of this part of the state. Admiral Sebree, however, has an extended acquaintance throughout the country and is equally esteemed by people of high and low degree. He holds membership in the University Club of San Francisco, and the Chevy Chase Club of Wash- ington.
J. C. HIZAR.
J. C. Hizar, a San Diego lawyer with a large clientele, was born at Fort Ancient, Ohio, November 5, 1871, his parents being John L. and Anna C. Hizar. His education was acquired in the public schools of Paris, Illinois, and Lebanon, Ohio, and he won the degree of I. S. and of B. A. at the National Normal School of Lebanon, from which he was graduated in 1891. Having determined upon the practice of law as his life work he then entered the Cincinnati Law School in which he completed its course in 1893. The same year he removed to California and was admitted to the bar at Los Angeles in October, 1894. He has since practiced in the southern portion of the state and his ability has carried him into important relations with the work of the courts. He was appointed city attorney of Coronado in July, 1895, and has since filled that position. He practiced in San Diego in partnership with Henry E. Mills under the firm name of Mills & Hizar for fourteen years, on the expiration of which period the partnership was dissolved on the Ist of January, 1911. His practice has always been of an important character and his clientele is extensive. He is regarded as one of the leaders of the San Diego bar and is attorney for the American National Bank and legal representative of a number of other important business interests of this city. At the outset of his career he recognized the fact that industry is just as essential to advancement at the bar as it is in the attainment of success along mechanical or commercial lines. He has therefore prepared his cases with great thoroughness and care and is seldom if ever at fault in determining the connecting link between cause and effect. His arguments are strong and con- vincing, his reasoning clear and decisive.
In local military circles Mr. Hizar has become well known and is now ensign and paymaster of the Naval Militia of California. He was in command of the Third Division at San Francisco after the fire of 1906. He has a wide acquaint- ance in Masonic circles, belongs to the Knight Templar Commandery at San Diego, has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite of the San Diego Consistory and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. His membership rela- tions in the strict path of his profession are with the San Diego Bar Association. He belongs to the Cuyamaca Club and to the University Club and is appreciative of the social features of those organizations. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but while well informed on the questions and issues of the day he does not seek nor desire office.
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On the 14th of April, 1897, Mr. Hizar was united in marriage to Miss Kath- erine Welborn. His family are now traveling in Europe. They occupy a promi- nent social position and the Hizar home is celebrated for its warm-hearted hos- pitality. For twenty years Mr. Hizar has continuously resided in this part of the state and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individ- ual merit and ability has steadily worked his way upward.
JOHN CAMPBELL.
San Diego some years ago entered upon a period of rapid but substantial development and progress, to which various interests and activities have con- tributed. At the head of its leading business concerns are men of undaunted energy, of keen foresight and commendable methods, which number includes John Campbell, a prominent and well known contractor of the city. He was born in Scotland, Angust 5, 1857, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Bogie) Campbell. He acquired a public-school education in his native town in Fifeshire, and when his schooldays were over entered upon an apprenticeship to the trades of pattern maker and millwright. Gradually in that connection he worked his way upward and became foreman for the well known firm of Patterson Brothers, of Edinburgh, Scotland. Thence he went to Manchester, England, the center of the great textile manufacturing interests of the world, and was foreman for William Southern & Sons.
The year 1888 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Campbell in the United States. Going to Texas he started in contract work at Gainesville and thence came some time later to California, being now known as one of the most prominent, capable and successful builders and contractors of the Pacific coast. He has seen San Diego grow from a small village to a city of metropolitan proportions and inter- ests, and has been largely instrumental in promoting this result, erecting some of the most noted buildings in the city, including the Arnold building on Fifth street, the Pickwick Theater, the San Diego high school, the Burnham and McMurtrie buildings, and the government quarantine buildings at Fort Rosecrans. He superintended the construction of the county jail and is now engaged in the building of one of the largest structures in the city, the Polytechnic and Fine Arts building, which is a part of the high-school system and will involve the expenditure of a million dollars. No other proof is needed concerning the nature of his work, his interest in the great scientific principles which underlie it and his executive power and administrative ability to handle important projects.
Mr. Campbell was married in 1879 to Miss Elizabeth Chalmers and to them have been born six children, four sons and two daughters: John, who is a con- tractor in Los Angeles; David and George, who are partners in the Campbell Machine Company, one of the largest concerns of the kind in San Diego; Jessie. who is the wife of E. Reed and has three children ; Royal, who is a high-school student : and Elizabeth, who is in the grammar school.
Mr. Campbell belongs to the Masonic fraternity and also to the American Order of Foresters. Taking out his naturalization papers soon after his arrival in the new world he has always been a stalwart advocate of republican principles
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and in a quiet but effective way has furthered the interests of his party. He has served as a member of the city council and is a past president of the board of education. It is not difficult to secure his aid and cooperation where the best interests of the community are involved, for in public connections he is actuated by the same spirit of enterprise that characterizes his private affairs. What he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of the innate powers and talents which are his, and his life record is another proof of the fact that success is not a matter of genius, as held by some, but is the outcome of clear judgment, experi- ence and indefatigable energy.
LUCIEN A. BLOCHMAN.
Few if any business men of San Diego are better known throughout this section of the state than Lucien A. Blochman. He is not only one of San Diego's foremost citizens but for almost twenty years has been prominently identified with financial interests. He stands as a central figure in banking circles here and his name is known and honored among the leading financiers. An earnest and discriminating study of each duty that has devolved upon him and of each situation in which he has been placed has brought him a comprehensive knowledge that now enables him to bring a ready and correct solution to the financial problems which are presented to him. He is, moreover, associated with prac- tically every phase of life in the city, a leader in municipal politics, a vital force in social and fraternal circles and prominent in every worthy movement of a public character.
Mr. Blochman was born in San Francisco, November 9, 1865, and is a son of A. and Marie (Sarassin) Blochman. He acquired his grammar and high-school education in his native city and studied French, German and Spanish privately. He first became interested in the banking business as assistant cashier of the Commercial Bank of San Luis Obispo and in 1893 had charge of the Bank of Cayucos. In November of the same year he organized and founded the Blochman Banking Company and for some time served as its cashier, but was elected president in June, 1912. In this connection his splendid business and executive ability have been called forth and the success of the institution is largely due to him. He has given his best energies to its advancement and is uniformly regarded as one of the leading financiers in this part of California. He was appointed by the California Bankers Association as a member of the legislative committee, which drew up the present bank act, and he holds membership in the city clearing house committee, these connections indicating to some extent his standing among his associates. In addition he has other important business connections, being president of the New Pedrara Onyx Company, the New Pedrara Mexican Onyx Company and the California National Life Insurance Company. He is, moreover, secretary of the East Puente Oil Company, a director and treasurer of the San Diego-Coalinga Oil Company and the San Diego Mantle Lamp Company and a director in the U. S. Grant Hotel Company and in the Panama-California Exposition. He has also a creditable military record, having been for two years a member of a cadet company and for over
Beschuman
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twelve years a member of the California National Guard. He is a veteran of the Spanish-American war and during that conflict served as a captain of the Wheel- men Rifles. In politics, too, his influence is weighty and important, for he never seeks to evade the obligations of citizenship and is always willing to assume the duties of public office when they are assigned to him by his fellow citizens. He was for six years a member of the board of aldermen in San Diego and has held the office of fire commissioner besides various other important city and county positions, including that of delegate to many congressional conventions. In addition to his active work he takes an intelligent interest in the affairs of the republican party and is one of its important advisers and counselors in this part of the state. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and was elected knight commander of the Court of Honor. He belongs also to the chapter and to the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, past president of the Native Sons of the Golden West and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World. He is also affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Pythian Sisters and with the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith; but even this does not complete the list of Mr. Blochman's interests and activities, for as a citizen he takes a great interest in everything pertaining to the general good, being a supporter of many public enterprises and charitable institutions, to which he gives his influence as well as his means for their advance- ment. He is a member of the American Geographic Society and vice president of the San Diego branch of that organization. He belongs to the Archaeological Institute of America and also to the Water and Forest Association. He takes a great interest in municipal and state improvements and as a member of the River and Harbor Association has made this interest doubly effective. He is past president of the Society of Natural History and belongs to the San Diego Art Association and the San Diego Floral Association. He is vice president of the Horton Improvement Club and was one of the leading figures in the agitation for good roads, being formerly local counsel for the association which was pro- moting it. He was a member of the division board of the League of American Wheelmen and ex-captain of that organization. He is besides ex-foreman of the Volunteer Hook and Ladder Company and a leading figure in the local Chamber of Commerce. His charity is broad but always practical, his gifts being given through the agency of the numerous charitable associations to which he belongs. He is a director of the San Diego Associated Charities, treasurer of the local chapter of the American Red Cross Society and an active factor in the affairs of the Humane Society. Socially he is affiliated with the National Automobile Association and with the Automobile Club of Southern California and is ex- commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club and a member of the Excelsior Rowing Club. He is also a member of the San Diego Yacht Club and was the founder of the Cabrillo Club, being also an active member of the Union League Club. In his social life Mr. Blochman is aided greatly by his wife, who was in her maiden- hood Miss Haidee Goldtree, whom he married November 9, 1898. They have one son and one daughter. Mr. Blochman's carcer has been actuated by laudable ambition and characterized by unfaltering industry, combined with close adherence to a high standard of business ethics. His has been an evenly balanced life, in
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which business capacity and power are matched by recognition of the ultimate purposes of life and of the obligations of man to his fellowman. By nature he is cordial and kindly and possesses a personality which, while inspiring respect, also wins the warm friendship of those with whom he comes in contact.
GEORGE W. COLTON.
George W. Colton is secretary and manager of the Auto Tire Company and one of the most enterprising, able and successful young business men of San Diego, and during his career has done much to influence and promote the pro- gressive ideas and standards which are becoming typical of the spirit of the city. He was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1886, and is a son of O. H. and Mina Colton. When he was only three years of age his parents moved to San Diego and consequently his education was received in the public schools of the city. He left the San Diego high school at the age of sixteen and worked as a clerk for Charles W. Oesting in the general insurance business for two years. The next nine months were spent in various occupations and at the end of that time he was made cashier of the San Diego Consolidated Gas & Electric Com- pany and spent one year at their plant. Finally he entered the American National Bank of San Diego as bookkeeper and teller and after one year became inter- ested in the Auto Tire Company, of which he is secretary and manager. In his conduct of the affairs under his charge he has demonstrated a business ability of a high order, which combined with his progressive and enterprising spirit has already drawn him into important relations with the business life of the city and which will undoubtedly influence and hasten his further success.
Mr. Colton gives his allegiance to the republican party but is not active politically in the sense of office seeking, although his public spirit leads him to support many movements which have for their object the general welfare. He is prominent in the Masonic order, having attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and is a Shriner, being a charter member of Al Bahr Temple. He also is a member of the San Diego Ad Club and the Rotary Club. He is at the beginning of his business career but he is equipped with every qualification necessary for rapid success. What he has accomplished in the past is a pleasant prophecy of the future-a foretaste of attainment which will place him among the representative men of San Diego.
JOHN H. MOORE.
John H. Moore fills the position of secretary of the Builders Association of San Diego with ability and circumspection and has done notable work in pro- moting the interests of this organization. When he came to this city the Build- ers Exchange which had been incorporated in 1896, was the subject of strife and dissension and it seemed that its usefulness was at an end. He, however, succeeded in his genial way in bridging over the difficulties and reorganizing the
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corporation and under his able guidance the institution has taken on new life, for through his executive force and talents he has made it the important organ- ization it is today. Mr. Moore was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1877, a son of John G. and Hettie A. Moore, who now make their home in Newcastle, Pennsylvania. John H. Moore is a graduate of the high school of Mercer and subsequent to the completion of his course there he attended Alle- gheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, but circumstances prevented the com- pletion of his course and he was obliged to return home where he entered upon employment in a grocery business, in which position he remained for five years. At the end of that time he entered the law office of Colonel Oscar L. Jackson, who had represented his district in Congress for two terms. Mr. Moore was in Colonel Jackson's office for two years and then wishing to make a change, he removed to Colorado, where he attended the law department of the Denver University for eighteen months and was admitted to the bar of Colorado and later on to practice law in California. Later, returning home, he spent six months in his native place in Pennsylvania. The far west, holding out attractive opportunities to him, he decided again upon removal to Colorado and went to Delta county, that state, and thence came to San Diego. On arriving in this city he became interested in the affairs of the Builders Exchange and devoted his talents to its reorganization, becoming its secretary. He is widely known in con- tracting and building circles in this city and his efforts on behalf of the organiza- tion are highly valued by all interested. Through his activities the exchange has again become a powerful institution and nearly all of the builders and contractors of the city are members of this organization. An article written by our subject and taken from a local publication gives an idea as to the purposes, intent and scope of this important institution and reads as follows: "Some two decades ago several attempts were made by the contractors and material dealers of San Diego to associate themselves together for the purpose of correcting a number of abuses that had crept into the building industry. After several unsuccessful efforts a permanent organization was finally effected and an association incor- porated, September 2, 1896, under the corporate name of 'The San Diego Build- ers Exchange.' By-laws were drafted and adopted limiting the membership to 'any person creditably and practically engaged as an employing contractor in any trade connected with the business of building or in manufacturing, or dealing generally in building materials.' Among the purposes for which the Builders Exchange was incorporated, as set out in the articles of incorporation, are the following: 'To join in one association all competent and honorable contractors and builders of good repute, whose vocation connects them directly or indirectly, wholly or in part, with the industry of building; to engage in and carry on a general contract business in any of its branches and departments; to stimulate and cultivate a feeling of friendship among its members and better provide for and protect their and each of their interests and welfare as on contracts and buildings ; to acquire, preserve and disseminate all and any information which may be of advantage or service to the members in pursuit of their business : to purchase, deal in and sell materials of any kind used in the construction of buildings; and to adjust and settle differences between members or between members and other persons.'
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"The history of this organization relates a hard struggle to accomplish the objects for which it was intended; for a time its success seemed to be assured, then the interest would drag until revived by some new enthusiastic member, when again it would flourish for a while. However, the advantages obtained by the exchange feature of the organization in expediting the estimating of the general contractors in receiving estimates from the sub-contractors representing their various crafts seemed to be the one thing that kept the institution alive. The lack of suitable rooms was one of the principal reasons that checked the growth and success of the organization and a marked impetus was at once noticed when the directors secured a favorable lease for the entire second floor of the new Knights of Pythias building, corner of Third and E streets, and vacated their old dingy rooms on Fifth street, and on the Ist of January, 1911, moved into their new commodious quarters where the rooms were specially planned and fitted up for such an organization. The membership of the exchange increased rapidly until it numbered among its members over one hundred of the most reliable and leading contractors, sub-contractors and material dealers in the city of San Diego.
"The board of directors, however, during the early spring of 1912, believing that the efficiency of the organization could be greatly improved, set about to inquire from the leading similar associations throughout the country as to the best methods to adopt, so as to make a good live organization. After considerable thought and study on the part of the directors it was recommended that, in order to enlarge the scope of operation and add new features which would put the organization on a solid financial basis and make it of real value to its mem- bers it would be necessary to incorporate a new association with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. These recommendations were unanimously adopted by the members of the Builders Exchange and the secretary instructed to proceed to reorganize under the plan so successfully carried out by the Den- ver Master Builders Association. The Builders Association of San Diego was incorporated May II, 1912, and began business the Ist day of June following, at which time the old Builders Exchange became practically an extinct organiza- tion. The additional purposes for which the Builders Association was incor- porated in order to enlarge the powers of the Builders Exchange are principally to enable it to carry on a general contracting and construction business and to obtain and execute contracts, either as sole contractor or co-contractor, for the erection and construction of all kinds of buildings and other structures; to engage in the building, constructing and buying and selling of all kinds of build- ings and to buy, sell and deal in building materials and supplies of all kinds whatsoever. The co-contract plan is adopted and now in use by the Builders Association of San Diego was discussed many years ago by the National Asso- ciation of Builders and recommendations made by that association with a view of putting it into practical use. The plan briefly outlined provides that the Builders Association, where a surety bond is required, may become a co-con- tractor with any of its members for the execution of any specified work under contract; that it will undertake to complete the contract in case the member defaults. The plan comprehends that each member shall, upon 'admission, give to the treasurer his promissory non-interest bearing note for one thousand dol- lars. This is neither a time note nor a demand note, but what may be termed a
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surety note, to be held by the association until extinguished by a process described below, the notes to act as a surety for the association in case it should be called upon to 'make good' under any of the co-contracting agreements into which it enters. Each member of the association pays into the treasury, besides the yearly dues for current expenses, one-half of one percent on the total amount of busi- ness done during the year. Investments of this fund are made to the best possi- ble advantage. Annually the income from this special fund is indorsed as a credit upon the security notes previously referred to so that eventually these notes will all be extinguished and the amount which they originally represented will become a cash or readily available reserve fund of the association, to be used, in case of need, to meet any deficiencies in carrying out contracts that may be defaulted. The association has already become co-contractor on many contracts and every instance resulting more satisfactorily to the owner than the usual surety bond. All members are most carefully investigated, which makes membership in this association a virtual guarantee to the public of competency, responsibility and honesty in the construction of buildings."
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