USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 28
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In 1894 Mr. Rambo was united in marriage to Miss Winifred Lafever, and they have three children: Adelaide, aged eighteen; Edith, sixteen years of age; and Nathan, one month old. The family are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Rambo is serving as trustee. Fraternally he is connected with the Wood-
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men of the World, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Order of Panama. He is a progressive and wideawake business man of known reliability and he fully deserves the high place which he holds in the confidence, esteem and respect of his many friends.
THOMAS KNEALE.
Among the successful and important business men of San Diego is Thomas Kneale, brick contractor, who came to the city in 1886. His residence here has, therefore, covered a critical period in the city's development, for San Diego has made rapid growth toward a metropolitan position in the last quarter of a cen- tury. Mr. Kneale took advantage of the opportunities which the developing condition afforded him and has ably promoted his interests year by year, becom- ing not only individually successful but achieving a place of importance as a factor in general expansion. He was born on the Isle of Man, September 22, 1847, and received his education in his native island, coming to San Diego in 1886. In the early days of the city's building he did some important contracting work and has retained the high place he then acquired in business circles. He put in all the mason work on some of the largest buildings in the city, among which may be mentioned the store operated by George Marston and the McNeece business block.
Mr. Kneale married, in 1906, Miss Jeannette Leet, of Oakland, and both are well known and prominent in social circles of the city. Mr. Kneale is a republican and has served on the board of public works. He is also prominent in the Masonic order, having taken the thirty-second degree in that organization. During the many years he has lived in San Diego he has won wide recognition as an able and conscientious business man. His prominence in his line is equalled only by the respect and esteem in which he is held by his many friends, who honor him for the upright and straightforward standards which have marked his activities.
DEMPSTER McKEE.
Dempster McKee, filling the office of first assistant district attorney, belongs to that class of progressive young men who are making history in the west. With high ideals of citizenship and with a recognition of possibilities, he is labor- ing for that which seeks to promote the welfare and the upbuilding of his adopted city, and in his professional service holds to the highest standards. He was born in Nashua, Iowa, August 20, 1886, and was reared in that state. His early education was supplemented by a course in the Central high school at Min- . neapolis, Minnesota, and following his graduation therefrom he attended Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, Iowa, winning the B. A. degree on the completion of a four years' course. In the meantime he had determined on the practice
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of law as his life work and with that end in view he matriculated in the Univer- sity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in law with the class of 1909.
The same year Mr. McKee came to San Diego and entered upon the active practice of his chosen profession. - He had given substantial proof of his ability and his thoroughness in preparing and presenting cases when, in January, 1911, he was appointed a deputy district attorney of San Diego county. In that capa- city he acted until the following November, when he was made first assistant district attorney, in which position he still remains, carefully safeguarding, through his professional activities, the legal interests and rights of the county.
In December, 1910, Mr. McKee was united in marriage to Miss Lois Andrews, a native of Minnesota, and they now have a little daughter, Mary Alice, who is the light and life of the household. Theirs is a hospitable home whose good cheer is enjoyed by the many friends they have gained during the four years of their residence in this city. Mr. McKee belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Country Club. He is interested in athletics and manly outdoor sports and while at Cornell College took an active part on the athletic field, belonging to the Varsity Football Team and to the track team as short distance runner. He knows that the character of a man's recreation is almost as important as that of his work and through periods of relaxation main- tains that even balance which is so necessary to success along professional lines.
E. B. LEACH.
The rapid success of E. B. Leach in the fruit-packing business in Chula Vista is an excellent example of the value of special training and experience as a sup- plement to general ability. Since the beginning of his active career he has been engaged in this industry and has studied methods and conditions in the most important fruit-growing countries and has built up in Chula Vista one of the most profitable and intelligently managed packing enterprises in the city. He was born in England in 1871 and came to the United States in 1892, settling in New York. After one year in this city he went to Florida and there became so inter- ested in fruit growing and in all the phases of this industry that he remained for two years. In 1895 he went to Jamaica to get the benefit of contact with other standards and there he spent one season studying the methods of raising and packing fruit. With this invaluable training as an asset he came to Chula Vista in 1897 and worked upon the old Howard fruit ranch until 1900. In the spring of that year he moved to National City and there established a lemon and orange packing enterprise. He introduced into southern California some new methods in caring for fruit, among the most important of which may be mentioned the building of an outdoor fruit packing shed. Mr. Leach was the first in San Diego county to care for his fruit in this way. In 1907 he returned to Chula Vista and established himself in business, giving all of his attention to packing lemons. Success was inevitable. He had a firm foundation for it in his excellent special training and study, his practical experience in California methods and standards and a keen business discrimination. Mr. Leach has always been an independent packer and shipper. In 1911 he shipped one hun-
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dred and twenty-five cars of fruit, this being the limit of the capacity of his house. He packs for growers on a commission basis, specializing in the Bonanza and National brands of lemons which he ships to the eastern markets. Of late years he has also given a great deal of his attention to growing fruit, carrying on this branch of his work on his five acre lemon ranch in Chula Vista. This land he purchased a few years ago and removed from it all the old trees, planted new ones, installed modern machinery and improved the property in a substan- tial way so that it has become one of his most important sources of revenue.
As a man prominently connected with an industry upon which much of the wealth of southern California rests Mr. Leach is looked upon as one of the individual helpers in general growth. He has constantly trained a natural ability along progressive lines and from special efficiency has come a success and pros- perity which places him among the foremost lemon growers and packers in Chula Vista.
ALCIE PRENTISS SMITH, M. D.
Dr. Alcie Prentiss Smith, capable and successful physician, gifted author and one of the most brilliant and able women in San Diego, is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. Her ancestors for many generations lived in New England and many of them are buried in the old Granery cemetery in Boston.
Dr. Smith has had a cosmopolitan education. In her childhood she attended private schools in various parts of Europe. She spent some time in Girton, England, attended the Institute of Paris and later studied at Northwestern University. As a supplement to this almost invaluable course of work she trav- eled through practically every country in the world and thus completed a splen- did training for her later professional life. Finally she opened an office in San Francisco and met with immediate success. She was in active practice at the time of the earthquake and the fire which followed, and did much greatly needed work of charity throughout the days succeeding the disaster. In fact, she labored so assiduously without regard to herself that her health became greatly impaired and she was obliged to come to San Diego to rest and recuperate. She first came to the city in 1906 and became so enamored with the beautiful climate and loveliness of the city and the surrounding country that she determined to make her home here. Since that time she has become one of the most prominent physi- cians in San Diego and her practice has reached gratifying proportions. She thoroughly understands the underlying principles of medicine and is able, con- scientious and careful in their application. Moreover, she possesses that true humanitarian instinct, that sense of the present value and the ultimate purpose of life which dignifies and uplifts the true physician.
Aside from her professional prominence Dr. Smith has a wide and constantly growing reputation in literary circles. Several of the best magazines have con- tained interesting articles from her pen and she has published some ably written and powerful novels. She has the gift of vivid writing and of fluent, compelling and unique style and it is safe to predict that her accomplishments along this line although great have only just begun. She is well known in social circles
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of San Diego as well as along professional and literary lines. She is a truly remarkable and brilliant woman, with unusual natural talent, trained by study and polished by travel, cosmopolitan in her outlook, broad and high-minded in her views and ideals and yet finding her truest distinction in her charming, hos- pitable and lovable character.
W. E. BELLINGER.
W. E. Bellinger has been a resident of San Diego county for almost a quarter of a century and has been an active factor in its horticultural and agricultural development, now owning a valuable ranch of one hundred and twenty-two acres in the Sunnyside district. His birth occurred at Lowville, Lewis county, New York, on the 11th of July, 1855, and he was reared to manhood on a farm.
On starting out in the business world on his own account he began the man- ufacture of cheese, conducting a large cheese factory for a number of years. In the fall of 1889 he came to San Diego county, California, and purchased a tract of raw land in Sunnyside valley, near Chula Vista. This he cleared of brush and cactus and planted a lemon orchard. As time passed he extended his holdings by additional purchase until his ranch now embraces one hundred and twenty- two acres, twelve acres thereof being planted to lemons, one acre to oranges, one acre to olives and six acres to alfalfa, while the remainder of the land is utilized in the cultivation of grain and for grazing purposes. Mr. Bellinger also raises some cattle and has found this branch of his business very profitable. In former years he was engaged in dairying but eventually abandoned that line of activity. His lemons have been netting him two cents per pound and his orchard produces abundant crops.
In 1886, at Carthage, New York, Mr. Bellinger was united in marriage to Miss Etta M. Burke, a daughter of Francis M. Burke, an old resident of Lewis county, New York. Prosperity has attended the efforts of Mr. Bellinger, along both horticultural and agricultural lines and he has also real-estate holdings in San Diego and oil interests at Bakersfield, Kern county, California. He has given his undivided time to his business affairs and throughout the period of his resi- dence in this county has done his full share in the work of development, and has always borne an unassailable reputation as a progressive and enterprising citizen.
CHARLES H. AUSTIN.
Charles H. Austin, prominent in business and political circles of Chula Vista, was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, and moved to Mankato, Minnesota, with his family when he was still a youth. There he engaged in the shoe busi- ness in partnership with his father and was successful in this line of occupa- tion until he came to San Diego county in 1899. On January 19th of the fol- lowing year he purchased five acres of land on Second avenue in Chula Vista and this he planted in lemon trees, determining to give his entire attention to
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fruit growing. For some time afterward he and his family lived in comfort upon the proceeds of this small tract-a splendid example of the productive- ness and value of southern California land. Mr. Austin was successful in his fruit cultivation from the beginning. He developed his ranch along modern scientific lines and it was soon producing heavy crops to the acre. Later he bought five acres more and added it to his holdings and has now one of the finest and most carefully managed lemon ranches in the city. He has gradually become interested in buying and selling tracts of land for the purpose of fruit cultivation, planting, improving and developing. This has grown to be one of the important sources of his income, for he is an excellent judge of the value of land as well as a keen and judicious business man.
In 1883 Mr. Austin married Miss Hattie Randall and they have had seven children, five of whom are living : Clarence E., who married Miss Ella Freeman ; Randall; Genevieve; Marjorie; and Charles. Those deceased are Chauncy and Luelle. Mr. Austin is a Master Mason, holding his membership in Minne- sota. Of late years he has become more and more interested in the public life of the city and has observed and studied political conditions. This training he has put to practical use since October, 1911, when he was elected trustee of Chula Vista for a term of two years. What has already been accomplished during his term of office is the best proof of his ability. Sidewalks have been graded, streets curbed and fire hydrants installed in different parts of the city and many other improvements which make for increased municipal beauty and general safety have been installed. He is politically republican and is a member of the Central Christian church of San Diego, which he also serves as deacon. Mr. Austin's political and business prominence have a common cause in his able judgment, energy and keen discrimination and these qualities have placed him among the foremost men in his community.
CHARLES H. SWALLOW.
Charles H. Swallow, a partner in the firm of Gordon, Goodwin & Company, real-estate agents, harbor commissioner of San Diego and for over twenty-five years importantly connected with many phases of city development and progress, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, October 13, 1849, a son of Garrett V. and Elizabeth A. Swallow. In the acquirement of an education he attended the public schools of his native section until he was eight years of age and then moved with his parents to Sullivan county, Missouri, where he continued his studies in the public schools for two years. Since he was ten years of age Mr. Swallow has been dependent upon his own resources and the training of independence and initiative which he received in his youth has been a valuable factor in his success. He worked upon his father's farm for three years and then secured employment with a cattle-feeding and shipping agent. After five years he established himself independently in the same line of work and became well known and prosperous in business circles. In 1879 he left Missouri and went to Bozeman, Montana, where he took advantage of conditions and opportunities and engaged in the overland freight business, operating a twelve-
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horse freighter for five years. When he left Montana he went to Valley Falls, Kansas, and was there connected with the livery business for one year, after which he came to San Diego, where he has since resided. It is significant of the discrimination and good judgment which are factors in his business ability that although he has made many changes in location and in the nature of his activities, each one has been a distinct advance and has brought him a little nearer the goal of success. After he came to San Diego he spent some time in the teaming and contracting business but eventually sold out to become superintendent and general manager of a marble company which was extensively interested in exploiting and developing lands. He retained this connection until 1894 and then became superintendent and general manager of the Yuha Oil Company. In 1902 he resigned this office and bought an interest in the concern of Gordon, Goodwin & Company, real-estate agents, and was made a partner. He is known in business circles of San Diego as a man whose judgment of the present and future value of land based on experience along this line is always discriminating and safe and whose straightforward methods and high standards of integrity are obvious and unquestioned.
Mr. Swallow was married in San Diego to Miss Lucy Coy and they have three children: Coy, who is attending high school; and John W. and Lucy, both of whom are students in the San Diego public schools. Mr. Swallow belongs to the Masonic order, being a thirty-two degree Mason and Shriner, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Independent Order of Foresters. He gives his allegiance to the republican party and did able work as supervisor from 1897 to 1905. On November 6, 1912, he was again elected county supervisor. He was a member of the city board of education from 1895 to 1897. In 1911 he was appointed harbor commissioner of San Diego by Governor Hiram John- son and was elected secretary of the board, and in his conduct of the affairs of this office has demonstrated his ability to cope with important problems regard- ing navigation and harbor improvements and has shown a business ability which makes his public spirit practically effective.
WILLIAM R. BYARS, D. O.
William R. Byars, one of the most prominent and successful osteopath practitioners of San Diego, was born in Clarence, Missouri, May 4, 1866, a son of James A. and Margaret Ann (Bishop) Byars. His paternal grandfather, George Washington Byars, was a representative of an old Virginian family and became one of the pioneer settlers of Missouri, in which state he took up his abode in 1840. He wedded Mary Ann Blessing, who was also a member of one of the old families of Virginia. His son, James A. Byars, was born in Smith county, Virginia, September 11, 1831, and was in the seventy-fifth year of his age when he passed away at Clarence, Missouri, June 23, 1906. His wife was born at Ligonier, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1842, and died in Clarence, Missouri, March II, 1907. She was a daughter of Robert and Katherine (Clark) Bishop and a granddaughter of William and Margaret Clark, early German settlers of Pennsylvania.
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Upon his father's farm Dr. Byars spent the days of his boyhood and youth and pursued his education in the schools of that locality. In early life he had a strong desire to study medicine and hoped to one day become a regular prac- titioner, but as science revealed new truth and osteopathic practice came to the front his interest in that method of healing was awakened and by the time he was ready to enter on a course of study he had resolved to become an osteopathic practitioner. After completing a course in the Missouri State University at Columbia he went to Kirksville, Missouri, where he entered the American School of Osteopathy and won his professional degree. For some time there- after he was engaged in the practice of the profession in Missouri, whence he removed to San Diego, arriving in this city in the summer of 1904. His ability and experience soon gained him an extensive practice, which increased as evidences of his work became known and has now reached gratifying propor- tions. He reads broadly and thinks deeply, not only along professional but also along other lines which have direct bearing upon the welfare and progress of mankind. He is constantly studying to promote his professional skill and his reading and research work have placed him in a prominent position among the osteopathic practitioners of southern California.
On the 25th of December, 1889, Dr. Byars was married to Miss Wincie L. Creekmur, a daughter of William Martin and Susan Ann (Harris) Creekmur, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, their home being in Simpson county, that state, at the time of Mrs. Byars' birth. The father died in 1901, but the mother survives and, at the age of some eighty years, is living in Clarence, Missouri. Dr. and Mrs. Byars have become parents of a daughter, Susan Margaret.
Dr. Byars' political allegiance is given to the republican party and he keeps well informed upon the questions and issues of the day, although his large practice prevents his acceptance of public office. He has passed through all the chairs of the local lodge in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is closely associated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America. A man of genial disposition, his admirable and notable traits of character have won him the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. The power which he has displayed in his profession has been the source of gratifying success, and as he has prospered he has been a generous contributor to many measures and movements which have had direct and beneficial effect upon the upbuilding and improvement of his adopted city.
G. U. FRY.
G. U. Fry, whose operations in real estate have constituted a valuable element in the development and growth of San Diego, belongs to that class of self-made men whose progress and success have resulted directly from unflagging industry and unabating energy. He was born in Noble county, Ohio, September 4, 1864, and his youthful days were spent upon a farm. In early manhood he devoted five years to teaching school and, attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he came to San Diego on the Ist of June, 1893. Here he engaged
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in the clothing business and in other pursuits until 1904, when he turned his attention to the real-estate business, seeing in that field opportunity for the attainment of success because of the rapid development of the city. From the beginning he has met with prosperity. His capital at the outset was very small and he at first bought and sold property on commission. Later, however, he branched out on a larger scale and now is engaged to a great extent in handling his own properties. With others he opened the Skinner tract, later known as the Aurora tract, of twenty acres, and the Hinkle place, intending to subdivide it, but sold it in a short time, undivided, at a good advance. Later in connection with others he laid out the Mission Hill tract of sixty acres, constituting one of the finest pieces of property on the market. He has also done speculative build- ing, erecting and selling a number of beautiful bungalows in this city. His operations are in part carried on under the name of the Home Investment Company of San Diego, of which he is the manager.
In 1893 Mr. Fry was married to Miss Stella Hizar, a native of Ohio, and theirs is one of the finest homes on Golden Hill. It was erected by Mr. Fry after plans which he made and is one of the attractive residences of that part of the city. In fraternal circles he is well known, being a past chancellor of Red Star Lodge, No. 153, K. P., a member of Al Sahil Temple, No. 152, D. O. K. K., and a member of Chevalier Uniformed Rank, Company No. 6. His Masonic connections are with San Diego Lodge, No. 35, A. F. & A. M .; the Knight Templar Commandery; the Eastern Star Chapter, No. 264; and Al Bahr Temple of the Mystic Shrine, of San Diego. He likewise belongs to the Order of Panama, to the San Diego Realty Board and to the Chamber of Commerce. He is likewise a member of the Aero Club of San Diego, and is actively and helpfully interested in all the movements which those organizations are putting forth for the benefit and improvement of the city.
ELBRIGE F. OSBORNE.
Elbrige F. Osborne owns sixteen acres of land in National City, constituting one of the finest and most productive lemon ranches in the section. He also raises all kinds of garden truck and berries which in the soft climate and fertile soil of southern California grow in profusion and he has by progressive and straightforward business methods gained a prosperity which places him among the important men of the city. A native of California, Mr. Osborne was born in Plumas county, December 11, 1866. His father, Carlos Osborne, was a native of New York and crossed the plains to California in 1862 and established himself in the cattle and dairy business in Plumas county. In the gold-mining days he drove a bull team to Virginia City and there prospected and mined for a short time. However, in 1868 he returned east with his family and settled in Ingham county, Michigan, where he purchased two hundred acres of land which he operated as a grain and stock farm. He was extremely successful in the management of this property, adhering steadily to progressive and systematic methods, and he lived upon it until the time of his death in 1904.
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