USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 34
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ment of this property and is giving a great deal of his time and attention to it with gratifying results.
Mr. Dyer has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Mary S. Marshall, a native of Plattsburg, New York, who passed away leaving two chil- dren. The elder, Fred M., is a member of the firm of N. W. Halsey & Company of New York. He owns a beautiful one thousand acre estate near Closeter, New Jersey, which he conducts as a fancy stock farm. He married Miss Frances Sweet, a native of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, and they have three children. The other child born to Mr. Dyer's first marriage is a daughter, Josephine M. After the death of his first wife Mr. Dyer wedded Miss Laura Marshall and they have become the parents of two sons, Edwin L. and Louis Quincy. The latter recently passed the examination before the California state board of optometrics, in Los Angeles, with a mark of ninety-six, the second highest ever given by the board. Edwin is also a student at Los Angeles.
Mr. Dyer has extensive fraternal relations, being affiliated with the Forest Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Monterey Encampment. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, and is a member of Riverside Lodge, A. O. U. W. He is also prominent in the Masonic order, holding membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery and being also affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. His life has been in all its relations upright, useful and straightforward, distinguished by high integrity in official service and honorable dealing in all business and private capacities. No phase of his activity, however, is more honorable than his service in the American Navy during the Civil war. At the outbreak of hostilities, in 1861, he offered his services and was mustered on board the frigate Colorado. He was later trans- ferred to the sloop of war Pensicola and was in the thick of the battle at New Orleans. He was mustered out with honorable discharge on the 30th of June, 1862, after fourteen months of active service. Mr. Dyer keeps in touch with his comrades of fifty years ago through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Timothy Ingraham Post, No. 121, of Hyde Park. In the days of peace his activities have been directed by the same fearlessness and loyalty which marked his service in his country's defense, and he is in all things an upright and honorable gentleman as well as a valorous soldier.
V. J. SMITH.
Among the leading and successful lemon growers in San Diego county is V. J. Smith, proprietor of a five acre ranch in Chula Vista, which by his able and intelligent work he has made one of the most profitable tracts in the section in proportion to its size. Mr. Smith was born in Danville, Richmond county, Quebec, Canada, and is a grandson of a pioneer in the settlement of that section. His grandfather headed a colony which went into Canada in 1804 and established and developed the town of Shipton. Three generations of the Smith family lived in Canada and Mr. Smith of this review remained in that country until he was eighteen years of age. In that year he came to the United States and
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settled in Laconia, Belknap county, New Hampshire, where he learned the trade of cabinet-making. Later he obtained employment on the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad as locomotive fireman and after three years in this capacity was made locomotive engineer, running his engine for four years. In April, 1879, he went west to Nebraska, and was engaged as an engineer on the Bur- lington & Missouri River Railroad, in which position he remained until 1888. While in Nebraska he took up a homestead claim and proved his title but never gave his personal supervision to its management. He left the state in 1888 and after a short stay in New Hampshire went to Florida, where he ran a locomotive on the Florida Central Railroad for some time. Later he went to eastern Tennessee and became identified with the Virginia & Georgia Railroad. Return- ing to Laconia, New Hampshire, he remained for a short time and then went to Boston, where he obtained employment on the Boston Elevated Railroad. For some years after this he was interested in the lumber business at West Thornton, New Hampshire, and continued in this line of work until he came to Chula Vista in the fall of 1911, and in the following year bought a five acre lemon ranch on National avenue. This land is planted in fine, productive trees, which brought in eight months of the year 1912 thirty-six hundred and thirteen boxes of lemons. Mr. Smith has also seven large fig trees upon his property and realized a handsome profit from the sale of this fruit. In the management and direction of his ranch he has proven himself a shrewd and discriminating busi- ness man and he has combined his ability with a knowledge of conditions and proper methods which has already insured his further success.
In 1886 Mr. Smith married Miss Anna S. Gilbert, a native of New Hampshire and a daughter of a pioneer in the settlement of Laconia. They have one son, Gilbert Allison, who was born February 19, 1889. He married Miss Mildred Lyman, of Dover, New Hampshire, and has one daughter. Although Mr. Smith has been in Chula Vista only little more than a year, his business ability, energy and enterprise have made him widely known, while his fine qualities of character have made of his many acquaintances firm friends.
W. C. WATERS.
W. C. Waters is well known in business circles of San Diego by reason of his position as city salesman for the firm of the Simon Levi Company of that city, and he is also the owner of one of the finest lemon ranches in National City, where he makes his home. He was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1855, and remained in that section until he was a young man. When he left Pennsylvania he went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and there engaged in the dry-goods business. He has never abandoned this connection, although his interests have expanded along all lines in such a way as to place him among the successful men of San Diego and National City. He came to California January 4, 1890, in order to accept the position of city salesman for the Simon Levi Company of San Diego, and he has done able work in their interests since that time. He is a discerning judge of values, an expert in salesmanship and has been of great service to his employers, who appreciate the value of his brains and energy.
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It did not take a man of Mr. Waters' business acumen long to recognize the most profitable opportunity opened to the investor in southern California. He saw and realized the rapid growth of the fruit raising industry and accordingly did not hesitate to put his money into an enterprise which offered such excellent returns. In 1891 he bought a tract of raw and unimproved land in National City on Fifth street. This he cleared of the heavy growth of sagebrush and put it into condition for planting. He then set out lemon trees upon his six acres and met with success in their cultivation, being now the owner of one of the most productive and profitable ranches in the city. Mr. Waters resides in a handsome home upon this property, made more attractive by the flowers which beautify the grounds and the trees which shade them. Recently he made a purchase of land opposite his home, which he has divided into ten lots. Upon one of these he built a beautiful modern residence, which he gave to his daughter, Mrs. Robinson. Besides this Mr. Waters owns some valuable tracts of farm land in South Dakota. He still retains his connection with the Simon Levi Company but lives upon his ranch in National City.
In 1878 Mr. Waters married Miss Lillian E. Doughty, a native of Lake City, Minnesota, and they have two children: William; and Jessie, the wife of Charles Robinson, by whom she has one son, Dudley. Mr. Waters is a member of the Sioux Falls lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows but has not extended his fraternal relations in California. He is well known in social and business circles of National City as a man whose honor is beyond question, whose integrity is above reproach and to whom success has come as the natural result of ability and industry.
FREDERICK B. C. EILERSFICKEN, P. D.
Dr. Frederick B. C. Eilersficken is the founder and president of the San Diego School of Chiropractic. He was born in Barneveld, Holland, December 15, 1875, a son of John and Valemina Eilersficken. His education was pursued in the public and high schools until 1893, when he entered the Marine Hospital at Rotterdam, Holland, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896 and later took a degree in philosophy. He thereafter practiced medicine in his native country until 1898, when he crossed the Atlantic to New York city and entered the United States army as a member of the Twelfth Regiment of New York Volunteers. Subsequently he was transferred to the general hospital corps in the regular army, with which he served until November, 1899, when he came to California and through the succeeding year was engaged in the drug business in San Francisco.
On the expiration of that period Dr. Eilersficken went to Guthrie, Oklahoma, and was graduated from the Twentieth Century Physio Medical College with the class of 1903. Returning to San Francisco, he again practiced medicine there until 1907, when he went to Davenport, Iowa, and was graduated from the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1908. He became convinced of the superiority of that method of healing to the methods which he had previously followed and for a year and a half he practiced according to its tenets in Los Angeles. He then came to
f. B. G. Eilen ficken Mr. Ph. D.
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San Diego and established the San Diego School of Chiropractic, of which he is the president. He has associated with him an able corps of assistants and instruc- tors. The most advanced text-books are used and the school has enjoyed remark- able growth. It was only after several months of continuous solicitation on the part of friends and public that Dr. Eilersficken was induced to open a school in San Diego in June, 1910. At first he held only evening sessions, but such was the growth of the school that it was soon necessary to extend the course to include day sessions, and now large and commodious quarters furnish a home for the school at No. 1550 Third street. This is an ideal location and the work being done is of a most satisfactory character, the pupils of the school being compe- tent to do advanced work in this field of healing. Of late the work of the school has grown to such an extent that it has become necessary to build a sanitarium and for that purpose the Universal Health Association has been organized, a cor- poration with a capitalization of five hundred thousand dollars.
Dr. Eilersficken still holds membership with the Association of Physicians and Surgeons of America and he is treasurer of the California Drugless Practi- tioners Association. He belongs to the Spanish American War Veterans and to the Chamber of Commerce and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He is a man of strong and forceful personality, of keen intellect and high ideals, and in his chosen field of labor is doing work of importance to humanity.
EDMUND C. FORBES.
Since the spring of 1897 Edmund C. Forbes has been operating a ten acre fruit ranch in National City and has made his property one of the finest and most productive in this section. As a man engaged in a representative industry of southern California his work has more than an individual importance and his success has influenced general progress and expansion. Mr. Forbes was born in Clinton, Massachusetts, August 6, 1851, and when he was still a child worked in a cotton mill in that state. He became very skilful in this work and gained rapid promotion, becoming superintendent of the Lancaster Cotton Mill at Boyleston, Massachusetts. He remained ten years in this capacity and was then made paymaster of the Uncasville Cotton Mill at Montville, Connecticut. He made his first trip to California in 1875 with the United States fish com- missioner, who was bringing to the state a carload of spawning fish. For three months he remained in the United States salmon breeding station at McCloud and afterward spent two weeks in the Yosemite valley. He traveled on the old stage which took visitors through the valley at the time when it was first opened to the public. After a few months he returned to Massachusetts and he did not definitely establish his home in California until the spring of 1897, when he came to National City and bought a ten acre fruit ranch on Highland avenue, which he has operated since that time with steadily increasing success. Seven acres of his property are planted in lemons. His success and the methods by which it has been accomplished have made him prominent and well known in National City and have carried him forward into important relations with
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general interests. He has done excellant work as library trustee and during his term of office as town trustee stood steadily for progress and improvement.
Mr. Forbes has been twice married. By his first wife he had three children : Charles N., who is a curator of botany in the Bishop Museum at Honolulu; Carrie, who married A. H. Laflin, Jr., of Berkeley, by whom she has two children ; and Edmund C., Jr., of San Diego. Mr. Forbes' second union was with Miss Julia Long, a native of Portland, Maine, and they have become the parents of two children, Ruth and James. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes are well known in social circles of National City, where they have proven themselves worthy of wide- spread respect and esteem. In his business as in all the relations of his life Mr. Forbes has demonstrated his ability, energy and persevering spirit and is justly entitled to a high place among the representative and substantial men of the community.
THE NATIONAL CITY LUMBER COMPANY.
The rapidity and nature of the general expansion of a city is directly depend- ent upon its business institutions and the policies and standards by which they are controlled. One large enterprise intelligently managed along modern pro- gressive lines will materially affect commercial activity and the prosperity of many hundreds of people, not only directly by employing many workers, but indirectly in establishing standards of efficiency and methods of operation, which influence growth. Among the most important business enterprises in National City is that operated by the National City Lumber Company, an institution of the modern type conducted along modern lines. The policy of the company is progress and legitimate expansion, natural development and a high quality of work and output. . This policy the directors have established as a standard and to it they have constantly adhered in the thirty-one years during which the con- cern has been in existence.
The National City Lumber Company was established in 1881 as the Russ Lumber Company and it continued under this name until 1906, when the business was incorporated under its present title. The officers at that time were as follows: J. A. Rice, president ; S. S. Johnston, vice president ; and J. G. Fleming, secretary and treasurer. The enterprise was operated under this management for two years. In 1909 J. M. Kendall bought a half-interest in the concern and the official board underwent some change. S. S. Johnston was made presi- dent, Mr. Kendall became secretary and treasurer, and J. G. Fleming was given the vice presidency. In 1910 Mr. Kendall bought a controlling interest and the business was reorganized with the following officials and stockholders: B. J. Edmonds, president ; J. M. Kendall, manager and treasurer; and C. W. Cope- land, secretary. The business is incorporated with a capital stock of ten thou- sand dollars and is rapidly becoming one of the important enterprises in National City.
The National City Lumber Company is not in any way a construction com- pany and is not directly concerned with the building of homes other than the financial assistance occasionally rendered through its direction. It supplies
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building material of all kinds for all building purposes and has an extensive business territory since most of the materials used for building in National City are handled by this concern. In conjunction with the lumber yard the company also conducts a large planing mill. In 1908 they installed the first mill machinery, starting with a plain and crosscut saw. This branch of the concern developed so rapidly that in 1909 they were obliged to increase the mill capacity and the department is now fully equipped for all kinds of work along this line. The company has purchased a block of land near the water front in anticipation of further enlargement of their yards. In 1912 it purchased also a site on National avenue, where a fine modern concrete and tile building has been erected, in which the main office of the firm is established.
For the influencing cause of the rapid growth and development of any busi- ness institution we must look to the men who dominate its affairs and control its policies. The National City Lumber Company is no exception to this rule since its manager, Mr. Kendall has been a force in its affairs for a number of years and has contributed greatly to its prosperity and expansion. He has the advantage of former experience in construction work since he was associated with the Healey-Tibbetts Construction Company of San Francisco before he came to National City in 1907. In his administration of the business with which he is connected he has proved himself capable, shrewd, versatile, aggressive and efficient-the type of business man which in all parts of the United States is promoting progress, upbuilding cities and making the nation one of the most wealthy and prosperous in the world.
DR. B. S. GOWEN.
A broad and liberally cultured mind, a power of deep and original thinking, many years of earnest work along educational lines, a comprehensive knowledge and a trained judgment have made Dr. B. S. Gowen one of the most valued and prominent educators in this section of the country. In his work he has followed broad lines of advancement, disregarding fads, but carefully considering all new ideas, and today he stands as a power and influence and a vital force in educa- tional circles. He is a native of Tennessee, born in Bedford county, September 18, 1864. He acquired his early education in the public schools of that section, and later entered the normal school at Winchester, Tennessee. By sheer force of his ability and knowledge he was carried forward into important relations with the administrative branches of educational work, becoming when he had completed his normal course principal of the school in which he received his training. In both Tennessee and Kentucky, where he taught, he became super- intendent of schools, doing able, straightforward and progressive work and accomplishing vital and far-reaching results. Later he taught in a normal school in Alabama but, being ambitious for broader educational opportunities, entered Yale University in 1899, receiving from that institution his A. B. and A. M. degrees. During his university course he did able and scholarly work, evidenc- ing always that true love of learning which has broadened and deepened in the course of his career. For three successive years he won a fellowship in Yale,
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which carried with it a scholarship of six hundred dollars per year. For several years he was a member of the faculty, doing largely administrative work and assisting in the department of philosophy-an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by those for many years closely associated with him. One of his most important duties consisted in selecting candidates for positions as teachers in colleges in different parts of the country and in this work he proved as fair- minded and impartial as a judge as he was capable in administrative work. When Dr. Gowen left Yale in 1904 he went to Clark University at Worcester, Massachusetts, to carry on his studies further along lines in which he was most interested and here he kept up the former high quality of his work, winning a four hundred dollar fellowship. After leaving Clark University in 1905, when he received the Ph. D. degree, he became principal of the Maryland College for Women at Baltimore and from that time his rise in the educational world was rapid. In 1907 he came west and accepted the presidency of the Normal Uni- versity at Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he remained until 1910, when he came to National City as supervising principal of the public schools. This position he still holds, finding here a splendid field for his work in the cause of general educational expansion.
In 1894 Dr. Gowen married Miss Lillie A. Bledsoe, a native of Alabama, and they have one son, George Morton. Dr. Gowen is a director in the National City State Bank and vice president of the National City Board of Trade, and frater- nally is connected with the Masonic order. However, the principal interest of his life centers in his educational work, which has been of so forceful and important a character as to win for him a place in friendship of some of the leading edu- . cators of the country. Dr. Gowen is a member of the California Council of Education, a state organization, and for many years has belonged to the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale. He has written a book entitled "Some Psychological Aspects of Pestilences and Other Epidemics," and has lectured on educational subjects before teachers' associations and in some of the leading colleges and universities, thus making the chosen work of his life doubly powerful, far- reaching and effective.
ALLEN HUTCHINSON.
Allen Hutchinson, eminent in the field of sculpture and since 1907 British vice consul at San Diego, was born in Staffordshire, England, on the 8th of January, 1855, a son of the Rev. W. P. H. and Caroline (Allen) Hutchinson. The father, who was born in 1810 and died in 1910, having become a cente- narian, was vicar of Blurton Staff and prebendary of Lichfield. Mr. Hutchin- son's great-great-grandfather, Thomas Hutchinson, was the last colonial gov- ernor of Massachusetts and our subject is the first of the family since the Revolution to come to the United States.
Allen Hutchinson attended Rossall school and further studied at South Kensington in the art and science department. Natural talent for designing and modeling led to his choice of a life work, and the eminence to which he has attained in his chosen field of sculpture finds its proof in the fact that he
ALLEN HUTCHINSON
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has been a medalist and exhibitor in the principal galleries of Europe. Among his works of public interest are the bust of Hon. James Grant in the Royal Academy of England; Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone; Right Rev. George Augus- tus Selwyn, bishop of Lichfield, in the Royal Academy of England; the Mar- quis of Salisbury ; His Majesty King Kalakaua, memorial; Chinaman, in the Royal Academy of England and Berlin; Robert Louis Stevenson in the New Gallery of London, England; Sir Alfred Stephenson, lieutenant governor of New 'South Wales, a memorial for the trustees of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales; Sir George Gray, governor of New Zealand, memorial; C. R. Bishop, president of the Bank of California, for trustees of Bishop Museum, T. H. Since becoming a resident of San Diego, Mr. Hutchinson has taken his place with the most eminent sculptors of the Pacific coast country and at the same time he has represented his government since 1907 as the British vice consul here.
Mr. Hutchinson was married in San Francisco, California, to Miss Ella Florence Rutledge, a daughter of Robert and Anna Sarah (Smythe) Rut- ledge, natives of England. Mr. Hutchinson is president of the San Diego Cricket Club, is the president and founder of the British Benevolent Society and is the honorary president of the British Social Society of this city. He is also a past president of the Order of the Sons of St. George and is now serving as district deputy grand president, and belongs to Sir Francis Drake Lodge of San Diego.
SAN DIEGO LAND & TOWN COMPANY.
No business enterprise has been so closely and importantly connected with the development of San Diego county or the growth and upbuilding of Chula Vista and National City as has that operated by the San Diego Land & Town Company, one of the most important corporations in this part of California. Since its organization the company has been connected with many influential movements of different kinds and its work has touched nearly every phase of city and county progress. Today it controls vast holdings in fruit-growing lands, water systems and various other interests, all of which directly affect standards of business operation and the rate of general expansion. It has as its manager J. E. Boal, a keen and resourceful business man, capable of directing and control- ling the important affairs under his charge and possessing all the aggressive force necessary to carry forward the work under constructive lines.
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