USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 37
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2.F Callahan.
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months before going to Los Angeles. In the latter city he associated himself with Marsh & Russell, architects, and was with them at the time of the begin- ning of the building of Venice. He superintended the laying of the foundation of the first building in this beautiful resort and also the work on the famous Ship Hotel, known throughout western America as one of the most unique institutions of its kind in the country.
Having by this experience become master of the architectural and building situation in California, Mr. Callahan decided to accept a proposition which had been made him to combine the architectural and building features of his activities and associated himself with the Los Angeles Investment Company. This concern at that time was a comparatively small and struggling enterprise. Mr. Callahan remained with the company for about four years, acting as head architect and superintendent of construction. He had entire charge of the purchasing of materials and of the employing of men. During the period of his work the business done by the company was increased from $200,000 to $2,500,000 and the foundation was laid upon which has been built up a business valued at $14,000,000. This concern disburses nearly $200,000 quarterly in dividends to its stockholders and in a printed statement claims that $100 invested with it sixteen years ago and with the earnings reinvested would now amount to $18,176. While with the Los Angeles Investment Company, Mr. Callahan obtained his first experience in the line of work which was afterward to absorb all of his attention, that is the purchasing of land in tracts, building streets and laying out residence and business lots. He studied every detail connected with this work and is now an acknowledged expert in handling this class of property. Mr. Callahan remained in Los Angeles about four years and his able work along this special line of activity became widely known over the state. Finally the Pacific Building Company of San Diego offered him great inducements to come to the city as their general superintendent and after carefully investigating all the aspects of the situation Mr. Callahan accepted. He spent two years with this concern while they were beginning in a very small way, subdividing tracts of land, building homes and selling these on the installment plan. The company's profits during the short period of Mr. Callahan's identification with the business, as shown by the books were over thirty thousand dollars.
In October, 1911, Mr. Callahan determined to engage in business for himself along the lines in which he was so splendidly trained and for which he was so eminently fitted and accordingly on that date he organized the Callahan Construc- tion Company. This company is purchasing acreage and subdividing it, con- structing buildings of all kinds and planning suburban sections. It is already doing a profitable and increasing business and has a high standing in business circles of San Diego. Associated with Mr. Callahan in the operation of the con- cern is B. D. Perkins, of Castine, and a number of the most important business men of San Diego. The enterprise cannot help expanding rapidly and develop- ing along modern, progressive lines for it has at its head a shrewd, far-sighted and able business man, trained by study and experience and possessed of a mind capable of concentrated and forceful thinking. Mr. Callahan has lived in Cali- fornia for ten years and during the time has become one of the most influential men in the southern part of the state. He is, however, still loyal to his native section and active in his membership in the State of Maine Society of San Diego.
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He is one of the most prominent of the four hundred and eighty members of this organization as its president and has many times represented the city asso- ciation at meetings of the Federated State Society. He has from time to time been drawn into other important relations of all kinds in San Diego and no movement of a public character is considered complete lacking his support. He has achieved a great prosperity but even the most envious cannot grudge him his success so worthily has it been won, and so well used.
HOMER C. OATMAN, M. D.
With excellent college and hospital training both at home and abroad, Dr. Homer C. Oatman is particularly well qualified for the onerous and important duties that devolve upon him as a member of the medical profession. He has been a resident of San Diego since 1901 and throughout the entire period has enjoyed an enviable reputation as a physician of wide learning and capability. He was born in Cedar county, Missouri, April 9, 1870, a son of A. G. and Mary A. (Ransom) Oatman. The parents removed to Denver, Colorado, in the early '70s and there their son Homer attended the public schools until twelve years of age, when removal was made to Lawrence, Kansas, where he continued his edu- cation as a public-school student to the age of sixteen. He then entered the University of Kansas and was graduated in pharmacy and chemistry with the Ph. G. degree when twenty-two years of age. This constituted an excellent foundation upon which to upbuild the superstructure of professional learning. In preparation for his chosen life work he attended the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago and was graduated therefrom in 1895. Returning to Law- rence, Kansas, he opened an office and practiced successfully for three years but still not content with the preparation that he had already made, he went to Edinburgh, Scotland, and entered the University of Edinburgh. In addition to his course in that institution he also did hospital work in London, England, for two years, coming into close contact with eminent physicians and surgeons of that country and thus gaining intimate knowledge of their methods and beliefs. . Thus splendidly equipped for his chosen life work, he returned to Lawrence, Kansas, where he practiced medicine for a year. He then came to San Diego, where he has practiced continuously since, confining his attention, however, largely to surgery, in which he is especially skilled. Steady of nerve, resource- ful, calm in judgment and with broad scientific knowledge to serve as the basis of his labors, he has done important work for mankind in the field of surgical practice, his efforts being attended with splendid results. He belongs to the San Diego County Medical Association, the California Homeopatic Medical Society, the California Medical Society, the American Institute of Homeopathy and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Oatman has various membership relations outside of the strict path of his profession. He belongs to the Baptist church and ever endeavors to exem- plify in his life its teachings. He is also a loyal member of the Masonic fraternity and the Elks lodge and he belongs to the Cuyamaca Club. His polit- ical faith is that of the republican party and while he does not seek nor desire
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office, he is not unmindful of the' duties and obligations of citizenship and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. He was married December 31, 1903, in San Diego, to Miss Ruth Lawrence, and they have two children, Homer C. and Jack Lawrence, aged respectively seven and three years. Dr. Oatman is yet a young man scarcely in the prime of life, yet has won a position that many an older practitioner might envy, and his power and skill in the field of surgery have placed him with the eminent representatives of that department of medical practice. He possesses, too, attractive social qualities which have made him popular, and his friends in San Diego and throughout the county are legion.
FRED W. WADHAM.
Fred W. Wadham is serving with great ability and efficiency as deputy customs house inspector and collector of San Diego county and is also well known throughout southern California as an extensive and successful breeder of standard trotting horses. In both lines of activity he has won a place of prom- inence and distinction by reason of the thoroughness of his work, his conscien- tious attention to it and the commanding force of his ability. He was born in Princeton, Illinois, April 29, 1863, and is a representative of one of the best known pioneer families of San Diego county. His father, James F. Wadham, crossed the plains from Missouri on one of the first trains operated by the Central Pacific Railroad and located with his family in California in 1870. They landed in San Francisco and came from there to San Diego on the old side- wheel steamer Senator. The father took up land in Tia Juana valley and there engaged in farming for a number of years, gradually broadening his activities to include almost every phase of the life of the section. He had charge of the stage station on the Mexican border and also established in San Diego the first planing and grist mill run by steam in the county. For a number of years he was engaged in the livery business and conducted at the same time the old Arizona feed yard. From time to time he invested extensively in land and be- came one of the largest landowners in the Tia Juana valley. He owned in addition a farm near Campo, Cottonwood valley, which he purchased before he came to California.
Fred W. Wadham was still a child when he came with his family to Califor- nia and his education was acquired in the public schools of San Diego county. Since the beginning of his active career he has been interested in the breeding and raising of fine trotting horses and has done more than any one to promote a better breed, his animals having been considered for many years the best in this part of the state. His prize stallion, Del Coronado, has a record of 2:091/4 and is still unbeaten in the show ring. Of four races in which he was entered he won two, reducing his record to 2:0914 and afterward trotting a public trial in 2:0634. He is the sire of the pacing filly, Cora, who was timed in 2:0814 at Portland, Oregon, and of Teddy Bear, winner of second money in the Breeders' Futurity for two-year-olds, where he was only a head behind the winner of the second heat in 2:131/2. Mr. Wadham had also in his stables Zulu Belle, who as a two-year-old had a record of 2:241/2 and as a three-year-old won the Pacific
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Breeders' Futurity in 2 :1614. In 1912 Zulu Belle received a mark of 2:1014 at the California State Fair and at the Arizona State Fair, at Phoenix, in 1912, she reduced her record to 2:0714. Among Mr. Wadham's other prize horses may be mentioned a seven-months-old filly, Bonnie Treat, by The Bondsman, for which he has refused three thousand dollars. Mr. Wadham is also the owner of a four-year-old stallion, Treatway, by Strathway, and a half-brother of Del Coronado. He owns also Johano, a two-year-old by Carlokin, with a record of 2:081/4. Also of notable mention is Johanna Treat, whose sire, Thomas Rysdyk, was brought to California from Kentucky about 1888. Johanna Treat is one of the best known brood mares in California. She is the dam of the above men- tioned Del Coronado, Zulu Belle, "My Irene's," Treatway, Johano and Bonnie Treat.
In addition to his work as a breeder of high-grade trotters, Mr. Wadham is also discharging the duties of deputy customs house inspector and collector, to which office he was appointed on the 2d of April, 1894, and in which he has since served. He has proven himself invaluable as a government official, able, con- scientious and progressive in the discharge of his duties and loyal in all respects to the interests of the country. He has charge of eighteen miles of the Mexican border line and there established the first custom office and floated the first United States custom flag. He had charge of this district during the battle of Tia Juana and proved himself equal to this demand upon his resourcefulness and energy. His success in the discharge of his official duties is the best evidence of his capabilities. When he assumed management, the collections through the port of entry were less than five hundred dollars a year, but under his keen supervision and careful management this sum has been increased to twenty-eight thousand dollars per year. His records show that in the fiscal year from June, 1911, to June, 1912, fifty thousand people passed over the auto road from Mexico to the United States. Mr. Wadham is actuated in all that he does in an official capacity by marked public spirit and intelligent devotion to the general good. Honest and reliable, he seeks always the best interests of his community and of the nation and gives most careful consideration to all official questions, proving him- self in this way an admirable public servant.
R. J. JAEGER.
Among the prominent ranchers of San Diego county is R. J. Jaeger of Nes- tor, whose home, Villa Ventura, is a valuable lemon orchard of twenty acres. Mr. Jaeger was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1882. He is a son of Francis and Catherine (Tschirgi) Jaeger, natives of that state, who represent two of the oldest and most influential families of Dubuque county. Mr. Jaeger acquired his early education in the Dubuque public schools. In 1900 he entered the University of Wisconsin, where he took a keen interest in athletics and was a member of the Alpha Delti Phi fraternity. Although most of his inter- ests are in Dubuque, Iowa, Mr. Jaeger came to California in 1909 and settled in Nestor, where he lives the greater part of the time, enjoying the most equable climatic conditions in the country, and therefore in the world. His home is the
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old Keuck ranch, constituting a part of what was known as Helena Park. Mr. Keuck set out the trees twenty years ago and since his ownership Mr. Jaeger has made substantial improvements in building and equipment and has greatly increased the productiveness of the property. An electrical pumping plant has been installed and twenty-five inches of water developed. Thus his system of irrigation is perfect and is to a large extent responsible for the quality and abundance of his harvests. In 1912 his orchard produced four hundred and fifty thousand pounds of lemons. He ships his fruit through the Chula Vista Lemon Growers Association to the eastern market, where it commands a high price and ready sale.
In 1910 Mr. Jaeger was united in marriage to Miss Edith, only daughter of Bernard J. O'Neill of Dubuque, Iowa. They have one son, Francis Bernard.
Mr. Jaeger holds membership in the University Club of San Diego, the Point Loma Golf Club, the Chula Vista Club, and the Chula Vista Yacht Club.
GEORGE M. KIMBALL.
For almost a quarter of a century George M. Kimball has been engaged in the general contracting and building business in Tia Juana valley and is today numbered among the most able, resourceful and progressive business men of Nestor. He was born in Belgrade, Maine, in August, 1867, and is a son of Samuel S. and Emmenillia S. (Yeaton) Kimball, also natives of Maine. The father was a carpenter by trade and came west to Kansas about the year 1881, having obtained employment on the construction of the Santa Fe Railroad. In 1887 he pushed still farther westward, remaining in their employ until he settled in Nestor, California, in 1888, where in partnership with his son he engaged in building residences throughout the Tia Juana valley. The association continued until the death of the father in 1900.
George M. Kimball was reared at home and acquired his education in the public schools of Belgrade. He remained in Maine until 1887, when he joined his father in Kansas, coming to National City in November, 1887, and in 1888 entered business at Nestor. Here he has been engaged in general contracting and building throughout Tia Juana valley since that time. While the elder Mr. Kimball was still living the firm built many of the first houses in this por- tion of the state and after his father's death Mr. Kimball of this review con- tinued the business, erecting in National City a beautiful home for Dr. Fly, the Granger business block and the acid factory. In Chula Vista he planned and erected the Perry Brothers packing house, the San Diego Land & Fruit Company's and the Randolph Fruit Company's packing houses, an addition to the schoolhouse, residences for Mrs. Ash and Mr. Robinson, as well as many fine homes in the Villa tract in Chula Vista. He has also done some fine resi- dence work in San Diego, and in addition built the trestle, three thousand feet in length, for the San Diego Mountain Water Company, extending from the Otay dam to Sweetwater. Mr. Kimball did most of the contract work in the early days of the building of National City, Chula Vista and Otay and of late years also has been engaged in extensive operations in those communities. Dur-
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ing most of his period of residence in Tia Juana valley he has made his home in Nestor but for three years he engaged in building in La Jolla. In 1893, however, he bought a five-acre ranch in Nestor and definitely established him- self here. He has three acres of this land planted in lemons. In 1897 he pur- chased additional sixteen and one-half acres in Tia Juana valley, putting in a well and pumping plant in order to develop an independent water supply, devot- ing this land to alfalfa and garden truck. Mr. Kimball continues to make his home in Nestor, but gives active supervision to his extensive business interests throughout the county. He understands the theory of construction and never allows his work to suffer by reason of inferior material. In addition his build- ings are artistic in design and pleasing in appearance, combining the qualities of utility and attractiveness. Mr. Kimball has for many years been one of the greatest individual factors in the expansion and development of this sec- tion of Tia Juana valley, where he has come to be regarded as an enterprising business man, who has won that success which always follows earnest, per- sistent and well directed labor.
In 1893 Mr. Kimball married Miss Rose Johnston, a native of Iowa, and they have two sons, Ernest, born in 1895, and Clinton, born in 1900. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kimball are well known and widely popular in social circles of the city and have an extensive acquaintance and many friends. Mr. Kimball has lived in Tia Juana valley for almost twenty-five years and during that time has won the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. He well merits the success which has come to him, for it has been gained through straightforward dealing and business methods which neither seek nor require disguise.
ADDISON MORGAN, M. D.
Among the able and representative physicians and surgeons of San Diego is numbered Dr. Addison Morgan, whose ready sympathy and quickness of per- ception combine with a broad and accurate knowledge of the principles of the medical science to make him specially fitted for the practice of his chosen pro- fession. He is, moreover, entitled to representation in this volume as an honored veteran of the Spanish-American war. Dr. Morgan is a native of Illinois, born in Ottawa, January 8, 1859, his parents being Rev. Pliny B. and Elizabeth O. (Smith) Morgan. Rev. Pliny B. Morgan was a descendant of one of New England's early Puritan families. He was a minister of the Episcopal church, to which he devoted a lifetime, dying at the age of seventy-nine years.
Dr. Addison Morgan received his education in the public schools of his native city and, having determined to study medicine, entered the homeopathic depart- inent of the University of Michigan, from which institution he received his medical degree. He came to San Diego in 1884 and opened an office here, prac- ticing his profession successfully until the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, when he served his country as ensign in the navy. After his honorable dis- charge he returned to California and resumed his practice, since which time he has resided continuously in San Diego, having here built up an extensive and
A. Morgan,
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representative patronage. In connection with his private practice he served for nine years as a member of the local board of health, making his ability and attain- ments in this way more generally effective. He also was for two terms coroner of San Diego county and for two years a member of the city council, serving one year as president of the board.
Dr. Morgan married, in Boston, in 1883, Miss Fannie A. Morgan, his second cousin, and to their union was born four children: Louise, who died in 1907; Clark; Francis; and Mildred Louise. Dr. Morgan gives his allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Masonic order, in which he is past master, past high priest and past commander. He is a man of marked individuality, strong character and determined purpose, who in public and professional circles and in private life commands the respect of all with whom he comes in contact.
DANIEL D. WHEDON, M. D.
Dr. Daniel D. Whedon, president of the city board of health of San Diego, with important hospital and private practice to engage his time and attention, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on September 21, 1878, a son of the Rev. John S. and Frances J. Whedon. The father was a clergyman and fol- lowing the itinerant custom of the church lived at various places, so that Daniel D. Whedon pursued his education in the public schools of a number of towns in New York and Connecticut until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he went abroad to study in Europe for a year. He then returned to the United States and attended a preparatory school in Hackettstown, New Jersey, from which he was graduated. He afterward spent three years as a student in the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecticut, and then went to New York city, where he made his initial step toward a career as a reporter for the Even- ing Sun, continuing in that line for two and a half years. It was his desire, however, to enter one of the professions and, deciding upon the practice of medicine as a calling which he believed would prove congenial and hoped would be profitable, he entered the Long Island College Hospital at Brooklyn, New York, pursuing the full course in that institution until graduated with the M. D. degree in the class of 1900.
Dr. Whedon entered upon the active work of his profession in New York city and had the advantage of broad, practical experience as physician in the Harlem and Metropolitan Hospitals until 1906. No other kind of practice gives as wide opportunity as does hospital work and Dr. Whedon benefited by the experience which came to him in that connection. Six years ago, or more, he came to San Diego, where he has since practiced, and the recognition of his skill and ability on the part of the public has brought to him a liberal and grow- ing patronage. He has been a member and president of the city board of health and is also serving on the staff of the Agnew and St. Joseph Hospitals. He is likewise physician for Holzwasser's department store and is examiner for the Occidental Life Insurance Company and the San Francisco Life Insurance Com- pany, in addition to which he has an enviable private practice.
Vol. II-19
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Dr. Whedon was married in New York city on July 6, 1898, to Miss Har- riet Fielding, and they have one child, John Fielding, twelve years of age, who is being educated under private instruction. Dr. Whedon votes independently, considering the capability of the candidate rather than his party affiliation. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He is yet a young man, con- versant with the most modern methods of medical practice, in touch with all the latest scientific discoveries and investigations and holding to high standards of professional service, who is making steady progress and is already accounted one of the foremost physicians of southern California.
JACOB A. REED.
Jacob A. Reed, engaged in the general practice of law in San Diego, was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, November 26, 1859. He grew up in his native city and attended its public schools until 1876, and then completed his education in a local academy. After his graduation he taught school in Washington county, Maryland, until 1883, and he followed the same occupation in Shelby, Effingham and Christian counties in Illinois, and at the same time attended Austin College at Effingham, Illinois. He completed his course in 1901, and after one year spent in travel, settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he became secretary and treasurer of a mining company. This position he held until 1907, and then came to San Diego, where he resumed his former occupa- tion of teaching. After a short time he was appointed county probation officer and did able and effective work in this capacity until July, 1912, when he resigned in favor of the legal profession. He has but recently entered upon his practice, but his growing patronage gives every promise of quick and bril- liant success.
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