USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 44
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LESTER D. ROCKWOOD.
Lester D. Rockwood, owning about a half interest in the family homestead of four hundred acres in San Diego county besides a ten acre tract in Escon- dido valley and residence property in San Diego and Escondido, is a native Californian, born in the San Pasqual valley, November 14, 1881. He is a son of Bernard and Rachel Rockwood, the former a native of Illinois and the lat- ter of Massachusetts. They were pioneers in California, the father having crossed the plains in the early '50s and the mother in 1858. Their marriage occurred in California and immediately afterward they moved to Sweetwater, near San Diego, where they resided until 1881. In that year the father bought the ranch near Escondido upon which the subject of this review resides, and lived upon this property until his death in 1901. His wife survived him eleven years. They became the parents of three children: Mrs. Everett Peet; Lester D., of this review; and Lucy Dyer. By a former marriage the father of our subject had four children, two of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Nettie Bishops, of San Francisco; and Mrs. Clara Steinmiller, of Dixon, California.
Lester D. Rockwood acquired his education in the public schools of San Diego county and aided in the work of the farm until after his father's death. Immediately afterward he assumed entire charge of the homestead of four hundred acres and has been very successful in its further development. He concentrates his attention upon stock-raising and dairying and has made both these branches of his work extremely profitable. He owns one hundred and fifty acres of the homestead tract and also ten acres in the Escondido valley, besides residence property in San Diego and Escondido.
On the 17th of March, 1909, Mr. Rockwood married Miss Mary A. Daley, a native of Escondido and a daughter of Robert and Rebecca Daley, the former born in London, England, and the latter in Yolo county, California. Both are still living and make their home in Escondido. To their union were born three children : Mary A., the wife of the subject of this review; George R .; and B. Howard.
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Mr. Rockwood votes always according to his personal convictions without regard to party lines and, while he keeps himself well informed upon the ques- tions and issues of the day, he has no desire for prominence in public life. He is still a young man but has already attained a high place in agricultural circles and is undoubtedly on the road to greater prominence and prosperity.
HORACE H. SUTTLE.
Horace H. Suttle, prominent among the successful fruit growers of San Marcos, where he owns an improved ranch of sixteen acres, was born in Ohio, December 13, 1838. He is a son of John H. Suttle, a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early date and in 1836 engaged in cabinet-making in that state. He later worked at his trade through various parts of the middle west and died in Kansas in 1864. He and his wife had a family of nine children, namely : Horace H., of this review; Mary and Julia, both of whom are deceased ; Sophronia, who is the widow of William Robertson and resides in Riverside county, California ; Edward, whose home is in Arkansas; George, of Colorado; Mary and Charles, both of whom have passed away; and Rosie, the wife of Frank Hull, of Escondido.
Horace H. Suttle received a public-school education and remained with his father until after the latter's death. He learned the cabinet-making trade and also carpentering and for many years worked at both occupations in the middle west. For some time he was active in the saw and grist mill business in Kansas and when he afterward moved to Colorado he engaged in the same line in that state for thirteen years. At the end of that time he came farther west, settling in Rainbow, California, where he worked at his former occupation for a short time. Later, however, he came to San Marcos and bought twenty-one acres of land which he has managed ably and successfully. At present his ranch com- prises sixteen acres and although it was entirely unimproved when it came into his possession it is now one of the finest properties in this part of the county. All of the improvements upon it were made by Mr. Suttle and for many years he has given almost all of his time to its further development. He has seven acres under cultivation, his principal crop being olives, which he raises in large quantities and sells to the oil makers.
On September 1, 1859, Mr. Suttle married Miss Icibinda A. Jaquist, a native of New York and a daughter of Benjamin and Fannie Jaquist, the former a native of the Empire state and the latter of England. The father met his death by drowning in the Pacific ocean. In this family were seven children: Eliza- beth, who married Orrin Shaw, of Oklahoma; Elihu, whose home is in Iowa; Icibinda, the wife of our subject; Artimissa, who has passed away; Mary, who is the widow of Leander Mason and resides at Boise, Idaho; Caroline, deceased ; and Sarah, who married Joel Stanley, of Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Suttle were born four children. Orissa is the wife of John B. Hoover, of Escondido, by whom she has two children: Charles; and Minnie, who married Sam Bow- man. Mary, the second in order of birth, passed away in infancy. John H., of Dallas, Texas, is employed by the government as superintendent of the con-
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struction of postoffice buildings. Lucretia, who completes the family, is the wife of Jacob Groesbeck, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They have six chil- dren, Ellen, Irene, Byron, Edward, Homer and Marie. The family are devout adherents of the Methodist church.
In May, 1861, Mr. Suttle enlisted with the Second Kansas Volunteer Infan- try and served under General Lyons at the battle of Wilson Creek, Missouri, where the latter was killed and where Mr. Suttle was severely wounded. He was mustered out after four months of active service, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Mr. Suttle is well known in the Masonic order and is a member of Escondido Post, Grand Army of the Republic. His political allegiance is given to the socialist party. While he was in Emporia, Kansas, he served as town trustee for two years and in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, was for a similar period of time justice of the peace. He has never been an office seeker and since coming to San Marcos has not been connected in any way with politics, although his support is given to all progressive measures and his aid can always be relied upon to further those interests which are of genuine value to the community.
J. C. DAVIDSON.
J. C. Davidson is well known in Chula Vista for his important work in the development of the lemon growing industry and for his success in breeding thoroughbred horses. He was born in McDonough county, Illinois, May 20, 1864, and remained in his native section until he was fifteen years of age. At that early period he began earning his own livelihood and has been dependent upon his own resources since that time. When he was fifteen he went to Kan- sas and there rented eighty acres of land, upon which he raised corn for two years. At the end of that time he went to western Nebraska and squatted upon a tract of land to which he later proved up his claim. The original one hun- dred and sixty acres he developed and improved along modern progressive lines and added to it from time to time until he became one of the most extensive landowners in that part of the state, managing and cultivating sixteen hundred acres of productive land. This farm he exchanged in 1903 for a twenty acre lemon ranch in Chula Vista and he has been successful in the development of this enterprise since that time. His crops have increased in quality and abund- ance every year and in 1912 the ranch produced twelve thousand boxes of fruit. Mr. Davidson is interested in the scientific aspects of lemon cultivation and is continually observing and studying new methods and details of operation. He was one of the founders of the Chula Vista Lemon Growers Association and has been active in its membership since the organization of the body.
In 1893 Mr. Davidson married Miss May Fletcher, who was born in Eng- land, and they have four children, Clinton, George, Alden and Dora. Clinton is a student in the San Diego high school and very proficient in music, being an excellent piano performer and will be in 1914 the pianist in the orchestra of the San Diego high school. George is also a student in that school and will
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be in 1914 the violinist in the San Diego high school orchestra. Alden and Dora are pupils of the Chula Vista public school.
Aside from lemon growing, the breeding and raising of fine horses forms the principal interest of Mr. Davidson's life. He has some fine animals in his stables, among which may be mentioned an imported German coach stallion named Lubbens Asco, dapple black in color and weighing fifteen hundred pounds. This horse took the first premium at the Chicago horse fair four years ago and the first premium at the Sacramento fair in the same year. Mr. David- son has a fine herd of brood mares and has raised six colts of excellent breed. He has also five Shetland ponies and a Shetland stallion, Colonel, of high-grade stock. He has been successful in both his principal lines of activity because he has worked steadily and consistently along progressive lines. Business men in Chula Vista respect him for his resourceful ability, his energy and enter- prise and his many friends value in him fine qualities of mind and character, upon which he has founded his success.
RAFFAELE LORINI, M. D.
A man of great natural ability, which has been broadened and developed by special training and experience and through contact with the thought and feeling of other countries is Dr. Raffaele Lorini, house surgeon of the Hotel Del Coronado and one of the leading members of the medical fraternity in this part of San Diego county. He was born in Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy, on the 22d of February, 1859, and is a son of Dominico Lorini, an Italian patriot who came to America in the early '50s with Garibaldi. In this country he married Miss Virginia Whiting, of Boston, a granddaughter of David Whiting, a prominent man in Massachusetts and a descendant of Elder Brewster, who came to the United States in the Mayflower. The American progenitor of this family was a ruling elder of the Plymouth colony and descendants have always taken an active part in the affairs of the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Dr. Lorini acquired his early education in France. He was thirteen years of age when he came to America and he continued his studies in a private school in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Afterward he returned to Europe and entered the University of Geneva in Switzerland and after completing a course there returned to America, graduating from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia on the 15th of March, 1881. He supplemented this training by a post-graduate course in medicine at the Uni- versity of Paris and, thus splendidly equipped for the work in which he was to engage, he located in Washington, D. C., and there practiced for five years, securing by his brilliant work a large and representative patronage and dividing his time between his private practice and his duties as physician in the Garfield Memorial Hospital. When Dr. Lorini left Washington he came to California and practiced for twelve years in San Francisco, acting as physician in the French Hospital and from 1892 to 1893 as house surgeon at the Coronado Hotel. On the Ist of September, 1904, he came to Coronado as house surgeon in the Hotel Del Coronado, and this position he has occupied since that time. His
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ability is widely recognized and his standing in professional circles is high. He keeps in touch with the advancement of the medical fraternity in research and investigation through his membership in the American, the California State and the San Diego County Medical Associations. In collaboration with Dr. John S. Billings he wrote the National Medical Dictionary, which he translated into five languages, and has made other important contributions to the later history of the medical profession, standing among the men who develop methods and establish standards.
CAPTAIN THOMAS A. DAVIS.
Captain Thomas A. Davis, who won his rank in command of a company in the Sixth United States Volunteer Infantry, is now at the head of the San Diego Army and Navy Academy at Pacific Beach, of which he is the founder and proprietor., A son of John Lynch and Mary (Alderson) Davis, he was born in Lebanon, Virginia, June 29, 1872, and there attended the public schools until eight years of age, when the family removed to Knoxville, Tennessee. He re- mained a public-school pupil in the latter city until 1889 and afterward entered the University of Tennessee from which he was graduated in 1893, winning the B. A. degree. In the meantime his collegiate course was embracing military instruction and in 1890 he became a member of the National Guard of Tennessee. He was also senior captain of the battalion of cadets of the University of Ten- nessee for two years, beginning in 1890. His real experience in war followed his enlistment for service in the contest with Spain. He became first lieutenant in the Sixth United States Volunteer Infantry on the 29th of June, 1898, and was promoted to the rank of regimental adjutant of the same regiment on the Ist of December, followed by a further promotion to the captaincy of his company on the 7th of January, 1899. He did active duty in Porto Rico during the Spanish-American war and he has always been interested in military affairs, whether in active connection with his country's army or as an instructor in military tactics and drill. He filled the position of superintendent and com- mandant of cadets at the El Paso Military Institute from 1907 until 1910 inclu- sive, and in the fall of the latter year. became superintendent and commandant of the San Diego Army and Navy Academy with which he is still connected. This institution was founded on the 23d of November, 1910, the opening being attended by a large number of representative citizens from Pacific Beach and San Diego. The total enrollment at the opening was thirteen but when on the 18th of September, 1911, the school entered upon the second year of its exist- ence there was an enrollment of fifty-eight pupils. In founding this school Captain Davis has surrounded himself with an able corps of instructors. In addition to military science and tactics he is teacher of English history while the classes in mathematics and sciences are under the direction of Jesse A. Beadle; ancient and modern languages, under Ralph R. Rice; English history and athletics, under Stewart A. Queen ; ancient and modern history under J. P. Barker ; dramatic art under John Lane Connor; and music under H. LaMaire. The curriculum of the school consists of those branches of study taught in graded
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public schools and in the high school, together with a most thorough course in military drill according to the practice of the United States Army. The school strongly fosters athletic interests and outdoor sports including baseball, foot- ball, bathing, camping, etc. Classes often hold their recitations out of doors and there is every facility for promoting health among the pupils as well as encourag- ing deep interest in intellectual development as well as military skill. Cap- tain Davis comes into close touch with his pupils, studying each one from a personal standpoint, and it is one of the objects of the school to develop the moral as well as the physical and mental nature of the pupils. Although the school has had but a comparatively short existence its growth has been rapid and it already ranks with the strong educational forces of southern California.
On the 27th of January, 1903, Captain Davis was married in Bristol, Ten- nessee, to Miss Bessie Taylor, a daughter of Colonel Nathaniel Macon Taylor, and they have one child, Marinita, now seven years of age. Captain Davis gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He encourages among his students those qualities which work for good citizenship and for a thorough understanding of civic and federal problems. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum and is actively interested in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association and of the Methodist church at Park place, serving as superintendent of the Sunday school in the latter. He is a young man of fine personal appearance. Added to his military bearing, a clear eye and broad forehead indicate keen discrimination. His pupils find him sympathetic and kindly and while he does not forget that "boys will be boys," he never fails to hold before his pupils the highest ideals of manhood and citizenship.
R. O. HAYWARD.
R. O. Hayward is one of the most promising, successful and able young men of San Diego and while he has been in business only two years has already made an unusually successful record and gained for himself a distinct position among the representative men of the city. He was born in Spokane, Wash- ington, April 1, 1890, and is a son of H. C. and Clara M. Hayward. He came with his parents to San Diego and here the father has become well known as a theatrical manager, having been selected by Mr. Spreckels to take charge of the Spreckels theater, the finest playhouse on the Pacific coast. This was opened to the public on August 23, 1912, and H. C. Hayward has already proved his ability and shrewdness in its management and direction.
In 1910 R. O. Hayward of this review began his career in San Diego, estab- lishing himself in the advertising business. He is progressive, modern, ambitious and energetic and these qualities have brought him rapid success. In the two years he has managed his concern the volume of his business has increased four times and the average is steadily growing larger. Mr. Hayward belongs to the Advertising Club and not only keeps in touch with advanced methods by his ability and resourcefulness of mind but has taken his place among the men who establish standards.
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Mr. Hayward gives his allegiance to the republican party and keeps himself well informed upon questions of the day. He belongs to the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks and the San Diego Rowing Club, and is a devout adherent of the Roman Catholic church. He is still very young but he has already accom- plished a definite success. This is a pleasant prophecy of his future career for there is no reason to believe that he will change or modify his present methods and standards, which are the real influences upon his prosperity.
SAMUEL T. BLACK.
Samuel T. Black was born on the confines of the lake district in the north of England, May 20, 1846, a few weeks after his parents arrived there from Scot- land. His father was a native of Glasgow and his ancestors were of the famous McLean clan, inhabiting the west coast of Scotland. His mother, whose maiden name was Elspeth Thorburn, was born in the county of Dumfries, in the southern part of Scotland. The son was educated in a private school located near his home, the head master being Thomas Russell Black, a graduate of Glasgow University and in his day one of the best known educators in the north of England. Samuel T. Black attended that school for twelve years, or between the ages of six and eighteen. The last five years were devoted to the study of the theory and practice of teaching in preparation for his life work. Two years were then spent in the office of his uncle, William Thorburn, an extensive manufacturer of pig iron, under whom he gained the practical business education, which has stood him in good stead in his public career in California. His mother's brother, John Thorburn, had been lured to California in 1849 by the stories of gold discoveries and opportunities for the acquirement of wealth. For a number of years the family were kept posted as to his whereabouts, but in 1867 eleven years had elapsed with no word from him. His sister, Mrs. Elspeth Black, had long mourned over the uncertainty of her brother's fate. His last postoffice address was Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and Samuel T. Black of this review was sent out by his mother to learn what he could concerning the uncle. Accordingly, in 1867 he crossed the Atlantic, going direct to Mineral Point, where he found his uncle living comfortably on a ten acre lot within the city limits. Uncle and nephew became great chums and the latter was soon enamored of the life of the west and said: "This is the country for me." He took the teacher's examination, ob- tained a certificate and taught school during the winter, but his uncle's stories of California had created in him a longing for the Golden state and the following spring, in company with nine others from Mineral Point, he started for California by way of the Panama route, arriving in San Francisco on the 18th of April, 1868. He proceeded to Yuba county, where he obtained a teacher's certificate, and taught for one term in a rural school at Indian Ranch at a salary of sixty- five dollars per month. His next school was at Camptonville, a mining town, where he received a salary of one hundred dollars per month for teaching seventy- five pupils of all ages and sizes, ranging from the primer class to young men preparing for the university. The three years there spent covered some of his most effective school work. From Camptonville he removed to Chico, Butte
Samuel 5. Black
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county, in 1873 and served as principal of the public schools there, resigning to accept the superintendency of the county schools, to which position, although he was a pronounced republican, he was appointed by a democratic board of county supervisors.
On completing his term Mr. Black removed to Susanville, the county seat of Lassen county, and acted as principal of the public schools there for two years. The next three years were spent as principal of the Hollister public schools in San Benito county and from 1881 until 1886 he was principal in two of the large grammar schools of Oakland. In the meantime, while in Susanville and Hol- lister, he had studied law and had been admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the state. In order to become familiar with the practice of law he resigned the principalship of the Durant grammar school to accept the position of chief deputy in the county clerk's office.
On account of the delicate condition of his wife's health he removed to Ventura, in the southern part of the state, and while there organized the first high school between Los Angeles and Santa Cruz, acting as its principal for three years. In 1890 he was elected county superintendent of schools and four years later was elected superintendent of public instruction of the state. During his incunibency in that position the new State Normal School at San Diego was created by the legislature and Mr. Black was chosen its first president, resigning the state superintendency to accept the new position. Practically his first vaca- tion in a long educational career occurred in 1902, in which year, accompanied by his little daughter, he spent several months in England, Scotland and Ireland, visiting relatives from whom he had been separated for thirty-four years. Dur- ing this visit he made a careful study of the British system of schools, particularly institutions for the training of teachers. He has been a member of the National Educational Association since 1895 and for one year served as its vice president. He has also been a member of the various teachers' associations of the state and has long figured prominently in educational circles.
Mr. Black was made a Mason in Camptonville in 1872 and later became a member of the council, the Royal Arch chapter, the Knight Templar commandery and of Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Los Angeles, and has also attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He was connected with the National Guard of the state as a private many years ago, afterward becoming corporal at Camptonville, second lieutenant at Chico, captain at Ventura and later was chosen major of the Third Battalion of the Seventh Regiment of the National Guard of California. Coming of Scottish parentage, he was, of course, reared in the Presbyterian faith but has outgrown to some extent some of the dogmas and rigidity of the old organization, but at the same time retaining his veneration for the "auld Kirk" and its many achievements in the history and development of human welfare.
While living in Camptonville Mr. Black married Miss Jennie Craig, a native of Ohio, who was a pupil in the first school he taught in California. She died three years later in Chico, leaving a baby boy only fourteen months old. This son, David Thorburn Black, is now in business in San Francisco. In 1887 Mr. Black was united in marriage with Miss Pauline Pelham, who was born and reared in California. Two years later she died at Nordhoff, Ventura county, leaving a ten months old daughter, Pauline Thorburn Black, who is now teach-
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