USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 48
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Before coming to the west Mr. Lassiter was married to Miss Josephine Bilbro and they have gained many friends in San Diego. Mr. Lassiter is connected with no social or fraternal organizations, preferring to concentrate his energies entirely upon his business affairs with the result that he has reached the goal for which he set out.
JOHN W. DAUGHERTY.
John W. Daugherty is one of the well known lemon growers of San Diego county, where he owns a valuable eighty-five acre ranch in El Cajon valley. He has lived the greater part of his life in the southwest and is numbered among the men who have been foremost in its upbuilding and development. For many years he was interested in Arizona mines and still has extensive holdings in that state. Wherever he has lived he has made his influence felt in a vital way in business circles and in public affairs, giving his time, energies and active labor to the promotion of enterprises which affect general growth.
Mr. Daugherty is a native of Jackson county, Iowa, born April 22, 1858, and he acquired his education in the public schools of that section. At the age of eighteen he came west and in 1876 located in Colorado, where he remained for two years before going to Prescott, Arizona. He there engaged in mining and at the same time conducted a mercantile store and feed yard, trading with the miners, stockmen and ranchers who lived in the vicinity of the city. At length, however, he abandoned his mercantile interests in order to give his entire time to mining, becoming one of the most prominent men in that occupation in his part of the state. He was one of the locators of the Congress gold mine, in the southern part of Yavapai county, and aided greatly in its development. This is now the deepest mine in the state of Arizona and is operated by "Diamond Joe" Reynolds, to whom it was sold by its first owners. It has produced millions of dollars and has enabled its operating company to pay large dividends to the stockholders in it. Mr. Daugherty was also part owner of the Arizona onyx mine, located at Mayer, and helped to develop this in association with "Brickey" O'Neal. At the present time he is interested in valuable lime quarries thirty miles north of Prescott and in a group of copper mines adjoining the Bagdad, which is one of the largest prospective mines in Arizona. He has extensive Vol. II-24
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holdings in gold mines in Yavapai county, upon which the work of development is now going on. By hard work, shrewd business enterprise and straightforward dealing, Mr. Daugherty acquired wealth and prosperity and became one of the prominent figures in the public life of southern Arizona. He served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Prescott for one term and was afterward for one term a member of the Arizona state legislature. For two terms he was mayor of Prescott, giving to the city a straightforward, businesslike and progressive administration and initiating and completing many projects for the public good.
Mr. Daugherty came first to San Diego county in 1897 and purchased a ranch in El Cajon valley. However, he did not immediately locate upon it, returning to Arizona and remaining there until 1900. In that year he returned and settled upon his eighty-five acres, ten acres of which are planted in lemon trees in bearing and forty in new trees recently set out. Since his arrival here, Mr. Daugherty has given most of his time and attention to the development of this property and his success is evidenced in his increasing prosperity. In the year 1912 he shipped seven thousand boxes of lemons, picked from his ten acres, which are in bearing. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work and carries on his fruit cultivation in a practical and systematic manner. As a result his ranch is one of the finest in El Cajon valley and he himself is num- bered among the representative and successful men of the community.
In 1884 Mr. Daugherty married Miss Mary V. Thorne, a native of Iowa, and they have one son, J. Frank, who married Miss Myra Mendellson, a daughter of Lewis Mendellson, former Mexican consul to the United States at San Diego. Although he has not been active in politics since coming to California, Mr. Daugherty takes a great interest in local affairs and is loyal in his support of measures and movements for advancement and progress. A man in the prime of life, active, progressive and public-spirited, whose life has always been in keeping with high ideals and guided by high standards of integrity and honor, he justly deserves the full measure of confidence and esteem now entertained for him by all who know him.
HENRY WILBUR.
Henry Wilbur, one of the early settlers in California, and since 1883 a valued resident of San Diego county, cultivated a farm of eighty acres near Fall Brook. He was born near Fall River, Massachusetts, on May 14, 1829, and was a son of Henry and Abbie (Cleveland) Wilbur, both of whom passed away in Massa- chusetts. In their family were eight children, six of whom are still living: Henry, of this review ; Mrs. S. W. Truman, of Yonkers, New York; Mrs. Mary Ashly, of Fall River, Massachusetts; Mrs. Hannah Butler, of Riverside, Cali- fornia; Andrew, of Fall River, Massachusetts; and George, also of California.
Henry Wilbur remained in the eastern states until he was twenty-five years of age, and then in 1855 came to California, settling near San Francisco, where he lived until 1883. In that year he came to San Diego county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land two miles beyond Fall Brook. This tract he sold a short time afterward and took up eighty acres of government land near
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his first farm. He lived upon this property for over a quarter of a century and improved and developed it until it became one of the most highly productive farms in this part of the county. During the long period of his residence here Mr. Wilbur gained prominence and widespread esteem by reason of the upright qualities which always marked his character and he made his name honored and respected wherever known.
On November 27, 1875, Mr. Wilbur married Miss Delia John, who was born near San Francisco, on October 24, 1855, a daughter of Burns and Martha (Powers) John, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Wisconsin. Both were pioneers in California, crossing the plains to this state in 1850. Their marriage occurred near San Francisco and they spent the remainder of their lives on a farm in that vicinity. The father, born May 5, 1822, became prominent in public life and for some years served as county treasurer, which office he filled at the time of his death in 1861. His wife, born November 17, 1833, sur- vived him many years, dying in May, 1897. In their family were four children : Delia, the wife of the subject of this review ; Oscar J., of Santa Cruz, California ; Mrs. Emma L. Weeks, who resides near San Francisco; and Mrs. Fannie Brown, of California. Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur became the parents of six children: Serena and Abbie I., who live at home; Mrs. May Lamb, of San Diego county; Francis H., a resident of San Diego; and Henry O. and Emma, both of whom have passed away.
Mr. Wilbur gave his allegiance to the democratic party, but took no active part in the public life of his district, although he was well informed upon the questions and issues of the day. He passed away on November 2, 1912, deeply mourned by his immediate family and a large circle of devoted friends who esteemed him for his high qualities of mind and character and will long cherish his memory as that of a man of worth and high-minded purposes.
EDGAR E. CAMPBELL.
Not many men have the opportunity and still fewer the ability to found a city ; a still smaller number have the power of constructive organization neces- sary to carry forward the work and develop it along the most progressive lines of municipal expansion to sure success. Yet this has been accomplished by Edgar E. Campbell, father of the new town of Santee, in San Diego county, and one of the greatest individual forces in its civic, business, political and relig- ious growth. Mr. Campbell is of Scotch ancestry, but was born in New York, February 13, 1853. When he was still a child his parents moved to Branch county, Michigan, and there he received his education and grew up upon his father's farm. When he had attained his majority he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and there engaged in general contracting and building for a number of years, later abandoning this in order to go to Kansas, where he followed farming. In 1905 he came to California and lived at different times in La Jolla, Pacific Beach and Escondido. In the latter city he resumed his contracting and building and erected some of the finest residences and public and business buildings in the city. He designed and erected the public library, the Baptist church, the Love-
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lace and Ramey blocks and many attractive cottages. He purchased the Dr. Baltz residence and made it his home during his stay in Escondido. This was set in the midst of one of the finest fruit ranches in the city, comprising six acres of land, planted in orange, lemon and other trees. Mr. Campbell sold this property in 1911 and came to the present site of the little town of Santee. He bought eighty acres of land with the definite intention of establishing a town site and he himself platted the city, making the residence lots fifty by one hundred and sixty feet and fifty by one hundred and seventy feet. Business lots he made fifty feet wide by one hundred and fifty feet long. He made the main street one hundred and fifty feet wide, parking the center, and planted a row of palm in the parking and another row in front of each lot which bordered on the thoroughfare, thus making a beautiful shaded avenue through the city. He next had wells dug, tapping water at a depth of thirty-five feet, and these he equipped with an electric motor pumping plant, which supplied an abundance of pure, clear water for all purposes. Finally Mr. Campbell turned his attention to the buildings. He erected a fine modern hotel, which he has since conducted, aided in the establishment of a lumberyard, a machine shop and the postoffice, and donated the ground upon which has been built a fine six thousand dollar church. It is his intention to make Santee a white man's town, with no Indian or Mexican inhabitants.
Mr. Campbell is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership in Lodge No. 117, F. & A. M., of Reading, Michigan, and in the Modern Woodmen of America. While in Nebraska he was secretary and one of the founders of the Farmers Alliance and took an active part in the affairs of this society in the county and state. He has now abandoned interests of this nature and is devoting his entire time to the development of Santee, and is peculiarly fortunate in his choice of a method of demonstrating and making effective his public spirit. The growth which the little village has made in one year is truly remark- able and is a fine tribute to Mr. Campbell's business discrimination and fore- sight. He has undoubtedly founded a city which is destined to become important in the growth of southern California and his activities have, therefore, been a factor in the development of the entire state.
FRANK NOELTNER.
Frank Noeltner, president of the Mission Wine Company, whose successful activities have for twenty-five years influenced and promoted the business develop- ment of San Diego, was born in Germany in 1872 and received his education in the public schools of that country. He came to America when he was still a child and in 1887 settled in San Diego, where for fifteen years he worked in a bakery. He was ambitious and energetic and by strict economy saved enough out of his earnings to establish himself in business. He founded the Mission Wine Company in 1910 and in two years has developed his enterprise until it is one of the important factors in general commercial activity. The company does a larger business than any other similar concern in the city and its patronage is constantly increasing. At its head is a shrewd and able business man, a specialist
FRANK NOELTNER
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in vine culture and the making of the product, and also broadly informed upon general conditions and a keen student of modern business standards. A man of this type could not fail of success, for he has in his qualities of mind and character the elements out of which prosperity results.
In 1893 Mr. Noeltner married Miss Josephine Gardner and they have one son and two daughters, all of whom attend the San Diego public schools. Mr. Noeltner gives his allegiance to the republican party and keeps himself well informed upon the questions and issues of the day, although he never seeks public office. Though he is a loyal American, he still retains a faithful remembrance of the fatherland and to some extent keeps in touch with the standards of that country by his membership in various German societies in San Diego. In the city his name stands for integrity and fair dealing in business, a progressive spirit in citizenship and for loyalty in his relations with his many friends.
JOHN W. CARPENTER.
Since 1886 John W. Carpenter has lived upon a small farm in San Diego county, near Fall Brook, and has made a specialty of raising bees. He has become an expert in his line and has met with a gratifying degree of success, which has come as a natural result of his ability and intelligently directed work. He was born in Indiana on December 21, 1847, and is a son of John and Susan (Cole) Carpenter, who died in that state when the subject of this review was still a child. In this family were six children, four of whom are still living.
After the death of John Carpenter, the mother of our subject moved to Union county, Ohio, with her children and there J. W. Carpenter grew to maturity and attended the public schools. Immediately after he became of age the family moved to California and settled in Stockton, where they remained for a short time before moving to Lockford, where they spent six years. During this time the mother of our subject was again married, her second husband being Alonzo Loving, who died one year later. Afterward Mr. Carpenter, of this review, his mother and his brothers and sisters returned to Nebraska and lived in that state for ten years. There he operated a ranch of four hundred and eighty acres and was successful as a general farmer. Eventually, however, he sold this property and in 1886 came to California and bought a small farm in San Diego county, upon which he has since resided. He gives his attention exclusively to the raising of bees and now has four hundred hives upon, his property. He knows the best methods of caring for the insects, has studied their habits and is thoroughly familiar with every detail connected with his work. He has acquired a specialist's skill which, combined with shrewd business ability, has gained for him a place among San Diego county's successful men.
On the 25th of February, 1866, Mr. Carpenter married, in Union county. Ohio, Miss Martha J. Runnels, a daughter of Stephen S. and Malinda J. (Bradus) Runnels, who was born in Indiana, August 24, 1847. Her father died in 1861, and was survived by his wife until 1902. To this union were born five children, all of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter became the parents of eight children : Anna M., of Los Angeles, whose birth occurred April
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21, 1867; Nancy E., born in 1871, who married Vidal Cota, of Arizona; Ida B., born in 1873, who is the wife of O. L. Freeman, of Glenn county, California; Francis M., born December 26, 1874, deceased; Lulu Maud, who was born January 25, 1877, and who is now a nurse in Los Angeles; John Ernest, whose birth occurred in 1879, and who is a resident of Glenn county; Bertha M., who was born in Nebraska in 1883, and who is living at home; Alonzo G., born December 3, 1884, who lives in Yuma, Arizona. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Carpenter gives his allegiance to the prohibition party. He is. an intelligent, active and progressive citizen, interested in the development of his section and anxious to do his part in pro- moting it, and in the course of more than twenty-six years' residence in this locality has made his name honored and respected wherever it is known.
JAMES SPEER.
James Speer, one of the early residents in Escondido and an active force in the city's upbuilding and development along business lines, has since 1911 been living retired. For many years he was connected with building and afterward operated a truck and transfer business, securing an extensive patronage along this line, his industry, enterprise and ability proving forceful elements in his success. He was born in Ohio, August 24, 1862, and is a son of David and Martha Jane Speer, both natives of that state, where they lived until 1867. In that year they moved to Bates county, Missouri, and there the father bought a section of land where the town of Rich Hill now stands. Upon this property he engaged in general farming until 1887, when he came to California, settling at Escondido, where he bought a fruit farm. He sold his Missouri property two years later and from that time gave his entire attention to the management of his Cali- fornia ranch until his death, in 1906. He was survived by his wife until August 9, 1911. To their union were born twelve children, eight of whom are still living, all residents of California, namely : James, Mrs. Ellen Haney, Mrs. Emma E. Sikes, Samuel, George, Mrs. Nancy Hill, Mrs. Grace Weymouth and Mrs. Rosa Albright.
James Speer acquired his education in the public schools of Missouri and was twenty-five years of age when he accompanied his parents to California. He worked as a laborer for several years and in this capacity assisted in the erection of practically all of the early buildings in Escondido, including the seven churches built at that time. In 1904 he purchased a truck and transfer business and operated this until 1911, securing a very profitable patronage. His enterprise was managed along the most practical and systematic lines, for Mr. Speer is a man of good business ability and executive force, qualities which soon placed him among the most prosperous and influential business men of the city. In 1911 he retired from active life and has since been living in his home in Escondido, which is one of the most attractive dwellings in the city. His busi- ness property is occupied by his son, who is well known in the plumbing busi- ness, but Mr. Speer still gives some time to the supervision of his interests in various gold mines throughout the state.
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On December 25, 1885, Mr. Speer married Miss Ida May Hagen, who was born in Missouri, and they have become the parents of five children. J. D. Speer, the eldest member of the family, was born in 1887, and is now engaged in the plumbing business in Escondido. He is married and has a daughter, Nadine R., who was born December 6, 1911. Charley E., born in 1889, is serv- ing as a plumber's apprentice at San Bernardino. Gladys F., born in June, 1896, resides at home. William Arthur, born in 1900, is attending school. Harold Leon, who completes the family, was born in 1902, and is also a pupil in the public schools.
Fraternally Mr. Speer is well known in the Woodmen of the World, having filled all of the chairs in that organization. He is a member also of the Im- proved Order of Red Men and of the Independent Order of Foresters. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he never allows his personal convictions to be biased by party doctrines. Eminently progressive in his citizenship, he may always be found in the front ranks of those who are striving for the best interests of the community, and his efforts have for many years been potent factors in general advancement.
FAYETTE AUSTIN.
Agricultural interests of various parts of the United States have profited by the intelligent work of Fayette Austin along lines of progress and development. San Diego county has numbered him among its citizens for twenty-seven years, and during that time his work has been a factor in the section's general advance- ment. He does some general farming, but has specialized in horticulture and in nursery work and has had some gratifying results in the cultivation of citrus fruits. He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1850, and is a son of Daniel and Amanda Austin, both of whom lived and died in that section.
In the acquirement of an education, Mr. Austin attended the public schools of St. Lawrence county and after he laid aside his books, followed farming and lumbering in his native state until 1875. In that year he went west to the Black Hills of South Dakota and settled as a pioneer in that region, helping to lay out the city of Deadwood. For ten years he remained in that vicinity, work- ing in the gold mines, and is still remembered as one of the greatest individual factors in early upbuilding and advancement. In 1885 he left South Dakota and pushed farther west to California, settling at Elsinore, which was then in San Diego county, but is now in Riverside county. There he bought a small ranch, upon which he lived for four years, finally coming to Rainbow postoffice, in the Valley Center district. Here he purchased eighty acres of land and upon it he has since resided. Practically his entire attention is centered upon the cultivation of his fruit trees, and his nursery includes fine specimens of all the California fruits, which thrive greatly under his able and intelligent care. He has an abundance of water upon his property and everything about the place is kept modern, up-to-date, and in perfect condition. In the near future Mr. Austin intends to plant his entire farm in fruit trees, specializing in citrus varieties and giving most of his attention to the cultivation of lemons and the selling of young
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trees. He has a nursery in San Diego and a beautiful home in that city, where he has gained prominence as a man whose opinions are a standard authority upon everything relating to fruit growing.
In South Dakota, in 1881, Mr. Austin married Miss Cora E. Andrews, who was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1860. They became the parents of five children: Marie I., who married Frank Stanley, of Downer, Illinois; Ray, who died at the age of six; Lena C., who was graduated in 1912; Hurlbut De Graff, who was also graduated in the same year and who was school judge; and Fay B., who is attending normal school. The family belong to the Congrega- tional church.
For nearly fourteen years Mr. Austin served as horticultural commissioner in San Diego county. He is a republican in his political views, but never allows his personal convictions to be influenced by party affiliations. He is one of the well known and progressive men of this part of the county and is doing suc- cessful, useful and lasting work along lines which directly influence the pros- perity of his community.
THERON H. TRACY.
Theron H. Tracy, vice president of the Tracy Brick & Art Stone Company, was born at Battle Creek, Michigan, August 3, 1869, a son of Theron H. and Lavina (Williams) Tracy. The father was a mechanical engineer by profession. He was also prominent in local political circles and for two terms served as mayor of Battle Creek. He died in 1877 and was for nine years survived by his wife, who passed away in 1886. In tracing the ancestral line it is found that the family is of Norman origin and that the founder in America was Lientenant Thomas Tracy, a soldier of the English army of invasion of the Revolutionary war.
Theron H. Tracy acquired his education in the public schools of Battle Creek until graduated from the high school with the class of 1885. He sub- sequently entered upon an apprenticeship as a machinist and in 1888 came west with the Atlantic & Pacific Railway. Soon after he was made general foreman of the motive power department, remaining for two years in that position and serving as a locomotive engineer for three succeeding years. He next went to Escalon, Mexico, where he was with the Mexican Northern Railway for about a year and a half as master mechanic. On the expiration of that period he re- turned to the Atlantic & Pacific Company, which afterward became a part of the Santa Fe system, with which he was connected as general foreman of the motive power department of the California division and also as superintendent of water service. Two years passed and he then removed to El Paso, Texas, where he organized and became president of the Pass City Foundry & Machine Company, with which he continued for eighteen months. He was then appointed mechanical engineer of the Old Dominion Copper Company at Globe, Arizona. In the meantime he added to his practical knowledge the technical training afforded by the Scranton School of Correspondence and throughout his life he has continually promoted his efficiency through experience, investigation and
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