USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 52
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On the 25th of December, 1900, Mr. Oppenheimer was united in marriage to Miss Josie Gabowry, a native of Colorado, and they have two children: Lucile, aged ten; and Kenneth, aged six. As a citizen Mr. Oppenheimer is public- spirited and whatever tends to promote the best interests of the community, receives his indorsement and hearty support.
MAURICE REIDY.
A native of California, a son of a pioneer in its settlement and at the present time one of the most prominent agriculturists and stock-raisers and extensive landowners of San Diego county is Maurice Reidy, who operates a fine farm of nine hundred acres, four miles north of Escondido. He was born in Nevada county on November 21, 1859, and is a son of Maurice and Julia (McDermott) Reidy, natives of Ireland. Their marriage occurred at Galena, Illinois, and in 1850 the father crossed the plains to California, the mother making the journey to this state in 1854 by way of the Isthmus of Panama. They settled in Placer county and remained in that section a short time before removing to Nevada county, where the father mined for several years. In 1868 he came to San Diego county and took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land, four miles north of Escondido, upon which he resided until his death in 1882. His wife survived him many years, passing away in 1900. To their union were born seven children, four of whom are still living : James, of San Diego; Mrs. Schelen- berg, also of San Diego; Maurice, of this review; and Charles, of Eldorado county.
MAURICE REIDY
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In the acquirement of an education Maurice Reidy attended public school in San Diego county and aided in the development of the homestead until after his father's death, when he assumed entire control. From time to time he has added to his holdings and his farm now comprises nine hundred acres, the property being in two divisions, a five hundred acre tract lying two miles from the original homestead claim. Mr. Reidy does general farming but specializes in the breeding and raising of high-grade stock. A great deal of his attention is given to the conduct of his dairy, which is a model enterprise of its kind, Mr. Reidy keeping twenty-five head of thoroughbred Jersey milch cows for this pur- pose. He has also important business interests in Escondido, among which may be mentioned his connection with one of the largest stores in the city.
In 1891 Mr. Reidy married Miss Celia Bevan, a daughter of William and Lucinda (Warren) Bevan, who was born in Kansas and who came to California in 1886, her mother having passed away in her native state, while the father's death occurred in San Diego. Mr. and Mrs. Reidy have four children : William, born in 1895, who is attending a commercial college; John and Viola, twins, born in 1897; and Margaret, whose birth occurred in 1899. The three youngest chil- dren in this family are students in the public schools. Mr. Reidy gives a gen- eral allegiance to the republican party but is liberal in his views and never allows party lines to influence his personal convictions. In his farming operations he has made "progress" his watchword and his standard and, by constantly following modern methods and keeping in touch with modern ideas, has won a place in the front ranks of representative agriculturists.
J. H. FREDERICK HEILBRON.
Industry, persistent and indefatigable, constituted the basis of the financial progress made by J. H. Frederick Heilbron, who was identified with some of the pioneer business interests of San Diego. He was born in Hanover, Germany, May 5, 1843, and was reared in the fatherland. Liberal educational opportunities were accorded him and his school days ended with his graduation from the German School of Architecture. He came to America in 1866, when a young man of twenty-three years, and made his way direct to Sacramento, California, by the Isthmus of Panama route. From that time until his demise he was closely associated with industrial and commercial activities in this state. He assisted in building the first railroad shops in Sacramento for the old Central Pacific Railroad Company and later he engaged in the wholesale and retail butchering business there. The years brought him a goodly measure of suc- cess, but thinking to find still broader and better business opportunities in southern California, he established his home in San Diego in February, 1888, and opened the first cold storage butchering establishment in this city at the corner of Thirteenth and K streets, afterwards associating in this enterprise with J. Gruendike. Later he embarked in the wholesale liquor business, which he conducted up to the time of his death, and the patronage which he acquired in that and other connections enabled him to leave his family in very comfortable financial circumstances.
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In February, 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr. Heilbron and Miss Caroline Dietsche, a native of Germany. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom ten are living. The sons are as follows: Fred Adolph, who is promi- nent in industrial and fraternal circles, being now engaged in the plumbing busi- ness; Carl Henry, president and manager of the Southern Electrical Company and also a leader in civic affairs and fraternal interests; Richard Robert, who is pursuing a course in theology in the Transylvania College at Lexington, Kentucky ; Ernest Edward, superintendent of the Southern Electrical Company and also popular in fraternal circles; and Adolph, who is attending a preparatory college connected with the Kentucky University. The daughters are: Louise Caroline, an . osteopathic physician, who is active in fraternal societies and in women's clubs ; Caroline Augusta, now Mrs. A. E. Eldridge; Anna Marie, the wife of Harry Simmonds; Irene, who is a teacher in the primary department of the city schools ; and Alice, the wife of Ernest Damarus. The family circle was broken by the hand of death when on the 29th of May, 1896, the husband and father passed away after a few days' illness of la grippe, which developed into pleuro-pneumonia. He held membership with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Foresters, Turners, Knights of Honor and Sons of Herman, and was connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He translated the by-laws into his native tongue for the first Rebekah lodge formed among the Germans of this state. He was for some years captain of the Sacramento Hussars, a cavalry troop belonging to the National Guard of California. He was much interested in public affairs and fraternal orders, labored effectively and earnestly on the side of general progress and improvement and, being a very popular man, was able to command a large following for any movement which he advocated. His friends were legion and at his death he was accorded one of the largest and most impressive funerals ever held in San Diego. It seemed that the whole population of the city gathered to pay their last tribute of love and respect to one of California's pioneers, busi- ness men and progressive and public-spirited citizens. Throughout his life he displayed the sterling characteristics of the Teutonic race and was a man whose word could be counted upon, while true worth could at all times win his friend- ship.
PETER CASSON.
In 1859, Peter Casson, then sixteen years of age, left his native France on a vessel bound for America. In the same year he landed in San Francisco with one French coin in his pocket, amounting in value to about one American dollar, but with a fortune in ambition, honesty and hope. Since that time he has been active in many different lines of work in various parts of California and has been especially prominent in agricultural circles of San Diego county, where he has resided since 1875. By many years of earnest, straightforward and intelli- gent work he has earned the rest which rewards labor and is living in retirement in his beautiful home in Escondido. Mr. Casson was born in 1843 and is a son of Louis and Mary J. Casson, also natives of France. In this family were eight children: Peter, of this review; Madeleine, of Los Angeles; J. P., who at one
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time came to America, but has since returned to France; Kate, the wife of Barney Sarel, of Los Angeles; Mary Jane, who married Joseph Cauget, of the same city; John, of Anaheim; and Barney and Joseph, both of whom reside in San Francisco.
Peter Casson was educated in France and remained in his native land until he came to America. Immediately after his arrival in San Francisco he secured a position in a dairy and retained it for four years, after which he established himself in the dairy business. He conducted an independent enterprise until 1870 in San Francisco, and then disposed of his concern and moved to Los Angeles, where until 1907 he was connected with the sheep-raising business. However, he was not a resident of the city for this entire period, for he came to San Diego county in 1875 and settled near Escondido, where he took up three hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which he engaged in sheep and cattle raising until his retirement in 1907. In that year he sold his stock and also a meat market in Escondido, in which he was interested, to his son Mathew A., still retaining, however, the title to his ranch. He is spending his retired life in a beautiful home two miles north of Escondido.
On the 3d of March, 1866, Mr. Casson married, in San Francisco, Miss Mary McCole, a native of Ireland, and a daughter of Martin and Nellie McCole, also natives of the Emerald isle, both of whom have passed away. Mrs. Casson is one of a family of nine children, six of whom are still living. Three have left Ireland, but the remainder still reside in their native country. Mr. and Mrs. Casson became the parents of sixteen children, eleven of whom are still living. Louis is engaged in ranching and stock-raising in Escondido. He is married and has one child. Mary E. lives with her parents. Thomas lives at home and oper- ates his father's farm. Nellie T. is the wife of Samuel Prior, of Escondido. Joseph resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Frank lives in Los Angeles. John L. makes his home in Portland, Oregon. Mathew A. is a well known merchant in Escondido. Blanche became the wife of C. P. Dennie. They have two children, Dorris and Delma. James lives in Los Angeles. The youngest son born to Mr. and Mrs. Casson is Lawrence A., a bookkeeper in Escondido. The family are devout members of the Roman Catholic church. For a number of years Mr. Casson gave his allegiance to the republican party, but he now votes inde- pendently. Since the time he landed in California, he has been a loyal and enthusiastic supporter of the principles and institutions of his adopted country. No project of upbuilding or development seeks his cooperation in vain and his work along lines of expansion has made him for over thirty-seven years one of the most valued residents of this part of San Diego county.
MYRON T. GILMORE.
Myron T. Gilmore, organizer and president of the San Diego Savings Bank, was born in Dedham, Maine, January II, 1847. He received his education in the public schools and in the East Maine Conference Seminary at Bucksport. In 1865 he enlisted in the Federal army as a member of the Fifteenth Maine Volunteer Infantry and aided in the work of reconstruction in South Carolina
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and Georgia. After the Civil war he engaged in mercantile business in his native town until 1883, when he removed to San Diego. He was for six years connected with the First National Bank as assistant cashier at an important period in the financial development of San Diego. In 1889 he organized the San Diego Savings Bank. He served for some time as cashier, then became active vice president and is now president of this institution, which ranks as the oldest and most important savings bank in the county, capably controlled along conservative lines, yet essentially progressive in policy.
In 1886 Mr. Gilmore was married to Mrs. Mary Parker Spofford, a native of Massachusetts, and both are well known socially. Mr. Gilmore keeps in touch with his comrades of fifty years ago by his membership in Heintzelman Post, G. A. R., of which he was commander in 1898, during the Spanish-Ameri- can war. He is a member of the Tuesday Club. A man of strong religious con- victions, Mr. Gilmore is an active force in the First Congregational church, of which he and Mrs. Gilmore were charter members. For years he sang in the choir and taught in the Sunday school and has always been a valued worker and a generous supporter of the church. He is a corporate member of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions, a director in the Young Men's Christian Association and a member of several charitable and philanthropic organizations.
Mr. Gilmore is an ardent advocate of good roads and of the conservation and development of the rich and beautiful resources of the county. He is president of the Pine Hills Association, which has developed a unique mountain resort near Julian, which is deservedly popular for its attractive villa lots, modern hotel and scenic drives. Mr. Gilmore is best known for his sane judg- ment and keen discrimination. He occupies a prominent position in the financial circles of San Diego, the simple weight of his character and ability having carried him into important business relations.
RUSSELL S. COX.
One of the most prominent dairymen and stock-raisers in San Diego county as well as one of the most extensive landowners in the vicinity of San Marcos is Russell S. Cox, who lives three miles north of the town, on the Twin Oaks road. For twenty-two years he has been identified with the agricultural develop- ment of this part of California and has met with a gratifying measure of success in his management of his different enterprises, so that he fully deserves the place which he occupies in the front ranks of progressive citizens. A native of Penn- sylvania, Mr. Cox was born in Chester county in 1869, a son of J. William and Mary F. (Smith) Cox, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. The father farmed in Pennsylvania until 1887 and then came to California, where he engaged in stock-raising on an extensive scale. He bought land near San Marcos and developed it until his death in 1901. His widow sur- vives him and makes her home with the subject of this review. In their family were three children: Henry, who died in Pennsylvania at the age of sixteen
RUSSELL S. COX
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years ; Russell S., of this review; and Percy S., who died in Los Angeles in March, 1897.
Russell S. Cox grew up on his father's farm in Pennsylvania and acquired his education in the Friends school of that state. In 1887 he accompanied his father to California and for some time aided him in the conduct of his stock- raising enterprise. When he became of age he started for himself, renting land in the San Marcos valley which he developed and improved for three years, after which he bought a small tract near the property which his father purchased and upon this ranch he still makes his home. He has added to his holdings from time to time and is now one of the most important landowners in this part of San Diego county, owning and operating two hundred and twenty acres together with thirteen hundred acres which he uses as pasture land. For eight years Mr. Cox has been extensively interested in dairying. At one time he had a herd of thirty-five high-grade Guernsey cows and these he moved together with his thoroughbred horses and colts to Holtville, in Imperial county, where they are now cared for by a man hired for the purpose. Mr. Cox has not, however, abandoned his interest in dairy work and has recently established an enterprise of this kind upon his farm in San Diego county. He has a fine herd of Guernsey cattle and raises also standard bred horses. At one time he had sixty-five acres planted in fruit trees but has now abandoned this branch of his business. His interests have prospered exceedingly during the years, for he is a shrewd and able business man and seldom fails to carry forward to successful completion anything which he undertakes.
In 1898 Mr. Cox married Miss Ethel Thompson, a native of Iowa and a daughter of William and Adelia (McLoon) Thompson, the former born in Iowa and the latter in Maine. In this family were two children : Ivan, who is employed by a contracting firm in San Diego; and Ethel, the wife of the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have two children: Vivian, born in 1900, who is attending school; and Marjorie G., whose birth occurred in 1904 and who is also pursuing her studies.
Mr. Cox is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and gives his political allegiance to the progressive party. He is, however, preeminently a business man, energetic, determined and enterprising, and an alert and active spirit has kept him in touch with everything that pertains to the line of business in which he has so long engaged. The success which has come to him is well merited, being the fitting crown of his persevering work.
JOHN F. FORWARD, JR.
John F. Forward, Jr., is a recognized factor in financial and political circles and is active in support of measures of public progress, so that as a citizen he ranks high, his labors having been an element in the upbuilding of the city through a decade or more. He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1876, and when twelve years of age was brought to San Diego, where he continued his education in the public schools. He afterward entered the employ of the Union Title & Trust Company, of which his father was a prominent
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representative, and throughout the period of his connection with business affairs in this city he has been a representative of financial interests. Gradually work- ing his way upward, he has passed through intermediate positions to that of vice president and assistant general manager of the Union Title & Trust Company.
While carefully managing his individual business affairs, Mr. Forward has at the same time found opportunity to cooperate in many movements for the general good and has ever been deeply interested in matters relating to the public welfare. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served as its president for one year. He is now a director of the Panama-California Expo- sition and is a member of the board of park commissioners of San Diego. The upbuilding of the city along substantial lines is a matter of deep concern to him and his cooperation can be counted upon to further any worthy object. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and he has frequently been a delegate to county and state conventions.
On the 29th of July, 1901, Mr. Forward was married to Miss Alberta Fair- banks, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and they have one daughter, Flora Mitchell. His social connections bring Mr. Forward into prominence as a Mason, for he has taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, has also become a Knight Templar and has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also holds membership with the Odd Fellows and the Elks and he has attractive social qualities which render him popular, while his business ability has placed him in the front rank among the repre- sentative citizens of San Diego.
WILLIAM JOHN MOSSHOLDER.
William John Mossholder, was born August 27, 1857, in Martinsburg, Ohio, a son of Squire Humphrey and Mary Eliza (Robinson) Mossholder. He gradu- ated from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska, Ph. B .; law de- partment of State University of Iowa, LL. B., in 1881, and was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of Iowa, and United States district and circuit courts at Iowa City, Iowa, June 21, 1881. He located in the practice of law at Osceola, Polk county, Nebraska, in October, 1881, and was admitted to the supreme court of Nebraska in 1881; served as county judge of Polk county, Nebraska, 1883- 84; left Osceola, Nebraska, and located at San Diego, California, December 15, 1885. Mr. Mossholder was admitted to the bar of California, January 14, 1886, and has practiced at San Diego to date. He formed a partnership with Hon. Watson Parrish, which continued from 1886 to 1888, when T. L. Lewis (at present one of the judges of the superior court of San Diego county) was admitted to the firm, the name being Parrish, Mossholder & Lewis, until Judge Lewis retired and the firm again became Parrish & Mossholder until May I, 1902, after which he continued to practice alone until January 21, 1907, when his son Marks P. Mossholder entered his office. In September, 1911, his other son, Rusk P. Mossholder, became a member of the firm.
WILLIAM J. MOSSHOLDER
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Mr. Mossholder has been a member of the city board of education of San Diego for five and a half years and is president of the board. He is a past master of the Masonic lodge; past high priest of the Chapter ; past commander of the Commandery, Knights Templar; a past thrice illustrious master of the Council, Royal and Select Masters ; past venerable master of the Lodge of Perfection; a past royal patron of the Amaranth ; past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star ; and a past grand patron of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of California. He is now assistant chief rabban of Al Bahr Temple of the Mystic Shrine and first vice president and a director of the Scottish Rite Cathe- dral of San Diego. Only recently he was honored by being selected a knight commander of the Court of Honor by the supreme council of the Scottish Rite Masons at Washington, D. C., which is the preliminary step to the thirty-third degree. Mr. Mossholder belongs to San Diego Chapter No. 2, Sons of the American Revolution, and also to the California State Society. He is a past grand of San Diego Lodge, No. 153, I. O. O. F.
Mr. Mossholder was married at Viroqua, Wisconsin, September 26, 1881, to Miss Jennie Prentice, and they have two children, Marks P. and Rusk P. Moss- holder.
JAMES TALLEY.
For twenty-eight years James Talley has lived in southern California and has been during that time closely identified with projects and enterprises which directly affect development and growth. His activities have therefore consti- tuted an element in the general prosperity besides winning for him a success which places him among the substantial and representative men of El Cajon. Since the fall of 1911 he has been engaged in the livery business here, but previous to that time had been for many years closely connected with agricultural interests.
Mr. Talley was born twelve miles from Kansas City, in Jackson county, Missouri, August 6, 1861, and grew to manhood in that section, acquiring his education in the district schools. In 1884 he came west to San Diego county, settling in Julian, where he filed on one hundred and sixty acres of govern- ment land, which he developed and improved and later sold for one thousand dollars. After completing the sale he was employed by James Kelly, for whom he worked for two years, after which he received the contract to transport from San Diego powder and workmen to the Cuyamaca dam, which was then in course of construction. For his services at this time he received eighteen dollars a day and he worked for one year, acquiring in this way a substantial sum of money with which he returned to Julian and opened a hotel. He was successful in the management of this enterprise and later disposed of it at a profit. He then leased the Warner ranch and for a number of years ran stock on it, but this enterprise he later also sold and returned to Julian, where he bought a six hundred acre ranch belonging to his uncle, Dave Talley. The latter crossed the plains to California in 1849, and was a pioneer in Julian, where he resided until his death, in 1900. James Talley, of this review, worked
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with energy and singleness of purpose, bending his efforts to the development and improvement of his ranch and adding to his holdings from time to time until he now owns one thousand acres. He fenced three sides of this extensive tract, besides two pastures, erected three fine barns, a comfortable residence and stocked his place with high-grade cattle, giving a great deal of his attention to stock-raising. In addition he planted five acres in mixed fruits and was very successful in this line of work, harvesting abundant crops of high quality. For a number of years he engaged also in the freighting business, hauling freight and other commodities from Julian to San Diego and keeping for this purpose two sixteen-horse teams and one eight-horse team. In the fall of 1911, however, Mr. Talley rented his ranch and moved into El Cajon, where he engaged in the livery business. He has already secured a gratifying patronage, for his busi- ness methods are always upright and honorable and his standards of integrity high. In addition he is a keen, able and enterprising business man, capable of carrying forward to successful completion the projects which he undertakes.
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