USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 29
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PART II BIOGRAPHICAL
1
BIOGRAPHICAL
CHARLES ROBINSON ROCKWOOD .- It has been the portion of this honored and representative citizen of Imperial County, California, to gain more than a usual quota of experience as a pioneer of the West and especially Southern California, and he has marked the passing years with worthy accomplishment. He has had many experiences, which give him a wonderful store of interesting reminiscences. Genial, kindly, generous and broad minded, he is held by the closest of ties to a veritable army of friends, and as the first man and permanent settler in the beautiful Imperial Valley, as well as one who has contributed in splendid measure to the development and upbuilding of this favored section, he is specially entitled to be called the "Father of Imperial County." Charles Robinson Rockwood was born on a farm near Flint, Michigan, May 14, 1860. His parents were of old Puritan stock. His mother was a descendant of John Robinson, who was the organizer of the Mayflower expedition in 1620. As a boy Mr. Robinson became in- ured to the arduous duties of the farm, and in the meanwhile he at- tended the primitive schools of his home neighborhood. He thus laid the solid foundation for the broad fund of knowledge which he has gained through self-discipline. Bent upon having a better education, he entered the high school of Flint, Michigan, at the age of fifteen and graduated at the head of his class in 1878. His father being unable to furnish him with sufficient money to continue his education, Mr. Rock- wood borrowed funds and entered the University of Michigan in the fall of 1878, and took a course in engineering. He studied too hard and his eyes failed him before he finished. For three months he was obliged to wear a bandage while at study. Finally he was obliged to quit the university and get out into the open. On May 13, 1881, he left home and went to Denver, Colorado. This was the day before his twenty-first birthday. Upon reaching Denver he became identified with the engi- neering department of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway as assist- ant engineer. The first engineering work done by Mr. Rockwood was
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HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
on the Blue and Grand rivers in Colorado. The following winter he made a survey in Utah, down the Green River, the other great tribu- tary of the Colorado. In 1882 he came to California and entered the services of the Southern Pacific Railway. His first work in their service was in July, 1882, when he went to Yuma and from there up the Col- orado to the Needles, and from there on surveyed ( under William Hood, chief engineer) to Mojave and across the Mojave Desert. Mr. Rock- wood remained in the employ of the Southern Pacific until 1889. Dur- ing 1889-1890 he served as assistant engineer in the U.S. Geological Survey on the first irrigation investigations undertaken by the Govern- ment. 1890-1892 he was chief engineer for the Northern Pacific Rail- road in a project to irrigate the Yakima Valley, Washington. He left the Yakima Valley in October, 1892, and came to the Colorado Desert for the Arizona and Sonora Land and Irrigation Company to investi- gate the Sonora project of that concern. He reported unfavorably on that project and turned his attention to the canals in Lower California and California, since known as the Imperial Valley. Rockwood's re- ports on this project being favorable, the Denver company decided to go ahead with it, and organized the Colorado River Land and Irriga- tion Company for this purpose. This company failed in the panic of 1893, and in 1895 Mr. Rockwood decided to undertake the promotion of the project, organizing for this purpose the California Development Company. He found the work of financing an irrigation project in the Colorado Desert more difficult than he anticipated, but after numerous failures, succeeded in starting construction in August, 1900. He re- mained with the work as chief engineer until 1906, when due to the breaking into the Valley of the entire river, the project was thrown under the control of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, and Mr. Rockwood resigned. From 1906 to 1909 he lived in Los Angeles, devel- oping land interests in the Valley and fighting the Southern Pacific Company to get something for himself and associates out of the stock of the California Development Company, which failed, the stockhold- ers never receiving a cent. Mr. Rockwood was identified with the oil and railroad development work in the Santa Maria Valley. As chief engineer, he located and built the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. In November, 1914, he returned to the Imperial Valley as chief engineer and general manager of the Imperial Irrigation District, remaining in
C.L. Davis
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BIOGRAPHICAL
this capacity until January 1, 1917. The work now being projected is practically all in the plans outlined by Mr. Rockwood. He is now en- gaged for himself in developing a nine-thousand-acre cotton ranch under the canal system in Lower California. Mr. Rockwood was twice married, the first union being to Katherine Davenport of Vacaville, California. To this union one daughter was born, Estelle, born in 1888. The second marriage occurred in 1906 to Mrs. Mildred Cassin, a na- tive of St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. In his political views Mr. Rockwood is a Republican, but has never aspired to office.
CHARLES L. DAVIS was born in Mayne County, Iowa, April 18, 1870, a son of Thomas Jefferson and Emiline (Shrom) Davis. His father was a school teacher and farmer, and his death occurred No- vember 14, 1884. Mr. Davis' mother died June 3, 1881. Charles L., the subject of this review, received his education in the public schools of Rock Island County, Illinois, and Leavenworth County, Kansas, and San Joaquin Valley, California. At the age of eighteen Mr. Davis came to California and located in Fresno. While a resident of that city, he took two terms in the school of complete steam engineering. He oper- ated a threshing outfit in various places and naturally grew in to the blacksmith trade. He has been in Southern California since 1903, and in 1908 Mr. Davis came to Imperial Valley. He found employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad as watchman, and in the sheriff's office in El Centro and city marshal's office in Holtville and El Centro. He removed to Calexico in September, 1916, and now is the sole proprietor of the valley blacksmith shop. In connection with his shop Mr. Davis carries a line of agricultural implements. In his political affiliations he votes the Democratic ticket, but has never aspired to office. Fraternally he is a member of Court No. 33, I.O. F., of Los Angeles, Califor- nia. Mr. Davis was married to Nannie M. Bradley, a native of Indiana, February 14, 1914, and her death occurred June 20, 1916. There was one child born to Mrs. Davis by a former marriage, Marvel, the wife of Victor L. Cook of Salt Lake City, Utah. Mr. Davis is a member of the Calexico chamber of commerce and takes an active part in matters per- taining to the welfare of Calexico and Imperial County.
HENRY A. STAHL .- Among the business men of Imperial County, and especially one who has been identified with the upbuilding of a
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HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
greater Brawley, is Henry A. Stahl, a member of the firm of Stahl Brothers Company, one of the largest and most metropolitan stores in Southern California. Henry A. Stahl is vice president of the firm and has been actively identified with the mercantile life of the county since 1903. He was born in Winesburg, Ohio, March 21, 1879, a son of Valentine J. and Elizabeth (Frankhauser) Stahl, both residing in Winesburg, Ohio. His father is now in his eighty-first year and his mother is seventy-six. Henry A. acquired his education in the public schools of his native town. At the age of sixteen he started out in life and worked at Akron, Ohio, in the rubber works of that city. In 1901 he came west, teaching school and doing manual labor. With his broth- ers, Charles, William, Edward, John and Fred, the brothers were en- gaged in leveling land for the large crops which were to be planted. Stahl Brothers leveled about one thousand acres of land adjacent to Brawley, and they were the first to have an interest in the corn crop, which was planted on the site where Brawley is situated and which was an unbroken desert. In 1906, Stahl Brothers opened a modest dry goods and gents' furnishing store, and by fair business methods the store has grown to be one of the leading establishments of its kind in the county. The subject of this review owns and cultivates one hun- dred and ten acres which is planted to corn and potatoes. Fraternally he is a member of the K. of P. of Brawley. He was married in Braw- ley, California, December 20, 1909, to Miss Minnie A. Garber, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Garber. Mrs. Garber's death occurred in February, 1910, and is buried in the Brawley Cemetery. One daugh- ter blessed this union, Ellen Elizabeth, born July 31, 1913. When Mr. Stahl came to what is now the flourishing city of Brawley, there were two adobe houses and a few tent houses. He has thus contributed to the industrial and civic progress of this favored section of the county.
HARRY N. DYKE .- One of the essentially able and representative members of the bar of Imperial County is Harry N. Dyke, who is now filling the office of city attorney, with offices in Imperial. The oldest of two children born to Eugene B. and Emily (Gilbert) Dyke, his mother is now residing in San Diego and in her sixty-fifth year, Mr. Dyke's birth occurred in Iowa in 1873. Eugene B. Dyke was a man of high mental attainments and widely known throughout Iowa as a brilliant
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BIOGRAPHICAL
and successful journalist. For a full quarter of a century he was edi- tor of the Charles City Intelligencer, of which he kept complete files, rendering the paper especially useful for reference when questions of moment arose in regard to public or private affairs. He was an able and fearless writer, and his death, which occurred in 1897, was a dis- tinct loss to the community and to the journalistic world, as well as to his immediate family. Brought up in Iowa, Harry N. Dyke acquired his elementary knowledge in the public schools, after leaving the high school entering the law department of the State University of Iowa, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. He was admitted to the bar the same year, and began the practice of law in Iowa. After the death of his father he assumed the management of the Charles City Intelligencer, with which he was identified for four years. In 1901, de- ciding that the extreme West was the proper place for an ambitious young man to begin his career, Mr. Dyke came to California, and in 1902 located in the Imperial Valley, settling here in pioneer days. He took up one hundred and sixty acres of wild desert land, but ere he had made many improvements sold it at an advantage. In 1904, when Impe- rial became incorporated, Mr. Dyke had the honor of being elected the first city clerk, and held the office continuously until 1910. For three years he served as secretary of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce, and for a brief period was justice of the peace. He is now devoting himself to his profession, and as an attorney has built up a good pat- ronage in Imperial and vicinity. Mr. Dyke married, in 1898, Adele Hammer, and they have one child, a daughter named Dorothy.
JAMES W. CASS has gained distinction in the Valley owing to his mechanical skill and ability in handling automobile repair work. He is a native son and his birth occurred in Stockton, March 8, 1886, son of Charles L. and Lenie (Stevens) Cass, deceased. His father died in Stockton, May, 1917, and is buried in Stockton. His mother died Feb- ruary 18, 1907, and was buried in the Odd Fellows' Cemetery in San Francisco, California. James W. acquired his education in the public schools. He started out in life at an early age. He engaged in the ex- press and draying business in Vallejo, and in San Francisco, and fol- lowed this vocation for two years. He engaged in the tea and coffee business for a time, and at the age of twenty-one he learned the auto-
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HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
mobile trade, which he has since followed. In 1912, Mr. Cass came to Imperial Valley out of curiosity. He did not intend to remain, but see- ing the possibilities, he opened his present concern, which is the larg- est in the city. Owing to his expert mechanical skill, his business grew to such an extent he had to eliminate the selling of gasoline and chang- ing tires. Mr. Cass has employed as high as eight first-class mechanics. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Imperial. In poli- tics he votes for the man, irrespective of party. He was married in Los Angeles, California, January 29, 1908, to Miss Ethel Bell Chamberlain, daughter of Riley Chamberlain, a prominent actor in the east ; his death occurred in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Cass have four children : Marjorie E., born February 18, 1912; Jennie C., born November 1, 1914; Halbert S., born March 30, 1916, and Rena, born August 10, 1917. Mr. Cass has a vast amount of energy and enterprise and has a host of friends both in business and socially.
ENOS J. NORRISH .- The efficient and popular justice of the peace and recorder of the thriving city of Holtville, came to Imperial County in September, 1904. He is one of the representative men and loyal citi- zens of his locality. Mr. Norrish was born in Ontario, Canada, March 22, 1861, a son of Joshua and Elizabeth Norrish. His father passed away at the age of seventy-six and his mother resides in Toronto, Can- ada, and is now in her ninety-second year. The family records on both sides of the house go back to old English ancestry. The subject of this review received his education in the public schools of Canada. He en- tered the normal school of Canada and graduated at the age of twenty- three. He taught school for several years in various places and when he took up his residence in the town of Imperial, he was made princi- pal of the school, serving for four years, this being the first school in Imperial. Mr. Norrish possessed unbounded faith in the agricultural possibilities of Imperial County, and removed to Holtville. Here he purchased a fine ranch and brought it up to a high state of cultivation. He erected substantial buildings and still resides on the ranch. He en- gaged in alfalfa growing for years when he changed the crop to cotton. Mr. Norrish is at present clerk of the high school board of Holtville, and serves as a member of the county board of education. Fraternally he is a member of the K. of P. of Holtville. He was united in marriage
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OC Brackusy
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BIOGRAPHICAL
to Miss Grace Beckett of St. Catharines, Ontario, April 19, 1889, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Beckett, both deceased. Mrs. Nor- rish's father was buried near Effingham, Canada, and her mother was buried at Santa Ana, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Norrish have been born two children: Ernest S., now in the engineering corps with the United States Army at Camp Lewis; Agnes E. is at present attending high school. In choosing its representatives for various official positions the city of Holtville is fortunate in having a man whose former record has been clearly established. Mr. Norrish has shown himself to be a capable public official. He has a wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances among Imperial County's best citizenship.
OTTO CLOYD BRACKNEY is one of the representative business men of Brawley, and his business methods demonstrate the power of his activity and honesty in the business world. He was born July 18, 1882, at Auglaize County, Ohio, son of Louis M. and Mary A. Brack- ney. His father and mother were both natives of Ohio, and raised four children, all of whom reside in Ohio except the subject of this review. Otto C. acquired his education in the public schools of his home coun- ty. His father was a farmer and Otto C. assisted on the home place until he became of age. Leaving home at twenty-one, he went to Cleve- land and found employment as fireman on the C. & P. R. R., until he was twenty-three. For two years he ran the electric light plant at Belle- fontaine, Ohio, and during 1905-06 he was identified with the F. N. Johnson wholesale grocery company of Bellefontaine. He then ran on the Bellefontaine and Springfield electric line until 1907. In September of that year he landed in Spokane, Washington, where he found em- ployment in the fruit business until 1909. Returning east, he went with the Standard Oil Company, and the following year he returned to Ro- salia, Washington, where he took charge of the Niles and Brackney Fruit Packers Association. In January, 1912, Mr. Brackney came to Brawley, where he engaged in the auto truck draying business with Andy Bodine for one year. From 1913-15 he engaged in auto hauling for himself. Disposing of his large auto trucks and business, he return- ed east for a four months' visit. Returning to Brawley, he was asso- ciated with Taylor-Hart Hardware Company for a year, when on De- cember 5, 1916, he engaged in the automobile tire and accessory busi-
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HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
ness and took over the Buick agency. On August 1, 1917, Mr. F. F. Palmerlee purchased one-half interest in the Buick and G. M. C. Truck agency. On January 1, 1918, the firm took over all the territory in Im- perial Valley for the Buick and G. M. C. trucks. Mr. Brackney was united in marriage June 5, 1910, to Emma Mae Glunk, a native of Washington, and daughter of John B. and Emma Mae Glunk; her father was one of the pioneers of Whitman County and has been a resident of that section for thirty-five years. He has large land hold- ings and is connected with stock raising. To Mr. and Mrs. Brackney have been born one son, Otto Cloyd, Jr., born September 22, 1916. Mrs. Brackney is active in the Presbyterian church and socially is a favorite in Brawley and Imperial County.
CHARLES W. ALLISON is prominently identified with the business interests of Imperial. He is a stockholder, assistant manager and treas- urer of the Pacific Land and Cattle Company, located at Imperial since 1915. Mr. Allison was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 6, 1887, a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Allison, resident of that city. Mr. Allison acquired his schooling in the public schools and in the Wabash Col- lege at Crawfordsville, Indiana. He engaged with his father who was identified with the furniture business. Charles W. was traveling sales- inan and for several years he traveled all over the United States. For two years Mr. Allison was engaged in the real estate business in Cal- gary, Canada. He returned to Indianapolis and again became associat- ed with his father in the furniture line, remaining until he came west and is now identified with the Pacific Land and Cattle Company. Mr. Allison was united in marriage with Miss Hazel Lathrop, November 26, 1914, daughter of George A. Lathrop, general manager of the Pa- cific Land and Cattle Company, and also manager of the Consolidated Water Company of Pomona, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Allison have been born two children: David Lathrop, born December 16, 1915, and Janice Aline, born June 30, 1917.
HARRY E. GATES has been identified with business interests of Brawley since February, 1914. He was born in Leadville, Colorado, March 30, 1883, a son of Lester A. and Mary (Newman) Gates. His father was a pioneer of Colorado and now resides in Denver. Mr.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Gates' mother passed away in 1887, and is buried in Leadville, Colo- rado. Mr. Gates received his education in Denver and Leadville, gradu- ating from high school in 1900. He then attended Sacred Heart College of Denver for one year. He started to learn the plumbing business in Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado, where he was employed for several years. He engaged in business in Galena, Kansas, for a period of three years, when he came to California and located in Brawley. Here he worked at his trade for one year when he engaged in business for himself. His years of experience in the business have made him thoroughly versed in every department of his work and he has made a success in every way. He employs three expert mechanics and keeps in touch with every new invention relative to his business. Fraternally Mr. Gates is a Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge of Galena, Kansas. He is a member of the B. P. O. E. and is Past Esteemed Lead- ing Knight. He is also a member of the K. of P. and Eagles lodge. Mr. Gates was married at Galena, Kansas, June 16, 1907, to Miss Ollie Nichols, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William B. Nichols, both de- ceased, and buried in Galena, Kansas. Mr. Gates installed the plumbing in the Brawley high school, also the steam heating plant in the First National Bank and hotel at Calipatria. He also had the contract for the hot water heating in the Brawley grammar school. Mr. Gates is a thor- ough mechanic, a public-spirited man and has the confidence and es- teem of his fellowmen.
DONALD DOOL, one of the men of Imperial County, who, by reason of his personal integrity, is recognized as one of the leading men of Calexico. He was born in Aledo, Illinois, April 23, 1892, a son of Ed- ward and Anna (Irwin) Dool. Mr. Dool's father is one of the com- manding figures of the business life of Calexico, and he has made steady progress towards prominence, and is today largely connected with the agricultural interests of Imperial County. The subject of this review acquired his education in the public and high schools of Los Angeles, California. He afterwards entered Stanford University, and graduated in civil engineering in 1915. The parents of Mr. Dool came to California in 1903, and located in Los Angeles. His father came to Imperial County and took up six hundred and forty acres. He af- terwards purchased one hundred and sixty acres. All the land is in
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cotton. Mr. Dool returned from college and took up engineering for a time and was appointed postmaster at Calexico, January 13, 1917, and took office March 1, 1917. Politically he is affiliated with the Dem- ocratic party.
WAYNE H. COMPTON is distinguished, not only for his able assist- ance in the development of agricultural and horticultural resources of Imperial County, but is a representative business man of California. He is a man of great energy and intensity of purpose. Mr. Compton has taken a keen interest in the whole county, and has been honored with the position of secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, which position he has had since May, 1917. He was born in Middleport, New York, December 6, 1887, a son of Squire T. and Mary (McClean) Compton, a representative family of their locality. Wayne H. ac- quired his education in the Staunton Military Academy, Virginia, the Middleport, New York, high school and the Bryant Stratton Business College in Buffalo, New York. Later he attended the University of Buffalo, where he took a law course. In 1908 he traveled extensively for business and education, largely in the West, and in 1911 came to Imperial County and associated himself with the Seely Townsite Com- - pany, taking charge of the sales department until 1914, when he be- came connected with the Imperial Valley Chamber of Commerce until 1915. Early in 1915 he took charge of the Imperial Valley's interests at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition at San Francisco. Mr. Compton represented seven counties of Southern California at the San Diego Exposition. At the close of the fair he returned to Imperial Val- ley and took charge of the bond campaign department of the Irriga- tion District, which he successfully conducted for the improvement of the great Imperial irrigation system, which amounted to $2,500,000, and at the conclusion of this campaign he was tendered and accepted the position of secretary of the El Centro Chamber of Commerce, which was established originally in 1909. Mr. Compton is a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity of Buffalo, the Masonic Lodge, and a mem- ber of the B. P. O. E. Politically he is a Democrat. He was united in marriage to Estelle M. James in San Diego, California, August 18, 1916. The marriage occurred in the famous blue room of the Southern Counties building at the exposition.
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FORREST F. PALMERLEE .- In recording the names of the promi- nent business men of Imperial County, mention should be made of For- rest F. Palmerlee, who well merits the title of self-made man. He was born at Spangle, Washington, November 6, 1885, son of Frank D., and Ida A. Palmerlee. His father was a native of Dodge Center, Minnesota, and his mother was born in Napa County, California. The subject of this review acquired his education in the public schools of Washington and California. Leaving Washington State his parents removed to Santa Rosa, California. Mr. Palmerlee's father is deceased, his death occurred in September, 1915. His mother resides in Long Beach, Cali- fornia. Finishing his public school education, Forrest F. took a business course and later became identified with the San Pedro Lumber Com- pany at Long Beach as stenographer for eleven months. He then be- came associated with the First National Bank of Long Beach, Califor- nia, as assistant bookkeeper for six months. He then went with the Citizens Savings Bank of Long Beach as bookkeeper, where he re- mained for two years. In February, 1907, he removed to Imperial County, and accepted a position with the Calexico State Bank, and afterward was expert accountant for the county for six months. He then went with the Imperial Valley Bank at Brawley, as cashier, and in December, 1909, the First National Bank was organized and Mr. Pal- merlee accepted the position as cashier. This position he held until January 1, 1918, when he took an interest with Otto C. Brackney in the Buick and G. M. C. truck agency for Imperial Valley. Mr. Palmerlee was married November 15, 1906, to Miss Marguerite E. Steiner, a na- tive of Texas. To this union has been born one son, Marvin Glenn, born August 8, 1912. Mr. Palmerlee was appointed city commissioner in Oc- tober, 1916. He served as city treasurer for a period of two years. Mr. Palmerlee is much esteemed by those who know him for the sterling character of manhood and his good business capacity.
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