USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 31
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60 Billion
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uary 23, 1894, wife of Dr. R. O. Thompson of Imperial, California, and Arthur L., born April 5, 1901, attending the Northwestern Military Academy. Mr. Best has had considerable experience in placing loans in the Valley, and has been actively engaged in the real estate business for the past six years. His motto appears to be "First know the land, then tell the truth." That Mr. Best knows Imperial Valley land is a well- known fact to all of his business associates. There is probably not an- other man in the district so well acquainted with soil conditions in the Valley as Mr. Best. At a time when money was scarcer than overcoats in Imperial Valley, Mr. Best made two trips to Washington for the purpose of getting government aid for building a levee in Mexico and succeeded in getting it.
C. ORSMOND BULLIS .- One of the commanding figures in the agricultural life of Imperial County is C. Orsmond Bullis, of El Cen- tro. He has made steady progress towards prominence and is today largely connected with the agricultural interests of Imperial County. He is associated with H. H. Timken, the famous roller-bearing man, as secretary-treasurer and manager of the Timken Ranch Company. This million dollar concern owns four thousand acres of highly culti- vated land, and has other financial interests in Imperial County. The Timken Ranch Company is numbered among the most prosperous and enterprising concerns in California. The management of its inter- ests here stands high among the far-sighted, energetic men who are rendering such material assistance in developing and advancing the agricultural prosperity of this section of California. Mr. Bullis has been and is today in a large measure instrumental in making that concern what it is, one of the most flourishing and substantial ranch companies in the state. He was born at Sheldon, Iowa, January 10, 1883, a son of Charles Henry and Mary L. (Barrett) Bullis, both deceased. Mr. Bul- lis' grandmother, on his father's side, was Lydia P. Lapham. The Lap- ham family has been one of prominence and influence in America since the colonial epoch in our national history. The family genealogy dates back to John Lapham, who was born in 1635 and is of English descent. Among his descendants many notables were in the family, and among the more recent members may be mentioned Susan B. Anthony and Hetty Green. C. Orsmond Bullis acquired his education in the public
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and high schools of Sheldon, Iowa, graduating from the latter in 1899. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan University and received the B. A. de- gree in 1913. After several years of active business life he again en- tered college in 1911 and graduated with the class of 1912, Yale Col- lege. He took a short farm course in Cornell University. During his early business career he was identified with the International Harvest- er Company and later with the loan department of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at its Sheldon, Iowa, office. After being associated with this concern for some time he accepted a position as cashier in the freight department of the C., St. P., M. & O. Ry. of the Northwestern Line at Sheldon, Iowa. He was afterwards made assistant agent at Mitchell, South Dakota, and later chief clerk to the general freight agent at Sioux City, Iowa. After three years Mr. Bullis severed his connection with the railroad with which he had filled these positions with marked ability. From 1907 to 1911 he engaged in the real estate business and at the same time managed his own farm interests at Benson, Minnesota. From the fall of 1912 to 1914 he was identified with the San Diego Securities Company of San Diego, California, after which he became Imperial Valley loan agent for H. H. Timken. When the Timken Ranch Com- pany was organized in 1915 he was made secretary-treasurer and man- ager. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He has recently been appointed a member of the farm labor committee of the State Council of Defense.
PHILO JONES .- The career of Philo Jones of Brawley is one which clearly defines his position as one of the progressive and representative business men of Imperial County. He has paved the way for many im- portant enterprises which meant success for the city of Brawley. Mr. Jones was born on his father's farm near Davis, Macomb County, Michigan, January 22, 1873, son of David T. and Lavina (Sutliff) Jones. His father was a native of Wales, while his mother was born in New York State. In 1883 Mr. Jones' parents removed to Ontario, Cali- fornia, when he was ten years of age. He attended the public schools and later entered the Chafey Preparatory School of Ontario, gradu- ating in 1893. He also attended the University of Southern California. In 1897 he became receiver for the Union Iron Works of Los Angeles
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for one year, and for two years was identified with the Printers' Supply business, having the position as inside manager. Leaving this position he was connected with the Salinas Water, Light & Power Company as superintendent for a period of nearly three years. While attending the University of Southern California, he was editor of the University Courier for three years, and published the first junior annual of that in- stitution. Mr. Jones was identified with other public utility companies. He served as general manager of the Santa Maria Electric Company during construction work, and was associated with the Pacific Electric Company of Los Angeles as beach manager at Playa del Rey for over one year. In June, 1907, Mr. Jones removed to Brawley and took charge of the Brawley Town and Improvement Company. He has been asso- ciated with many leading ventures in the Valley since locating in Braw- ley. He has taken an active part in the early political history of the Val- ley, and registers as a Republican. In 1913, Mr. Jones engaged in the general brokerage business. He makes a specialty of farm loans and insurance. He was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Hillen Nance of Santa Maria, California, August 4, 1909. To this union has been born one daughter-Margaret Jeanette, born September 29, 1911. The father of Mrs. Jones, Thomas Nance, was among the first pioneers, and he put in the first crop in the Santa Maria Valley. His death occurred in 1915, at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Jones' mother resides in Santa Maria. Mr. Jones was appointed justice of the peace in May, 1915; this office he still holds to the satisfaction of all. He was city recorder for several years and resigned in 1917. Fraternally Mr. Jones is affili- ated with the Masonic lodge of Brawley, and is Past Master of his lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are prominent in church work and hold membership in the Methodist church. She is also president of the Gram- mar School Board.
WILL S. SWEET is one of the representative business men of Braw- ley. He was born in Franklin County, Iowa, June 23, 1878, son of Olney F. and Helen M. Sweet, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Sweet ac- quired his education in the public and high schools of his native coun- ty. He afterwards studied dentistry, attending the Milwaukee Dental College, graduating in 1905. Mr. Sweet came west and practiced his profession in Long Beach, California, for a period of three years. In
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1909 he removed to Brawley and engaged in farming on the west side, and had one hundred acres under cultivation. He did general farming and was identified in the dairy business. In 1916 Mr. Sweet engaged in the bakery business with A. S. Wolfe. He has been identified as a direc- tor on No. 8 water board for some years. He now leases his ranch and gives his entire time to promoting the interests of his business. He was married July 10, 1908, to Miss Irene E. Wheelock, a native of Iowa, and daughter of George H. Wheelock. Mrs. Sweet's parents came to Imperial County at an early date and her father, now deceased, was connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad as telegraph operator. To Mr. and Mrs. Sweet have been born one son, George Olney, born March 31, 1912. The father of Mr. Sweet fought in the Civil war, and Mrs. Sweet's father was also a Civil war veteran. The subject of this review served as a volunteer in the Spanish American war for six months, and was attached to the 52d Iowa Infantry, and was mustered out October 25, 1908. Mr. Sweet is held in high regard by his business associates in Brawley.
HOWARD SHORES .- The changes that have taken place in Imperial County since the arrival of Howard Shores, are many, and they have been brought about by the enterprising methods and energetic activities of just such men as Mr. Shores. He was born in Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas, July 28, 1885, son of Levi and Ola Shores, both na- tives of Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Shores acquired his education in the pub- lic schools of his native State and later attended college in Arkadel- phia and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Mr. Shores joined the National Guard, serving two years. For a time he was a guard at the St. Louis Exposition, and in January, 1905, the parents removed to California and were identified with the hotel business for a period of ten years. Previous to locating in Brawley, Mr. Shores made several trips to the Valley, and in 1914 he engaged in the gents' furnishing business with his brother, Gus B. Mr. Shores purchased a ranch of forty acres two miles from Brawley, where he made his home until the spring of 1918. Mr. Shores' brother is a well-known business man of Los Angeles. He was identified with and was manager of the rug de- partment of A. J. Sloan, and for some time was associated with the Goodwin and Jenkins Furniture Company. He also had charge of the
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rug department for that concern. November 2, 1917, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and at the present writing he is stationed at American Lake, Washington. Both brothers are members of the B. P. O. E. lodge of El Centro. Mr. Shores' mother is deceased and his father resides in Arkansas. The subject of this review, with Purl Willis, organized Bat- tery D, which was largely made up of Imperial County men. Battery D went into the 143rd field artillery and is now stationed at Camp Kearny. Fourteen non-commissioned officers and four commissioned officers were selected from Imperial County to serve in the 143rd field artillery. Mr. Shores, aside from his mercantile business, finds time to look after his ranch, which is now leased. It has been set over to grapefruit, dates and vegetables. Shores Bros. have shown marked business ability and they have the confidence and good-will of their business associates.
GEORGE W. DONLEY .- Noteworthy among the representative men of Imperial County is George W. Donley, one of the earliest settlers in the Valley, and since 1901 he has been active in the development of this section. He has been identified with the real estate business since 1908. He owns about 800 acres of land and 400 acres being under cul- tivation and devoted to the raising of cotton, corn, alfalfa, asparagus and grapes and dairy. Mr. Donley is a native of Hannibal, Missouri, and was born March 25, 1857, a son of Noah and Sarah (Hamton) Donley. The Donley family located at Hannibal, Missouri, in 1818, where Noah Donley was engaged in farming. His death occurred in 1876. George W. received his education in the schools of his native town. He was elected to office as clerk and ex-officio recorder of Marion County for two years. He then was in the United States mail service for two years. In 1880 he removed to Colorado and embarked in the mining and real estate business, where he remained until 1886, coming to San Diego and later to Escondido, where in 1887 he married Miss Sarah F. Weatherly, daughter of M. Weatherly. In 1901 he was one of the first to commence operations in the Imperial Valley. He in- duced others to locate here and was active in disposing of water stock. Mr. Donley has served as a trustee for Imperial for three years. He was instrumental in having sidewalks put in and other improvements. He saw the Valley transformed from a desert to a place of great pro- ductiveness. He came to Imperial when there were only a few tent
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houses, and El Centro was not on the map, and through his ability many leading ventures were put through. His real estate operations have always been along strictly legitimate lines, and his business repu- tation is without blemish. To Mr. and Mrs. Donley have been born : Chester A., who is serving in the United States Army and attached to the coast artillery ; Irene is registry clerk in the Imperial postoffice, and George is cashier at Varney Brothers. In addition to his large ranch holdings, Mr. Donley has much valuable city property. At the time he came to Imperial the freighting was done by teams from Old Beach and only a substitute was used for the first school house.
ERNEST C. SCHELLING .- Numbered among the prominent and successful business men of Brawley is Ernest C. Schelling, who has been identified with the grocery business with Walter S. Campbell since 1916. Mr. Schelling came to Imperial County in 1909. He was born near Ackley, Hardin County, Iowa, July 12, 1874, a son of Joseph and Mary (Meyers) Schelling. His parents were among the early settlers in Iowa, and his father was one of the pioneer farmers of Hardin County. His death occurred in 1916, and was buried in Rockford, Illinois. Mr. Schelling's mother passed away in 1896, and is buried in Beeman, Iowa. Ernest C. received his education in the public schools of Iowa and Illinois; he left high school at the age of seventeen. He then took up the study of pharmacy, receiving his diploma as a registered phar- macist in the State of Illinois. For six years he was associated with the drug business. He then learned the grocery business and in 1909 he came to California and located in Brawley, where he found employ- ment with Harry Baum. He remained here as manager of the grocery department until he purchased the stock of Mr. Baum, with W. S. Campbell. The store takes rank with the stores in much larger cities, it being the largest in Brawley and is one of the two stores in Imperial Valley that had to get a government license. Mr. Schelling and Mr. Campbell are recognized as leaders of their line, and their personalities enter into every transaction, and the people of Brawley have learned that they can depend on the goods as represented. Fraternally Mr. Schelling is serving as chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias and is a Blue Lodge Mason. He married at Alden, Iowa, Miss Margaret Holmes, August 13, 1894, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Holmes.
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To this union have been born one daughter, Eleanor, wife of George Darnell of Brawley.
CLARENCE K. CLARKE .- Among the men who by reason of their personal integrity and enterprise, have come to be regarded as repre- sentative citizens of Imperial Valley is numbered Clarence K. Clarke, chief engineer and general manager for the Imperial Irrigation Dis- trict, with headquarters in Calexico, California. None are more highly esteemed than the subject of this narrative. Mr. Clarke was born in Lewis County, Washington, December 5, 1859, a son of Fred A. and Eunice A. (Stillman) Clarke. On his mother's side the family dates back to Revolutionary stock and the ancestors on his father's side are of English extraction. Mr. Clarke acquired his education in the public and high schools of Portland, Oregon. Finishing his education he be- came identified with the Northern Pacific in the civil engineer depart- ment, where he remained for some years. He later went with the Ore- gon Pacific and the Southern Pacific in the various engineering depart- ments. He was division engineer for five years of the Tucson division, and upon leaving that post he became identified with and had charge and direction of the forces in the closure of the Colorado River from December 21, 1906, to February 10, 1907. After the closure of the river Mr. Clarke took an active part in 1907 in restoring the canal sys- tem, and from here he was transferred to the Coast Division as divi- sion engineer. In 1909 he returned to the Valley and became superin- tendent of Number One Irrigation District. Resigning this office, he accepted the position as assistant general manager of the C. D. Com- pany, W. H. Holabird, receiver. Mr. Clarke resigned and on April I, 19II, was made superintendent and chief engineer for the Palo-Verde Mutual Water Company, from January 1, 1913, to July, 1914. He served as city manager of Tucson, 1915-1916. He then accepted the position of chief engineer of this district in 1917. Fraternally Mr. Clark is a member of the B. P. O. E. No. 476 of Yuma, Arizona. He is also a member of the Masonic Lodge, holding membership in Corin- thian Blue Lodge No. 38, of Puyallup, Washington, Scottish Rite Con- sistory Number 5 of San Francisco, and Al Malaikah Shrine of Los Angeles. Mr. Clarke was united in marriage July 6, 1901, to Miss Lo- retta Graydon, a native of Globe, Arizona. One daughter has blessed
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this union, Loretta L., born May 26, 1902. Politically Mr. Clarke is registered as a Republican, but can always be depended upon to sup- port the man and not the party, and he has never aspired to office. Mr. Clarke is progressive in citizenship and has gained the confidence, good will and esteem of all who have been in any way associated with him.
THOMAS J. McNERNY stands foremost among the men of Imperial County and possesses the universal respect and esteem of his fellow- townsmen. Mr. McNerny was born in Cory, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1879, a son of Thomas and Delia (Garvey) McNerny, residents of Horton, Kansas. His father for many years was identified with rail- road contracting, and is now retired. Thomas J. acquired his education in the public and high schools of Horton, Kansas, and later graduated from St. Mary's College in 1894 with the degree of A. B. He was identified with the Rock Island Railroad as accountant at Horton, Kan- sas, and Colorado Springs until 1904, when he engaged in the drug business at Horton, Kansas. This business he carried on successfully for five years. In 1911, he became part owner in the Farmers' State Bank at Gage, Oklahoma, remaining in the banking business until 1912, when he came to California and located in Brawley. In October, 1915, Mr. McNerny took the office as secretary of Water Company Number 8, and has held that position up to the present time. Mr. McNerny has a comfortable ranch of forty acres near Brawley, and has a one-half interest in a 320-acre ranch. Fraternally he is a member of the B. P. O. E. He was united in marriage to Miss Lela O'Roke August 30, 1910, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles O'Roke, both residents of Fairview, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. McNerny have been born one son and one daughter, Helen Joy and Robert Thomas.
LESLIE REED is a man who has by his own energy and ambition and enterprise, guided by sound and practical judgment, worked his way upward to a place among the representative attorneys of Southern California. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, February 1, 1889, a son of Winfield Scott and Edith (Bourdon) Reed. Leslie Reed ac- quired his education in the public and high schools, graduating from the Kansas City High School in 1906. He afterwards attended the Kan- sas University, graduating from that college in 1910, and received the
&H. Goza
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liberal arts degree. He attended the Kansas City Law School, gradu- ating in 1912. He commenced to practice his profession in Kansas City and remained there until 1913, when he removed to Calexico, Califor- nia. He at once began the practice of law with gratifying success. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. of Kansas City. Mr. Reed is held in high esteem by his associates by reason of his enter- prise and sterling personal worth.
JOHN W. GOZA .- Prominently connected with the business interests of El Centro is John W. Goza. The opportunities that are offered in Imperial County to men of enterprise are nowhere better exemplified than in the successful career of Mr. Goza. He was born in Jackson, Missouri, February 3, 1876, a son of Wiley and Caroline (Roberts) Goza. The subject of this review acquired his education in the public and high schools of his native town. He graduated from high school in 1897. He then went to St. Louis, Missouri, and entered the business college of Bryant & Stratton. Here he remained one year. His first business venture was with the Hamlinton Brown Shoe Company, where he remained for one year as stenographer. He then took the position with the Brown Shoe Company as bill clerk, and here he remained for over five years. Having acquired the knowledge of the shoe business, he took charge of a shoe store at 822 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri. He was tendered a position on the road traveling for the National Cash Register Company of Dayton, Ohio, and later he traveled for the American Multigraph Company, being transferred to Dallas, Texas. He remained in the capacity of traveling salesman until November I, 1908, when he was promoted to manager of the Kansas City, Missouri, branch, where he resigned and became identified with the Multi-Color Press Company of San Francisco. Here he remained for a brief period. The first of the following year he became associated with the Compto- graph Adding Machine Company, remaining for eleven months. In 1911 Mr. Goza engaged with the Underwood Typewriter Company as salesman and remained with this concern until May, 1912, and later he became associated with the Royal Typewriter Company until he came to El Centro, California, and opened a store for his company, dealing in new and rebuilt typewriters. March 1, 1917, he purchased the sta- tionery store which he operates in conjunction with his other business.
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Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the K. of P. of El Centro. Mr. Goza was married in St. Louis, Missouri, March 29, 1909, to Miss Charlotte Sauerbrunn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sauer- brunn. Her father is a prominent contractor of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Goza have one daughter, Jane E., and the family resides at 653 Heil Street, where they enjoy in a full measure the acquaintance of a large circle of friends.
WILLIAM J. PHILLIPS .- One of the most able, progressive and en- terprising business men of Imperial County is William J. Phillips, who has been successfully identified with business interests of Calexico since August 1, 1916. Mr. Phillips was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, October 28, 1876. He acquired his education in the public and high schools of Omaha, Nebraska. His parents removed to Los Angeles, California, where William J. became identified with the drug business until 1902, when he went to Douglas, Arizona, and followed the same vocation for one year. He then went to Cananea, Mexico, where he took charge of three stores. Here he remained for a period of five years. He removed then to Guaymas, Mexico, and was identified with the wholesale and retail drug business for seven years. For two years while a resident of Guaymas he acted as consular agent, and, owing to the revolution, he came to Calexico, which was August 1, 1916. Mr. Phil- lips took an interest in the Aiken Drug Store and acted as secretary and general manager. On November 15, 1917, he purchased more stock in the company and is now the president of the corporation and holds a prominent place among the representative business men of his city. Fraternally Mr. Phillips is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge of Calex- ico. He was united in marriage August 17, 1900, to Miss Magna John- son, a native of Denmark. Their two children are: Martha, born Janu- ary 4, 1902, and John, born August 17, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have the esteem and confidence of all who know them.
ROY R. STILGENBAUR .- One of the essentially representative members of the banking interests of Brawley is Roy R. Stilgenbaur, assistant cashier of the Imperial Valley Bank since 1913. He came to Imperial County in 1909, and is a native of Baltic, Ohio, where he was born March 7, 1890, a son of Otto W. and Mary ( Bader) Stilgenbaur,
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who have been residents of Canton, Ohio, for over twenty years. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public and high schools of Canton, graduating from the latter in 1907. He then attended the West- ern Reserve University of Cleveland, Ohio, for several years. Coming to Brawley while it was in a primitive state, without sidewalks and ditch water running in the streets. Where the plaza is situated, he became associated with Stahl Brothers, where he remained for two years. He then formed a partnership with J. C. Gresser and purchased the grocery department of Stahl Brothers. Mr. Stilgenbaur disposed of his interest in the store to take up his present position with the bank as assistant cashier, where he achieved success from the start. He was united in marriage to Miss Grace Clinton in Los Angeles, California, July 4, 1915, and their one daughter, Phyllis, was born September 27, 1916. Mr. Stilgenbaur is now serving as secretary of the Brawley Mer- chants' Association. He is a Royal Prince of El Oasis Temple No. 173, Dramatic Order Knights of Khorasson at El Centro, California, and served as the first presiding officer of that temple, and has the distinc- tion of having been, in 1911, the youngest chancellor commander of the order of Knights of Pythias in the United States. Mr. Stilgenbaur has always given his influence in support of any measures that have tended to forward the welfare of Brawley and Imperial County.
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