USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 32
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WALTER A. COVINGTON is one of the enterprising and enthusi- astic real estate men of Imperial County, and is a member of the firm of Best, DeBlois and Covington of Brawley since its organization. Mr. Covington is a native son and his birth occurred in Redlands, Califor- nia, May 6, 1877. He is the son of Peter H. and Martha Covington. His father died at the age of seventy-one and was buried in Santa Ana, California. Walter A. acquired his education in the public and high schools of Redlands. He left school at the age of twenty and took a business course. He assisted his father for two years in the furniture business and then engaged in the bicycle and sporting goods business, which he carried on for a period of four years. For the next eight years he was identified with the Union Electrical Company of Trenton, New Jersey, and traveled throughout the central states. Returning to Santa Ana, he managed his father's ranch for about two years. In Im- perial Valley, Mr. Covington then entered into a partnership with his
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brother-in-law, W. H. Best, and engaged in the real estate and loan business, until the present firm was organized. Mr. Covington is inter- ested with his brothers in seven hundred acres of land in Imperial County, which is under cultivation and managed by himself. Mr. Cov- ington serves as police commissioner and is a city trustee. His political allegiance is with the Democratic party. He was united in marriage at Bakersfield, California, with Miss Clara Bell Richardson, November 13, 1912, a daughter of George and Miley (Hunt) Richardson, a promi- nent man and pioneer of Kern County. To Mr. and Mrs. Covington has been born one son, Robert Wayne, born September 1, 1913. It was while tilling the soil here that Mr. Covington became impressed with the land, and he at once invested in agricultural land. From his long experience in agriculture in the county, Mr. Covington is in a position to talk with authority on soil and crop conditions and he is not the man to lead a stranger astray.
ANDREW C. BASKIN .- Prominent among the business men of Cal- exico is Andrew C. Baskin, who is an enterprising and representative citizen of that locality. At present he is the manager of the Calexico store of the Delta Implement Company, which was established in 1910. Mr. Baskin was born in Highland County, Ohio, October 18, 1866. He acquired his education in the public schools and attended college for two years. His parents removed to Missouri and Andrew C. became identified with the McCormick Harvester Company as traveling sales- man throughout the western states. He later purchased a ranch in eastern Kansas and operated it for four years. Disposing of his ranch holdings, he became connected with Edgar Brothers for one year. When the present store was started Mr. Baskin took charge, which he has conducted to the satisfaction of his company. Four years ago he was made a member of the city council. Fraternally he holds member- ship in the Masonic Order of Eastern Star. Mr. Baskin was married in Ottawa, Kansas, to Mary Ankenny, a native of that state, and to this union have been born : Louise, attending school ; Florence, a teacher in the Calexico schools; Eunice, a trained nurse, residing in Los Angeles. The Delta Implement Company also maintains a store in El Centro, and both stores carry a complete stock of high-class farm machinery, wagons and harness.
Frank t, Starks
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FRANK H. STANLEY has given effective service as secretary and treasurer of the Brawley National Farm Loan Association since its or- ganization in April, 1917. Mr. Stanley was the first to arrive in the community of what is now Brawley. He was born at Cardington, Ohio, September 14, 1868, and is a son of James M. and Ellen M. (Tucker) Stanley. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Stanley was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Stanley served in the Spanish American war and his ancestors fought in all the wars, including the revolutionary war. His parents were pioneers in Kansas and followed agricultural pursuits. Receiving a common school education, Mr. Stan- ley started out in life at the age of twenty-one, and came to California and located in Bakersfield, where he took charge of his uncle's ranch. His uncle, F. H. Colton, was chief engineer of the Kern County Land Company and his death occurred three years after. Mr. Stanley had been there. Mr. Stanley was promoted and acted as one of the superin- tendent of the Kern County Land Company, and held this position for a period of ten years. Coming to Imperial Valley, Mr. Stanley was in charge of the construction work of the north end of the Valley. He continued in this work for four years. He then handled the real estate interests for the Imperial Land Company, in conjunction with his own realty interests, which he has since carried on. Mr. Stanley was also identified with the automobile business and has had large farming inter- ests. He organized the first cantaloupe organization of Imperial Valley, and he served as the first postmaster of Brawley. In politics Mr. Stan- ley is a Republican. Fraternally he is a charter member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Stanley has been active in locating the sites for the erection of the various churches in Brawley. Mr. Stanley has the honor of being wedded to the first single lady who came to Brawley, Miss Flo Stowe, which took place December 3, 1903, a former resident of Los Angeles and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Stowe, residents of Washington. Mr. Stowe was one of the fourteen who came from Yakima Valley, Washington, to Brawley to purchase land. To Mr. and Mrs. Stanley have been born two daughters-Alice E., born December 26, 1904, and Wilma H., born October 10, 1907. Mr. Stanley erected the Stanley Building, one of the first office buildings in Brawley. He also purchased the Brawley News after it had just started, and later disposed of the paper to its present owner, Mr. Witter.
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PHILIP EDWARD CARR .- The name which heads this review is one of the well known men of Imperial County. He is an enterprising, progressive and public-spirited man and a prominent factor in the de- velopment of business lines in Calexico. Mr. Carr was born in Liberty, Montgomery County, Kansas, December 9, 1872, a son of Abner and Sarah (Teter) Carr, both deceased. There were five children born in the family, only two of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch, and brother, Albert S., of Calexico. Philip E. attended the public schools and the Central Normal College at Great Bend, Kansas, re- ceiving the degree of B. S., graduating with the class of 1896. Mr. Carr taught school for a period of six years in the public schools of Kansas and United States Indian schools of South Dakota, New Mex- ico and the Fort Yuma Indian School. When Imperial County was created Mr. Carr came to this county and took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, which was in 1900. He continued in the Indian school at Yuma until 1903, when he resigned his position and moved upon his land, and has since been identified with this county. He re- mained on his land for a period of eleven years and in 1914 he disposed of his ranch holdings and removed to Calexico, where in 1916 he be- came identified with O. C. Hathaway in the garage and machine busi- ness. The firm erected a modern building, 100 feet square, and have the agency for the Studebaker automobile. The firm does a general re- pair business and maintains a machine and blacksmith shop, employ- ing only expert mechanics. Mr. Carr was united in marriage to Alice Bragg, a native of Kansas, March 9, 1897. To this union have been born six children, all of whom were born in Imperial County. William Lawrence, born July 11, 1900; Edward Everett, born April 11, 1902; Mary Olive, born September 14, 1903; Sarah Lois, born August 19, 1905 ; Donald Howard, born March 14, 1908, and James Clifford, May 31, 1912. The family are members of the Methodist Church of Calex- ico. In 1915 Mr. Carr erected the Majestic Theater at a cost of $26,000, one of the finest theaters in Southern California. He was appointed supervisor for the First District Imperial County by ex-Governor Hi- ram Johnson to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John A. Boyce. At the general election Mr. Carr was elected to the same office for a period of two years, and has since been chosen chairman of the board. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the City of Calexico
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for the four-year term. Mrs. Carr is active in church affairs and is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society and a member of the W. C. T. U. of Imperial County. Mr. Carr is an honorable and upright citizen and does much to benefit the community in which he lives.
GEORGE ANDERSON .- No firm has done more to promote the interests of Imperial County than that of McCollough and Anderson of Calexico, the members of which are well known citizens of that community from the early days. They are doing an extensive business in the blacksmith and automobile line. They also do all kinds of farm and machinery repairing and make a specialty of new work. Mr. An- derson was born in Sweden in 1884, May 20th. He was educated in his native land and came to America in 1901, locating in Chicago, Illin- ois, where he worked at his trade. In 1903 he came west and located in Calexico, where he followed his vocation for some years. In 1914, he became connected with Harvey McCollough in business. He has thirty acres near Calexico and one hundred and sixty acres east of Calexico, which he disposed of. When the first canals were put through the Val- ley Mr. Anderson was identified with Mr. Rockwood and assisted in surveying. He was for three years connected with this work. Previous to taking an interest with his present partner, Mr. Anderson conducted a blacksmith shop and did general repairing and did much work for the water company and all over the Valley. The firm are increasing their scope of operations as rapidly as possible.
CEYETANO BELENDEZ .- Prominently identified with the active and enterprising business men of Calexico, is Ceyetano Belendez. He is a man of ability and is numbered among the substantial men of Im- perial County. He is successfully engaged in the Mexican brokerage and transfer business, with offices in Calexico. Mr. Belendez acquired his education in Mexico. His birth occurred at Laredo, August 14, 1886. In 1915 he came to Imperial County, engaging in his present busi- ness, which has grown to be one of the leading and representative firms of Calexico which make a specialty of custom house business. The business was incorporated under the laws of California in 1917, and Mr. Belendez is president of the corporation. He was united in mar- riage to Ernestine Campbell, a native of Mexico, January 4, 1908. To
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this union were born five children: Ygnacio, born February 7, 1909; Lidia, born August 3, 1910; Ceyetano, born July 4, 1912 ; Estella, born March 31, 1914, and Virginia, born February 21, 1917. Mr. Belendez's father was a prominent merchant at Laredo for many years. The family come from representative stock and date back many years. Mr. Belen- dez's mother passed away in March, 1900.
DAVID ROY KINCAID has been actively and successfully identified with the business interests of Calexico since 1915. He was born in Illinois, November 6, 1881, and acquired his education in the public and high schools of National City, where his parents removed in 1887. Mr. Kincaid came to the Imperial Valley in 1903, and followed engineer- ing from 1903 to 1914. In 1915 he established the Calexico Lumber Company with Harry Schneider. Energy and well-directed ambition, guided by sound and practical business judgment, have constituted the foundation upon which this firm has built its success. Politically, Mr. Kincaid is a Republican. He was united in marriage to Miss Della Barnes of Los Angeles, California, October 26, 1912. Two children have been born: Joseph R., born July 17, 1913, and Barbara Lucile, born September 1, 1917. Mr. Kincaid is a supporter of public move- ments for the betterment of Calexico and Imperial County generally.
MARCUS W. BATES is a man of genial personality and keen busi- ness ability. He is numbered among the representative and enterpris- ing business men of Imperial County. His birth occurred in Moline, Michigan, April 18, 1878, a son of Ward B. and Emma Bates. Marcus W. acquired his education in the public schools of his native town. He was actively engaged in the cantaloupe business in Indiana, Alabama and Texas, for a period of ten years. Mr. Bates came to California and to the Imperial Valley in 1907. He followed the cantaloupe business for one year when he became identified with Edgar Brothers for a time. He then followed ranching for eighteen months, when he again became connected with Edgar Brothers. He was manager of the Seeley store for about three years, and in March, 1915, took the management of the Calexico store. Mr. Bates was united in marriage to Miss Helen Mach of San Diego, California, February 19, 1915. Mr. Bates is well and favorably known in the business life of Calexico and Imperial
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Harry EDale
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County, and has gained the good will and esteem of all who have in any way been associated with him, both in a business and social way.
HARRY E. DALY, proprietor of the Brawley Bottling Works, which was established November 1, 1916, was born in Troy, New York, Octo- ber 10, 1878, a son of Judson and Mary Daly. His parents removed to the State of Georgia, where Harry E. acquired his education. After fin- ishing his schooling. Mr. Daly became connected with the brewery bot- tling business for a number of years. To improve his knowledge in this particular line he entered Hanky's brewery school and laboratory in- stitute. He then took a position with the Milwaukee Waukesha Brewing Company, where he remained for a number of years. Then he became associated with the Independent Brewing Association. In November, 1916, he established business in Brawley and during the season of 1917 he put out 18,000 cases of soft drink beverages, shipped largely through- out the Valley. Fraternally Mr. Daly is a member of the Eagles lodge of Aberdeen, Washington, where he was identified with the same busi- ness. When Mr. Daly was connected with the Milwaukee Waukesha Company he cut the cost in 2000-barrel lots from seventy-two cents per barrel to forty-three cents. For fifteen years he was secretary of the United Brewers' Union of America. Mr. Daly was married to Miss Pearl M. Sawyer, a native of Montana, in 1901. Their one son, Harry A., was born May 3, 1914. Mr. Daly is a public-spirited man and a loyal booster for Imperial Valley.
BURRE H. LIEN .- The selection of any individual to fill an import- ant position is naturally an evidence of that person's ability and effi- ciency. Mr. Lien has been appointed, and is now filling the important office as receiver of the United States Land Office at El Centro. His birth occurred at Spirit Lake, Iowa, December 21, 1859, a son of Hans J. and Gertrude Lien. His parents removed to Iowa in 1853 and were among the pioneer farmers of that state. Mr. Lien's parents were na- tives of Norway. He acquired his education in the public schools and later attended the normal school of Mankato, Minnesota. At the age of twenty Mr. Lien removed to South Dakota and followed farming. He served as deputy county recorder from 1883 to 1886. He served as probate judge and from 1886 to 1891 he was county recorder of Brook-
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ings County. Removing to Sioux Falls, he engaged in the real estate business. Mr. Lien was elected mayor of Sioux Falls and served for a period of two years and during his office he was president of the State Board of Charities and Corrections of South Dakota from 1898 to 1900. He was a nominee in 1900 for the office of governor of his state. During his residence in South Dakota Mr. Lien was actively identified in making public improvements. He donated what is known as Lien Park, which is a very valuable amusement park in Sioux Falls. He fol- lowed the real estate business previous to coming to Imperial County and in 1911 engaged in that vocation in El Centro, continuing up to the time he was appointed receiver of the land office here. In politics Mr. Lien is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Ma- son, being a member of the Scottish Rite and a Shriner. While a resi- dent of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he went both ways in Masonry. He is a charter member of the Commandery of El Centro. Mr. Lien was married at Brookings, South Dakota, May 15, 1881, to Miss Anne Ud- seth, a daughter of Louis and Olena Udseth, pioneers of South Dakota, both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Lien have been born five children : George O., born August 9, 1884, a civil engineer with the Southern Pacific Railroad and Imperial Irrigation District ; Florence, wife of Frank A. Fostick, born September 25, 1887, residing in South Dakota; Agnes, wife of Calvin Mousseau, born February 20, 1889, a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Harold V., born February 28, 1891, a member of Company H, 364th Infantry ; Eva M., born September 26, 1897, a student in the State Normal in Los Angeles. Mr. Lien's father fought all through the Civil War.
DAVID W. SNEATH was born in Longmont, Colorado, December 13, 1887, son of Henry and Mary (Jones)! Sneath. His father was identified with the D. & R. G. Railroad for many years. David acquired his education in the public schools. He followed ranching for a time. He spent eighteen months in Laramie, Wyoming, and in April, 1913, he associated himself with the Holton Power Company. He was ad- vanced by his company and is now the manager of the ice plant at. Calexico. This position he has held for four years to the satisfaction of his company. Fraternally Mr. Sneath is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., the K. of P. and the Moose lodge of Calexico. He was united in mar-
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riage November 6, 1913, to Miss Bernice Beard, a native of Illinois, and daughter of E. C. and Captolia Beard. Socially Mr. and Mrs. Sneath are active in club and social affairs in Calexico, and his wife is a member of the Rebekah lodge. Mr. Sneath has a small ranch of six acres which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation and makes a specialty of truck gardening and fruit growing.
MRS. ELIZABETH STEPHENS .- The Imperial Valley's history has been developed by men and women who first settled it ; more pages are constantly being added by the same pioneers and by others who have come later. It is to the agriculturists of this community that the growth and development of this section is due. Prominent among the residents of Seeley is Mrs. Elizabeth Stephens, who owns three hun- dred and twenty acres of land. Her husband, Isaac W. Stephens, died July II, 1906, and was buried in the family cemetery at Newport, Ar- kansas. Mr. Stephens was an enterprising and prosperous rancher of Arkansas and he gained a well established place in popular confidence and esteem. He was reared in the South and was afforded a good edu- cation and attended the Arkansas College. He was a prominent planter and stockman, and came from one of the first families in the South. He was a loyal husband and father and did all in his power for his family whom he cherished. Mr. Stephens was united in marriage March 30, 1889, and to this union were born seven children : Mary Har- riet, residing in Seeley; Isaac W., in the United States service; Oram Datus, Gladys, Donald H., Louise, wife of William Hoyt Colgate of San Diego, California, now serving in the United States Army, and Elberta L.
CHARLES W. BROWN .- While not one of the first settlers of Im- perial County, Charles W. Brown of Calipatria has the honor of being appointed the first postmaster of that place and has held the office con- tinuously since the town was started, April 1, 1914. Mr. Brown came to the county in 1909, and has witnessed many striking and phenomenally rapid changes. He is now the owner of a 160-acre homestead, which has been brought up to a high state of cultivation, and Mr. Brown is considered one of the reliable ranchers of his community. He was the first man to plant a vineyard in his locality. Charles W. Brown was
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born in Lamar, Missouri, October 22, 1872, a son of Charles H. and Emma (Wills) Brown. His parents are both deceased and buried in the family plot at Lamar, Missouri. The family are of old English orig- in, and the first of the Brown family to come to America was Brigham Brown, who came in the Mayflower. Mr. Brown's father was a banker of Lamar, Missouri, and was a pioneer of that locality, but his grand- father and great-grandfather were prominent Baptist clergymen. The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the William Jewel Col- lege of Liberty, Missouri, and the New York Military Academy, which he left at the age of twenty years. Returning to his native town, Charles W. became identified with banking in his father's bank. He. later started the First National Bank at Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was the second bank started in the Indian Territory, and Mr. Brown was named by the Indians "Taneha," which means a "good fellow." Re- maining in Tulsa for sixteen years, Mr. Brown came direct to Imperial County and took the position as assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Imperial. He also served as police judge for a period of one year. Leaving Imperial, Mr. Brown was the first man in Calipatria. Fraternally Mr. Brown is a member of the B. P. O. E. No. 946 of Tul- sa, Oklahoma. He married at Rialto, California, August 18, 1914, Ba- bette Gagel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gagel. Mrs. Brown's mother is deceased and is buried at Rialto, California, and her father is an orange grower of that place. Mr. Brown's grandfather, Abel Brown, was killed as the result of a riot when he was preaching the doctrines of abolition. The subject of this review served as captain of Company C, Second Missouri Regiment, during the Spanish-American war.
WILLIAM A. McCUNE .- In reviewing the careers of those men prominently concerned in the industrial and agricultural life of Im- perial County, specific mention must be made of William A. McCune, whose excellent ranching property of one hundred and forty-five acres adjoins the city of Seeley. He has erected permanent buildings and is raising alfalfa quite extensively, and improving all the time. Mr. Mc- Cune is also proprietor of the Seeley Garage and occupies a prominent place among the business men of the town. He was born at Goldendale, Washington, October 31, 1886, a son of James A. and Etta (Ribbs)
Walter Campbell
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McCune, a pioneer sheepman of the coast and now makes his home at Delesa, California. Mr. McCune received his education in the public and high schools. For four years he followed civil engineering in Ore- gon and Idaho. Removing to San Diego, he took a course in electrical and mechanical engineering. Coming to Seeley, he purchased a ranch and in 1917 became proprietor of the Seeley Garage. Fraternally Mr. McCune is a member of the K. of P. of El Centro. He married at National City, California, October 7, 1912, Miss Alice E. Atwater, daughter of Horace Atwater. In his political affiliations he votes for the man always, irrespective of party.
WALTER SCOTT CAMPBELL is prominently and actively asso- ciated with the business interests of Brawley, California, and is a partner in one of the finest and most profitable grocery stores in Southern California, since its organization in 1916. He was born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1869, a son of Lindsay H. and Jennett M. (Thompson)' Campbell, both deceased. Mr. Campbell's father is buried at Tower City, Pennsylvania, while his mother was buried at Ratoon, New Mexico. The family came from Scotland to America previous to the Revolutionary war. Mr. Campbell received a limited education. Early in life he worked in the mines of Pennsyl- vania. At the age of eighteen he started to learn the grocery business. This vocation he followed all his life, clerking in various stores throughout the country. Coming to Brawley he followed the grocery business, and in 1916 he formed a co-partnership with Mr. E. C. Schelling. Progressive and far-sighted, Mr. Campbell was one of those who saw the future of Brawley, and he purchased six acres of land which is in the city limits. Politically he is a Democrat, but has never aspired for office. Fraternally he is affiliated with the K. of P. of Braw- ley. Mr. Campbell was married at Gallup, New Mexico, April 14, 1896, to Miss Lennie Bolton, and to this union have been born two children : George L., born January 25, 1897, assistant timekeeper at the Old Do- minion Copper Company at Globe, Arizona, and Naomi Madeline, born October 22, 1899. Mr. Campbell is in every sense of the word a self- made man. Starting out in life as a poor boy without financial assist- ance, or the aid of influential friends, he has, by his own efforts, risen 'to be one of the representative business men of Imperial County.
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