USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 34
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HENRY DIEFFENBACHER .- In reviewing the careers of the men prominently concerned in the business life of Imperial County, mention should be made of Henry Dieffenbacher, who came to the Valley in November, 1914, and has been identified with the meat business in Cali- patria since October 13, 1917. He was born in Eppingen, Baden, Ger- many, September 17, 1863, and received his education in his native land. In 1880, he came to America and has been a citizen of the United States since 1892. He has followed the butcher business in various parts of the country for many years. In 1882 he came to California, and in 1888 he engaged first in business for himself in Benicia, after working at his trade in that city for nearly three years. He engaged in business at Aroyo Grande, California, where he remained four years. Mr. Dief- fenbacher then removed to Arizona and remained one year. Coming to Imperial County, he took over ten acres of land and erected a slaughter house on the place at Calipatria. Here he remained for a time and then engaged in business in Mexicali for eighteen months. Returning to Cali- patria he opened his present store and has met with gratifying success.
Albert Rtems
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ALBERT RICHARD HEMS .- Conspicuous among the young, cap- able and ambitious business men of Imperial County is numbered Albert Richard Hems. He was born in England, December 7, 1882, son of Henry and Sarah (Glover) Hems. He acquired his education in his native land and at an early age he came to America and settled in Troy, N. Y., where he found employment in the Burden Iron Works. Here he remained five years. He then visited his sister in Newport, Ky., and later went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked in Elmwood, a suburb of Cincinnati, for one year. He then went to Indianapolis, where he worked in a machine shop for one year. Later he removed to Toledo, Ohio, and late in 1907 he went to Salem, Oregon, and re- mained about two years, going to San Francisco and then to Phoenix, Arizona. In 1910 he worked for George Stevens in San Bernardino, remaining for two years at the undertaking business. Mr. Hems then went to New York City and studied embalming, graduating in 1914 from the Renouard Embalming School, and after completing his course he returned to the Coast and located in Long Beach, California, where he became identified with J. J. Mottell, who is engaged in the under- taking business. Here Mr. Hems remained two years. He then worked for W. H. Sutch and Bresee Bros., in Los Angeles. He then came to Calexico, engaging in the undertaking business and has one of the best equipped parlors and chapels in the county. He also has a modern automobile hearse. Fraternally, Mr. Hems is a member of the Moose Lodge. He was married January 16, 1917, to Miss Lena Rawlings, a daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Rawlings. Her parents are both de- ceased and were among the old residents of England. To Mr. and Mrs. Hems was born one son, Allen Richard, born November 9, 1917. While a resident of Salem, Oregon, Mr. Hems was a member of Company M, Oregon National Guard. The family is active in the Methodist Church of Calexico. Mr. Hems' parents are both deceased and were of English descent. Mrs. Hems has six brothers in the present war, four in France and two in Egypt. Mr. and Mrs. Hems have won an exten- sive circle of warm friends in Calexico and Imperial County.
HARRY A. STAUB, is an excellent example of the progressive busi- ness men who are making Imperial County, and he is recognized as one of the men of this community who are conversant with the most ap-
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proved business methods. Mr. Staub has been manager of Varney Brothers store at Brawley since April, 1914. He was born in Green- ville, Illinois, May 26, 1883, and is a son of H. H. and Jennie C. (Col- cord) Staub. His father died in June, 1910, and is buried in Green- ville, Illinois. Mr. Staub's mother makes her home in Brawley with her son, Harry A. Mr. Staub received his education in the public schools of his native town, after which he took a business course. Leav- ing school he became identified with W. W. Hussong, where he learned the grocery business, remaining six years. Mr. Staub came west with his employers and located in the Valley. Mr. Staub engaging with Stahl Brothers for some years, and also worked for Varney Brothers. Mr. Staub then engaged in the grocery business for himself for two years, after which he sold out to Varney Brothers, and Mr. Staub took the management which position he still holds and is a stockholder in that concern. Mr. Staub owned a ranch near Brawley, which he sold in February, 1918. In politics, Mr. Staub is a Progressive-Republican. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a member of Greenville Lodge F. & A. M. Mr. Staub was married August 12, 1910, to Miss Jessie Lee, a daughter of Lewis and Minnie B. Lee. Her father is deceased and her mother resides in Los Angeles. To Mr. and Mrs. Staub have been born one daughter, Rowena Lucille, born February 28, 1913. Mr. Staub takes an active interest in anything for the betterment and advance- ment of Brawley and Imperial County.
EDWIN J. ALLEN is one of the representative business men of Braw- ley and is identified with the Globe Grain and Milling Company, as assistant manager. This position he has held since 1916. Mr. Allen is a native son, his birth occurring in San Francisco, June 27, 1892, son of William J. and Louey (Hill) Allen. He attended the public schools of San Francisco, and then took a position as clerk for a period of one year, when he then became associated as bookkeeper with the firm of Harron Rickard and McCone, a wholesale and retail machinery firm, remaining with this house until 1913, when he came to Imperial County and became associated with the present concern of which he is now assistant manager. Fraternally, Mr. Allen is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge of El Centro. He was united in marriage in San Francisco to Miss Kay Browning, September 12, 1914, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
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T. C. Browning, residents of Colton, California. To this union has been born one son, John Louis Allen, born September 24, 1915.
WILLIAM C. ALLEN .- The history of Imperial County would be incomplete and unsatisfactory were there failure to make prominent reference to William C. Allen, who has been manager of the Globe Mills, which control eight warehouses, seventeen cotton gins, and one oil mill since 1911. Mr. Allen is a man of genial personality and keen business ability, and is numbered among the representative, far-sighted and enterprising business men of Southern California. He is a native San Franciscan, his birth occurring in San Francisco June 17, 1886, a son of William J. and Louey (Hill) Allen. William C. Allen acquired his education in the public schools of San Francisco, California. At an early age he started out in life to make his own livelihood and entered the office of Rosenblatt and Company as office boy for a period of four years. He then became a clerk in the Goethe Bank, where he remained until 1908, when he removed to Los Angeles and became identified with Nordlinger & Son as office manager until he came to El Centro. He served with his present company as bookkeeper for only one week; when he was made manager. Fraternally Mr. Allen is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to the Shrine, and is also a Native Son.
DON W. WELLS .- Among the men whose enterprise and ability have been active factors in promoting the remarkable growth and prosperity of El Centro and Imperial County in general, is numbered Don W. Wells. He is a native of Worthington, Minnesota, November 13, 1884, a son of John E. and Susan B. (Langdon) Wells. The subject of this sketch acquired his early education in the public schools of Los Ange- les, California. At an early age he started to learn mechanical engineer- ing. In 1904 Mr. Wells entered the office of Norman F. Marsh, archi- tect of Los Angeles, California, and has followed his profession con- tinually up to the present time. He has been identified with many of the leading building projects of the valley. Fraternally, he is a Mason and belongs to the Chapter. Mr. Wells was united in marriage in Port- land, Oregon, to Miss Anna Nylen, December 23, 1907. To this union have been born a son and daughter, John Emmett and Anna Luella. Mr. Wells' ancestors came from Holland and settled in this country in
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1635 and were among the time-honored and representative families who first settled in the Mohawk Valley, New York. Mr. Wells is eligible to join the Sons of the American Revolution. He concentrates his atten- tion upon his chosen profession, of which he is today a leader in this field. His name adds to the list of those whose names have been far- reaching and beneficial in effect that they have influenced many phases of community development.
CHARLES N. STAHL .- The history of Charles N. Stahl and that of his brothers and two sisters is thoroughly interwoven with the pioneer day history of the great Imperial Valley. Mr. Stahl was born at Wines- burg, Ohio, December 11, 1872. His father, Valentine Stahl, was born in the same village and his grandfather, John Stahl, was one of the earliest settlers in Ohio, coming to that state when cities like Cleveland and Columbus were mere hamlets. His mother, Elizabeth Stahl, was born in Switzerland of Swiss and French ancestry. She came to Amer- ica when she was eight years old and with her husband is still living on the old Stahl homestead. Mr. Stahl received his education in the public schools and also has been a student at the Washington State Agricul- tural College. He spent ten years of his life in the school room as teacher, teaching in the states of Ohio, Nebraska and Washington. In 1903 Mr. Stahl and several of his brothers came to the Imperial Valley. Of course the entire valley was then an almost absolute desert. The hummocks and creosote bush were thick where Brawley now stands; a few adobe huts were under construction and a lateral ditch had been constructed as far as Brawley. There was lots of elbow room and op- timism permeating everybody, even the Mexican adobe maker seeking shelter from the burning sun behind a stack of adobe bricks, talked of cities and farms. The Stahl Brothers came to Imperial Valley to pio- neer and farm. They soon took up some land and leased a great deal more and for several years engaged extensively in farming. When the Colorado River in 1906 went on a rampage, and many of the settlers were in despair, some driving their stock across the mountains to San Diego and coast points, W. F. Holt was giving the people an object lesson in optimism by erecting the present Imperial Valley bank build- ing. It was then that Mr. Stahl and some of his brothers decided to invest their surplus in a mercantile venture. They leased a store room
aftersting
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from Mr. Holt and started in the business. The store was a success from the start and soon outgrew its store room capacity. After several years at the old location the store was moved to its present location and has grown to be one of the largest and most up-to-date clothing and dry goods stores in the county. Besides being interested in the mer- cantile business, Mr. Stahl owns three 80-acre ranches close to Braw- ley, and with his brothers owns three of the best business blocks in Brawley. Mr. Stahl helped to establish the cantaloupe and vegetable industry at Brawley. He was for several years vice-president of the Imperial Valley Bank. He has always been a Brawley booster and in various ways has helped to make Brawley a better and bigger city. Mr. Stahl was married to Miss Lucy Henderson on December 27, 1913. They have two children : Mary Elizabeth and Charles, Jr.
ADOLPH KESSLING .- After a long and varied career, during which he has traveled extensively and devoted his energies to numer- ous lines of endeavor, Adolph Kessling is now one of the leading busi- ness men of Calexico, where his progressive and enterprising methods have won success. Mr. Kessling is a native of Germany and was born January 4, 1856. He acquired his education in the schools of his native land and at the age of twenty he went to Russia, where he spent five years. In December, 1881, he came to America. Early in life he learned the meat business and after his arrival in this country he worked in the coal mines for a time. He then followed mining and prospected in Nevada, California, Arizona and Mexico. In Kansas City he worked in the packing houses and also found employment on the railroads. In Southeastern Missouri he worked at his trade for two years and in Texas he engaged in business for himself. Mr. Kessling was married in Kansas City, Missouri, and removed to Texas the following year. He married Paulina Hausler in December, 1886. Seven children were born of this union, two of whom are dead. The living are Hulda, wife of Charles Freer, residing in Texas; Adolph, Albert, William and Edwin. The latter is attending school in Brenham, Texas. In March, 1905, Mr. Kessling came to Imperial Valley. He worked for a time and also did much prospecting in this locality and crossed the Colorado Desert from many points. In 1910 he engaged in the meat business in a small way. The business has grown and Mr. Kessling was obliged to change
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his location three times. He now has one of the most modern markets in the Valley and does a wholesale as well as retail business. Mr. Kess- ling has forty acres of highly cultivated land in the Valley. Frater- nally he is a member of the K. of P. of Calexico.
WILLIAM F. KEELINE is numbered among the progressive and successful business men of El Centro, California. He has been the pro- prietor of the Keeline Tent & Manufacturing Company, 443 Main Street, since March, 1916. Mr. Keeline was born in Neleigh, Nebraska, July 31, 1885, a son of Wm. C. and Augusta A. (Gardner) Keeline. He received his education in the public schools at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and at an early age he went to Idaho Springs, Colorado, where he assisted his brother at mining for two years. While in the mining camp he was injured by blasting and left. He then went to Omaha where he became identified with his brother-in-law, who was proprietor of the Omaha Tent and Awning Company (now deceased)'. Mr. Keeline remained in Omaha until he was twenty years of age. He was traveling on the road for some years, and in 1907 he came to Los Angeles from Sacramento, California, where he managed a branch of the Tent & Awning Com- pany for two years. For eighteen months he was engaged as traveling salesman for another concern and then came to El Centro, where he organized the Valley Tent & Awning Company, and held the office of secretary and treasurer, until such time as he disposed of his interests and established the present business. Mr. Keeline was married in Los Angeles, California, April 15, 1907, to Miss Grace , Williams, a native of Nebraska. Fraternally Mr. Keeline is a member of the K. of P. To Mr. and Mrs. Keeline have been born three children, William C., Albert M., and George A. In all business relations Mr. Keeline has the confi- dence and regard of all who know him.
FRANK J. PEACOCK .- One of the most able, progressive and enter- prising business men of Imperial County is Frank J. Peacock, propri- etor of the Arrowhead Creamery, which was originally established in 1905. He has been actively and successfully identified with the business interests of the county for many years, and is recognized today as the pioneer creamery man of the San Joaquin Valley, and one of the fore- most creamery men of southern California. Mr. Peacock erected the
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first creamery in the San Joaquin Valley in 1895. He also put up the first creamery in Kings County. He markets his own products and does a wholesale business at 808 E. Fifth Street, Los Angeles, and San Ber- nardino, California. Mr. Peacock was born in Napa County, March 20, 1872, a son of Joseph and Hannah Peacock. He received his education in the public schools and one of the business colleges of California. At the age of twenty-one he was elected to the office of County Tax Col- lector of Kings County, which office he held for eight years, during which time he became interested in the creamery business, and erected the creamery in Kings County in 1895. In 1905 Mr. Peacock organized the first National Bank of Lemoore, Kings County, California, and served as president of that institution until 1908, when he removed to San Bernardino and established the creamery in that city, and also in El Centro, California. Fraternally, he is a member of the B. P. O. E. Mr. Peacock has large ranch holdings and is an extensive grower of cotton, alfalfa and corn. In his political views he is a Republican but can always be counted upon to cast his vote for the man, irrespective of party. He was married in San Bernardino, February 4th, 1909, to Miss Alberta Cannon, of Ohio. Mr. Peacock stands today a forceful factor in the improvement of business conditions of El Centro and southern California. The Arrowhead creameries manufacture casein, which is utilized for various manufacturing purposes. Mr. Peacock makes his home at 1001 D Street, San Bernardino, California.
HORACE E. ALLATT .- After a long and varied career, during which he traveled extensively and devoted his energies to numerous lines of endeavor, Horace E. Allatt is now one of the leading ranch- men of Imperial County, and has held the office as secretary of the North End Water Company since August, 1917. Mr. Allatt was born in Boulogne, France, July 9, 1846, a son of Horace and Louise (Grattan ) Allatt. His parents came to America in 1850, and in 1854 settled in Norfolk, Virginia, where his father was identified with the tobacco interest of that city. Horace E. acquired his education in Norfolk, Vir- ginia, and left school at an early age during the Civil War. Leaving Virginia at the age of twenty-one, he traveled extensively and followed different vocations. Coming to Imperial County in May, 1902, he served as postmaster in the town of Imperial for nine years. In 1913 he left
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Imperial and engaged in the mercantile business in Calipatria and later went on his ranch of 160 acres, nine miles west of the town. He was made secretary of the North End Water Company in August, 1917, which position he is now holding. Politically, Mr. Allatt is a Republi- can. Fraternally, he is a Knight Templar and holds membership in the lodge at Riverside, California. Mr. Allatt was married in Chalmers, Indiana, to Miss M. Elizabeth Dobbins, and of this union have been born four children, Walter B., H. Edmund, Lelia, wife of Ben Pittman of Alameda County, and Helen A., wife of Ralph S. Benton of San Diego. Mr. Allatt is numbered among the progressive and enterprising men of Imperial County, and his energies have won him success in his ventures and have established him in the confidence of his fellow citi- zens.
OMAR E. McLANE is actively identified with business interests in El Centro, California. He is a man of excellent ability, sound judgment and good business principles. Mr. McLane is a native of Sommerset, Wabash County, Indiana. His birth occurred February 19, 1884, a son of Grant and Mary (Draper) McLane, now residing in Los Angeles County, where they have spent many years. Omar E. acquired his edu- cation in the public schools at Downey, California. At the age of fifteen he entered the Woodbury business college. Completing this course he started to learn the butcher business and eventually engaged in busi- ness in Downey, California. Here he remained until he removed to El Centro, where he erected a brick building 25 x 142, which is one of the most complete in equipment in Southern California. His cold storage and ice manufacturing machine are the most modern. Mr. McLane is the owner of a fine fruit ranch in California, which is very productive. Fraternally, he is a member of the M. W. O. W. He was married to Miss Anna Cote, at Whittier, California, in April, 1904. To this union have been born two children, Walter E. and Alda. The ancestors of Mr. McLane are of Scotch-Holland descent, and were among the first to come to America before the Revolutionary War. Mr. McLane and family enjoy the acquaintance of a host of friends in the Valley, and his business has been located at 433 Broadway since 1914, and since his residence here Mr. McLane has had a place among the substantial citi- zens of his community.
W. the George thank
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GEORGE J. SHANK .- The progressive citizen of today is the most influential factor in the development of the county in the future. The foregoing might be termed philosophy, and perhaps it is, but when ap- plied locally it takes on all the attributes which are characteristic of George J. Shank, the subject of this review. George J. is the owner of 358 acres of valuable land in Water Company No. 5, near Brawley. He came to Imperial County April 4, 1904, and was born at Salina County, Kansas, July 30, 1877, the son of Bernard H. and Katherine (Wicland) Shank. The family has been in this country about fifty years. Mr. Shank received his early education in his native state, leaving the pub- lic institutions of learning at the age of 23, when he attended Normal school. However, during his earlier years, George J. always looked out for himself as a ranch hand, and with the knowledge gained in his home state, he was doubly assured of success when he came to the Im- perial Valley, where he worked as a laborer upon his arrival and for a year thereafter. The rapid development of the country impressed Mr. Shank greatly at the time, and, showing keen business foresight, he bought 200 acres of land from his brother, which prior to his pur- chase, had been filed up while it was rough desert country. At present Mr. Shank has brought his holding to a high state of development, and it can be truthfully said that he has one of the most valuable holdings in Imperial County. He has placed out 2000 trees, has built a wire fence entirely around his ranch, and in addition has erected a commo- dious and modern dwelling thereon. It was in October, 1917, that Mr. Shank bought his additional 160 acres, making in all 358 acres. This had already been improved. George J. for a time followed the advanced theory in hog raising, but for the last three years has been raising grain on a large, remunerative scale. He is a stockholder in the Imperial Val- ley Bank at Brawley, and also a stockholder of the Orleans Mining and Milling Company of Nevada. He is president of the Gold Basin Mining Company of California. Politically Mr. Shank always votes for the man most deserving on the ballot. He was married near Silsbee, California, December 25, 1906, to Miss Cora Pyle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pyle. The father of Mrs. Shank died in 1905 and is buried in the Im- perial cemetery. His wife resides at El Centro. Mr. and Mrs. Shank have two children: Clifford, born on the home place, and Clayton, born at San Diego. It is also interesting to note that at the time Mr.
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Shank arrived in the Valley he had but one object in view, and that was to obtain work at the place where he had been told while at Los Angeles two ranch hands were needed. He and his brother, Theodore B., secured the positions then open to them, and in this way fortune smiled a beaming ray which culminated, as the reader can readily per- ceive, in the unqualified success of all of Mr. Shank's undertakings.
SAMUEL BLAIR ZIMMER was born in Bloomington, Illinois, Octo- ber 30, 1869, son of Levi and Elizabeth (Blair) Zimmer, among the early pioneers in Bloomington. His father was one of the substantial, esteemed and respected citizens of his locality. Samuel B., the subject of this review, was educated in the public and high schools of Omaha, Nebraska, graduating from the latter in 1889. He removed to Califor- nia, where he studied architecture, and located in San Diego, where he engaged in the same pursuit. Here he remained for a period of six years. He then went to El Paso, Texas, where he remained until 1901, when he removed to San Francisco, and enjoyed recognition in the metropolis as one of the leading and enterprising men in his chosen field. In the fall of 1907, owing to ill health, he came to Imperial County, where he has since remained. He planned and erected the El Centro high school, one of the monuments to Imperial County, and which cost $150,000. He also built the Imperial high school, the first high school in the Valley, and the El Centro jail. He has gained for himself a position of prominence in the architectural and building line, and his influence is always given in support of whatever he feels will promote the best interests of the community. Fraternally, Mr. Zimmer is a Mason and is a member of the Blue Lodge of El Centro. He was united in marriage in San Diego, California, July 8, 1896, to Mrs. Ger- trude E. Tichenor. To this union has been born one daughter, Gertrude, born April 21, 1908. Mr. Zimmer comes from a family who came to this country previous to the Revolutionary War and many of his ancestors fought and gave their blood in defense of their chosen land.
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