USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 40
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Diego to Imperial County to locate them on land here. He was one of the original members of the cantaloupe company of Imperial County and the El Centro Seed Oil Mill. He assisted in organizing the El Cen- tro Creamery Company, which was later sold. He assisted in getting the right of way for the San Diego and Arizona Railroad Company from Seeley to Dixieland. He was active in starting the first schools and con- structing the roads. He served as president of the beekeepers' asso- ciation and was a director for three years. He had the second herd of cows in the Valley, which was in January, 1904. He put out the first shade trees in the Valley. He hauled lumber from San Diego down Devil's Cañon for his house which was one of the first. He shipped the second load of hogs from the Valley. Mr. Nichols was married Janu- ary 1, 1894, to Kitty H. Keith, a native of Arkansas City, Arkansas, and she was the first girl born in that town. Her father was the first druggist and first mayor of the town. To Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have been born eight children: Dorothy Keith, Milton Silsby, George Wel- come, Aylmer Keith, Paul Fletcher, Pearl Elizabeth, Edward Keith, Katherine and Dorothy, wife of Ira De Owen, an employee in the emi- gration service, and they have two children, Harold Keith and Donald Cook. Mrs. Nichols' ancestor, Rev. James Keith, came to America and settled in Massachusetts in 1629. Over fifty Keith families lived in a radius of half a mile in Massachusetts. Mr. Nichols planted six date palms in front of his house in 1903, and in 1917 the trees produced 150 pounds to the tree. He also owns a 240-acre ranch at Dixieland, and he promoted the Mt. Signal Water Company and is serving as president at the present time.
ISAAC WESLEY FERRIS .- Because he is one of the broad, con- servative ranchers of the Valley, prominent mention in the pages of the first history of Imperial County should be made of the name of Isaac Wesley Ferris, a factor of importance in the ranch life of the north- end and particularly in Water Company No. 8, at Brawley, where Mr. Ferris is well and favorably known. Mr. Ferris has a ranch of 160 acres, where he lives, and 320 acres in partnership with T. J. McNer- ney. Isaac W., the subject of this review, came to Imperial Valley in 1902, and was born in Dundas County, Ontario, Canada, March 26, 1870, the son of David and Anne (Bates) Ferris. The parents of Mr.
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Ferris raised a family of twelve children, of which three have died. Mr. Ferris is the youngest of the family of twelve. Euphemia is buried at Vankleek Hill, Canada, Joseph is buried in the Glendale cemetery at Los Angeles, and the body of David has been interred at Walla Walla, Washington. Then there is Margaret, wife of J. J. Hogaboam, residing at Lapwai, Idaho; John Ferris, located at Walla Walla, Washington; Mary Jane Boutwell, of Melrose, Massachusetts; Belle, wife of John Whealdon, of Seattle, Washington; Emma, wife of William G. Shella- bear, minister to Singapore, India; Robert. of Walla Walla, Washing- ton ; James A., a resident of Lewiston, Idaho; and Alice, wife of W. J. Suffel, of Seattle, Washington. Mr. Ferris received his education at Winchester, Canada, and left school at the age of 20 years. Immediate- ly thereafter he departed for Oakdale, Washington, where he engaged as an employee in the flour mills, which vocation he followed steadily for nine years. From that point he journeyed to North Yakima, Wash- ington, where he engaged in the same business for three years. Later he arrived in Los Angeles, where he was successful in the carpenter trade, and, following the terrific earthquake at San Francisco, he im- mediately found employment in the bay city in helping to build the torn and shattered portions of what were once stately and dignified build- ings. He remained in San Francisco for three years during this period in his life. Mr. Ferris then went to Utah in 1911 and worked in the oil fields, where he branched out in a new line and staged for one and a half years. Later he returned to Imperial County and joined the firm of C. A. Canfield & Delano as manager on a ranch comprising 320 acres, which position he held for three years. Upon his arrival in the Valley in 1902, Mr. Ferris had the distinction of cutting the first wheat hay grown where the town of Brawley now thrives progressively. In 1914 Mr. Ferris purchased a relinquishment of the present property upon which he is now making his home. The land is all under cultivation and yearly attains a remunerative state of productiveness. Many im- provements have been made about the place. Politically Mr. Ferris is a staunch Republican. He was married at Los Angeles, California, Feb- ruary 23, 1918, to Miss Lida Bracewell of San Bernardino. Mr. Ferris is a director of Water Company No. 8, which position he has occupied for the last three years. All in all, Mr. Ferris represents all the worthy attributes which go with the self-made man.
Richard & Starner
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RICHARD C. STARNER, one of the representative ranchers of Im- perial County is in every respect a self-made man. He has achieved suc- cess in life as a result of his own efforts and has been earnest and up- right, and has gained the esteem of all who know him. Mr. Starner was born in Carroll County, Maryland, June 22, 1876, a son of Calvin and Annie Starner. His parents were both natives of Maryland. Farming was his father's vocation and his life was spent in hard, faithful labor. He was one of the substantial citizens of his locality. Richard C. ac- quired his education in the public schools, after which he assisted on the home place for one year. He then worked out until he reached the age of twenty-five, when he went to Colorado and remained one year, and then spent a year in Portland, Oregon, where he worked in the freight house for twelve months. Previous to coming to California he had managed to save $250. He heard of the great possibilities of the Im- perial Valley and in 1904 cast his lot with the pioneers in this locality. He took up his present place of 240 acres of land, and the re-survey in 1906 took off twenty-five and a fraction acres. Mr. Starner now owns 225'/+ acres, which is considered one of the best appointed ranches in Imperial County. It is devoted exclusively to grain, and Mr. Starner has made a phenomenal success of the chicken business. He has 600 brown leghorns and ships large quantities outside of the Valley as well as supplying the local market. He set out all of the trees and beautiful shrubbery around his house, which is a modern, well-built bungalow, and has every convenience that can be found in the cities. He erected a 3000-gallon water tank, which gives him ample water for domestic purposes. Mr. Starner's mother is deceased and his father resides in Maryland, half a mile from the old homestead. He resided on his or- iginal farm for forty years. Mr. Starner was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ida Williams, a native of Maryland, October 22, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Starner are active workers in the Methodist church of Holt- ville. Two brothers of Mr. Starner reside in the Valley. William C. Starner, his nephew, came to the county in December, 1908, and also pioneered with Mr. Starner, helping to level the entire ranch of Mr. Starner. He came here at the age of 17 years and is now a ranch owner of Imperial County. Edward O., another brother, came to the Valley in September, 1917, and Harry K. located in the Valley in October,
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1912. Mr. and Mrs. Starner have a host of friends and acquaintances in Holtville and vicinity.
ELMER D. PIDGE, after a long and varied career, during which time he has made a success of all his efforts in the way of agricultural de- velopment, is now classed among the enterprising and progressive ranchers of Imperial County. He is the owner of forty acres of highly cultivated land in Water Company No. 8, at Brawley, and is held in high esteem. He came to this county in March, 1908, and was born in Syracuse, New York, May 5, 1888, the son of Lee and Cora (Barber) Pidge ; both parents have passed away and are buried in New Hope, New York. Mr. Pidge, the subject of this review, received his educa- tion near Syracuse and left the public schools at the age of thirteen years. He then assisted his grandparents, Addison and Juliette Barber, about the home place until he started out for himself at the age of 18 years. Later he worked in various places on farms until he came to Brawley, California, where he worked industriously as a ranch hand for two years, prior to the time he rented land for the purpose of rais- ing grain and other agricultural commodities. During 1912 Mr. Pidge purchased his present property, which, at the time, was only partly im- proved. At present the property is very productive, having been brought to this state of cultivation through the efforts of Mr. Pidge. Trees have been planted by Elmer D. and the home place in general has an appear- ance of attractiveness which is appealing. Mr. Pidge is now devoting his activities to the dairy business and is meeting with success. In hog and poultry raising Mr. Pidge is classed among those who yearly achieve results in this particular line of endeavor. He keeps 16 cows, all milk- ing, and has about sixty thoroughbred hogs. Politically Mr. Pidge votes for the man most deserving. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 408 of Brawley. He was married in Brawley, Janu- ary 20, 1917, to Miss May Snyder, of Azusa, California. Mr. Pidge is, in every sense of the word, a self-made man. He started out in life without financial assistance from anyone and throughout his years he has achieved an enviable position among his fellow men.
VESS GOODRICH WAY .- The growth of Imperial County in the short space of a few years from a barren stretch of desert, undevel-
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oped in any way, to a land of prosperous farms, has been brought about by men of progressive spirit. One who has been active in the agricul- tural life is Vess Goodrich Way, owner of 160 acres in Water Com- pany No. 8, near Westmoreland. Mr. Way came to Imperial County December 12, 1907, and was born at Chillicothe, Missouri, March 16, 1887, the son of Sylvester and Ella (Piersol) Way. Mr. Way's mother died August 25, 1905, and is buried in Pasadena, California. His father resides at the old home place in Missouri. The family is of old Scotch-Irish origin. The parents of Mr. Way settled in Livingston County, Missouri, many years ago. Mr. Way, the subject of this review, received his education in Chillicothe, Missouri, leaving school at the age of 16 years. In 1904 he came to Pasadena, California, where he worked in the Pasadena foundry for eighteen months. He then took up civil engineering and later obtained a position as instrument man with the Huntington Land Company and held this job until July, 1907, when he came to the Imperial Valley, where he worked on ranches for seven months. He then rented eighty acres of land for three years and 160 acres for four years, raising grain and hogs until he purchased the present property from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. At present Mr. Way has brought his property to a high state of cultivation and has made many extensive improvements about the place in gen- eral. He follows the new method of raising grain and livestock and is meeting with meritorious success. Politically Mr. Way is a Republican. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and is past noble grand of No. 408, Brawley. He was married at Berkeley, California, August 20, 1911, to Miss Eula Pirtle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Pirtle; both reside at Bard, California. To this union have been born two children: Mar- garet Ellen, born February 19, 1913, at Brawley, California, and Rob- ert Vess, born October 8, 1914, at the same birthplace. Mr. Way, throughout his broad, conservative methods, has achieved noteworthy success in all his undertakings in the Valley and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
EGBERT M. SAWYER .- Perseverance and industry have done much for Egbert M. Sawyer, the subject of this review. Also, it might be stated, that it is primarily through his individual efforts that Mr. Saw- yer has been classed among the wide-awake and enterprising ranchers
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of Imperial County. The owner of eighty acres of highly-cultivated land at Brawley, in Water Company No. 8, Mr. Sawyer, since his arri- val in the county, February 1, 1910, has been foremost among those in- tent on formulating and developing broad, conservative ideas pertaining to agricultural pursuits. Egbert M. was born at Rolling Prairie, Wis- consin, December 24, 1870, the son of Francis L. and Lydia ( Miller) Sawyer. Both have since passed away. The father is buried in Ontario, California, while the body of Mr. Sawyer's mother rests in the Burnett cemetery, Burnett, Wisconsin. The family is of English origin and, tracing the lineage thereof, one finds that it dates back many years. It is interesting to note that Benjamin C. Sawyer came to this country in the historic Mayflower, and Charles Miller fought valiantly during the Civil War. With characteristic ambition, Mr. Sawyer received his early education in the public and high schools of Horicon, Wisconsin, leaving the latter institution at the age of 21 years. He then went to Chicago as collector for the Remington Typewriter Company, with which concern he remained two years. Owing to ill health, he returned to his home, where he remained until 1894, when he came to California and settled at North Ontario, engaging in electrical and engineering pursuits. In 1906 he established himself in the meat market business, where he made rapid progress, which brought success and which also enabled him to later purchase his present property in this county, which at the time of changing hands, was a relinquishment, being rough desert country. Mr. Sawyer stuck steadily at the task of leveling the same, and owing to this method of procedure, coupled with his practical knowledge of agriculture, Egbert M. has made his holding one of the prized items of interest in the county. More than 1200 trees have been systematically laid out, a modern home of pretentious de- sign has been constructed, and, all in all, Mr. Sawyer is to be con- gratulated upon the modern appearance of his place in general. The ranch has been stocked with registered Holstein and grade Holstein cattle. In addition Mr. Sawyer is raising about sixty hogs and more than eighty head of cattle. Politically Mr. Sawyer is a Democrat, and although he has never aspired for public office, he can be depended upon to vote for the right man if the occasion requires. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., Euclid 68 of Upland, and the F. O. E., No. 1082. Mr. Sawyer was married at Upland, California, June 28, 1901, to Miss Ada L. Larrabee, daughter of Nathan Russell and Ellen C. (Moon)|
M.C. Wantfor.
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Larrabee. Both the father and mother of Mrs. Sawyer have passed away. Mr. Larrabee died February 22, 1917, and is buried in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The mother died January 22, 1918, the body having been interred in the Rosedale cemetery at Los Angeles.
WILLIAM E. VAN HORN .- Prominent mention should be made in these pages of William E. Van Horn, proprietor of the Ford Repair Shop, No. 563 Broadway, El Centro, California. Mr. Van Horn, through his progressive methods has built up a large and remunerative business, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He came to Im- perial Valley December 17, 1900, and was born at Ashland, Oregon, March 29, 1886, a son of Loreteus M. and Elizabeth (Firestone) Van Horn. The family is of old Holland Dutch origin, coming to this coun- try when New York State was being settled mostly by Holland emi- grants. Members of this family fought valiantly during the war for in- dependence and also during the strife of '61. Mr. Van Horn's mother died in 1894 and is buried in Ashland, Oregon. Mr. Van Horn's father is one of the oldest pioneers in point of residence in the Imperial Val- ley. He did the first construction work on the canal system of the coun- ty, and at present is an active factor in the development of the county. He put in his first work on the canals December 19, 1900. When Mr. Van Horn's father came to the Valley there were but three water holes. One of these was at Cameron Lake, three miles from Calexico, another at Blue Lake, and the Pot Hole, six miles out of Imperial. Mr. Van Horn received his education in the public schools of Imperial County and left the institution at the age of 18 years. He then learned the elec- trical trade, which he followed for seven years, and after devoting his energies to gasoline engines, automobiles, tractors and other mechanical affairs, he branched out and still follows this interesting and remunera- tive vocation. Whenever Mr. Van Horn votes he always attaches his mark next the name of the man the most deserving on the ticket. He was married at Olympia, Washington, September 24, 1910, to Miss Selma Peterson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Peterson, both residents at this time of Olympia. To this union three children have been born : Clyde E., born at Bishop, California ; Gladys, born at Braw- ley, California, and Charles L., born at El Centro, July 14, 1916. Mr. Van Horn represents the self-made man in every respect. He started
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out in life on his own resources and the business he has built up, and which is now such a gratifying monument to his individual efforts, merely bears out the impression that Mr. Van Horn has worked hard for success and that his achievement has been a noteworthy one. He is now having built more specious premises at Eighth and Main streets, El Centro, which will be ready to occupy in July, 1918.
HENRY HARTWELL HOWELL, SR .- The History of Imperial County would not be complete without the name of Henry Hartwell Howell, Sr., a successful rancher owning eighty acres of land in Water Company No. 8, at Brawley. Dr. Howell can rightly be classed among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Imperial Valley. He came to Imperial County in September, 1908, and was born in Pope County, Arkansas, July 20, 1846, the son of James A. and Sarah E. Howell. Both passed away and are buried near Modesto, California. The family is of old Scotch-English origin. With his parents, Henry H. migrated from Arkansas at the age of seven years. California was the magnet which drew their footsteps westward. The subject of this sketch re- ceived his education near Stockton, California, in the public schools and the S. M. institution, also known as the Pacific Methodist College, at Vacaville, California. In 1879 he graduated from the medical branch of the University of California with a degree of M. D. Following this he devoted his time largely to the study of medicine and practiced his profession for ten years at Bishop, California. Teaching school was also one of Dr. Howell's professions at this time. Since giving up the practice of medicine Dr. Howell has turned to practical farming 'and has been thus engaged ever since. When he first came to the Valley he rented land until he purchased his present property, which was in 1914. He has improved his ranch and has one of the most valuable holdings in the county. In addition to this he owns eighteen acres near Fullerton, California. Politically he is a Prohibitionist. He was married at San Francisco, December 31, 1875, to Miss S. G. Summers, a daughter of Dr. G. M. and Amanda Summers, both of whom are buried at Fresno, California. To this union six children have been born : Mabel C., wife of W. T. Morris of Kern County; Thurman B., a rancher of Orange County, California; Ethel G., wife of George M. Warren, lieutenant in the home guards at Portland, Oregon; Frank T., employed in the ship-
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yards at San Pedro; Jessie L., wife of Arthur D. Evers, interested in the ship chandlery business; and Henry H. Howell, Jr., located at the submarine base at San Pedro, California. Dr. Howell is a member of the State and American Medical Society. It has been primarily through the individual efforts of Dr. Howell that he has achieved the success which is rightly his due. He is conscientious, an enterprising and in- fluential citizen and is always foremost among those who are con- stantly boosting for better conditions in the county at large.
AUGUST MAYER .- Ambition is what makes this wide old world such a habitable place to live in. Ambition is what gave to August May- er, the subject of this review, a desire to achieve a worthy object, which culminated in the forty-acre ranch which Mayer now owns in Water Company No. 8, in the Westmoreland district. In the year 1909, on the 25th day of December, to be exact, August Mayer came to Im- perial County, and he has never regretted the impulse which started him in the direction of the highly productive fields of this county, as success, with all its smiling attributes, has come to the man whose history is chronicled in this sketch. August Mayer was born in Ger- many, November 26, 1882, and came to this country in the year 1907, having received his early education in his native land, leaving school at the age of 14 years. With stalwart perseverance and a determination to make good despite overwhelming odds, Mr. Mayer cast a stern eye about him for some logical undertaking which he might pursue advan- tageously and which in the end would make him a livelihood worthy of his station in life. Being of strong physique, Mr. Mayer followed work on the ranches for two years in various parts, and upon his arrival in Imperial County rented his present holding and later bought from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Mr. Mayer has constructed a comfortable dwelling of pretentious design on his property, where he lives with his family. At present Mr. Mayer is engaged in general farming, and each year harvests his crops with the knowledge that the financial returns far exceed his expectations. He has had splendid suc- cess in the way of raising alfalfa and livestock of a high grade. Mr. Mayer was married at El Centro, California, May 25, 1914, to Miss Marie Hora of Bohemia. They have one son, Eugene George, born in the north end, May 29, 1916. A glance over the ranch of Mr. Mayer
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convinces one that it has been primarily through hard and conscien- tious work that he has made the marked progress which is noted there.
WALTER P. CASEY .- Prominent among the wide-awake and pro- gressive business men of Brawley is Walter P. Casey. He has con- tributed materially to the welfare of the city, and is holding a place of prominence in business, social and fraternal life. The ancestors of Mr. Casey, on both sides of the family, are of colonial stock, coming from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Walter P. Casey, the subject of this review, was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, April 23, 1885, son of Albert W. and Nettie G. (Pevear) Casey. He received his education largely in the public schools of Utah. Mr. Casey's father, owing to ill health, traveled extensively and now makes his home in Glendora, California, where he has a well improved orange and lemon grove. Finishing his education, Walter P. worked for the Pacific Elec- tric road for three years in Los Angeles. He spent one summer ten miles from Death Valley, and returned to Los Angeles and entered the employ of Warren & Bailey Manufacturing Company. He then became connected with the San Dimas Lemon Association with the view of learning the citrus business. In February, 1913, he removed to Imperial County, locating in Brawley. Here he was associated with Peter B. Hovley in the real estate and ranch business. Mr. Hovley had large ranch holdings and Mr. Casey assisted in handling these. In May, 1916, Mr. Casey purchased the insurance part of the business and also en- gaged in the grain business, and buys independently of the large deal- ers. He erected a warehouse and put in a spur track and now ships barley, wheat and maize to leading points in the United States. The an- cestors of his mother were among the large morocco leather manufac- turers in Lynn and Boston, Massachusetts, and his ancestry traces back to the whalers of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and the Pilgrim Fathers. Mr. Casey is serving as president of the chamber of commerce, and secretary of the Brawley Hotel corporation. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Brawley. He was married April 29, 1913, to Miss Irene La Fetra, a native daughter and the first white girl born in Long Beach, California. Mrs. Casey's father is deceased, and her mother resides in Glendora. Mr. Casey represents the largest and most prominent insurance companies in the United States and England.
Raymond anderson
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RAYMOND H. HENDERSON .- In the career of Raymond H. Hen- derson, one of the leading citizens, we find an excellent example of the self-made man, who started out in life without funds and by his own efforts he has gained the esteem of all those who know him, as he has attained the full measure of success. Mr. Henderson was born in Post- ville, Iowa, May 28, 1877, a son of E. T. and A. E. Henderson. His parents were natives of Wisconsin and Iowa and were the parents of six children. Raymond H. received his education in the public and high school. He afterwards took a business course in San Diego, where his parents moved twenty-five years ago. After completing his education he took up bookkeeping for a time and went to Tennessee, where he remained for a time. Returning to Los Angeles, he spent one year in that city, when he removed to Imperial Valley in 1901. Mr. Henderson is truly a pioneer of this section. When he came here it was a vast desert, and he has seen it pass from the desert stage to a place of great productiveness and wealth. He filed on 160 acres which he improved and lost it by contest. He afterwards purchased eighty acres following the overflow, which is all highly improved land and set out largely in asparagus. Mr. Henderson was married in August, 1913, to Miss Georgia Dunagan, a native of Arizona and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Dunagan, who have a well improved dairy ranch near Imperial and are among the well to do and honored people of that section. To Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have been born two children: Raymond, Jr., aged three, and Evelyn, aged six months. Mr. Henderson's parents are still living. On his father's side the family dates back to Scotch origin, while on his mother's side the family is of old English ancestry. Mr. Henderson is of a progressive spirit, as each year finds him making permanent improvements on his ranch.
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