USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 41
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SYLVANUS G. HASKELL .- Noteworthy among the active, prosper- ous ranchers of Imperial County is Sylvanus G. Haskell, who owns and occupies an eighty-acre place. It is well appointed and well man- aged, and he is numbered among the prosperous men of his locality. Mr. Haskell was born in Belfast, Maine, October 11, 1861, son of John Green and Mary Haskell, who were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters. Mr. Haskell received a limited education in the public school. At the age of twelve he worked out and remained
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with his employer for four years. He then spent two years in Kennebec County. In 1881 Mr. Haskell came to California and located in River- side. Here he worked at ranching for one year. Sylvanus and his two brothers then went to Cucumonga, California, and bought sixty acres and later took on forty acres more. This was all orange land and the brothers set out twenty acres to oranges. In the fall of 1897 they went to Westminster, Orange County, and rented land. Then after spending three years in Whittier, California, Mr. Haskell came to Imperial County, where he now farms eighty acres. He intends to engage in al- falfa and hogs and will operate a small dairy. Politically Mr. Haskell is a Republican but has never aspired to office. He married Georgiana Eady, a native of Whittier, California, June, 1901. There has been born seven children: Ralph True, attending high school; Lloyd Elsburg, Glenn Douglas, Le Roy, Paul Valentine, Vivian and Sylvanus, Jr. Mrs. Haskell comes from old English stock and her ancestors came to this country at a very early date. Mr. Haskell comes from Scotch ancestors and his grandparents were early settlers in Maine. Mr. Haskell will shortly move his present house back and erect a new residence, and will put in five acres to grapefruit.
HENRY E. CLAY, the subject of this review, is one of the practical ranchers of Imperial County. He owns 160 acres of land at Brawley, in Water Company No. 8, and has the distinction of having brought his property up to a highly productive state, and is a firm believer in the conservation of natural resources. Mr. Clay came to Imperial County in 1904, when this part of the country was a rolling desert waste. He was born at Prescott, Arizona, July 10, 1885, the son of James W. and Sarah F. (Graham) Clay. The father of Mr. Clay died in 1909 and is buried in Mendocino County, California. Incidentally, Mr. Clay's mother resides in Modesto, California. Mr. Clay received his early edu- cation at Escondido, California, and left the high school during his junior year, which was in 1900. After leaving school, Mr. Clay tried his hand at the grocery business, and while he achieved success in this venture, he eventually turned to farming, being employed first as a farm hand, until he rented the present property from his father. Later he purchased the holding from the family estate and immediately stocked the plantation with livestock. Here Henry E. was successful.
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He finally laid out the property, planting 2000 trees and constructing a substantial dwelling, which, together with numerous other outbuildings, has greatly added to the general and modern appearance of the place in general. Henry E. was married in Brawley, the event in fact being the first since the organization of the town. This nuptial affair occurred June II, 1908. The bride was Miss Lena Neil, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Neil, pioneers of Mendocino County, where also resided the father of Mr. Clay. It has been primarily through the conscientious efforts of Mr. Clay that he has succeeded in the ranch world as he has. He has received little assistance during his endeavors and is thereby entitled to all the emoluments of the season for his sterling achieve- ments.
WILLIS F. BEAL .- Prominent among the leading citizens of Impe- rial County is Willis F. Beal, a man of sterling integrity and worth, who is widely known as a successful business man and rancher. Mr. Beal's birth occurred at Jacksonville, California, July 31, 1879. He is a son of J. M. and Rhoda (Packwood) Beal, both deceased and buried in Watsonville, California. He acquired his education in the public schools of Santa Cruz, leaving school at the age of eighteen. Mr. Beal enlisted and served as a volunteer in the Spanish American war. After the war he returned to the coast and spent four years in San Francisco. He came to Brawley in 1903, when it was in a primitive state. There were only a few tents and one shack in the town when Mr. Beal came here. He was employed that summer with the Southern Pacific and as- sisted in putting down the rails along the line into the Valley. Mr. Beal then took up one hundred and sixty acres in Water Company No. 8, which he improved, making a success of his venture. He still owns the original homestead and has added to his holdings until he now has, all told, one thousand acres in Imperial County. He leases part of his land and gives his personal attention to the cultivation of the balance. Mr. Beal, with his brother, Robert B., engaged in the grain business and erected a fine warehouse, and while identified with this business he be- came interested in the Brawley Creamery and Cold Storage Company, and served as president of that concern since 1913. Mr. Beal served as city trustee for a period of six years, and has been further honored by being a member of the board of supervisors, which office he has held
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for the past six years. He was united in marriage in Brawley, Cali- fornia, January 8, 1910, to Miss Grace L. Blackwell, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Blackwell of Seattle, Washington. To this union have been born two sons: Willis L., Jr., born July 11, 1911, and James Monroe, born January 15, 1913. Mr. Beal recognized the opportunities offered to business men in Imperial Valley from the start. He has in- creased his scope of operations and has met with exceptional success in every line, and takes rank with the leading men of the Valley.
WILLIAM H. BREON .- One of the model ranches in Imperial Coun- ty is owned by William H. Breon. Mr. Breon's forty acres are situated near Westmoreland, in Water Company No. 8, and are highly produc- tive. Mr. Breon, the subject of this review, came to Imperial County in 1910. He was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1866, the son of Jacob and Mary ( Barrel) Breon, both of whom are now dead and buried in the Oak Ridge cemetery, at Altoona, Pennsylvania. The family is of old French origin and came to this country long before the Revolution. William H. received his education in the public schools of his native state and left school at the age of 14 years for the purpose of making his way in the world. Farming for a few years thereafter, William H. met with success in his endeavors, but later took up the carpenter trade, which he followed actively for thirty-six years. Mr. Breon took up this calling at the age of 17 years. Arriving in Los Angeles, Mr. Breon eventually turned his eyes in the direction of Im- perial County, and upon arriving in this locality rented land until he was able to purchase his present property, which was in November, 1916. Unqualified success came to Mr. Breon during his early ventures in the county in the way of raising alfalfa and corn and stock for his own use. Politically Mr. Breon is a Republican; fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. William H. was married at Al- toona, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1885, to Miss Sadie Strought, daughter of Harry and Maggie Strought, both having since passed away. Their bodies rest in Altoona. To this union two children have been born: Chester J., a soldier in the national army at Camp Kearny, California, and Bessie P., wife of Wilbur Randall, son of Professor Randall of the El Centro High School. Mr. Breon's son-in-law is a prominent young attorney of Imperial County. Throughout his residence in Imperial
Hgmessinger
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County Mr. Breon has demonstrated his individual worth in many progressive ways. He is foremost among those who are constantly boosting for the higher development of agriculture in general, and what he has already attained in this pursuit has placed him in an envi- able position with his fellow men.
HERNANDO J. MESSINGER .- After a long and varied career, dur- ing which he has traveled extensively and devoted his energies to nu- merous lines of endeavor, Hernando J. Messinger is now one of the leading business men of Imperial County. He is now vice-president of the Davenport-Messinger-Kavanaugh Company of Holtville. The firm's progressive and enterprising methods have won for them success. Mr. Messinger came to Imperial County in 1902. He was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1860, a son of D. K. and Malinda M. Messinger. His father is deceased and his mother resides in Philadelphia. Mr. Mes- singer acquired his education in the public schools. At the age of six- teen he worked for A. R. Dunn, a wholesale tobacco firm of Easton, Pennsylvania, and traveled on the road for a period of nine years. At the age of twenty-six he entered the Government Indian Service in New Mexico, remaining in this capacity for four years. He then en- gaged in the mercantile line and traveled among the various Indian reservations for six years, with headquarters at Navajo Springs. From that period to 1902 Mr. Messinger went into the Apache country and was identified in business. He had many horses and cattle and when the Phoenix and Eastern Railway was put through he assisted in the con- struction work. December 20, 1902, he came to Imperial Valley, which was just being started. Here he engaged in the business of leveling land. He still carries on this business and is the only one in the county who has been identified in this enterprise for so long a period. Mr. Messinger started the first livery business and the first laundry in Holtville. He also started the first store that Edgar and Varney Bros. occupied. Mr. Messinger is one of those who have thoroughly demonstrated the pos- sibilities of successful ranching on two farms of 480 acres. Politically Mr. Messinger is a Democrat and has served as city trustee as well as being councilman for four years. He was married in Phoenix, Arizona, February 22, 1902, to Miss Ernestine W. Warnake. To this union has been born one son, Marcus A., born September 19, 1905, and who has
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the distinction of being the first boy born in Holtville. Mr. Messinger is a self-made man of whom the West is so proud. He started out in life without friends, influence and capital, and through his own efforts he has placed himself among the substantial men of Imperial County.
CHARLES M. TYNER, proprietor of the Alamo Garage at Holtville, California, has been a resident of Imperial County since 1905, and Holtville proper since 1916. Wherever progress and industry are men- tioned as broad factors in the development of Imperial County the name of Mr. Tyner can always be found prominently displayed. Mr. Tyner was born in Benton County, Arkansas, January 28, 1877, the son of William C. and Lucy (Sanders) Tyner. At the present time Mr. Tyner's father is residing in Los Angeles. His mother passed away in 1913, the body having been interred in the cemetery at Artesia, Califor- nia. The family is of English origin, members of which came to this country prior to the Revolution. Charles M., the subject of this sketch, received his early education at Mountain City, Kansas, and left school at the age of 17 years. Shortly thereafter he assisted his father on the farms, working in Kansas, Oregon and California, until he reached the age of 22 years. He then started as a fireman with the Southern Pacific where he remained for two years, and then obtained a position as en- gineer with the Holton Interurban Railway, for which concern he worked seven years. Previously to this Mr. Tyner had been employed by the Holton Interurban as a fireman, acting in this capacity for two years. Leaving the Holton people, Mr. Tyner purchased his present lucrative business and which is now rated as one of the largest of its kind in the county. He employs three mechanics steadily and is thus proving to the satisfaction of every one that his business is without a doubt one of the most successful. Politically Mr. Tyner is a Democrat, although he has never aspired for public office. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. Lodge of Holtville. Mr. Tyner was married at Yuma, Arizona, December 28, 1902, to Miss Charlotte M. Taggart of San Antonio, Texas. They have one son, Charles Victor, born at Yuma, February 23, 1904.
PEAR Z. LUND has been successfully identified with the agricultural interests of Imperial County since April, 1914. Mr. Lund has a model
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ranch of seventy acres and rents additional land. He is a native of Guttenburg, Sweden, and his birth occurred on April 6, 1874, son of Nills Pedro and Anna Lund. Both parents are deceased. His father was a government surveyor in his native land and was highly esteemed in his locality. Mr. Lund received his education in his native land and came to America in May, 1892. Intent upon having a better education, when he came to this country he attended night school while he worked on a railroad at Rockford, Illinois. He worked in the coal mines of Iowa and later worked at the carpenter trade. He contracted in Des Moines and then went to Fort Whipple, where he had charge of the roof-slating contract at the army post for one year. Coming to Los Angeles, he was a carpenter foreman for about four years. Removing to San Diego, for seven years he erected several houses and acted as foreman for contracting companies. Without knowing anything about ranching, he traded his San Diego place for his present farm. His first year at ranching was practically a failure, but after learning the system in vogue in Imperial County, he has made a success. Mr. Lund has followed rotation farming and this year he will have fifty acres in corn, and by using the silo system he expects to feed two head of stock to the acre. Last season he purchased his first silo and each year he expects to add another. He now has 85 head of stock and will continue to increase his herd until he has 100 head. Mr. Lund has been a citizen of this country since 1897 and in his political affiliations he votes for the man irrespective of party. Fraternally he is a member of the American Yeomen and the Swedish order of Vaso of San Diego. He was married in Des Moines, Iowa, May 14, 1898, to Miss Minnie Swanson, daughter of S. J. Swanson. Her father still resides in his native land and her mother is deceased. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lund: Anna, born in Des Moines, Iowa, a student in the El Centro high school ; Halga, born in Los Angeles, and Alice, born in San Diego.
GEORGE E. WIEST is one of the commanding figures in the agri- cultural life of Imperial County. He was one of the first settlers in the town of Wiest, named after members of the Wiest family. Mr. Wiest is the owner of 172 acres of highly-cultivated land in Water Company No. 5, all located at Wiest, California. George E. came to Imperial
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County October 5, 1906, and was born in Arcadia, Kansas, January 6, 1885, the son of Phillip A. and Elmina E. (Johns)| Weist. Mr. Wiest's father died in 1906 and is buried in Arcadia, Kansas. The mother of Mr. Wiest resides with him on the home place in this county. Before his death, the father of Mr. Wiest filed on 80 acres of land in Imperial County. The family comes of old Eastern stock and for generations have been active factors in the development of the country. The town of Wiest was called after the family, they having been the first settlers in this part of the Valley. Among the pioneers on the Wiest side who took up land here were John A., Daniel W., Edward L. and George Ellis Wiest. Mr. Wiest received his education in the public and high schools in Kansas, and left the institution at the age of 17 years. He then came directly to Pasadena and Monrovia, where he was an in- spector for the Pacific Electric Railroad for four years. Later he filed on his present property, which was wild, desert country. Mr. Wiest has brought his holding up to a high state of productiveness and follows the general method of farming. In raising grain, cotton, alfalfa, etc., he has been very successful. He also is cultivating a mixed orchard of twenty acres and has planted about 1500 fruit trees and 2000 of the eucalyptus variety. Beautiful shrubbery runs around the yards and the buildings in general, together with a finely appointed residence, and modern in every detail. George E. organized the R. F. D., Route No. A., running out of Brawley, and is also one of the four members who or- ganized the Valley Telephone Company. Altogether, Mr. Wiest is culti- vating 414 acres in Imperial County, in addition to 100 acres in River- side and San Bernardino counties. Politically he is a Republican, and for some time has been a trustee of the Mulberry school. It is interest- ing to note that in the early days and prior to Mr. Wiest's success in life, he labored hard to achieve the success which is his allotment to- day. Mr. Wiest at one point in his career walked from Brawley to Wiest owing to the fact that he did not have sufficient cash in his pock- ets to enable him to ride as other knights of the period, in a buggy or an automobile. Mr. Wiest represents the self-made man, with all its exact- ing details and emoluments attached.
HERSCHEL GLOVER, proprietor of the Alamorio blacksmith shop, near Brawley, came to Imperial County, August 7, 1911, and was born
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in Independence, Missouri, September 5, 1864, the son of James and Jeanette (Brite) Glover. Mr. Glover is one of the progressive and influential citizens of Imperial County. He is interested in all big, broad and worthy issues of the day and is a factor in county develop- ment. The Glover family is of old Kentucky stock, members of whom were among the pioneers of Missouri and Kentucky. Captain Brite, one of Mr. Glover's ancestors, did valiant service during the Revolu- tionary war. Mr. Glover's father fought under General Price during the strife of '61 as an officer. He died in 1871 from the effects of gun- shot wounds received during intense fighting and was buried at Mo- kane, Missouri. Mr. Glover's mother passed away in 1870. Her body rests beside that of her husband in Missouri. Thomas, a brother of Mr. Glover, was killed during the historic battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Glover was in the service during the Spanish-American war. Mr. Glover re- ceived his education at Chillicothe, Missouri, having been raised from boyhood by a family going under the name of M. C. Rupert, people who were well known and highly respected in the community wherein they resided for so many years. He left school at the age of 18 years. Starting out in life, Mr. Glover followed the trade of a machinist for three years, during which time he was actively connected with the Mis- souri Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at St. Louis. Later he re- turned to Chillicothe, where he established himself as a machinist and blacksmith, carrying on the business successfully until he came to the coast, where he worked in the machine shops at Randsburg, California. Coming to Imperial Valley, Mr. Glover established his present re- munerative business, which is one of the most commodious concerns of its kind in the county. Mr. Glover is popular in his community and is held in high esteem. As a result his business is thriving nicely and will continue to do so indefinitely as Mr. Glover is a man of his word, am- bitious, an upright citizen, and in every quarter is referred to as a most dependable and worthy factor in the development of Imperial County. He is active in silver, copper, lead and other mining interests. When he votes he always attaches his mark to the ballot opposite the man most deserving, and is not swayed by party politics. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O.F., having been affiliated with the order for twenty-seven years. Mr. Glover was married at Bloomfield, Missouri, April 3, 1880, to Miss Mildred Bagby, who died in 1898, and is buried
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in Cedar City, Missouri. To this union three children were born : Nettie, wife of H. Black, Callowey, Missouri; Geneva, wife of Leonard Rum- sey, Brawley, California ; Ambrose, who died in infancy and is buried in Cedar City, Missouri. The second marriage of Mr. Glover occurred at Tibet, Missouri, on January 24, 1901, to Miss Sarah Day, daughter of Samuel H. and Maggie (Fitzgerald) Day, old settlers in Missouri. Mrs. Glover has a brother residing in Jefferson City, Missouri. Her father died June 26, 1910. As the result of this latter union Mr. and Mrs. Glover have six children : Berneta, born in Dixie, Missouri; Thurman, born at Toledo, Missouri; Edgar, born at Yucatan, Missouri; Samuel, born at McCredie, Missouri, and Ethel, born at Alamorio, and Roy, born at the same place. All in all, Mr. Glover has achieved considerable during his time in Imperial County.
WILLIAM L. GOLDMAN is actively identified with the business in- terests of Calexico, and is associated with W. F. Keeline in the manu- facture of awnings, tents and auto tops. Mr. Goldman is a progressive and up-to-date business man, and is constantly adding to his establish- ment the latest methods and machinery, with the view of giving the people of Calexico and vicinity the best possible work that can be se- cured. Mr. Goldman was born at Stephen Point, Wisconsin, June 25, 1888, a son of John and Mary Goldman, both natives of Poland. His parents came to America forty-five years ago. His father is still a resi- dent of Portland, Oregon, and his mother passed away in 1899. Mr. Goldman's father has been identified with the Southern Pacific Rail- road for more than 30 years. William L. acquired his education in the public schools of Portland, Oregon. In 1908 he went to Los Angeles where he learned the butcher business. He worked at his trade for some time and later engaged in business in Los Angeles. October 27, 1917, Mr. Goldman came to Imperial County and became associated with Mr. Keeline and has had the management of the Calexico office since that time. On December 25, 1908, Mr. Goldman was united in mar- riage to Pearl J. Pawling, a daughter of P. L. Pawling. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Republican, but always votes for the best man irrespective of party. The subject of this review served in the Spanish-American war and was a member of Company C, 14th Infantry Regiment, and was stationed in Vancouver, Washing-
Givin R. Mariang
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ton. He received his discharge owing to disability. Mr. Goldman has achieved success in his chosen field and has the confidence and good- will of his fellow business men in Calexico.
EDWIN A. MERRIAM, one of the successful and prominent ranch- ers of Imperial County whose interests have extended to many fields of endeavor, is a native of Washington, D. C. He was born August 31, 1864, a son of Major G. F. and Nina (Scott) Merriam. His father was a graduate of the U. S. naval academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and was a member of the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery. He volunteered and fought in the Civil war and was wounded and lost his hearing ow- ing to heavy artillery fire. His death occurred in 1914, at the age of seventy-nine years, the result of a street-car accident. His remains, with those of his wife lie in Arlington National Cemetery at Ar- lington, Virginia. The family is of old English and Dutch origin and the first of the family came to America in 1612. The great-grandfather of Mr. Merriam fought in the war of 1812, and Nathaniel Merriam fought in the Revolutionary war, and took part in the Boston tea party. Mr. Merriam's uncle, James S., served as ambassador to France for many years. Edwin A. acquired his education in the public schools of California. He attended the University of California and at the age of twenty established a packing house at Escondido. This he operated for six years in conjunction with a large vineyard. In 1899 he went to Mexico, where he was largely identified with gold and silver mining. Owing to the revolution he left that country in 1913. He is now one of the leading agriculturists in the Valley, operating 8700 acres, which is largely devoted to cotton. Mr. Merriam also has five different mining properties which are very valuable. Politically he is a Republican, but has never aspired for public office. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias of Escondido. He was married June 15, 1916, to Mrs. Janette Hart of San Diego, California, a pioneer of Imperial County since 1908, and has a son by a former marriage, Jer- ome S., born at Escondido, California, September 12, 1897. Mr. Mer- riam understands ranching in principle and detail, and his long ex- perience and practical methods have brought him a gratifying degree of success. He is now one of the leaders in his chosen field of endeavor in Imperial County.
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