USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 43
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JOHN TRENT ANDERSON is prominently identified with the agri- cultural interests of Imperial County and is recognized by those who know him for the sterling character of his manhood and good business capacity. Mr. Anderson owns a fine ranch of 320 acres near Calexico. He came to this county November 27, 1914. His birth occurred near La Grange, Tennessee, April 27, 1855, a son of Judge James A. and Louisa C. (Trent) Anderson. The father of Mr. Anderson was one of the prominent and able attorneys in Tennessee, and served as circuit judge in Memphis, Tennessee, for years. The family date back to old English origin and the city of Trent was named after this historic fam- ily. Mr. Anderson's father served as captain during the Civil war and fought on the side of the Confederacy. The subject of this review re- ceived his education at Oxford University ; after completing the same he engaged in ranching and stock business for six years. He then en- gaged in the real estate, ranching and cattle business in Texas, Okla- homa and California, and has followed this vocation up to the present time. Politically Mr. Anderson is a Democrat, but has never aspired to political office. He was married in Callahan County, Texas, June 22, 1879, to Miss Fannie H. Anderson, daughter of Robert M. Anderson, former lieutenant-governor of California, and Lucie (Wyatt) Ander- son. The Wyatt family is one of the old distinguished families which settled in America in the early period. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are : James A., born in Callahan County, Texas, and at pres-
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James Milligan
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ent a rancher in Mexico; Sallie D., wife of Ralph E. Sweeringen, an architect, resident of Calexico, California; Robert O., born in Taylor County, Texas, a rancher residing at Murphy, Texas ; Jack T., a ranch- er of Imperial County; Louise Catherine, wife of H. S. Abbott, a rancher residing in Mexico; Isabell, a graduate of the U. M.A., Col- umbia, Missouri, residing at home. John and Mattie died in infancy and are buried near San Gabriel, California. Mr. Anderson's attention is concentrated upon his ranch affairs, in which he is meeting with grati- fying and well-deserved success.
JAMES MILLIGAN .- Noteworthy among the active, prosperous and progressive ranchers of Imperial County is James Milligan, who owns a well-appointed place of two hundred and forty acres in Water Com- pany No. 6. In recording the names of the pioneers, prominent men- tion should be made of the subject of this review. Mr. Milligan came to the Valley in 1907, and was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1857, a son of Samuel and Hannah (McCarroll)! Milligan. Both parents are deceased. His father died in 1875 and is buried in Salem, Iowa. Mr. Milligan's mother passed away when he was very young. After serving in the Civil war, Mr. Milligan's father moved to Iowa from Pennsylvania, where he was one of the pioneers of Green County. The family is of old Irish origin and Mr. Milligan's grand- parents came to America previous to the Revolutionary war. The sub- ject of this review received his education by his own efforts in the school of experience. He assisted his father on the home place until he became of age. Going to Texas, he became identified with the cattle business. Later he followed the stock business in Wyoming and Kansas and went to Montana, where he ranched and had stock, remaining there until he came to Imperial Valley. On his arrival here Mr. Milligan purchased a squatter's claim of eighty acres, which he leveled and im- proved and brought to a high state of cultivation. Later he acquired more land and now has 240 acres. He is a large cotton grower and most of the time works over twenty head of stock. Mr. Milligan erected one of the finest homes in the county, and planted many trees and shrubbery. He has labored earnestly and wisely in his efforts to im- prove his property and has been exceedingly fortunate in his work. In politics Mr. Milligan is independent. He married at Livingston, Mon-
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tana, June 6, 1889, Miss Ella Cady, a daughter of Charles F. and Orrie Cady. The parents of Mrs. Milligan are both deceased and are buried in Livingston, Montana, having been pioneers of that state. Seven chil- dren have been born to this union : Samuel C., residing near Calipatria ; Frank Leslie, in the engineering corps of the U. S. army; Howard W., residing in Stockton; James, at home; Mildred, attending the El Cen- tro high school ; Orril, in grammar school, and Alberta, in school. Mr. Milligan is most esteemed by those who know him for the sterling char- acter of his manhood.
AYLMER J. HAMMERS .- Imperial Valley is prolific of successful and enterprising ranchmen, but all have not attained the prominence that has come to the Hammers family, whose fine farms have been brought up to a high state of cultivation. Aylmer J. Hammers was born in Woodford County, Illinois, November 25, 1867, a son of J. A. and Sarah Luella Hammers. Mr. Hammers' father is buried in Los Angeles. His mother makes her home in Los Angeles with her daughter, Ula May Rottman. The Hammers family is one of the pioneer families to come to the county in 1900. J. A. Hammers, the father, was a cattle- man from Harper County, Kansas, where he leased a tract of land eight miles by ten square, all fenced. He owned and pastured as many as 4000 cattle at one time. He owned 2000 acres of land at Anthony, Kansas, where he farmed and handled stock. Coming to Imperial Coun- ty, he belonged to the Cameron Lake Cattle Company, which filed on 10,000 acres of desert land. In 1903 the company was dissolved and the family took two sections of land as their portion. The land up to three years ago was devoted to barley and stock, but the last three years has been devoted to corn and cotton. During the Colorado flood, Hammers Brothers suffered very little, as they threw up dykes to keep the water back. The father was in Los Angeles during the flood, and at one time the water came very near the house. Aylmer Hammers acquired his education in Kansas. He was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Mur- ray, a native of Kansas. Two children have been born to this union: Sarah Elizabeth and Jessie Murray. The ancestors on the Hammers side of the house are from old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and on Mrs. Hammers' father's side date back to Scotch-Irish. James A. Hammers died in Los Angeles, September 9, 1912. He was extensively engaged
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in the real estate business for some years. W. B., brother of Aylmer J., is a partner in the ranch, and with his wife, Josephine Lowrie, resides on the same ranch. Bertice P., who died in South America in 1904, was also a partner in the ranch. He is buried in the Rosedale cemetery. Mrs. Ula May Rottman has one child, Ruth Louise, two years of age.
NICHOLAS SCHANIEL .- One of the model ranches of Imperial County which shows by its appearance that an experienced and skillful agriculturist is carrying on the operations is that belonging to Nicholas Schaniel. He is one of the pioneers of this county, and he has displayed characteristics of energy and perseverance in overcoming many ob- stacles. He has been a resident of the county since 1901, and was born in Illinois, February 3, 1865, a son of Peter and Anna (Willcome )! Schaniel. His father and mother were natives of Germany, both com- ing to America early in life. They were married in the United States. There were nine children born in the parents' family. Nicholas ac- quired his education in the country schools. Leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1888 he came to California and located in San Diego. Here he became associated with his brother, who was a contrac- tor. The brothers formed a partnership and carried on contracting and building for twenty-five years. In 1901 Mr. Schaniel took up three hun- dred and twenty acres in Imperial County, which he improved. The Colorado flood of 1905 totally destroyed the place. His loss was esti- mated at eleven thousand dollars and four years' work. He abandoned the claim and traded San Diego property for his present eighty acres, which has been brought up to a high grade of cultivation. After the flood of 1905 Mr. Schaniel planted cotton exclusively. During the flood Mr. Schaniel walked the levees night and day and worked with a wheel- barrow repairing the banks. During this period as many as ten men would stop overnight with him, and Mr. Schaniel would take them across the river and they would walk to Calexico for supplies. Mr. Schaniel built the only ferryboat in his section, and it was large enough to take five head of horses across. The first crop put in by Mr. Schaniel was irrigated with water from New River. His brother, Peter, has a finely improved ranch near Brawley. Fraternally Mr. Schaniel is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and is a member of the Cath- olic church of El Centro. He leveled his eighty, planted all the trees and
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erected substantial buildings. Mr. Schaniel has unbounded faith in the Valley and is numbered among the substantial and respected citizens of his locality.
GEORGE L. PULLIAM, one of the representative ranchers of Im- perial County, is the owner of 160 acres in Water Company No. 6. Coming to the Valley in 1907, he has labored earnestly and wisely in his work, his ranch being now in a high state of cultivation, yielding large annual harvests of alfalfa. Mr. Pulliam has achieved success as the result of his own efforts. He attended the public schools and gradu- ated from the San Antonio, Texas, high school in 1901. He then be- came identified with the Southern Pacific Railway at El Paso for a period of three years in the office. He mined and later was in the stock business and did ranching in Mexico. Here he remained until he came to Imperial and filed on 160 acres of desert land. Personally Mr. Pul- liam leveled the land and made all the improvements, and practically planted all to alfalfa, and he now occupies a well-equipped ranch. He possessed the vigor, manly courage and spirit of determination that wins success in Imperial County. He erected a fine home, set out trees and shrubbery and now has a model place. Mr. Pulliam is business man- ager of Water Company No. 6, and served as director for about four years. His political allegiance is with the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Calexico. He married in San Diego, December 24, 1914, Miss Mae Darrough, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Darrough, residents of Calexico.
THOMAS I. YOUNG .- An enterprising and enthusiastic young ranchman of Imperial County, Thomas I. Young is intimately asso- ciated with the promotion of the agricultural interests near Calexico, being industriously and successfully engaged in alfalfa growing. He has a well-improved place, on which he has erected a fine bungalow, with every modern convenience which may be found in the cities. Thomas I. Young was born in Chicago, October 23, 1888, a son of Daniel W. and Sarah A. Young, both deceased. Mr. Young received his education in the public schools of Chicago and in Wisconsin. His parents re- moved to Wisconsin when he was young and his father followed farm- ing. Later he removed to Chicago, where he became identified with the
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contracting business. The subject of this review worked at ranching in Wisconsin, and in October, 1909, he came to California and Imperial County, where he readily found employment at ranching. Finally he. purchased twenty acres all in alfalfa, and now carries on general ranch- ing. Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Lillie Johnson, August 1, 1910. To this union have been born four children: Law- rence H., Lillie May, Ruth and Thomas I., Jr. Mr. Young is a man of integrity and has up-to-date methods in ranching and has made many friends and acquaintances in his locality.
JAMES HOLLIDAY HAWKINS .- Energy and well-directed ambi- tion, guided and controlled by good judgment, have constituted the foundation upon which John H. Hawkins has built his success. He is a native of Van Alstyne, Texas, and his birth occurred November 22, 1887, a son of Jesse and Laura Hawkins. His father was a native of Mississippi and his death occurred twenty years ago. Mr. Hawkins' mother passed away in 1915. John H., the subject of this review, at- tended the public schools of Texas. His father was a rancher and dealt in cattle quite extensively. At the age of sixteen Mr. Hawkins started out in life and readily found employment on the ranches of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. In 1905 he came to California and followed various vocations, and in 1915 he purchased an eighty-acre farm, which he has mostly in alfalfa. Mr. Hawkins was united in marriage with Katherine Harvey, a native of Oregon. By a former marriage Mrs. Hawkins has two children: Roy, aged twenty, and Hazel, aged fifteen. Fraternally Mr. Hawkins is a member of the I. O.O. F. of Imperial and formerly held membership in the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Hawkins has achieved success in life as a result of his own efforts, as he started out in life without influential friends or financial aid.
GEORGE CLINTON HEIL .- In recording the names of the repre- sentative ranchers of Imperial County, prominent mention should be made of the man whose name heads this review. He is a native son and was born in Santa Ana, California. His father, Joseph P., was a native of New York, and his mother was a native of Kansas. In his father's family there were eight children. In 1888 Mr. Heil's parents came from Topeka, Kansas, to·California, where they remained one year. Return-
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ing to Kansas, the family remained there until 1902, when they sold out and returned to the Golden State and located at Santa Ana. Here they remained until 1907, and in 1908 came to Imperial County and located in El Centro. Mr. Heil's father purchased the Valley Steam Laundry and operated it successfully for about four years. His death occurred in El Centro in 1916 and the remains were placed in the cemetery at Santa Ana. Mr. Heil's mother still resides in El Centro. George Clin- ton, the subject of this sketch, was born October 27, 1888. He acquired his education in the public schools of Santa Ana and El Centro, Cali- fornia. He graduated from the El Centro high school with the class of 1910, and for a period of seven months attended Stanford University at Palo Alto, California. Completing his studies, he returned to El Cen- tro and was identified with his father for a time. Mr. Heil's mother has a ranch of 120 acres, which has been brought up to a high state of cultivation. George C. has the management of eighty acres, while his brother has charge of forty acres. George C. was united in marriage with Miss Irma McClure, a native of Illinois, November 1, 1910. To this union have been born Lewis Clinton and Irma Katheryne. Mr. and Mrs. Heil have a host of friends in El Centro and surrounding country and they have the esteem of all who know them.
WILBER CLARK, with his father, John Clark, formerly superior judge of Tulare County, and sister, Margaret S. Clark, now Mrs. W. H. Dickinson, of Yuma, came to the Valley in the fall of 1901, driving down from Los Angeles. Water not being available on their land, they engaged in business in Imperial. Miss Clark took over the post-office from W. F. Holt, who had just been appointed postmaster ; she also had charge of the Valley telephone system, and established a thriving stationery and news business, selling same to H. E. Allat. Wilber Clark started the first hardware business in the Valley at Imperial, selling out there to A. L. Hill. He then moved to Calexico and again established the first hardware business at that place, and after disposing of this store, he and his wife, Elizabeth F., settled on the now greatly improved Wilfrieda Ranch. Mr. Clark is a book-worm and possesses a library of several thousand volumes, containing some rare "Americana" and first editions, as well as books relating to the Southwest. Also considerable experimenting has been done in the way of horticulture-some fifty
mr. & Mrs. Tho Phillips >
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varieties of grapes have been tried out and a profitable express business has been worked up on the same. Of great interest to Mr. Clark is the six-acre date orchard; many of the trees are in full bearing, producing fine-tasting dates.
THOMAS PHILLIPS .- The gentleman whose name heads this bi- ography was one of the first settlers in Imperial Valley, and since 1900 his activities have been directed towards the development and prosper- ity of the fertile section included in this county. He is among the first pioneers of the Valley, and the first standard history of Imperial Coun- ty would be incomplete were there failure to make special mention of Thomas Phillips, one of the founders of this section, who now owns an eighty-acre ranch in Water Company No. I. Mr. Phillips was born at Unionville, Putnam County, Missouri, September 17, 1863, a son of William D. and Hulda A. (Pearson) Phillips. His mother died in 1915 at the age of sixty-eight years, and is buried in Unionville. His father is in his seventy-sixth year and resides at Unionville, Missouri. Mr. Phillips acquired a limited education in the country school while as- sisting on the home place until he was eighteen years old. Starting out in life, he found employment at farming, and in 1884 he came to Cali- fornia, where he remained until 1886. Returning to his former home he remained for two years. Returning to California, he settled in San Diego. Here he took up a homestead. He proved up on his place, re- maining on the ranch until he was married. He then engaged extensive- ly in the bee business until he removed to Imperial County. He brought his bees to Imperial County in a wagon through Devil's Cañon, and was probably the first man to engage in this business in the Valley. He remained in the vicinity of Calexico for two years, when he purchased his present place, which was a vast desert at that time. Mr. Phillips does general farming and is still largely interested in the bee business. Politically he is a Republican, and has served as constable of Silsbee Township for several years. He is president of the Imperial Valley Bee Keepers' Association. Mr. Phillips married Miss May Williams at Po- trero, California, July 18, 1894, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wil- liams. Her father passed away in 1893. Her mother resides at King- man, Arizona, and is eighty-five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have seven children : Loris May, wife of Edward Bridgers, in the gov-
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ernment service at San Diego; Frank A. and Lee E., both in the govern- ment service ; Ella, Perry E., Delta, and Elsa, all residing at home. Mr. Phillips has made extensive improvements on his ranch, and has one of the well appointed places in the county.
STEWART D. SWINK .- Among the successful ranchers of Imperial County special mention should be made of the subject of this review, who is the owner of a well-appointed ranch of 115 acres in Water Com- pany No. 6, Calexico. Mr. Swink came to Imperial Valley in 1909. He was born May 25, 1889, in Rock Bridge County, Virginia, a son of Daniel and Virginia C. (Houston) Swink. His father died in 1917 at the age of sixty-seven and his mother is at present living in Virginia. Mr. Swink received his education in his native state. At the age of nineteen he left school, but assisted on the home place until he was 21 years of age. Coming to Imperial Valley, he worked at ranching. Later he rented land for two years, when he filed on his present place, which was barren, desert waste. Mr. Swink has leveled and fenced his prop- erty, has erected a modern residence, and has otherwise improved the place by setting out numerous trees and shrubbery. In politics Mr. Swink is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Swink was married in San Diego, Califor- nia, November 26, 1912, to Miss Mae E. Foster, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Foster. Mrs. Swink's father is one of the representative ranchers and stockmen of San Diego County. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swink, Edna and Edith, both born in San Diego County.
WILLIAM HENRY CHOWNING .- Prominent among the leading ranchers of Imperial County is the name that heads this review. He is a native of Texas and his birth occurred July 3, 1847. Mr. Chowning recognized the opportunities in Imperial Valley and came here during the pioneer days in 1904. He was reared in Texas and left that state in 1870 and came to California and settled in San Diego County. Here he engaged in the stock business and turned off on an average of about four hundred head of cattle for a period of about forty years. He had nearly fifteen hundred acres. Mr. Chowning crossed the plains from Denton County, Texas, to Prescott, Arizona, with ox teams, and spent
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twelve months making the trip. He remained for a few months in Prescott and then walked from that city to San Diego, California. Mr. Chowning took up one hundred and sixty acres in the mountain section of San Diego County, and purchased one hundred and eighteen acres in Imperial Valley, which has been brought up to a high state of cultivation. This he rents and makes his home on his twenty-acre place, which is a small, model ranch in every sense of the word. Mr. Chown- ing married in San Diego, California, April 17, 1879. His three daugh- ters : Ada, Alice and Cora, are all married. Mr. Chowning is indepen- dent in politics and can always be counted upon to cast his vote for the right man, irrespective of party. His parents were natives of Illinois and went to Texas during the pioneer days, when they had to protect themselves from the outlaw Indians during that period. When Mr. Chowning first came to Imperial Valley, John Caperon operated the stage line from Tucson to San Diego twice each week. Mr. Chowning is a self-made man and started out in life without influential friends. He has increased his scope of operations along agricultural lines and has met with exceptional success, and he now takes rank with the rep- resentative men of the county. Much credit is due Mr. Chowning for the success he has made in life, as it was through his own efforts and unaided by friends or finances.
AUGUST V. WULFF .- Prominent in the agricultural activities of Imperial County, August V. Wulff has achieved success as a result of his own efforts, and he has been earnest and upright and has the es- teem of all who know him. Mr. Wulff is a native of Sweden and was born May 6, 1861, a son of Adam and Jennie Wulff. Both parents are deceased, having passed away in Sweden when August V. was but a small boy. At the age of eleven August V. came to the new world with his aunt, Dorothy Wulff, and remained at her home in Missouri, where he assisted in farming. He received a limited education in the country school in his locality and at the age of sixteen Mr. Wulff went to Texas alone. Here he found work on the cow ranches and at farming. Later he took up forty acres of school land. He improved his holdings for a period of four years when he sold out in 1897 and came directly to the Imperial Valley. In 1906 he took up eighty acres and his wife filed on one hundred and sixty acres near Signal Mountain. Mr. Wulff held his
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eighty for five years, when he disposed of the land and now devotes his entire attention to farming the 160 acres. This place has been brought up to a high state of cultivation. A substantial residence and other buildings have been erected. Mr. Wulff has his place largely in cotton, but has a portion planted to alfalfa. He can boast of six head of the finest work horses to be found in Southern California. He was married June 4, 1908, to Theresa Schaniel, a member of one of the re- spected and pioneer families in the Valley. Politically Mr. Wulff is in- dependent and in his political views he always supports the man and not the party. The family are members of the Catholic church of El Centro and take an active part in church work. Mr. Wulff has spent his life in hard, faithful labor and he is now beginning to reap the reward of his continual efforts. He started at the foot of the ladder and by his own efforts he has, through energy and business foresight, accumulated a handsome competency.
HERMAN C. SWINK .- In recording the names of the pioneers of Imperial Valley prominent mention should be given to the name that heads this review. Herman C. Swink is progressive of spirit and each year has found him adding to and improving his ranch, until now he has one of the best appointed places in the county. He was born at Lexington, Virginia, September 3, 1883, a son of Daniel and Virginia Swink, both natives of Virginia. Herman C. was one of eight children and acquired his education in the public schools of his native state and the Polytechnic Institute. After finishing his education, in March, 1904, he came to California and located in Los Angeles. He found em- ployment at ranching for a time, and the spring and summer of 1904 he spent at Point Conception, California, on a ranch. In October of that year Mr. Swink came to Imperial County and at once rented 160 acres of land which he operated up to 1907. He then took up 160 acres, which he leveled and fenced and put under cultivation, and raises large crops of alfalfa. November 30, 1906, Mr. Swink was united in marriage with Miss Bessie E. Iiams, a native of Missouri. Her parents are also pio- neers in Imperial Valley, coming here in 1904, and at present are located near Calexico. To Mr. and Mrs. Swink have been born five children: Carl, Helen, Clyde, Howard and Richard. Mr. Swink has 110 acres of highly-cultivated land. Owing to the flood of 1905-06, a portion of
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