USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 44
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his land was washed away, and twenty acres is separated from his main ranch, which is in the northwest corner of his holdings. Mr. Swink's life has been spent in hard, faithful labor, and he is now en- joying the reward of well-ordered living. The family have many friends and acquaintances in the community in which they live. Mr. Swink is surely a self-made man.
JAMES C. STUART .- The name of James C. Stuart has come to be regarded as synonymous with the business activity in El Centro, Cali- fornia, a man who by his own initiative, hard work and good judgment has made a success in the Valley. Mr. Stuart was born in Kentucky, January 2, 1877, a son of William and Mary Stuart, both deceased. James C. acquired his education in the public schools of his native state. Starting out in life, he worked in the mines in east Kentucky and Tennessee. He was identified with the commissary department of the mines for a period of twelve years. In October, 1905, Mr. Stuart came to California and located in Imperial County. On arriving in the sec- tion of El Centro he rented 160 acres of land which is now in the city limits. He later purchased three acres of sub-division number one and traded later for eighty-five acres in number six. Mr. Stuart also owns ten acres three miles north of El Centro. He engaged in the grocery business in El Centro under the name of Ross & Stuart for six years. Previous to this he was identified with the general store of R. L. Rum- sey for five years. He is now managing the store and post-office at Mt. Signal. Mr. Stuart was married June 22, 1898, to Ethel Cooper, a na- tive of Kentucky and daughter of A. B. and Alice Cooper. To this union have been born three children: Maurice, Lucille and Keith. Mrs. Stuart's mother makes her home with her daughter, and her father is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart have a host of friends in El Centro and vicinity and are held in esteem by all who know them.
WINFIELD A. THAYER .- Nothing is more certain than that thrift, industry and perseverance will eventually accomplish results. This is proved by the career of Winfield A. Thayer, one of the successful ranchers of Imperial County. He was born in Highland County, Ohio, December 6, 1860, son of Joseph and Demarus Thayer, who were the parents of four children. Winfield A. received his education in the
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public schools of Taylor County, Iowa, where his parents moved when he was young. His father was a rancher and Winfield assisted on the home place until he was twenty-three years of age. He then went to Arizona, where he remained until 1902. In 1904 Mr. Thayer purchased forty acres. He has added to his holdings until he now has one hundred and sixty acres. He carries on general farming and has some stock. He was married in December, 1902, to Candice Rice, a native of Missouri. Their three children are Myrtle Ellen, Joseph Howard, and Frank. Politically Mr. Thayer is a Republican and has served on the local school board, and is a stockholder in the Heber Creamery. The parents of Mr. Thayer are both dead and are buried in Montgomery County, Iowa. His father served on the Union side during the Civil war. Mrs. Thayer's mother resides in Imperial County. Mrs. Thayer takes an ac- tive part in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and Mr. Thayer attends the Christian Church. The parents of Mr. Thayer were early settlers in Massachusetts.
WESTON RANDALL VAN DERPOEL .- Among the resolute and determined men who have aided materially in building up Imperial County and reducing its wild condition to a place of fruitfulness, is Weston R. Van Derpoel, who is numbered among the representative ranchers of his locality. He was born in New Baltimore, near Albany, New York, December 11, 1870, son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Ran- dall) Van Derpoel. His mother's ancestors came from Nova Scotia and on his father side the family history dates back to Holland ances- try. Mr. Van Derpoel acquired his schooling in Catskill and Albany, N. Y. Finishing his education, he went to New York City, where he was · employed as bookkeeper and collector for a period of five years. In 1898 he came to California and located in Riverside, where he fol- lowed horticultural work until 1900, when he came to Imperial County and took up 160 acres of land, and by his industry and perseverance he has brought his place up to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Van Der- poel was married in San Diego to Miss Mary Speck, a native of Cali- fornia. To this union have been born four children : Everett C., Martha, Margaret N., and Andrew J. The parents of Mr. Van Derpoel are both deceased. Mr. Van Derpoel has his land in a fine state of cultivation, devoting it largely to corn.
Но. Q. Лжеди.
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GEORGE E. KRUEGER .- Prominently identified with the business interests of Brawley is George E. Krueger. He is a native son and was born in San Francisco May 20, 1880, son of George F. and Fredericka Krueger. His father is a native of Germany and came to America at the age of sixteen, and located in San Francisco where he married. In the parents' family there were born three children: Charles, living in Seattle; Mrs. Emma F. Berry of Brawley, and the subject of this review. George E. acquired his education in the public schools of San Francisco, after which he attended business college. He engaged in the teaming business in San Francisco when he reached the age of twenty- one, and continued until the great fire of 1906. Mr. Krueger lost all he had at that time and removed to Los Angeles, where he worked for one year. In 1908 he came to Brawley and located on a ranch of eighty acres. He later disposed of his ranch and served as city marshal for two years and served an unexpired term of the city council. Mr. Krueg- er engaged in business with his brother-in-law, Mr. Berry, and on January 1, 1917, purchased his interest. Mr. Krueger has one of the best appointed billiard parlors in Southern California. Politically he is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the B. P. O. E. of El Cen- tro, the K. of P. of Brawley, and is past president of the Brawley Lodge of Eagles. Mr. Krueger was married June 28, 1901, to Miss Daisy Waterman, a native daughter. Her father, George E. Waterman of Farmington, formerly a large stock man. To Mr. and Mrs. Krueger have been born three children: Emma F., attending high school ; Nellie Louise and Dorothy Bernice; the two latter were born in Imperial County. Mr. Krueger is a stockholder in the American State Bank and the New Hotel of Brawley, and also the Ice Cold Storage Com- pany. He is a progressive man and has a host of friends in Imperial County.
CLARENCE P. DENNY has been prominently identified with the ag- ricultural life of Imperial County for some years and has achieved suc- cess in his chosen field, the result of his own efforts. Mr. Denny first came to Imperial Valley when it was a vast desert, in 1900, and has seen it grow from a barren waste to a place of productiveness and wealth. He was born in Nebraska, June 17, 1881, a son of G. W. and Lena (Churchill) Denny. His parents were both pioneers of this sec-
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tion. Mr. Denny received his education in various schools of Califor- nia. At the age of 18 he took a business course in Portland, Oregon. Returning to the Valley for a time he assisted his father and then be- came identified with Stevenson Brothers at Escondido, California, and for nine years had charge of their department store. Going to Portland, Oregon, he engaged in the grocery business for two years. Returning to this county, he took up the duties of ranching on his eighty-acre place for two years. Again going to Escondido, he engaged in grading and contracting for seven years. He then returned to his ranch and engaged in dairying and stock raising. During the pioneer days in Imperial Valley Mr. Denny did a good deal of canal and railroad work. He also leveled the entire Keystone ranch. He is at present buying and selling cattle. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Escon- dido. He was married at Escondido, California, July 17, 1907, to Miss Blanche Cassou, daughter of Peter and Mary Cassou, both of whom passed away in 1916, and are buried at Escondido, California. Mrs. Denny's parents were among the pioneers of San Diego County, and Mr. Cassou was engaged in the meat business in Escondido for thirty- five years and was a prominent cattleman. Mr. and Mrs. Denny have two children, Doris and Delma. Mr. and Mrs. Denny have a host of friends in Imperial County and are esteemed by all who know them.
FRANK L. WEED .- In recording the names of the pioneers of the Imperial Valley prominent mention should be made of Dana L., Frank L. and Leonard S. Weed, who are extensive land holders on Route No. I, Water Company No. 6, of Calexico. Weed Brothers have 480 acres, which is highly improved, and they are among the substantial and rep- resentative men of the county. They are progressive of spirit. Each year finds them adding improvements to their holdings. They are men of integrity and up-to-date principles. Frank L. Weed came to Imperial Valley July 29, 1901. He was born at Webster Grove, Missouri, June 24, 1877, a son of Nelson B. and Harrietta L. Weed. His father is a pioneer of the Valley and resides with his sons. Mr. Weed's mother passed away at Colton, California, in 1915, and is buried in Mountain View cemetery, San Bernardino County, California. Dana L. Weed pioneered in Imperial Valley for ten years before marrying Miss Hattie E. Prull of San Diego, California. One year after his marriage both
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went to Kirksville, Missouri, and took up the study of osteopathy. Mr. Weed's wife died in 1914, and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, San Diego. At the present time Dr. Dana L. Weed is resident superin- tendent of the Still-Hildreth Sanitarium at Macon, Missouri. Frank L. acquired his education in the public schools of San Diego. At the age of sixteen he took a business course. When he came to Imperial Valley it was a vast desert. Weed Brotherss' ranch is largely in alfalfa and they engage in the dairy business also. They have sixty dairy cows and usually run as high as 150 head of beef stock. Mr. Weed personally planted all the trees and shrubbery around his place. They have every variety of fruit in the orchard, such as peaches, apricots, plums, figs, olives, grapefruit, oranges, lemons and grapes. Throughout their active life Weed Brothers have displayed sound judgment in the management of their ranch affairs, and through their persistence of purpose have gained most gratifying success. Weed Brothers in conjunction with their ranch affairs are half owners in the Weed & Dickerson firm at Calexico, dealers in plumbing, sheet metal, hardware and automobile supplies. They have large realty holdings in Calexico and also own a modern corner building on Second Street. The subject of this review was united in marriage in San Diego, September 24, 1910, with Miss Mabel Bartholomew, daughter of Mr. A. V. Bartholomew. To Mr. and Mrs. Weed have been born two children, Agnes Elizabeth and Dana Lysander. Both children were born on the home place. Leonard S. Weed was born February 8, 1886, in San Diego. He received his edu- cation in the schools of South San Diego and the Heber Institute. He afterwards took a business course at Riverside, California. He married in Ventura County, California, August 10, 1916, Miss Ruth H. Hanna- ford, a daughter of Rev. William H. and Jean (Good) Hannaford. To this union has been born Erma Jean, born on the ranch, May 16, 1917. Weed Brothers, through their own energy and business foresight, have accumulated a handsome competency. They have always been reliable in all their business connections and they are progressive in all move- ments that will better conditions generally in their chosen county.
GEORGE W. EVANS is one of the representative ranchers of Im- perial County. He is connected with the most important business in the community in the advancement and material prosperity of his section.
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Mr. Evans owns eighty acres of valuable land on the Star route and came to the Valley in 1912. He was born in Surry County, North Carolina, November 9, 1863, a son of Thomas and Mary (Sparger)! Evans. Mr. Evans' father was born and raised in Alabama and his mother was a native of North Carolina. His father died in 1907, and is buried in the Ed Hube Cemetery, Texas. Mr. Evans' mother is now re- siding in Madill, Oklahoma. George W., the subject of this review, re- ceived his education in his native county. Leaving school at the age of twenty, he assisted on the home place until he was twenty-six years of age. He then married and started out in life for himself and farmed in Texas, his parents having moved to Texas in 1885, and remained in that state until 1893. Mr. Evans then moved to Indian Territory, where he did pioneer work until he removed to the Imperial Valley, where he has achieved success with other men of foresight and ability. Mr. Evans raises alfalfa and is interested largely in the stock business. Politically Mr. Evans is a Democrat. He is a trustee of the Silsbee school board. During his residence in Oklahoma he served as deputy sheriff in a most creditable way. He was a charter member of the W. O. W. of Oklahoma. Mr. Evans was twice married. The first union was with Miss Laura J. McClure. To this union have been born six chil- dren : Walter, in the aviation corps at Camp Travers ; Velleria, wife of George N. Snodgrass, residing in Arizona; Jo, wife of Cleveland C. Combs, residing in Imperial County ; Laud Syble, at home; Thomas Harrison, died in infancy ; Berta, residing at home. Mr. Evans' second marriage occurred May 26, 1912, at Ravia, Oklahoma. Here he was married to Mrs. Emma J. Randolph, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Newton Morris. To this union have been born two children, Thomas Winston Gilbert and Hazel Rodina. Mr. Evans' whole place is under cultivation and is one of the representative agricultural centers in his locality.
ALFRED STEHLI is one of the foremost and in point of residence one of the early settlers in Imperial County. He is a representative of Switzerland, so many members of which have become useful and sub- stantial citizens of California. Mr. Stehli has a good ranch of forty- seven acres in the Southside Water Company, and came to Imperial in June, 1907. He was born in Canton Zurich, Switzerland, February 6,
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William La Parte
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1881, a son of John and Salome Stelli. His father is deceased and buried in his native land, and Mr. Stehli's mother still resides in the old country. Mr. Stehli received his education in his native land and came to America in 1903. He found employment on ranches for a time when he returned to his native place and was married in Emsideln Canton, Switzerland, to Miss Balbena Enz, October 3, 1910. Returning to Imperial County, he rented a ranch and bought cows and engaged in the dairy business for five years, when he purchased his present proper- ty. He raises crops for dairy purposes and has thirty milch cows and sixty-five head of other stock. Mr. Stehli has improved his holdings . until now he has one of the model places in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Stehli have two children : Emma, born in Imperial County, September 17, 1911, and Alfred, born in this county, November 18, 1912. Mr. Stehli is a self-made man, as he started out in life on his own resources and through his energy he has made a success financially.
WILLIAM LONGSTREET BRITE .- In recording the names of the pioneers of Imperial Valley prominent mention should be made of Wil- liam Longstreet Brite, who is the owner. of a 117-acre ranch in the Southside Water Company, near Holtville. Mr. Brite came to Imperial County in 1906 and by hard work and keen business foresight has made a success. He is a native son and was born in Kern County, California, March 16, 1865, a son of John M. and Amanda E. (Duty) Brite. Both parents are deceased. His father died in 1897 and his mother passed away in December, 1917. Both parents are buried in the family cemetery in Brite's Valley. The parents of Mr. Brite were among the early settlers in California, coming to this state in 1854. They settled in . what is now known as Brite's Valley, named after Mr. Brite's father. William L. received his education in the public schools of Kern County. Leaving school, he assisted on the home place until he reached the age of thirty. Mr. Brite has always been identified with farm pur- suits, and upon coming to. Imperial County he rented land previous to buying his present property, which was in 1906. Mr. Brite has achieved success in his chosen field. When he bought land in this section the country was a vast desert, and he leveled his land, built fences, set out trees and shrubbery, and erected a substantial dwelling, and has made his place a model dairy ranch. He has forty-two head of fine dairy
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stock and each year he is adding to improvements and increasing his herd. Mr. Brite was married in April, 1898, to Miss Emma Harris, and to this union has been born one daughter, Gladys Verney, wife of A. L. Nevins, residing in Santa Barbara, California.
JOHN ROBINSON HAVENS .- In reviewing the careers of the men prominently identified with the phenomenal growth of Imperial County special mention should be made of John Robinson Havens, who came to the Valley October 15, 1901. He has been identified with the agricul- tural interests of the county continuously since that time. His birth occurred in San Francis County, Missouri, January 15, 1857, a son of Thomas K. and Prudence Jane (Blue) Havens, who were the parents of nine children. Mr. Havens' father left Missouri and went to Louisi- ana in 1866, and remained in that state until 1869, where he followed farming. He then removed to Mississippi and remained until 1876. John R. received a limited education in the schools of Mississippi. He assisted on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-one. In 1876 his father went to Illinois, where he died and was buried near Glasgow of that state. The father selected his own burial place, which was located on a high bluff, and the monument can be seen with a glass for a distance of twenty miles. Mr. Havens' mother passed away in February, 1872, and is buried in Beulah, Bolivar County, Mississippi. In the parents' family there were three sons; F. G. and H. A. reside in El Centro. The subject of this review, after he became of age, went to Bolivar, Mississippi, and remained during the yellow fever epidemic, which was in 1878-79. In 1880 he went to Arkansas and remained until the fall of 1884, and in 1885 he removed to Texas. Going back to Ar- kansas, he was married to Maggie Wright, a native of Mississippi, on Christmas eve, December 24, 1885. With his bride, Mr. Havens went back to Texas, where he remained until 1896. In November, 1896, he came west and located in Riverside, where he worked in orchards and farmed from 1896 to 1901. On October of that year he drove to Im- perial Valley and located on his present ranch of eighty acres, which he took up from the government. His farm has been highly improved. Mr. Havens carries on general farming and has been identified with the hog and alfalfa and dairy business to a large extent. Mr. Havens has what may be termed a show place. He set out all the handsome
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trees and palms that adorn his place in 1902, and in 1904 he transplant- ed the palms. Mr. Havens sold the palms to Mr. Holt when the town of Holtville was laid out. Mr. Havens worked on the first ditches in the county. In Mr. Havens' family nine children were born. His son James died at the age of fifteen, and was a twin brother of Felix. Those living are: Verna Lee, Felix, Roy, Clyde and Claude (twins), Fred, Addie, Ruth. Fraternally Mr. Havens is a member of the Woodmen of the World and is a stockholder in Water Company No. I.
OREN A. BLODGETT .- In recording the names of the pioneers of the county prominent mention should be made of the name which heads this biographical sketch. Mr. Blodgett came to the Valley in 1906. His birth occurred at Waterbury, Vermont, June 14, 1864, a son of Charles Chester and Wealthy (Straw) Blodgett. The parents of Mr. Blodgett were both born in Vermont and were numbered among the sturdy pio- neers and respected families of their section. When Oren A. was but twelve years of age his parents removed to Iowa. His father was a car- penter and was ship carpenter by trade. Oren A. attended the schools of Vermont and later he attended the public school at Marshalltown, Iowa. He worked at farming, and at the age of sixteen he started out in life and did truck farming, gardening and general ranching. At the age of twenty-three he went to Montana, where he readily found employ- ment in the mines of that state. He followed this vocation for ten years. In 1902 Mr. Blodgett came to California and worked for two years in the reclamation and forestry service. In 1906 he removed to Imperial County. After spending six months in the Valley he went to Arizona, where he remained for one year, working in the mines and ranching. In the fall of 1908 Mr. Blodgett returned to Imperial County and rent- ed land near Imperial and El Centro. This he put in cantaloupes and it was a failure. His first venture in renting in the Valley was with Tom King, when they rented the T. D. McCall place and later the George Reed ranch, northeast of El Centro, which was put out to cantaloupes. In May, 1917, Mr. Blodgett purchased the La Port place of eighty acres, which he will bring up to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Blod- gett's sister, Julia, is at present making her home with her brother. She has resided in Los Angeles and San Diego since 1886. The La Port ranch is one of the oldest ranches in the county. Mr. Blodgett is a self-
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made man. He started out in life without financial assistance and by his own energy and business foresight he has accumulated a competency. Mr. Blodgett and his sister have the esteem of all who know them.
ANDREW C. VAN DERPOEL .- One of the finest small ranches in the vicinity of El Centro is the Van Derpoel place in Water Company No. I. His connection with Imperial Valley dates back to 1903. He was born in Green County, New York, March 21, 1878, and received his education in the city of Albany, New York, and later attended business college. At the age of eighteen he left school and assisted his father, who was identified with the ice business on the Hudson River. At the age of twenty Mr. Van Derpoel came to California and located in Riverside. Here he found employment with O. D. Wilhite in the orange groves for one year, and during the next four years he was connected with the dairy business of that city. Coming to Imperial Valley, Mr. Van Derpoel became identified with his brothers, W. R. and F. H., in the dairy business for five years. Removing to El Centro, he became as- sociated in the grain threshing business, which vocation he still follows in connection with his ranching. In 1916 he purchased his present place of ten acres, and intends to specialize in the growing of olives. Mr. Van Derpoel has a fine residence in El Centro which he erected. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, but can always be counted upon to vote for the best man irrespective of party. He was united in mar- riage in El Centro, December 31, 1912, with Miss Cora Chowning, daughter of William H. and Mary Elizabeth Chowning, both residing in Silsbee. Mr. Chowning is one of the highly respected and representa- tive men of Imperial County. He came to this section in 1903 when it was a vast desert. Mr. Van Derpoel has been engaged in ranching and is now beginning to reap the reward of industry and well ordered liv- ing. He started out in life without funds and influential friends, and by hard work and through his own energy he has made a success.
F. W. PETERSON, M. D., the subject of this sketch, is a native of Wisconsin, from which state he came to the Valley in the summer of 1905. He is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin and for a few years subsequent to his graduation from that institution was active along educational lines. In 1905 he graduated from the Northwestern
Beach
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Medical College of Chicago, and some months later came to Calexico and opened up an office there. Two years later he changed his location to El Centro, which was beginning to develop into a town. Here he has · been located ever since. In October, 1905, he was appointed district sur- geon for the Southern Pacific Railroad, which appointment he has held continuously since. In 1910 he was elected county coroner, succeeding J. M. Mitchel, who was the first incumbent of that office. Four years later he was re-elected to the office.
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