USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 47
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successfully. He has stock of his own and yearly finds an opportunity to sell considerable pasturage. Politically Mr. Elmore always votes for the best man and does not allow party politics to sway his superior judgment in this matter. He is a worthy member of the Christian Church. Mr. Elmore was married at Banning, California, August 16, 1913, to Miss Lela Belle Eli, daughter of William E. and Flora Belle (Hastein) Eli, prominent residents of Imperial County. To this union two children have been born: Robert G., Jr., born July 14, 1914, in Brawley, and Beauford William, born on the ranch, February 10, 1916. The Elmore family is of English origin and the Jenkins of Scotch or- igin. The family is ably represented as far back as five generations, both sides taking active part in the Civil war. About the Elmore ranch there is an appearance of attractiveness which is appealing. The nu- merous trees and the buildings in general add greatly to the effective- ness of the scene, and Mr. Elmore is to be congratulated owing to his keen foresight in achieving the noteworthy results which are so evident everywhere.
JAMES WILLIAM COLSON .- In the lexicon of human endeavor the world waits for no man, and he who achieves today a laudable am- bition is placed very naturally in the column which represents the sur- vival of the fittest. In passing it might be stated with utmost sincerity that James William Colson, owner of a 280-acre ranch in Water Com- pany No. 5, near Holtville, is entitled to prominent mention in these pages, as he is one of the progressive and influential citizens of the Val- ley. James W. came to Imperial County in February, 1908, and was born at Gays, Illinois, September 10, 1874, the son of Joseph and Mary I. (Curry) Colson. The father of Mr. Colson died from the effects of valiant service during the Civil war. His death occurred in 1886 and he is buried at Ashgrove, Illinois. The mother of Mr. Colson at this time resides at Riverside, California. Mr. Colson received his early educa- tion in his home town, leaving school at the age of 11 years. During later years he assisted on the home place and while still young matured a crop of corn which easily proved his knowledge of ranching at that stage. Coming to California in 1902, he settled temporarily at Redlands where he engaged in the orange growing business until he came to El Centro. Upon his arrival in the Valley, Mr. Colson proceeded to branch
A
RE Fonder
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out in the real estate and insurance business. This pursuit he followed for eight years. During February, 1916, James W. purchased the pres- ent property. He also rented 320 acres of land, and thus having 600 acres at his disposal planted the foregoing acreage in cotton. Politically Mr. Colson votes for the best man on the ticket despite party affilia- tions. Fraternally he is a member of Tee Court of Honor, Springfield, Illinois. He was married in Los Angeles, November 12, 1913, to Miss Hallie Bailey of Indiana.
ROY EUGENE GONDER .- Individually and collectively, Roy Eu- gene Gonder is listed among the progressive ranchers of Imperial County. He is the owner of 320 acres of highly cultivated land in Wa- ter Company No. 5, near Brawley, is ranching on a large, remunerative scale, and is held high in the esteem of all who know him. Mr. Gonder came to Imperial County April 19, 1902, and was born at Duncan Falls, Ohio, November 18, 1876, the son of George W. and Mary E. (Smith) Gonder. The family is of old American stock. The family tree of Mr. Gonder's mother dates back to the English, but there are generations of both sides represented in this country. The parents of Mr. Gonder have passed away ; the father died in 1917 and the mother during Feb- ruary, 1888. Both are buried at Duncan Falls, Ohio. As a boy Mr. Gonder received his early education near Duncan Falls, but continued his progress in the way of learning until he reached the age of 20 years, having attended various institutions in the meanwhile. For five years Mr. Gonder was a school teacher. Prior to that time, however, he as- sisted his parents during vacation periods on the home place. It was at this point in his life that Mr. Gonder turned his eyes in the direction of Imperial County. Upon his arrival here he filed on his present prop- erty, leveled the same, and has one of the most valuable holdings in the county at this time. The year Mr. Gonder arrived in the Valley there was nothing much for the human eye to gaze upon. Vast stretches of desert could be seen everywhere, with not even so much as a soul- inspiring oasis to lift the imagination to the heights of joy. He was a pioneer in every sense of the word. As a practical rancher, Mr. Gonder specializes in the growing of grain. He has been very successful in this pursuit. His yearly returns are large and remunerative. More than 1000 trees have been planted by Mr. Gonder, and the general appearance of
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attractiveness noted about the Gonder ranch is due entirely to the fore- sight and energy of the owner thereof. Whenever election rolls around Mr. Gonder can always be found attaching his mark on the Republican side of the column. He is also a member of the Royal Arch, F. & A. M. Mr. Gonder was married at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1916, to Miss Maud Liggitt, daughter of Walker and Mary (McCord) Liggitt. The parents are both deceased and are buried at Chandlersville, Ohio. John A. McCord, grandfather of Mrs. Gonder, came from his- toric Crookstown, Ireland. The Liggitt family also comes of English and Irish origin. Four brothers of the mother of Mrs. Gonder did valiant service and fought unstintingly for the cause during the Civil war. Their names on the escutcheon of fame are: John A. McCord, Dr. George McCord, Samuel and William. Mr. Gonder in the early days was affiliated with the old California Development Company, having acted as foreman for the corporation during that period which wit- nessed the beginning of the Imperial Valley. All his achievements dur- ing the years he has been a resident of the county are primarily due to his broad, conservative methods in attaching himself to conditions in' general.
BEN DYER IRVINE .- One of the fine ranches of Imperial County is owned by Ben Dyer Irvine, a property holding which comprises 353 acres in Water Company No. 5, near Brawley. Practical knowledge of agriculture has been the magnet which has caused Mr. Irvine to bend his efforts toward his chosen field of industry, and he has undoubtedly achieved vast results. He came to Imperial County August 22, 1907, and was born in Marshall, Missouri, January 17, 1875, the son of Henry B. and Martha Elizabeth (Lewis) Irvine. The grandparents on both sides of the family came from Virginia during 1836 and located in Missouri, where they were among the pioneers. The country there- abouts at that time represented a vast prairie. The Lewis family are of old Virginia stock, members of which fought the Indians during many tempestuous days, while there is a sprinkling of the Scotch-Irish on both sides. History will show that the members of the family, in tracing the lineage thereof, came to this country long before the Revolutionary war. Mr. Irvine received his education in his native state at the gram- mar school, leaving the institution at the age of 16 years. He then as-
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sisted his parents until he reached the age of 20 years. Later he estab- lished himself in the wallpaper and paint business in Kansas City and Marshall, Missouri, where he carried on his vocation for ten years. Coming to Pasadena, California, in 1907, he tried for a location and settled first of all in this county, near Holtville, where he was engaged as overseer for Dr. C. S. Lombard of Redlands, California, on a ranch comprising 320 acres. He also handled a hog ranch for five months for the same party. Later he filed on his present property, which was rough, barren, desert country. Mr. Irvine has labored hard and industriously and has brought his property up to a high state of productiveness. He received his title to the land in 1916. He is now cultivating 350 acres and follows principally grain growing and stock raising. He owns more than 210 head of hogs and also some thoroughbred hogs at the present time. Mr. Irvine organized the M. E. Church at Alamorio, and also helped to build the Magnolia School and Brawley High School. Great credit is due Mrs. Irvine, who insisted in sharing all privations with her husband during his fight here on the desert. She was with him during the hot summer months and never murmured for a moment about overwhelming odds, but with that steadfastness which is one of her most charming characteristics remained as a true and loyal wife should at the side of her husband, all of which adds very splendidly to her many personal and wifely accomplishments. Mr. and Mrs. Irvine were married at Blackwater, Missouri, June 11, 1895. The maiden name of Mrs. Irvine was Katherine Turley, she being the daughter of Chris- topher and Susan Elsie Turley, pioneers of Missouri, who came to this state from Missouri. Mr. Turley resides at Pasadena. The mother died when Mrs. Irvine was an infant and is buried at Arrow Rock, Missouri. The parents of Mr. Irvine reside at Hutchinson, Kansas, with his brothers-George M. and Robert C .- both of whom are traveling sales- men. As can be readily seen in the foregoing, Mr. Irvine represents most practically all the worthy attributes which go with the self-made man.
ROLAND REED .- Of the younger generation of business men in Imperial County none have met with a larger measure of success than that which has attended the efforts of Roland Reed, general manager of the Reed-Williams corporation, which owns several ranches in Im-
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perial Valley, comprising several hundred acres. The corporation of which Mr. Reed is general manager, is largely interested in the hog business, and the business they have built up is enormous. The com- pany has entered the date-growing business on a very large scale, and they have made a success of the grapefruit business. Thoroughly alert and up to the minute in modern ideas, operating his ventures in a strictly legitimate manner and in a way that will benefit the community, Mr. Reed's work places him among the representative men of the county. Mr. Reed came to Imperial County in October, 1911. He was born in Ida Grove, Iowa, June 18, 1887, a son of James W. and Ella (Wilkinson) Reed. Both parents now reside in Los Angeles. His father is the president of the corporation. In Mr. Reed's parents' family there are six children: R. C., with the Reed-Williams company; Ruth R., wife of Harry Van Patten of Chicago; Mary R., wife of Noah Wil- liams, vice-president of the company, and Russell and Renfield, residing at home. The subject of this review acquired his education in the schools of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin. Upon leaving the university he assisted in his father's bank. Later he assisted on his father's cattle ranch in Canada. Here he remained for several years be- fore coming to Imperial County to remain permanently. Fraternally Mr. Reed is a Royal Arch Mason of Ida Grove, Iowa. He is also a member of the Delta-Tau Delta of the University of Wisconsin. Mr. Reed was united in marriage in Kansas City, Missouri, April 12, 1913, with Miss Grace Hutchinson, daughter of A. M. and Emma (Johnson) Hutchinson. Her father is deceased and is buried in the family cemetery at Libertyville, Illinois. Mrs. Reed's mother resides in Imperial County. Mrs. Reed was born in Kingsley, Iowa, and is a graduate of the Ida Grove High School. She remained with her parents until her marriage to Mr. Reed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reed have a host of friends in Im- perial County.
GEORGE CLIFFORD RICHARDS .- One of the commanding fig- ures in the agricultural life of Imperial County is George Clifford Richards. Coming to Imperial County in December, 1907, when the country was a vast desert, he has seen a wonderful transformation since it has been made a place of great productiveness and wealth. Mr. Richards is the owner of one hundred acres of choice land in the
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Southside Water Company No. I, El Centro. He was born in Adams County, Illinois, May 31, 1864, a son of John W. and Margaret (Pot- ter) Richards. His parents were among the early settlers in Illinois, having located in that state in 1836. The Richards family is of old Eng- lish descent and came to America before the Revolutionary war. They settled first in Loudon County, Virginia, and later moved to Illinois. Both parents are buried in Burton, Adams County, Illinois. The sub- ject of this review received his education in Adams County, and left high school at the age of 18, and owing to his father's ill health he was obliged to take charge of the home place. He remained at home ten years after his father's death. Going to northwestern Nebraska for a time, Mr. Richards returned home, where he spent seven years. He then removed to Trinidad, Colorado, where he engaged in the feed business for four years. Disposing of his interests in Colorado, Mr. Richards with his family went to Redondo Beach, and spent one year there. He then brought horses to Imperial Valley for another party and after being in the Valley for a year he purchased two hundred and forty acres, which he has improved and which has been brought up to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Richards erected substantial buildings and set out all the trees and shrubbery around his place. He is a large grower of grain and cotton and deals extensively in stock. Politically Mr. Richards is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. He was married at his wife's home place in Adams County, Illinois, January 4, 1893, to Miss Emma Cate, daughter of Walter Cate. Both Mrs. Richard's parents are deceased and buried in Columbus, Adams County, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Richards had three children : Mildred died in infancy ; Lawrence, born in Illinois, is now aged twenty-three and is now at home, and Edith, born in Illinois, attending high school at Holtville.
FOSTER McCONNELL .- One of the commanding figures in the ag- ricultural life of Imperial County is Foster McConnell. He is a figure of importance in the life of the Valley and understands every phase of ranch development. A man of progressive spirit and good business foresight, Mr. McConnell is a native son and was born at Corona, California, March 21, 1893, a son of H. F. and Lora McConnell. His father passed away May 3, 1912, and is buried at Corona, California.
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His mother resides in the home place. The ancestors of Mr. McConnell originally came from Ireland, but owing to political troubles they moved to Scotland. Foster, the subject of this review, received his education in the public schools of Corona. At the age of fifteen years he began ranching on the present place, which then consisted of 252 acres and only ninety acres was leveled. Mr. McConnell is imbued with a progres- sive spirit and he at once started to level the balance of his land. Other tracts were bought at various times until he now owns 535 acres. Each year he has added improvements. In 1917 Mr. McConnell took a com- mercial course. He has ninety milch cows and 350 head of other stock. He also set out all of the trees in his splendid orchard and has thus ad- ded greatly to the attractiveness of his place in general. Mr. McConnell is largely interested in hogs and poultry. Foster and his brother, Leslie, are partners in their ranch affairs and their efforts have brought about great changes on their ranch. Leslie was born in Redlands, California, October 4, 1889, and received his education in Santa Ana, California, and later took a business course. Leaving school at the age of sixteen. he went with his parents to Corona, where his father owned a ranch, and remained there until the family removed to Imperial County. Les- lie was united in marriage February 4, 1917, with Miss Caroline Heil, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Heil. Her father is deceased and is buried in Santa Ana. The mother resides in El Centro. McConnell Brothers' ranch has been brought up to a high state of cultivation and is one of the model places of Imperial County. Their father's death was deeply mourned by all who knew him. He led an honorable and useful life, and his career bore the closest investigation and scrutiny. His life record gained for him the unqualified respect and esteem of the people in every locality where he lived. His life was ambitious and was founded on honorable and progressive ideas. His wife and family may find justi- fiable pride in the fact that he not only achieved success in a material way, but his deeds and actions as a model father and loving husband will be perpetuated in the history of Imperial County, which is a monu- ment to his career.
LINZA B. ROGERS .- Careful readers of this, the first standard his- tory of Imperial County, will find many names of prominent and influ- ential ranchers mentioned therein. Hence the declaration that the name
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of Linza B. Rogers, the subject of this review, should be prominently displayed within these pages, as Mr. Rogers is one of the Valley's most progressive and wide-awake citizens. He owns 320 acres of land in Water Company No. 5, at Brawley, which is noted for its remunerative productiveness. Mr. Rogers was born in Orange County, October 27, 1875, being a native son, and came to Imperial County in the year 1906, which makes him a pioneer of the Valley. Linza A. is the son of Ben and Orpha Rogers. His father died when Mr. Rogers was yet in in- fancy. After a long and useful life his mother passed away May 30, 1915, and is buried at Long Beach, California. The body of Mr. Roger's father has been interred at Santa Ana, California. Linza B. received his education at Long Beach, and left school at the age of thirteen years. With characteristic foresight, Mr. Rogers has, to use an apt expression, "been paddling his own canoe," ever since a boy, and what has come to him during all those years of endeavor in the way of hard-earned suc- cess is due to his own practical knowledge of the world and conditions in general. For ten years Mr. Rogers worked for wages. Later he start- ed to raise sugar beets in Los Angeles County, which venture lasted for about ten years. After trying the grain-growing business for a season, Mr. Rogers came to Imperial County, having filed on his present prop- erty in the year 1903. At the time his holding was rough, desert country, which Mr. Rogers leveled and made farmworthy. There was not a ditch within one-half mile at the time and many overwhelming obstacles were naturally encountered. However, Mr. Rogers valiantly stuck to his task and today has a finely-appointed ranch in a high state of cultiva- tion. He makes a specialty of raising grain, has had good success with hogs and cattle, and at one time totaled 1800 brooders on his place. Every tree on the place has been planted by Mr. Rogers, and he has solved the water question by piping artesian water for a distance of one mile. He has a fine residence on the home place, as pretentious as it is modern, while all the outbuildings lend an attractive appearance to the ranch in general. Politically Mr. Rogers has never aspired for office, but he always votes for the right man at the right time and does not let party politics sway him when a deserving man is seeking office. He was married at Long Beach, California, November 27, 1902, to Miss Dora Belle Brady, daughter of John and Mary Brady. Mrs. Rogers' father is buried in the Long Beach cemetery. Mrs. Brady resides at Long Beach.
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As the result of their happy union two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers: Dorothea Leona, born at Long Beach, and Lillian Rose, born on the home place in this county.
EDGAR D. GRIFFIN is the owner of a valuable ranch in Water Com- pany No. 5, comprising 160 acres of highly cultivated land. The ranch in general presents a tidy appearance, as all the appointments demon- strate the modern methods employed by Mr. Griffin as a practical ranch- er. In the Holtville section there are many farms of good proportions, but it can be stated very candidly that Mr. Griffin is listed very promi- nently among the foremost agriculturists of the community wherein he resides. He came to Imperial County during October, 1913, and was born in Madison County, Iowa, November 17, 1864, the son of Cyrus and Eliza (Wilson) Griffin. The family arrived in Iowa in 1856, being among the pioneer ranchers of Madison County. Both parents of Mr. Griffin have passed away. The bodies have been interred in the North Branch Cemetery, Madison County, Iowa. The early beginning of the family is traced to Welsh ancestry, members of which came to this country originally in the year 1760. Mr. Griffin received his education in his native state, leaving school at the age of 17 years. After assisting his parents on the home place for some years after leaving school, Edgar D. started out in life for himself at the age of 21. He journeyed to Col- orado, where he found employment on the ranches, where he remained from the year 1902 until he came to Imperial County. Upon his arrival here, Mr. Griffin started working by the day and later rented land until he was able to purchase his present property. This event in his life oc- curred January 1, 1918. In addition to his present holding, Mr. Griffin has filed for a homestead near Dixieland. He follows the dairy business rather extensively and is also meeting with considerable success in the way of growing grain. He keeps ninety head of cattle on his place. Politically Mr. Griffin always votes for the man most deserving on the ticket. He was married in Madison County, Iowa, February 3, 1887, to Miss Mary Stanton, daughter of David and Hannah Stanton, both pio- neers of Madison County. The parents of Mrs. Griffin settled in that county in 1854. Both have since passed away and are buried in the Bear Creek Cemetery, Madison County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have four children : Clarence H., born in Madison County, Iowa ; Hobart S., born
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in Iowa ; Milton B., born in Iowa and a student at the high school, and Maurice, born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a citizen and influen- tial factor in the community, Mr. Griffin represents all the qualities which are typical of the self-made man. He is broad in his views, con- servative in his method of outlining agricultural questions of note, and a man well liked by every one throughout the county.
THOMAS W. G. LYONS, owner of 320 acres of land in Water Com- pany No. 5, near Brawley, is a self-made man. He is one of the most progressive and influential factors in the agricultural life of Imperial County. Mr. Lyons is very actively listed among the pioneers of this section, coming to the Valley in the year 1905. He was born in Mon- terey County, California, April 23, 1874, the son of Stephen and Mary (Driscol) Lyons, both being pioneers of Imperial County who came here in 1904, and are now residing in Brawley. The family is of old English and Irish origin and in tracing the lineage thereof many inter- esting items are brought to light. Mr. Lyons received his education in the public schools in various parts of California, leaving the public in- stitutions at the age of nineteen years. During his school days Mr. Lyons assisted very materially on the home place and later continued in this capacity until he reached the age of 27 years. He then branched out and began farming for himself in Monterey County and San Benito County for three years. Leaving San Benito County he went to San Francisco, where he organized several mining corporations, one of them being the Lyons Gypsum Company. Mr. Lyons remained in active charge of this corporation until he came to Imperial County and acquired his present property by filing thereon during the year 1907. When he came to the Valley in 1905 Mr. Lyons, in conjunction with his father and brothers, operated a combined harvester, whereby they harvested a field of barley on what is now the city of El Centro, including numerous other places about the county. He followed this pursuit for some time and also found time to take care of his mining interests in various parts of the state. Mr. Lyons and his family contributed largely toward the development of Imperial County. In passing it might be stated that Mr. Lyons or- ganized the Mexican Farm Lands & Cattle Company in Mexico. When the subject of this review came to the Valley a vast desert stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction. On his place there is a natu-
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ral well which shoots water about sixty feet above the surface of the ground. Mr. Lyons is doing general farming and is meeting with un- qualified success in the raising of barley, corn, cotton and alfalfa for the market. He leveled all his ground and made all commanding improve- ments about the place. He has a finely situated home, which is one of the features on his property. He continues to hold his mining property and mills, warehouses and spur track at King City, Monterey County, Cali- fornia. Politically he is a Republican and has never aspired for office. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West and of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Lyons was married at Royal Oak, Michigan, June 12, 1907, to Miss Margaret C. Murray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Murray, of Royal Oak, where the family settled in the early days. Mr. Murray has passed away and is buried in the Royal Oak cem- etery. Mrs. Murray is at present residing at Oakland, California. Mr. and Mrs. Lyons have two sons : Edward W., who was born in Monterey County, California, February 28, 1909, and Robert S., also born in Mon- terey County, March 12, 1911. The parents of Mr. Lyons raised six sons and five daughters : Ella, who is buried in San Francisco; Molly, residing in Monterey, California, the wife of Lewis Rudolph ; Catherine, wife of Oscar J. Burns, Los Angeles; Rose, a Sister of Charity at El Paso, Texas; Stephen P., Edward J., John P., Leo J., and Frank I., and Irene, a Sister of St. Joseph's, Tucson, Arizona, whose parochial name is Sister Rose Mary.
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