George Richard Buckel
maintains the reputation as one of the able and successful ranchers of
Imperial County. He is progressive in citizenship and has gained the
confidence and the good-will of all who have in any way been associated with
him. Mr. Buckel was born in St. Louis, Missouri, November 10, 1890. He came
to Imperial County in June, 1915, and his brother, Leonard J., came to this
county in August, 1913. The subject of this biography acquired his education
in the public schools of St. Louis. At an early age he assisted his father.
At the age of nineteen he started out in life for himself and traveled
extensively. He assisted on a threshing machine in Canada for some time.
Returning to St. Louis, he engaged in contracting and teaming and followed
this vocation until he came to Imperial Valley, when he engaged in raising
farm products. Politically Mr. Buckel is a Republican. He was married in St.
Louis, Missouri, June 5, 1915, to Miss Edna Huth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
August Huth, both residents of St. Louis. To Mr. and Mrs. Buckel have been
born one daughter, Adele. Mr. Buckel has a string of seventy-five milch
cows, as well as a hundred head of young stock. He is a self-made man. He
started out in life without financial aid or money and has worked his way up
and accumulated a handsome competency. Mr. George Richard Buckel and his two
brothers, Leonard J. and Dewey W., are partners and have succeeded in the
same influential manner. Both were born in St. Louis, Missouri, where they
received their education.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, p. 454.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.
From comparative
obscurity Walter M. Pain has advanced steadily in agricultural connections
until he became one of the representative ranchers of Imperial County. He is
esteemed and popular in his neighborhood for his manly qualities and close
conformity to the principles of right and honor. Mr. Pain was born at
Bangor, Maine, July 23, 1867, a son of Castenos and Theresa (McKeen) Pain.
His father died in 1912 at the age of eighty-three years and is buried in
San Diego, California. Mr. Pain's mother is a resident of Imperial County.
The family is of old English origin and dates back to the Mayflower. Walter
M. received his education mostly in the schools of experience. At the age of
fourteen he began to make his own livelihood, working on farms and following
other pursuits. Mr. Pain first came to Imperial Valley in 1887, when the
Valley was a vast desert. He camped with his cattle at Blue Lake, where he
secured ninety acres of land which he leveled and improved. He erected
substantial buildings and now has one of the fine ranches in this county. In
politics Mr. Pain is a Republican, but has never aspired to office. He was
married in Escondido, California, September 15, 1902, to Miss Catherine
McVey, a daughter of John and Catherine McVey. Her father was a veteran of
the Civil War and is now deceased and buried in the soldiers' cemetery at
Sawtelle, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Pain have been born three children:
Frank, born at Julian, San Diego County, California; Theresa and William,
born in Escondido. Mr. Pain has one of the best appointed ranches in the
Valley and makes a specialty of alfalfa and barley. He keeps one hundred
head of stock. Mr. and Mrs. Pain have a host of friends and acquaintances in
the county.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 454-455.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.
Through his own efforts,
James Laughrin attained a place among the successful ranchers of Imperial
County and stands today an excellent example of the self-made man of whom
the Imperial Valley is so proud. Mr. Laughrin has a well-appointed place of
148 acres in Water Company No. 8, near Brawley. He came to the Valley in
November, 1911. He was born in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, March 27, 1866,
a son of Owen and Sarah (Forbes) Laughrin. His father was among the pioneers
of Illinois and died in 1906 and is buried in Beaver County, Oklahoma. His
mother resides in Beaver City, Oklahoma. The family is of Irish origin and
came to America before the Revolutionary War. Mr. Laughrin received his
education in Carroll County and assisted on his father's farm in Oklahoma.
Starting out in life, Mr. Laughrin engaged in ranching in Oklahoma. Here he
remained until he came to Imperial County. He purchased forty acres which he
improved and finally sold. He then purchased 67 acres and filed on other
land and now has a model place of 148 acres. Mr. Laughrin was married near
Beaver City, Oklahoma, August 10, 1892, to Miss Mary Etta Black, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Black, a pioneer farmer and merchant of Tologa,
Oklahoma. To this union have been born ten children: Thomas Owen, a rancher
in Imperial County; Robert James, in Battery D, USA; Eunice Berry, attending
business college in San Diego; Esther Belle, attending school at Brawley;
Edward, Richard, Lindell, Evelyn, Gertrude, and Mary Fay. Mr. Laughrin has
the most unique and scenic ranch in the Valley. The fact that most of his
land is in the river bottom caused by the overflow of the Colorado is
something out of the ordinary. His residence, barns and other buildings are
located about sixty feet above his ranch. It is a picturesque sight to stand
on the bank and gaze upon the fertile section below, which is in alfalfa and
other crops.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 455- 456.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.