One of the commanding figures in the
agricultural life of Imperial County is C. Orsmond Bullis, of El Centro. He
has made steady progress towards prominence and is today largely connected
with the agricultural interests of Imperial County. He is associated with H.
H. Timken, the famous roller-bearing man, as secretary-treasurer and manager
of the Timken Ranch Company. This million dollar concern owns four thousand
acres of highly cultivated land, and has other financial interests in
Imperial County. The Timken Ranch Company is numbered among the most
prosperous and enterprising concerns in California. The management of its
interests here stands high among the far-sighted, energetic men who are
rendering such material assistance in developing and advancing the
agricultural prosperity of this section of California. Mr. Bullis has been
and is today in a large measure instrumental in making that concern what it
is, one of the most flourishing and substantial ranch companies in the
state. He was born at Sheldon, Iowa, January 10, 1883, a son of Charles
Henry and Mary L. (Barrett) Bullis, both deceased. Mr. Bullis' grandmother,
on his fathers' side, was Lydia P. Lapham. The Lapham family has been one of
prominence and influence in America since the colonial epoch in our national
history. The family genealogy dates back to John Lapham, who was born in
1635 and is of English descent. Among his descendants many notables were in
the family, and among the most recent members may be mentioned Susan B.
Anthony and Hetty Green. C. Orsmond Bullis acquired his education in the
public schools and high schools of Sheldon, Iowa, graduating from the latter
in 1899. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan University and received the B. A.
degree in 1913. After several years of active business life he again entered
college in 1911 and graduated with the class of 1912., Yale College. He took
a short farm course in Cornell University. During his early business career
he was identified with the International Harvester Company and later with
the loan department of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at its Sheldon, Iowa, office. After being associated
with this concern for some time he accepted a position as cashier in the
freight department of the C., St. P., M. & O. Ry. of the Northwestern Line
at Sheldon, Iowa. He was afterwards made assistant agent at Mitchell, South
Dakota, and later chief clerk to the general freight agent at Sioux City,
Iowa. After three years, Mr. Bullis severed his connection with the railroad
with which he had filled these positions with marked ability. From 1907 to
1911 he engaged in the real estate business and at the same time managed his
own farm interests at Benson, Minnesota. From the fall of 1912 to 1914 he
was identified with the San Diego Securities Company of San Diego,
California, after which he became Imperial Valley loan agent for H. H.
Timken. When the Timken Ranch Company was organized in 1915 he was made
secretary-treasurer and manager. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights
of Pythias Lodge and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He has recently been
appointed a member of the farm labor committee of the State Council of
Defense.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 333-334.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, October, 2006.
The career of Philo Jones of Brawley is one
which clearly defines his position as one of the progressive and
representative business men of Imperial County. He has paved the way for
many important enterprises which meant success for the city of Brawley. Mr.
Jones was born on his father's farm near Davis, Macomb County, Michigan,
January 22, 1873, son of David T. and Lavina (Sutliff) Jones. His father was
a native of Wales, while his mother was born in New York State. In 1883 Mr.
Jones' parents removed to Ontario, California, when he was ten years of age.
He attended the public schools and later entered the Chafey Preparatory
School of Ontario, graduating in 1893. He also attended the University of
Southern California. In 1897 he became receiver for the Union Iron Works of
Los Angeles for one year, and for two years was identified with the
Printer's Supply business, having the position as inside manager. Leaving
this position he was connected with the Salinas Water, Light & Power Company
as superintendent for a period of nearly three years. While attending the
University of Southern California, he was editor of the University Carrier
for three years, and published the first junior annual of that institution.
Mr. Jones was identified with other public utility companies. He served as
general manager of the Santa Maria Electric Company during construction
work, and was associated with the Pacific Electric Company of Los Angeles as
beach manager at Playa del Rey for over one year. In June, 1907, Mr. Jones
removed to Brawley and took charge of the Brawley Town and Improvement
Company. He has been associated with many leading ventures in the Valley
since locating in Brawley. He has taken an active part in the early
political history of the Valley, and registers as a Republican. In 1913, Mr.
Jones engaged in the general brokerage business. He makes a specialty of
farm loans and insurance. He was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Hillen
Nance of Santa Maria, California, August 4, 1909. To this union has been
born one daughter - Margaret Jeanette, born September 29, 1911. The father
of Mrs. Jones, Thomas Nance, was among the first pioneers, and he put in the
first crop in the Santa Maria Valley. His death occurred in 1915, at the age
of eighty years. Mrs. Jones' mother resides in Santa Maria. Mr. Jones was
appointed justice of the peace in May, 1915; this office he still holds to
the satisfaction of all. He was city recorder for several years and resigned
in 1917. Fraternally Mr. Jones is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge of
Brawley, and is Past Master of his lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are prominent
in church work and hold membership in the Methodist church. She is also
president of the Grammar School Board.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 334-335.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, October, 2006.