Prominent among the
wide-awake and progressive business men of Brawley is Walter P. Casey. He
has contributed materially to the welfare of the city, and is holding a
place of prominence in business, social, and fraternal life. The ancestors
of Mr. Casey, on both sides of the family, are of colonial stock, coming
from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Walter P. Casey, the subject
of this review, was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, April 23, 1885, son of
Albert W. and Nettie G. (Pevear) Casey. He received his education largely in
the public schools of Utah. Mr. Casey's father, owing to ill health,
traveled extensively and now makes his home in Glendora, California, where
he has a well improved orange and lemon grove. Finishing his education,
Walter P. worked for the Pacific Electric road for three years in Los
Angeles. He spent one summer ten miles from Death Valley, and returned to
Los Angeles and entered the employ of Warren & Bailey Manufacturing Company.
He then became connected with the San Dimas Lemon Association with the view
of learning the citrus business. In February, 1913, he removed to Imperial
County, locating in Brawley. Here he was associated with Peter B. Hovley in
the real estate and ranch business. Mr. Hovley had large ranch holdings and
Mr. Casey assisted in handling these. In May, 1916, Mr. Casey purchased the
insurance part of the business and also engaged in the grain business, and
buys independently of the large dealers. He erected a warehouse and put in a
spur track and now ships barley, wheat, and maize to leading points in the
United States. The ancestors of his mother were among the large morocco
leather manufacturers in Lynn and Boston, Massachusetts, and his ancestry
traces back to whalers of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and the Pilgrim
Fathers. Mr. Casey is serving as president of the chamber of commerce, and
secretary of the Brawley Hotel Corporation. Fraternally he is a member of
the Masonic Lodge of Brawley. He was married April 29, 1913, to Miss Irene
La Fetra, a native daughter and the first white girl born in Long Beach,
California. Mrs. Casey's father is deceased, and her mother resides in
Glendora. Mr. Casey represents the largest and most prominent insurance
companies in the United States and England.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, p. 436.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.
In the career of
Raymond H. Henderson, one of the leading citizens, we find an excellent
example of the self-made man, who started out in life without funds and by
his own efforts he has gained the esteem of all those who know him, as he
has attained the full measure of success. Mr. Henderson was born in
Postville, Iowa, May 28, 1877, a son of E. T. and A. E. Henderson. His
parents were natives of Wisconsin and Iowa and were the parents of six
children. Raymond H. received his education in the public and high school.
He afterwards took a business course in San Diego, where his parents moved
moved twenty-five years ago. After completing his education he took up
bookkeeping for a time and went to Tennessee, where he remained for a time.
Returning to Los Angeles, he spent one year in that city, when he removed to
Imperial Valley in 1901. Mr. Henderson is truly a pioneer of this section.
When he came here it was a vast desert, and he has seen it pass from the
desert stage to a place of great productiveness and wealth. He filed on 160
acres which he improved and lost it by contest. He afterwards purchased
eighty acres following the overflow, which is all highly improved land and
set out largely in asparagus. Mr. Henderson was married in August, 1913, to
Miss Georgia Dunagan, a native of Arizona and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. D.
Dunagan, who have a well improved dairy ranch near Imperial and are among
the well to do and honored people of that section. To Mr. and Mrs. Henderson
have been born two children: Raymond Jr., aged three, and Evelyn, aged six
months. Mr. Henderson's parents are still living. On his father's side the
family dates back to Scotch origin, while on his mother's side the family is
of old English Ancestry. Mr. Henderson is of a progressive spirit, as each
year finds him making permanent improvements on his ranch.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California," Elms and Franks
Publ. Co., 1918, p. 436.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.