In reviewing the careers
of the men prominently concerned in the business life of Imperial County,
mention should be made of Henry Dieffenbacher, who came to the Valley in
November, 1914, and has been identified with the meat business in Calipatria
since October 13, 1917. He was born in Eppingen, Baden, Germany, September
17, 1863, and received his education in his native land. In 1880, he came to
America and has been a citizen of the United States since 1892. He has
followed the butcher business in various parts of the country for many
years. In 1882 he came to California, and in 1888 he engaged first in
business for himself in Benicia, after working at his trade in that city for
nearly three years. He engaged in business at Aroyo Grande, California,
where he remained four years. Mr. Dieffenbacher then removed to Arizona and
remained one year. Coming to Imperial County, he took over ten acres of land
and erected a slaughter house on the place at Calipatria. Here he remained
for a time and then engaged in business in Mexicali for eighteen months.
Returning to Calipatria he opened his present store and has met with
gratifying success.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, p. 364.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.
Conspicuous among
the young, capable and ambitious business men of Imperial County is numbered
Albert Richard Hems. He was born in England, December 7, 1882, son of Henry
and Sarah (Glover) Hems. He acquired his education in his native land and at
an early age he came to America and settled in Troy, New York, where he
found employment in the Burden Iron Works. Here he remained five years. He
then visited his sister in Newport, Ky., and later went to Cincinnati, Ohio,
and worked in Elmwood, a suburb of Cincinnati, for one year. He then went to
Indianapolis, where he worked in a machineshop for one year. Later he
removed to Toledo, Ohio, and late in 1907 he went to Salem, Oregon and
remained about two years, going to San Francisco and then to Phoenix,
Arizona. In 1910 he worked for George Stevens in San Bernardino, remaining
for two years at the undertaking business. Mr. Hems then went to New York
City and studied embalming, graduating in 1914 from the Renouard Embalming
School, and after completing his course he returned to the Coast and located
in Long Beach, California, where he became identified with J. J. Mottell,
who is engaged in the undertaking business. Here Mr. Hems remained two
years. He then worked for W. H. Sutch and Bresee Brothers, in Los Angeles.
He then came to Calexico, engaging in the undertaking business and has one
of the best equipped parlors and chapels in the county. He also has a modern
automobile hearse. Fraternally, Mr. Hems is a member of the Moose Lodge. He
was married January 16, 1917, to Miss Lena Rawlings, a daughter of Frank and
Elizabeth Rawlings. Her parents are both deceased and were among the old
residents of England. To Mr. and Mrs. Hems was born one son, Allen Richard,
born November 9, 1917. While a resident of Salem, Oregon, Mr. Hems was a
member of Company M, Oregon National Guard. The family is active in the
Methodist Church of Calexico. Mr. Hems' parents are both deceased and were
of English descent. Mrs. Hems has six brothers in the present war, four in
France and two in Egypt. Mr. and Mrs. Hems have won an extensive circle of
warm friends in Calexico and Imperial County.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, p. 365.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.