In recording the names of
the representative ranchers of Imperial County, prominent mention should be
made of the man whose name heads this review. He is a native son and was
born in Santa Ana, California. His father, Joseph P., was a native of New
York, and his mother was a native of Kansas. In his father's family there
were eight children. In 1888 Mr. Heil's parents came from Topeka, Kansas, to
California, where they remained one year. Returning to Kansas, the family
remained there until 1902, when they sold out and returned to the Golden
State and located at Santa Ana. Here they remained until 1907, and in 1908
came to Imperial County and located in El Centro. Mr. Heil's father
purchased the Valley Steam Laundry and operated it successfully for about
four years. His death occurred in El Centro in 1916 and the remains were
placed in the cemetery at Santa Ana. Mr. Heil's mother still resides in El
Centro. George Clinton, the subject of this sketch, was born October 27,
1888. He acquired his education in the public schools of Santa Ana and El
Centro, California. He graduated from the El Centro high school with the
class of 1910, and for a period of seven months attended Stanford University
at Palo Alto, California. Completing his studies, he returned to El Centro
and was identified with his father for a time. Mr. Heil's mother has a ranch
of 120 acres, which has been brought up to a high state of cultivation.
George C. has the management of eighty acres, while his brother has charge
of forty acres. George C. was united in marriage with Miss Irma McClure, a
native of Illinois, November 1, 1910. To this union have been born Lewis
Clinton and Irma Katheryne. Mr. and Mrs. Heil have a host of friends in El
Centro and surrounding country and they have the esteem of all who know
them.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 463-464.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, February, 2007.
Wilber Clark, with his
father, John Clark, formerly superior judge of Tulare County, and sister,
Margaret S. Clark, now Mrs. W. H. Dickinson, of Yuma, came to the Valley in
the fall of 1901, driving down from Los Angeles. Water not being available
on their land, they engaged in business in Imperial. Miss Clark took over
the post-office from W. F. Holt, who had just been appointed postmaster; she
also had charge of the Valley telephone system, and established a thriving
stationery and news business, selling same to H. E. Allat. Wilber Clark
started the first hardware business in the Valley at Imperial, selling out
there to A. L. Hill. He then moved to Calexico and again established the
first hardware business at that place, and after disposing of this store, he
and his wife, Elizabeth F., settled on the now greatly improved Wilfrieda
Ranch. Mr. Clark is a book-worm and possesses a library of several thousand
volumes, containing some rare "Americana" and first editions, as well as
books relating to the Southwest. Also considerable experimenting has been
done in the way of horticulture - some fifty varieties of grapes have been
tried out and a profitable express business has been worked up on the same.
Of great interest to Mr. Clark is the six-acre date orchard; many of the
trees are in full bearing, producing fine-tasting dates.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 464-465.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, February, 2007.