Rufus E. Jauman needs no
introduction to the people of Imperial County. He has become widely and
favorably known as a man whose integrity and excellent business ability
constitute him a factor in community advancement and progress. He is a
native of Delphos, Ohio, and was born April 12, 1870, and is a son of Antone
and Crencentia (Graf) Jauman. His father died November, 1913, at the age of
85 years, and is buried in the cemetery at Delphos, Ohio. Mr. Jauman's
mother, who is in her eighty-seventh year, still resides in Delphos. The
subject of this review acquired a limited education in the country school.
He assisted his father on the farm and attended school during the winter
months. After he reached his thirteenth birthday he did not attend school
any longer, but assisted on the home place until he became of age. He then
took up the tailoring business and followed this vocation three years. Owing
to his eyesight he gave up the tailoring business and engaged as clerk in
the furniture business, remaining two years. He then worked for the Toledo,
St. Louis and Kansas City railroad, as firemen, for eight years. He was
promoted to locomotive engineer and after four years' service he was in a
wreck which disabled him for three years.
Mr. Jauman then came to Los Angeles, where he engaged in the
real estate business. He became acquainted with Ira L. Wilson, who told him
of the wonderful possibilities in this county, and he decided to remove here
and engaged with Mr. Wilson in the real estate line for two years. Mr.
Jauman buys and sells all classes of real estate, specializing in ranches.
When he came here there were no railroads and El Centro had not been thought
of at that time. In event he missed the stage at Flowing Wells it would be
necessary to walk to Imperial. When El Centro was started Mr. Jauman was the
first real estate man to handle the townsite. He has the distinction of
being the first city treasurer, and for five years he served on the school
board. Fraternally, Mr. Jauman is a member of the B.P.O.E. of Yuma, Arizona.
He assisted in organizing the K.O.T.M. of Delphos, Ohio. He was married in
Cincinnati, Ohio, April 26, 1897, to Miss Marie Goetz, a daughter of Joseph
and Rosa Goetz, residents of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Jauman was twice married.
His first wife died December 23, 1900, and is buried in Rosedale Cemetery,
Cincinnati. To this union was born one son, Karl, born August 9, 1900. The
second marriage was to Miss Mary S. Pritchard, August 12, 1914, a daughter
of Mary S. Pritchard of Denver, Colorado, both deceased. Mr. Jauman owns
considerable valuable property in El Centro and has a fine residence on West
El Centro Street. Mr. Jauman makes a specialty of improved lands and has had
his real estate office at 472 Main Street since 1907.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 382-383.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.
Prominent among the
leading business men of Imperial County may be mentioned Walter L. Hodges,
president of the Hodges Cattle and Loan Company, which was organized
November 1, 1915. He was born in Richmond, Vermont, July 18, 1865, a son of
Norman and Caroline (Smith) Hodges. His grandfather was a pioneer of
Vermont. Walter L. acquired his education in Stowe, Vermont, leaving school
at an early age. He went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he found employment
in a hardware store. Later he clerked in a carpet store; later he became
identified with F. M. Lytzen, a wholesale cigar firm, as bookkeeper, and
later was employed as traveling salesman for a period of five years. Later
he traveled for Conway and Knickerbocker of Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. Hodges'
father engaged in the lumber business at Alta, Iowa, and Walter L. took
charge of his father's business about four years. Owing to his mother's
health he accompanied her to California, remaining with her until her death.
Mr. Hodges became interested in a small way in the rock and gravel business,
and owing to his management the business grew until it is now the leading
concern on the coast of its kind. During 1916 the Pacific Rock & Gravel
Company, of which Mr. Hodges is president, shipped 26,000 cars. The company
owns two hundred acres and leases fourteen hundred acres of rock and gravel
of superior quality. He served as president and is now vice-president of the
National Bank of Monrovia, and the Granite Savings Bank. Mr. Hodges owned
several hundred and sixty acres of land in the Valley. He disposed of four
hundred acres; the balance of his land is under cultivation and receives his
personal attention. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Lodge of
Alta, Iowa; the B.P.O.E. of Los Angeles, and the K. of P. of Alhambra,
California. Mr. Hodges was married in Los Angeles, California, May 22, 1902,
to Miss Agnes Alexander, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Alexander. Her
father is deceased and buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles. Mrs.
Hodges' mother resides in Los Angeles, and is eighty-eight years of age. Mr.
and Mrs. Hodges have one daughter, Marion Ynez, born November 1, 1904, a
student at Pomona Convent. Mr. Hodges' parents are both buried in the
Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. His father died November 22,
1909, and his mother passed away in 1906.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 383-384.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.