Numbered among the prominent and successful
business men of Brawley is Ernest C. Schelling, who has been identified with
Walter S. Campbell since 1916. Mr. Schelling came to Imperial County in
1909. He was born near Ackley, Hardin County, Iowa, July 12, 1874, a son of
Joseph and Mary (Meyers) Schelling. His parents were among the early
settlers in Iowa, and his father was one of the pioneer farmers of Hardin
County. His death occurred in 1916, and was buried in Rockford, Illinois.
Mr. Schelling's mother passed away in 1896, and is buried in Beeman, Iowa.
Ernest C. received his education in the public schools of Iowa and Illinois;
he left high school at the age of seventeen. He then took up the study of
pharmacy, receiving his diploma as a registered pharmacist in the State of
Illinois. For six years he was associated with the drug business. He then
learned the grocery business and in 1909 he came to California and located
in Brawley, where he found employment with Harry Baum. He remained here as
manager of the grocery department until he purchased the stock of Mr. Baum,
with W. S. Campbell. The store takes rank with the stores in much larger
cities, it being the largest in Brawley and is one of the two stores in
Imperial Valley that had to get a government license. Mr. Schelling and Mr.
Campbell are recognized as leaders of their line, and their personalities
enter into every transaction, and the people of Brawley have learned that
they can depend on the goods as represented. Fraternally Mr. Schelling is
serving as chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias and is a Blue
Lodge Mason. He married at Alden, Iowa, Miss Margaret Holmes, August 13,
1894, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Holmes. To this union have been born
one daughter, Eleanor, wife of George Darnell of Brawley.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 338-339.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, November, 2006.
Among the men who by reason of their personal
integrity and enterprise, have come to be regarded as representative
citizens of Imperial Valley is numbered Clarence K. Clarke, chief engineer
and general manager for the Imperial Irrigation District, with headquarters
in Calexico, California. None are more highly esteemed than the subject of
this narrative. Mr. Clarke was born in Lewis County, Washington, December 5,
1859, a son of Fred A. and Eunice A. (Stillman) Clarke. On his mother's side
the family dates back to Revolutionary stock and the ancestors on his
father's side are of English extraction. Mr. Clarke acquired his education
in the public and high schools of Portland, Oregon. Finishing his education
he became identified with the Northern Pacific in the civil engineer
department, where he remained for some years. He later went with the Oregon
Pacific and the Southern Pacific in the various engineering departments. He
was division engineer for five years of the Tuscon division, and upon
leaving that post he became identified with and had charge and direction of
the forces in the closure of the Colorado River from December 21, 1906, to
February 10, 1907. After the closure of the river Mr. Clarke took an active
part in 1907 in restoring the canal system, and from here he was transferred
to the Coast Division as division engineer. In 1909 he returned to the
Valley and became superintendent of Number One Irrigation District.
Resigning this office, he accepted the position as assistant general manager
of the C. D. Company, W. H. Holabird, receiver. Mr. Clarke resigned and on
April 1, 1911, was made superintendent and chief engineer for the Palo-Verde
Mutual Water Company, from January 1, 1913, to July, 1914. He served as city
manager of Tuscon, 1915-1916. He then accepted the position of chief
engineer of this district in 1917. Fraternally Mr. Clarke is a member of the
B.P.O.E. No. 476 of Yuma, Arizona. He is also a member of the Masonic Lodge,
holding membership in Corinthian Blue Lodge No. 38, of Puyallup, Washington,
Scottish Rite Consistory Number 5 of San Francisco, and Al Malaikah Shrine
of Los Angeles. Mr. Clarke was united in marriage July 6, 1901, to Miss
Loretta Graydon, a native of Globe, Arizona. One daughter has blessed this
union, Loretta L., born May 26, 1902. Politically Mr. Clarke is registered
as a Republican, but can always be depended upon to support the man and not
the party, and he has never aspired to office. Mr. Clarke is progressive in
citizenship and has gained the confidence, good will and esteem of all who
have been in any way associated with him.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California, "
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 340-341.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, November, 2006.