Joseph M. Scheibr has achieved success in
life as a result of his own efforts. He has been upright in his business
dealings and has now the respect and confidence of his neighbors and
associates in his community. Mr. Scheibr was born in Switzerland in 1897. He
acquired a limited education in his native land. He is a son of Jacob and
Anna Scheibr. Joseph M. came to America in 1903 and located in Minnesota.
Here he found employment for some months and later, in 1904, he removed to
Los Angeles, where he remained for two years and worked at the dairy
business. In 1906 he came to Imperial Valley and worked out for fifteen
months at dairying. He then bought thirty cows and rented land for four
years at Imperial. He then came to the El Centro District, where he remained
three years on one place. March, 1913, he moved his dairy string to his
present place and purchased eighty acres with his brother, Ambrose, who was
born December 28, 1881. Scheibr Brothers now have a string of fifty cows.
The subject of this sketch was the first Swiss to locate in Imperial Valley,
his brother coming to the country two years later. Joseph M. was the first
Swiss to purchase cows and engage in the dairy business in Imperial County.
The brothers are progressive and up-to-date ranchers and have a well
appointed place.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 422-423.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.
Arthur G. Goff is the
owner of a ranch of eighty acres in Water Company No. 1, Calexico. He has
achieved success along agricultural lines as a result of his own efforts and
each year finds him making substantial improvements to his place. Mr. Goff
is entitled to prominent mention in this history among the pioneers of
Imperial Valley. He came to this county in 1902, and was born in Bedford
County, Virginia, June 30, 1877, a son of James L. and Mary A. (Austin)
Goff. His father was a native of Virginia and the Goff family is of Scotch
origin and came to America and were among the founders of Virginia. The
parents of Mr. Goff are both dead. His father is buried in Botetourt County,
Virginia and his mother's body has been interred near Bedford, Virginia.
Arthur G. received his education in the public schools of his native state.
He assisted on the home place until he was eighteen years of age. He then
worked in the woolen mills for eight years. Coming to Imperial County, he
found employment at ranching and with the water companies. In 1911 Mr. Goff
became assistant superintendent of Water Company No. 1. This position he
filled until June, 1916. Mr. Goff filed on his first ranch in Water Company
No. 6, in 1903. This he sold in 1907 and purchased another ranch in Water
Company No. 1. He disposed of this place in 1911. He then purchased his
present place of eighty acres which he is improving to make it one of the
best ranches in the county. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge
and the I.O.O.F. Mr. Goff married in Calexico in February 13, 1907, Miss
Myrtle Bradbury, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bradbury. Her father passed
away and is buried at Phoenix, Arizona, while Mrs. Goff's mother resides in
El Centro. To Mr. and Mrs. Goff have been born one son, Albert, born in San
Bernardino, December 31, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Goff have the good-will and
esteem of all who know them.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 423-424.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.