John R. Tilly is a man of
progressive ideas and one of the substantial and representative men of
Imperial County, and has served as secretary of Water Company No. 12 since
August, 1917. Mr. Tilly came to the Valley in 1914, and purchased three
hundred and twenty acres of land located ten miles northwest of Imperial, in
Water Company No. 12, and the success he has attained has been gratifying.
He is engaged in raising cotton, alfalfa, and corn, and improvements of a
high order have been made on every hand. Mr. Tilly was born in Harrison
County, Missouri, March 4, 1888, son of Oliver and Bertha (Brown) Tilly. His
parents are among the early settlers of Harrison County, and are still
living. Mr. Tilly acquired his education in the public schools, graduating
from the Bethany high in his county. He became associated with the Harrison
County Bank, as bookkeeper and assistant cashier, remaining here for five
years. He came west and established a retail hardware store in San Diego,
which he operated for eighteen months and then traded his stock of
merchandise for his ranch holdings in this county. Fraternally he is a
member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. Politically he votes the Republican
ticket. Mr. Tilly married in Bethany, Missouri, October 9, 1912, to Miss Ree
Neff, a daughter of Daniel Neff, who is retired and lives in Los Angeles.
Mr. and Mrs. Tilly have one son, Norman G., born August 21, 1913.
Source: "The History of Imperial County,
California," Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 457-458.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, February, 2007.
John Trent Anderson is
prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Imperial County
and is recognized by those who know him for the sterling character of his
manhood and good business capacity. Mr. Anderson owns a fine ranch of 320
acres near Calexico. He came to this county November 27, 1914. His birth
occurred near La Grange, Tennessee, April 27, 1855, a son of Judge James A.
and Louisa C. (Trent) Anderson. The father of Mr. Anderson was one of the
prominent and able attorneys in Tennessee, and served as circuit judge in
Memphis, Tennessee, for years. The family date back to old English origin
and the city of Trent was named after this historic family. Mr. Anderson's
father served as captain during the Civil War and fought on the side of the
Confederacy. The subject of this review received his education at Oxford
University; after completing the same he engaged in ranching and stock
business for six years. He then engaged in ranching and cattle business in
Texas, Oklahoma, and California, and has followed this vocation up to the
present time. Politically Mr. Anderson is a Democrat, but has never aspired
to political office. He was married in Callahan County, Texas, June 22,
1879, to Miss Fannie H. Anderson, daughter of Robert M. Anderson, former
lieutenant-governor of California, and Lucie (Wyatt) Anderson. The Wyatt
family is one of the old distinguished families which settled in America in
the early period. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are: James A., born
in Callahan County, Texas, and at present a rancher in Mexico; Sallie D.,
wife of Ralph E. Sweeringen, an architect, resident of Calexico, California;
Robert O., born in Taylor County, Texas, a rancher residing at Murphy,
Texas; Jack T., a rancher of Imperial County; Louise Catherine, wife of H.
S. Abbott, a rancher residing in Mexico; Isabell, a graduate of the U. M.
A., Columbia, Missouri, residing at home. John and Mattie died in infancy
and are buried near San Gabriel, California. Mr. Anderson's attention is
concentrated upon his ranch affairs, in which he is meeting with gratifying
and well-deserved success.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California,"
Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 458-459.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, February, 2007.