Merced County
Biographies
MRS. MARGARET C. CASSELL
CLIFFORD J. CASSELL
Among the women of Merced County who have taken an active part in the advancement of educational, civic and social life of their community mention is made of Mrs. Margaret C. Cassell, who came to California in 1912 to join her parents, who had preceded her in 1911. She is the daughter of the late Joseph William and Lucinda Rice, both natives of Kentucky. Margaret C. accompanied her parents from Paris, Ky., to Pueblo, Colo., where her father was a rancher until 1911, when they came to Winton, Cal. The daughter attended the Pueblo schools, graduating from the high school in 1909, after which she began teaching in that State. After one year there, she joined her parents in Merced County.
On January 28, 1915, Miss Rice was married to Clifford J. Cassell, born near Lake View, Mich., now a salesman in the Ford garage at Livingston. Mrs. Cassell has four children: Clifford Joseph, Jr., Elinor Margaret, Helen June and Elizabeth Clay. Mrs. Cassell is an ex-president of the Woman's Improvement Club of Winton and is prominently connected with the Home Department of the Winton Center of the Merced County Farm Bureau. She assisted in the organization of the Parent-Teachers Association and is a positive force for the proper education of the youth of Winton and vicinity.
Mrs. Cassell was appointed by the board of trustees of the Winton Grammar School to fill a vacancy on the board in 1923, and at the election the following spring she was regularly elected for a three-year term, the two other members being H. M. Stutsman and W. C. Abbott. There are five well-qualified teachers in the Winton Grammar School, of which Miss Winifred Kennedy is the principal. Mrs. Cassell was the second incumbent in the Winton postoffice, serving from 1915 to 1918, and gave satisfaction to all patrons of the office. Politically she is a Democrat. With her mother, Mrs. Lucinda Rice, and Mr. Cassell, she is active in the Presbyterian Church at Winton, Mrs. Cassell being one of the Sunday School teachers, and active in the organization of the Sunday School. Mr. Cassell serves as one of the trustees and is the financial secretary. He is an Odd Fellow.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 817-818
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
GIACOMO TRIGLIA
As the manager and proprietor of the Oberon Hotel in Los Banos, Giacomo Triglia has easily demonstrated his ability to handle diversified interests. He was born in the farming district of Italy on October 21, 1874, educated in the schools of his native land and worked at various occupations until coming to the United States and California in 1904. He had no advantages except a willingness to work; he could not speak English and had only $115 as visible assets. His first employment was in the vineyards of the Italian Swiss Colony in Madera County; three years later he arrived in Los Banos and engaged as a cook in the Oberon restaurant. Saving his money he was soon enabled to purchase the business and from that period he began to forge to the front. In 1919 when the entire business district of Los Banos was destroyed by fire, Mr. Triglia lost all he had, but with the determination to succeed he buckled down to hard work and in 1923 was enabled to build a modern structure of reinforced concrete 50x90 feet in dimensions on the site of the old Oberon Hotel. This structure, costing $50,000, was financed by the Bank of Italy of Los Banos. The building is of three stories, with twenty-two rooms, eight of them with bath, and there are eight public shower baths. The building is steam heated throughout, has a fine lobby, a large and sanitary dining room with a lunch counter and grill, and is reputed to be among the best hotels in the San Joaquin Valley for its size. An addition is contemplated which will give him eight more rooms.
Mr. Triglia was married in Marseilles, France, in 1900, to Adeline Grisanti, born in Italy. She has one daughter, Elizabeth Lucy. Mr. Triglia is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Foresters of America. He was a director in the First National Bank of Los Banos and is now a member of the advisory board of the Los Banos branch of the Bank of Italy. He has made and kept his many friends since coming to Merced County and believes in progress along every line.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 818-819
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ASHLEY S. PARKER, M. D.
Prominent in the medical profession in the central and northern part of California, and with an outstanding record behind him in Southern California, Ashley S. Parker, M.D., has taken rank in Merced County among the leading physicians and surgeons. A native of Marshall, Harrison County, Texas, he was born on April 5, 1871, and was educated in Louisiana and California. Coming to Riverside, Cal., in 1887, he graduated from the high school in that city, and later attended Tulane University, at New Orleans, from which he was graduated in 1893 with his degree of M.D. His first practice was in Fallbrook, San Diego County, Cal., and from there he went to Riverside and practiced from 1897 to 1909. In the latter year he went to Needles, Cal., practicing until 1909; while there he was division surgeon for the Santa Fe Railway with headquarters at Needles. While in Riverside Dr. Parker was physician to the Sherman Indian School; surgeon for the Salt Lake Railway; and he was also county physician of Riverside County, in charge of the county hospital for a number of years. He was president of the Riverside County Medical Society, and a member of the Council of the State Medical Society. He is now a member of the Merced County Medical Society, and the National Medical Association. Coming to Merced on February 21, 1921, he became associated in practice with Dr. W. E. Lilley, and his large and growing practice attests to the esteem he has gained in the community. Having a comprehensive knowledge of the great scientific principles which underlie his work, he has steadily increased his efficiency through research and study, keeping in touch with the most modern methods and discoveries, and these facts, added to his years of varied practice, make his services to humanity invaluable.
The marriage of Dr. Parker, occurring in March, 1896, at Riverside, Cal., united him with Grace Guffin, a native of Indianapolis, Ind. She has made music her life study, and is an accomplished artist on the piano and organ, and is now organist and leader of the choir in the Presbyterian Church in Merced, besides devoting some of her time to teaching, giving recitals, etc. Four children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Parker: Lewis; Sarah, also a musician; James, attending the University of California, and Ashley, a student at the Merced High School; all natives of California. Fraternally, Dr. Parker is a Mason, belonging to the Lodge, Chapter, Fresno Commandery of Knights Templar, and Aahmes Shrine of Oakland; he is a member of Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. E., and a charter member of the Merced Lions Club. His ranch interests consist of a cotton farm at Blythe, Riverside County; a forty-acre alfalfa ranch at Patterson, Stanislaus County, and ranch land at Planada, Merced County.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 819-820
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler