San Diego County
Biographies
PHILIP A. BETTENS,
nursery man of Escondido, was born near Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana, July 31, 1838, of Swiss parentage; and when about thirteen years of age he commenced traveling on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers during the winter months and worked on his grandfather's farm during the warmer portions of the year until 1859, when he moved to Florence and continued farming until April 1, 1887, when he came to San Diego County. After a few weeks' residence in Coronado he moved to San Pasqual valley; was there nineteen months and then moved to Escondido, September 1, 1888, where he was first in charge of the L. and T. Company's vineyard for several months, and is now in the nursery business for the Sweet Water Nursery Company.
In 1859 he married Miss Clara A. Dufour of Switzerland County, Indiana, and of Swiss parentage. She died in November, 1880. By that marriage there are four sons and two daughters. The oldest son, Philip A., is a graduate of West Point and he holds the rank of Lieutenant, being stationed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska; the second son is in the employ of the Coronado Beach Company, occupying a responsible position in their office. His daughter's name is Anna G.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 381-382
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
EDGAR S. PAYNE,
the cashier of the Oceanside Bank, was born in Watkins, New York, August 8, 1853. His father, J. W. Payne, was born in Ovid, Seneca County, New York, in 1825. He is at present engaged in farming, although he was formerly in the hardware business. His mother, Maria (Sutherland) Payne, was born in Yates County, New York, in 1828. She was the daughter of Mr. Alexander Sutherland, a pioneer of Yates County, and was married to Mr. Payne in 1848. Their union was blessed with six children, all of whom are living and of whom Mr. Edgar S. Payne is the second. Mr. Payne was educated in the public schools and the Genesee College, Lima, New York. In 1871 he finished his studies there and engaged in the banking business at Watkins, in which business he continued until he came to Oceanside in 1887, where he opened the Oceanside Bank. He is a man of fine business habits, is a member of the Methodist Church, Deputy County Clerk and City Treasurer of Oceanside.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 382
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ARTHUR GRAHAM NASON,
the originator and President of the San Diego & Coronado
Transfer Company, which position he has so acceptably filled from its
organization, is a man well and favorably known, who has always taken a lively
interest in the general welfare of San Diego, and has contributed in various
ways during his brief residence here to
develop and beautify the city of his choice.
Mr. Nason was born in New York city, July 7, 1856. In 1872 he moved to Nason, Orange County, Virginia, where he engaged in milling and general merchandise until 1880, when he moved to Fort Concho, Bexar County, Texas, where he remained for five years engaged in the sheep and cattle business, and operating quite extensively in ranch lands. In 1885 he was attracted to San Diego, believing that its natural advantages and resources were sufficient to insure its future prosperity (which conviction he still retains) and at once entered into partnership with Charles W. Morrill (of San Luis Rey flume fame) in the real-estate business and consummated some of the largest sales in this county, among them the Soledad valley lands, which he purchased from Mr. Andrew Cassiday and subdivided into small acreage tracts, in the sale of which he was very successful. Mr. Nason is a good specimen of the push and energy that have made San Diego. In partnership with James F. Fisher he built the Hotel "Albemarle," corner of Front and D streets; the Pickwick building and the "Gould block," both of which are on Fourth street, and several other of the prominent business blocks, as well as some of the most unique residences of the city; his own being one of the handsomest cottages, both in architectural design and finish. In 1887 he purchased the Murrietta Hot Springs from Mr. M. L. Wicks, of Los Angeles, an interest in which he still retains; he is also interested in a water enterprise now under way; is a large owner of city and acreage property, and has a fine fig and grape ranch in the Tia Juana valley. The company of which he is president is a very important institution in San Diego, and has a paid up capital of $50,000. Probably no other one citizen of San Diego has been instrumental in getting so many young men to forsake the East and make their homes in the " land of fruit and flowers" than the subject of this sketch, and his name and influence can always be found associated with all charitable objects.
In October, 1886, Mr. Nason was united in marriage to Miss Ada, daughter of Mr. T. W. Ward, a prominent banker and land owner of San Saba, Texas. They have two children: one son, Harry Ward, and one daughter, May Beverly.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 382-383
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler