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JOHN B. MCNAB

The Town of Fillmore, in Ventura County, is largely built up on land formerly owned by the McNab family. The McNabs have been prominently identified with the ranching, fruit growing, business affairs of this section of Southern Calfornia for the past thirty years.

The first of the family to be mentioned was the late Joseph Derby McNab, who was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, March 4, 1838. His career was one of singular variety and not without strenuous adventure. In the course of his long life he went from the rock-bound coasts of Nova Scotia over all the paths of the sea as a mariner, afterwards established himself in business in Chicago, and from there extended his interests to the Far West and the sunny climate of California.

He was reared and educated at Halifax, but at an early age followed his inclination for the sea and began sailing before the mast. He rose

in that service until he became captain and owner of his own vessels, and navigated them to all the ports of the civilized world.

When he gave up the sea, in order to get away from its fascination and attractions, like many other old sailors, he sold his vessels and in 1870 located at Chicago, where he became engaged in the wholesale fish and provision business under the name of McNab & Johnson. The great fire of 1871 destroyed their place of business, but he rebuilt and started again under the name of McNab & Company, and in time had a prosperous establishment and a very large trade.

In 1886 he came to Riverside, California, and bought an orange grove. He sold that in 1900, and spent his last years at Fillmore. As early as 1888 Joseph D. McNab had bought an interest in the Sespe Land and Water Company of Ventura County and subsequently he acquired the controlling interest. This company owned 3,300 acres of the Santa Clara Valley known as the Sespe Rancho Tract No. 2, and the company also furnished water. After it came under his ownership Mr. McNabb subdivided the land, a part of which is now the townsite of Fillmore, while outside that city the land was subdivided into small tracts for lemon and orange groves. From 1892 until his death in 1904 Joseph D. McNab was president of the company. In 1888 he also formed the Fillmore Irrigation Company, of which he was president.

Besides his enterprise in assisting the development of one of the finest bodies of land to be now found in the Santa Clara Valley, another distinction is associated with the name of Joseph D. McNab. He was the pioneer in Ventura County in drying apricots. In 1890 he had a large plant and drying house ready for operation, and that year he bought nearly all the apricots grown in Ventura County and was able to control the market.

After he came to the United States and became an American citizen he voted the republican ticket. Religiously he was a Unitarian. At Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1870, he married Lily Robinson. They were the parents of five children: Joseph Robinson, who is now employed in establishing- agencies for the Fox Film Company; Mrs. Grace Elizabeth Rhodes of Chino, California; Miss Anna Vera of Los Angeles, John Boak and Dr. Thomas R. of Los Angeles. John B. McNab, who, with his brother Dr. Thos. R. McNab, have assumed many of the business responsibilities left by his father, was born in Chicago, August 31, 1875. He lived in Chicago until 1886, had attended the common schools there, and afterward completed his education in the grammar and high schools of Riverside, California, where he was graduated in 1896. His higher education was acquired in the University of California, where he graduated in 1900.

On leaving college Mr. McNab returned to Fillmore and became secretary of the Sespe Land and Water Company, and at the death of his father four years later was made president and manager. He has also served as president of the Fillmore Irrigation Company since 1904. Besides the management of these extensive corporate interests he owns individually a seven-acre orange grove near Fillmore. He was one of the organizers and a director in the Ventura County Cooperative Association, and was also an organizer and is a director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Fillmore.

Mr. McNab is a Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason and Shriner. is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, and is well known socially both in Ventura County and m Los Angeles. He is a "member of the California Club of Los Angeles, of the Los Angeles Country Club, the Fillmore Club, was one of the organizers of the Bachelors Club of Los Angeles, and a charter member of the Benedicts Club of Los Angeles, and from college days he retains membership in the Sigma Nu fraternity, the Skull and Keys fraternity, and in university was noted in athletics, winning distinction both on the track and with the football team. He has had much to do with local republican politics and is a member of the county central committee. In Coalinga, California, January 1 1910, he married Miss Blanche Deborah Guiberson, a native of Ventura County. Her father, S. A. Guiberson, was one of the pioneer settlers in Ventura County.

"The History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo & Ventura Counties"
CM Gidney of Santa Barbara
Benjamin Brooks of San Luis Obispo
Edwin M Sheridan of Ventura
1917
The Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago, IL

Pps 816-817

Contributed by Martha A. Crosley Graham

IDELL GUIBERSON

Pps 729 - 731

...of Santa Paula, is one of the veteran oil well men of California, having done his part as a constructive worker in the development of the great oil resources of this state. His experience in

the industry however is by no means confined to California , since he has followed prospecting and various other lines of business in pratically every state of the west.

A native son of California himself, he represents one of the earliest families. dating back to the gold days, and also very early setlled in Ventura County. His grandfather, Rev. John W. Guiberson crossed the plains in 1850. He was a Methodist minister, and one othe few ministers of any religion who ventured into the wild and reckless

life of early California. He preached the Gospel in Grass Valley Ukiah and other parts of the state, and during the early '70s came to Ventura County and continued the active work of the ministry all over that section of country until his death.

The late Dr. Simon Peter Guiberson, father of Idell, was also a noted Californian. He was quite young when he came, in 1850, with his parents across the plains to California. That journey was made in a 500 wagon train, one of the largest individual parties that ever came to the state in the early days. The Guibersons settled in Grass Valley and there Simon Peter practiced medicine for a few years, later moved to Lake County, where in addition to his practice he conducted a drug store, and in 1869 he came to Ventura and established one of the first, if not the first, drug stores in that town. He also practiced medicine until 1874, in which year he removed to Santa Paula and conducted a drug business, attended his patients as a medical, practitioner and also did government surveying. In 1886, turning over his medical practice to Dr. D. W. Mott, he turned his versatile talents to still another profession, and was engaged in the practice of law until his death.

He was a man of tremendous activity, was stirred by impulses of deep Generosity and sympathy, and his life was one of the most useful ever passed in this section of the state. Due to his influence a great many people came to Santa Paula, and he took an active part in the develop- ment of the surrounding country. Doctor Guiberson was married in Napa County, to Miss Lou Eddington, and of their five children two are living, Mrs. Maude Youngken of Santa Paula, and Idell Guiberson.

Mr. Idell Guiberson was born in Lake County, California, April 24, 1866, received his first training in the public schools of Ventura, and from 1874 to 1883 attended public school at Santa Paula.

On leaving school he became connected with one of the pioneer oil development enterprises of the state. He was employed by the Hardison-Stewart Oil Company in their oil fields until 1886. He then took up a 3,000 acre claim of Government pasture land near Santa Paula, and was engaged in the stock business there until 1888, when he sold his land and again returned to the oil fields. He worked as a driller for various companies having headquarters in Los Angeles, and in 1889 became a driller for the Ventura Oil Company near Santa Paula.

In 1898 he returned to Los Angeles and worked in and around that city in the service of various oil companies for ten years. Leaving California Mr. Guiberson bought up some timber lands near Medford, Oregon, and was actively identified with the lumber industry for one year. Selling out, he began traveling as a prospector for oil and gold and since then has covered every state west of the Mississippi River. In September, 1916, he returned to Santa Paula, and since then has been drilling oil wells for himself. He is also developing some oil properties which he holds under lease.

Mr. Guiberson is a member of the Knights of Pythias, is a democrat, and on December 23, 1888, at Los-Angeles he married Miss Carrie A. Smith, a native of New Jersey and daughter of J. W. Smith, a merchant of Medford Oregon. They are the parents of two children. Madge is court reporter in Medford, Oregon. Wallace is connected with the Home Oil Company, adjoining the Montebello, near Fillmore, CA.

Contributed by: Martha A. Crosley Graham

Mc Campbell, William E

"History of Ventura County, CA"

Pp 478

It is not an easy task adequately to describe a man who has led an eminently active and busy life and who has attained a position of relative distinction in the community with which his interests are allied; but biography finds its most perfect justification in the tracing and recording of such a life history. William E. McCampbell, a leading real estate dealer and one of the trustees of the city of Fillmore, has been for nearly two decades a resident of Fillmore, during which time he has not only prospered in his individual affairs but has also been actively identified with the civic affairs of his community, and is today numbered among its representative citizens. He was born in Marshall, Parke county, Indiana, on the 8th of October, 1875, and was reared in that locality, securing his educational training in the public schools. He lived there until 1904, when he came to California, locating at Long Beach, where he

was engaged in the real estate business until 1907, when he came to Fillmore and engaged in the same line of business here. During the ensuing years he has proved a potent factor in this community's development, having handled a great deal of land in this locality, and he has done his full share in advertising to the outside world the wonderful advantages of Ventura county, of which he is a persistent booster. He has made a specialty of selling ranches, particularly in the Sespe and Bardsdale tracts, and all of his transactions have been marked by fair dealing and sound commercialprinciples.

Mr. McCampbell was married to Miss Lillian Elder, who also is a native of Indiana, and they are the parents of six children: Mrs. Ross Wileman, H. A., Mrs. Ruth Perkins, William E., Jr., Helen and Irwin. Mr. McCampbell is a member of the Fillmore Rotary

Club, in the various activities of which he has taken a leading part. Though closely devoted to his individual affairs, he has never neglected his duties to the community but has earnestly lent his efforts and influence to the advancement of all measures for the betterment of the public welfare. Because of his commendable qualities of character and genial and kindly manner toward all with whom he comes in contact he has long enjoyed the respect and good will of the entire community.

Contributed by: Martha A. Crosley Graham

Cummings, Victor Edwin

"History of Ventura County, CA"

Pp 474-475

...a favorably known and representative citizen of Ventura county, where he has spent practically his entire life, has by his indomitable enterprise and progressive methods contributed in a material way to the advancement of his locality and during the course of an honorable career has not only met withwell deserved material success but has also gained a high place in the estimation of all who know him.

Mr. Cummings was born on his father's ranch, west of Santa Paula, on the 2d of June, 1892, and is a son of John F. and Georgia (Sweeney) Cummings, the latter of whom was a native of New York state. John F. Cummings was born in Richland county, Ohio, on the 19th of September, 1835, and died in 1918, at the age of eighty-three years. He was reared and educated in his native state and at the age of twenty-five years he came to California. In 1869 he bought one hundred and fifty acres of land near Santa Paula, on which he raised barley and hogs for a number of years. In 1876 he planted a large acreage of lima beans, being the first man in this valley to successfully grow beans. He devoted himself closely to the improvement and development of his ranch, which is now a very valuable property, and in 1913 he bought five hundred acres of land in Wheeler canyon. He was married in September, 1880, to Miss Georgia Sweeney and they became the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living, namely: Ada; Madge; Walter W.; Esther; Jcannette; Victor Edwin; Olga, who died at the age of nineteen years; John F., Jr.; and Wilson Shannon.

Victor E. Cummings was reared on the home farm and secured his educational training at the Briggs school and the Santa Paula high school. He was on the home farm until 1914, when he became teller in the Bank of Saticoy, where he remained two years, and then became field representative of the California Lima Bean Growers Association. Later he was for a time employed in a broker's office in San Francisco, but on the entry of his country into the World war he entered the military service and became a member of the One Hundred Sixty-first Machine Gun Company of the Forty-first Division, but was assigned to the Ninth Infantry of the Second Division, with which he saw all his active service. He was sent overseas and saw service on the

western front, taking part in many of the important engagements, including Chateau Thierry, Soissons and Saint Mihiel. He received a wound in the last named engagement. After the signing of the armistice he returned to this country and received an honorable discharge.

Mr. Cummings then engaged in farming for two years, at the end of which time he took a three-years' course in vocational training at the Southwestern University, specializing in accounting. In August, 1925, Mr. Cummings bought ten acres of the Huntley ranch, near Saticoy, and has also purchased fifty acres of land of Mrs. Huntley. He is up-to-date in all his methods and has shown himself to be untiring and persistent, doing thoroughly and well whatever he undertakes, and is meeting with a well deserved prosperity.

Mr. Cummings married Miss Louise Huntley, who was born and reared in this county and they are the parents of a, son, Paul Robert, now six years of age. Fraternally Mr. Cummings is a member of Santa Paula Lodge, No. 291, Free and Accepted Masons and Ventura Chapter, Royal Arch Masons and he also belongs to the American Legion. He is a man of mature judgment and wise discrimination, holds decided opinions on the great issues of the day, on which he keeps well informed, and stands for all that is best in community life. Courteous and kindly, genial and friendly, he has a host of warm personal friends who esteem him for his genuine worth as a man and citizen.

Contributed by: Martha A. Crosley Graham

Poplin, Lloyd F

"History of Ventura County, CA"

Pp 476 - 477

...has long been one of the enterprising and influential citizens of Ventura county, where he has resided for nearly forty years. A man of forceful individuality and marked ability, he is well equipped for the duties of life, while his high character and his genial personality have gained for him the esteem and friendship of his fellow citizens throughout the community. Mr. Poplin was born in Anderson county, Kansas, on the 15th of September, 1885, and is a son of Adley Greenfield and Elizabeth (Boucher) Poplin, who have been residents of Ventura county since 1888. The father was born in Carroll county, Arkansas, November 6, 1857, the son of John and Mahala (Breece) Poplin. John Poplin was born in North Carolina, November 10, 1827, and when young was taken to Hickman county, Tennessee, where he was reared and educated. Though a strong supporter of the Union, he was conscripted into the Confederate army in 1862, but soon deserted to the Union army, from which he requested an escort to guard his family out of Arkansas. He was arrested as a Confederate spy, but being a brother Mason he succeeded in convincing the commanding officer of his innocence and the officer sent a guard to bring out

Mr. Poplin's family and any others desirous of leaving, but kept the father as a prisoner until the safe return of the soldiers. This guard took sixty families out of Arkansas and guarded them north to the Iowa line, the Poplin family being included in the number. Mr. Poplin served as a first lieutenant of the home guards in Kansas during Price's raid. After the war he taught school in Iowa and farmed for about a year and in 1864 he became a pioneer settler in Anderson county, Kansas, where he remained until 1866, when he removed to Carroll county, Arkansas, and put in a crop, but in the fall of that year returned to Anderson county, where he lived until 1885, when he removed to Ventura county, California. Here he bought two hundred and fifty acres of land near Ventura, later selling half of this to his son, H. L. He continued farming here until 1891, when he sold the place and lived retired until his death in May, 1905.

Adley G. Poplin attended the public schools of Anderson county, Kansas, until fifteen years of age and, after working on his father's farm for a couple of years, went to Houston, Texas, where he was employed on a ranch for two years, followed by one year on a farm in Benton county, Missouri. He -then returned to Anderson county and farmed rented land for a year, at the end of which time he came to California, locating near Sacramento, where he worked on a farm about nine months, and was then connected with a threshing outfit in Tulare county for six months. He later returned to Anderson county, Kansas, where he did farm work for four years, after which he bought eighty acres of land there, to the operation of which he devoted himself for three years. He next went to Walla Walla, Washington, where he worked for three months, after which he was in Sacramento county, California, for six months. Again he returned to Anderson county, where he farmed for three years more, and in December, 1888, came to Ventura county, California. Here he rented fifty acres of land which he farmed until 1890, when he bought one hundred and ninety acres of the Santa Ana grant, which he devoted to general farming and stock-raising. In 1902 he moved to the vicinity of Ventura, renting twenty-two acres, which he bought in 1905 at the same time selling his Santa Ana property. In 1912 he sold the twenty-two acres and bought thirty-one acres in the Ojai valley. He is now taking life leisurely, having amassed a competency, and is enjoying life as only those can who live in this nature-favored section of the country. He is a stockholder in the Ojai Orange Association, is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and in his political views is a republican. On January 5, 1880, in Greeley, Kansas, Mr. Poplin was married to Miss Elizabeth Boucher, who is a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Simon Boucher, one of the pioneers of Anderson county, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs.Poplin were born two children, Lloyd F. and Iva.

Lloyd F Poplin was but three years of age when the family came to Ventura county and he secured his education in the public schools of the Arnaz district and the Ventura high school. He then turned his attention to farming, assisting his father and in 1912 came to the Ojai valley as manager of his father's orange ranch to which he has given his attention continuously since. He also owns seventeen and a half acres which is planted to oranges, and in the operation of which he has been very successful. He has made a number of substantial improvements on the place including a splendid residence and other farm buildings, and now has a valuable and desirable ranch. Mr. Poplin is also engaged in the trucking business, operating two trucks, which are largely engaged in hauling oranges to the Ojai Orange Association packing plant.

Mr Poplin was married, November 29, 1909, to Miss Hazel Grigsby, who is a native of Illinois, and they are the parents of a daughter, Betty Jean. Mr. Poplin is a strong booster for Ventura county and has in every possible way cooperated with his fellow citizens in all movements for the advancement of the county's interests and the betterment of the public welfare. He is a man of sound judgment and energetic methods, generous in his support of all worthy causes, and of kindly and cordial manner Because of his splendid record, excellent qualities and agreeable personality, he enjoys an enviable standing throughout the community in which he lives.

Contributed by: Martha A. Crosley Graham

Kral, Steve

"History of Ventura County, CA"

Pp 474-476

As the executive head of the United Pipe & Construction Company of Saticoy, Steve Kral is successfully guiding the destiny of one of the largest and most important business corporations of southern California. He has made his own way in the world and represents that type of well bred foreign born American citizen whose inherited

tendencies of industry, enterprise and honesty have added so much to the development and prosperity of this nation. A native of Servia, he was born May 23, 1893, and his parents were Michael and Stana (Jaksich) Kral. The father made the occupation of farming his life work and is survived by the mother.

Steve Kral was educated in 'Servia and at the age of eighteen years responded to the call of the new world. Coming to California, he lived for a time in Santa Monica and was afterward employed in various towns and cities throughout the state. He

became an expert cement worker and in 1918 was one of the organizers of the United Concrete Pipe Company, having two associates in the undertaking. The business was incorporated in that year, and Mr. Kral was elected president. The firm was awarded many contracts for installing complete irrigation systems on ranches and for five years the business was centered at Montalvo. In 1924 the business of the Merced Concrete Company was merged with that of the United Concrete Pipe Company, and the new organization was incorporated under the name of the United Concrete Pipe & Construction Company, which maintains its headquarters in Ventura county. The company also has plants in Santa Monica, Merced, Delhi and Woodland and is making preparations to establish a branch at Los Angeles. The firm purchased the business of Bick Brothers in the last named city in December, 1925, and operates on an extensive scale, doing all kinds of cement work-a field of activity in which it has won and retained a position of leadership. Mr. Kral has carefully planned each step in the development of the business, and that he is an executive of more than average ability is denoted by the rapid progress of the industry and the high degree of efficiency maintained in its operation.

Mr. Kral gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but is not active in politics. He is appreciative of nature's beauties, and his leisure is spent in the open. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He has attained the thirty-second degree in the order and is also connected with the Knights of Pythias. He is loyal to the state and country of his adoption and is accorded the respect which the world ever yields to the self-made man.

Contributed by: Martha A. Crosley Graham

Ayers , F H

History of Ventura County, CA

Pp 477- 478

...a well known and successful farmer of the Santa Paula district, has through his well directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, gained a Position of recognized prominence in his community. His energy and progressive methods have been crowned with a very gratifying measure of success and he has earned an enviable place among the leading citizens of his section of the county. Mr. Ayers was born in

Johnson county, Missouri, on the 12th of February, 1878, and is a son of Vance and Martha (Granger) Ayers, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Missouri. In 1888 the family came to Ventura county and the father engaged in operating the Sexton ranch, also a ranch at Oxnard and one in the Live Oak district. He prospered in his business affairs and eventually bought a ranch at Montalvo and rented three hundred and fifty acres of the Tom Bard property on the Las Posas. He carried on his operations successfully for many years, but is now retired and is residing in Los Angeles.

F H Ayers was ten years of age when the family came to Ventura county and he completed his public school course here, after which he spent three years, 1919-1921, in the University of Southern California. Starting out on his own account, he gave his attention mainly to raising beans, walnuts, lettuce and spinach, in the production of which he has met with pronounced success, being one of the largest Producers of these in this locality. In 1923 his lettuce crop yielded five hundred dollars an acre net, while his spinach, which brings twenty-five dollars a ton, produced from six to seven Tons an acre, with irrigation. Mr. Ayers also has part of his land in oranges and walnuts in the growing of which also he has been successful. Painstaking and thorough in all his work, exercising sound judgment and good discrimination, he has devoted his attention closely to the improvement and cultivation of his land, being accounted one of the most successful ranchers of the valley.

Mr. Ayers was married to Miss Alpha L. Faulkner, who was born and reared in Ventura county, and they are the parents of four children, Loren S., Raymond V. Rhoda F. and Stella L. Mr. Ayers is a member of Santa Paula Lodge No. 291 'F'. & A. M., and Ventura Chapter, R. A. M. He is deeply interested in educational matters and is now serving as a member of the board of trustees of the Santa Paula union

high school. A member of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, he has taken an active part in the advancement of all measures tending to promote the interests of the ranchers of this community. In 1922 Mr. Ayers erected his present beautiful and comfortable home and has otherwise improved his property, which is now a very attractive and desirable ranch home. He is a man of strong character, standing for all that is best in community life and throwing his influence to the right side of every moral issue, so that he has long enjoyed the respect and confidence of the representative people of the county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Santa Paula, having been affiliated with this denomination from earliest boyhood and at

present is one of its officers.

Contributed by: Martha A. Crosley Graham

Hosea, Dudley H

"History of Ventura County. CA

Pp 474

One of the leading business men of Santa Paula, Ventura county is Dudley H. Hosea. proprietor of the Standard Plumbing & Supply Company. He has succeeded in his chosen life work because he has been persistent and energetic in developing his business and honorable in his dealings with the public, owing to which qualities

he has won the confidence and good will of all with whom he has had commercial relations. He was born in Jackson, Louisiana, on the 13th of June 1896 and he received his educational training in the public schools of Clinton, which was his later home. He then went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he entered the Milwaukee Trades School and learned the plumbing trade, after which he went to Portage Wisconsin, where, for five years he worked at his trade, gaining valuable and practical experience. In November, 1917, Mr. Hosea enlisted for service in the World war joining the Engineers Battalion of the Thirty-second Division. He was sent to a training camp in Texas and was then sent overseas, being engaged in hospital construction work in France. He received an honorable discharge from the service in May, 1919, and in that same year came to Santa Paula and entered the employ of the Santa Paula Hardware Company. He remained with that firm until January 1 1923, when he engaged in business for himself, under the name of the Standard Plumbing & Supply Company, and has enjoyed a fine measure of success He specializes in the installation of heating plants and has performed a number of large contracts in that line, among which are those of the St. Augustani Academy at Ojai, the two grammar schools in Santa Paula, the Olive Land school, the Mound school and the Washington school in Ventura, and he installed all the plumbing in the beautiful new residence of C. C. Teague, at Santa Paula. Mr. Hosea has one of the most unique and best fitted display rooms in this section of the country it being installed according to original ideas of his own, with tiled walls and the most up-to-date line of fixtures in the market, the whole presenting a very attractive appearance. He is one of the owners of the business block in which his store and shop are located.

Mr. Hosea has taken a good citizen's interest in everything pertaining to the progress and welfare of the community and is a charter member of the Santa Paula Rotary Club. Fraternally he is a member of Santa Paula Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; of Ventura Commandery, Knights Templar, and of the Knights of Pythias, and he is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. He is also active in Boy Scout work, being scoutmaster of Troop No. 1, of Santa Paula, having a ten year badge. Quiet and unassuming in manner, he is nevertheless a man of likable character, and he has not only gained a wide acquaintance throughout this section of the county but has won a large circle of warm and loyal friends, who esteem him for his genuine worth as a man and a citizen.

Contributed by: Martha A. Crosley Graham