A rancher who, identifying himself with town life, has come to fill important offices of public trust, and has done much to improve this part of Los Angeles County, is Walter Moore Avis, the extensive farmer who resides on East Holt Avenue. He was born at Lincoln Mills, N.J., on March 24, 1863, the son of Paul Avis, who was a farmer and had a flour mill. He took an active part in politics, and was full of patriotic zeal during the Civil War, but he was too old to serve in the army. A son, Harry M., however, served for four years during the war. Later the father was United States Land Commissioner. He was of Moravian stock, and his ancestors donated land for the first Moravian church built in New Jersey, still standing at Swedesboro, the oldest church in that vicinity. Paul Avis married Sarah Benezette, a worthy representative of a French Huguenot family that came to America with William Penn. The elder Avis died on March 18, 1896, while Mrs. Avis passed away on June 3, 1891. She was the mother of twelve children, and eleven lived to maturity.
The ninth child, Walter was educated in the public schools and at Bacon Academy; and when he reached the age of nineteen, he engaged in the milling business with his father. In that field he continued until he was twenty-five, and as it was customary in those days to do things thoroughly, and his father was the best of counselors, he profited greatly by the experience. In the spring of 1888, during the height of the excitement over land values and their appreciation, due to the sudden "boom" in California, Mr. Avis came to the Golden State, and for a year he located at San Diego. Attractive as the extreme Southland proved to be, he saw in Pomona a still more promising field; and the following February he came here. For three years he busied himself with truck gardening, and then he went into the wholesale produce and fruit trade. He bought in large quantities and rather daringly, and he became the largest dealer in this locality.
On December 21, 1903, Mr. Avis was appointed postmaster of Pomona by President Roosevelt and reappointed in 1907, and in that responsible office he served for ten years and ten days, directing the postal affairs of the district in the most economical and yet the most progressive spirit, effecting both reforms and economy. Pomona has been fortunate in her postmasters, but never more so than when Walter Moore Avis was appointed to that department of public trust.
While postmaster, Mr. Avis moved the postoffice from its Second Street location to its present place on Thomas Street, in 1909, and superintended the building of it; thus by moving the postoffice to the side street it opened up a new business district, making a great improvement, since formerly all business had been concentrated on Second Street, thus rounding out the city. Retiring with the esteem and good-will of everyone, Mr. Avis and his wife set out from Pomona in January, 1914, and made a tour of the world, returning in the following October. Perhaps as the result of this broadening travel Mr. Avis saw the necessity for a modern hotel and when requested to do so by his fellow citizens, started the desired improvement and built the Avis Hotel. The work was commenced on July 1, 1914, and by January 1, 1915, it had been completed, furnished and occupied at a cost of $100,000—a fine fireproof structure of five stories, including sixty rooms. He has built more business houses than any other individual and has been the largest taxpayer in the city; among the buildings are the Belvedere Theater, Avis Block, Postoffice Block, Avis Hotel, and he plans to build one more structure on a lot adjoining the Avis Hotel. He has owned and improved other valuable property. He was one of the original stockholders of the Mutual Building and Loan Association of Pomona and has been on the board of directors for twenty-five years. He has also been a director of the American National Bank for many years.
The day before Christmas, 1901, at Mullica Hill, N.J., Mr. Avis and Miss Abigail Sherwin, an accomplished lady of English descent, were married; and since then the Avis residence has been a center of most acceptable hospitality. Although a member of the Society of Friends, Mr. Avis was active in war work and so did his bit toward the great triumph for universal peace through which the world hopes for much. Mr. Avis has been very prominent in Odd Fellowship; on March 29, 1893, when Odd Fellows Hall was dedicated, he affiliated with Pomona Lodge No. 246, I.O.O.F. He is also a member of San Antonio Encampment No. 88, Canton Pomona No. 3, and Heliotrope Rebekah Lodge No. 183. He has devoted much time to the order, has filled all the chairs and had all the honors that could be conferred by the order, including Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of California. He instituted the Canton in Pomona as well as many subordinate lodges in the Valley. He also holds membership in Pomona Lodge No. 789, B.P.O. Elks, and in the Woodmen of the World.
Mr. Avis is fond of hunting and fishing, being a good shot, and when serving as a commissioner, charged with the preservation of State game and fish, he put new game into the country and stocked the creeks with fish, all at his own expense. He has a home in the mountains, and so happily combines town and rural life. He organized the Pomona Recreation Club, built the new club house on the Santa Ana River, and has been secretary of the club. All in all Mr. Avis is a very interesting and modern type of citizen.
History of Pomona Valley, California, with Biographical Sketches
of The Leading Men and Women of the Valley Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
Published in Los Angeles, Cal., by the Historic Record Company
1920
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 9/16/08, Pages 391-393
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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