Another interesting instance of a Californian by adoption who touched the Coast more or less accidentally as a world voyager, and who then, liking the looks of things, decided to stay, is that of J. E. Campbell, the expert machinist, who specializes in repairs of all kinds of pumps used in irrigating and waterworks plants, and caters to the wide territory extending from El Monte east to Corona, and out as far as Victorville, in San Bernardino County, on the desert. He was born at Boston, on Washington's Birthday, 1865, and attended that city's excellent public schools.
His father was a shipbuilder, Evan by name, who married Isabella Scott, and the lad started from Boston, when only fourteen years of age, as a passenger on one of his father's ships for a voyage around the world. He sailed around the Horn to the Pacific, then on to Honolulu, from which port he arrived in San Francisco in 1880. Deciding to remain in the Bay City, he became an apprentice to the machinist's trade, taking a place with the Byron Jackson Machine Works, where he was employed for twelve years. He then worked for the Pelton Water Wheel Company, the Risdon Iron Works, and the Union Iron Works, all of San Francisco, and the Best Manufacturing Company of San Leandro, Alameda County, each of which was a first-class concern. In 1906, Mr. Campbell removed to Riverside, where he entered the employ of the Riverside Foundry and Machine Works.
Two years later, Mr. Campbell located in Pomona, and became foreman of the machine shop of Lee W. Matthews, for whom he conducted the establishment until Mr. Matthews sold out to the Ranchers Manufacturing Company. Then Mr. Campbell became a stockholder in the new concern, and foreman of its machine shop. Later, selling out his interest in the Ranchers Company, he entered into business for himself.
He opened up a general machine and repair shop at 365 South Main Street, where he is now located, and where he keeps a crew of eight men busy the year round. He has been closely identified with the water development in the Pomona Valley, and has thus worked for most of the water companies in the Pomona district. No more expert machinist, it is safe to say, could anywhere be found, nor could any community appreciate more fully than Pomona has done Mr. Campbell's exceptional skill.
In 1894, at San Francisco, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Ella Whelen, a native of Oakland and the daughter of John Whelen, who crossed the great plains to California in the good old pioneer days. Four children blessed the union: Frank enlisted in the United States Army early in the World War, in the motor truck division, and was located for awhile at Camp Fremont, and at camps in the East, but did not get to France; Earl saw active service in France with the Three Hundred Sixty-fourth Infantry, Ninety-first Division, and was wounded in the leg in one of the first engagements, and discharged from the service; and Madeline and Raymond are both at school. The family attend the Episcopal Church. Mr. Campbell has reached all the chairs in the encampment and the Canton of the Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the Maccabees.
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 11/26/08, Pages 708-709
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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