St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-02-15
Letter from Southern California.
What the People We Knew are Doing
In the Land of Sunshine.
Correspondents of the cALBDoNIAN).

Correspondence of the CALIFORNIAN.
During stay of several weeks in this
land OF sunshine and flowers it has been
my pleasure to meet several families
which formerly resided in Caledonia
county and believing that short &C.
count of their work here will be appre-
ciated by eastern friends have prepared
the following brief article which trust
will be OF interest to your readers. As
the country has doubtless been the sub
ject OF many letters to your paper | will
confne myself entirely to the people.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. B. Soper and Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Packard were among the
first to come here from St. Johnsbury,
they having left there in 1885. Mr..
Soper is contractor and builder and is
always busy at his trade. He has built
many residences, among them several for
himself, He built the Methodist church
now in use here and is to be the master
workman on the new church which the
society is about to erect. He has been
prominently identified with the business
affairs of the city, being the chairman OF
the present city council; he was clerk OF
the school board for FIVE years and city
treasurer for four years. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Soper were charter members OF the
Methodist church, and Mr.. Soper has
been superintendent ofthe Sunday school
and a steward in the church; he is also
treasurer of the building fund. Mrs. Soper
is member OF all OF the church societies
and is an active worker in the cause.
Mr.. Soper is member of Pasadena Lodge,
F. & A. NJ, and is associated with the |.
o. o. F., in the east. Mrs. Soper has one
son. Eden E. Mcfarland, who is an at
torney and resides in this state. He is
married and has four children. Another
son, William H., died in Chicago last
winter. He had resided in Arkansas
about twelve years prior to his death.
Charles Packard is also contractor
and builder and has been very successful
in the work. Mr.. Packard held the
office of city trustee from 1896 to 1900,
and at present is building and plumbing
inspector for the city. His wife died four
years ago of heart trouble. She was in
very poor health before leaving for the
west but gained here and was much
stronger for few years. She was de-
voted wife, loving mother, and kind
neighbor. Two years ago Mr.. Packard
married Mrs. Ella Lamb OF Pasadena,
former resident of Vermont. Mr.. Pack.
ard is member of the Commandery at
Pasadena, also of the Eastern Star, but he
has never affiliated with the other Masonic
bodies here but has maintained his mem
bership in the east. He is also member
of the Universalist church. They have
three children, Elmer c.. who resides
with them, and works with his father;
Ernest l., who is in San Francisco, and
Florence, who is married and resides at
Pasadena, where her husband is one of
the proprietors of large shoe store.
She has one son two years old. Elmer
c. Packard is member of Pasadena
Lodge, F. & A. NJ, and of the Chapter
and Commandery.
John H. Jacobs who came to southern
California about IS years ago, is ma
tive OF Sutton but resided in Worcester,
Mass. for Is years before coming west.
Mr.. Jacobs was city treasurer for ten
years, and has been city trustee and
school trustee. He has been very promi-
nently identified with the Methodist
church during his entire stay here, hav-
ing been superintendent of the Sunday
school and trustee in the church. He
contributed very literally toward build
ing the present church and is one OF the
largest contributors to the fund which is
being raised for a new edifice at this
time. His first wife, who died about IS
years ago, was the daughter of the late
DR.. Carpenter of Sutton and was a most
estimable lady. His present wife is
native of Massachusetts. Mr.. Jacobs
has two children, John c., who is an
electrician and has home near his par.
ents, and a daughter 16 years of age.
Mrs. Jacobs has one son, Frank Wheeler,
who is married and resides in this city,
and daughter who is the wife of Rev.
Ralph Miller of Fernando, Cal. Mr.. ia
cobs is largely interested in real estate
here and has built many houses, thereby
adding much to the material prosperity
of the city. While he is conservative
business man his keen foresight and
sound judgment have enabled him to ac-
quire considerable property.
Mr.. and Mrs. o. W. Orcutt came here
from St. Johnsbury four years ago hoping
that Mr.. Orcutt's health would be i'm
proved by thechange The climate proved
beneficial and he is now much stronger
than when in the east. Although he has
been here but few years his well.known
ability and sterling worth have placed
him among the foremost citizens of this
city. He is at present member of the city
council and trustee of the Orphans