San Diego County
Biographies
FRANK B. BEYER
A mining engineer in his earlier
years, Frank B. Beyer’s work in that connection took him to various parts of
the west, and the latter part of his adventurous life was spent in San Diego
County. He had a fine ranch near San
Ysidro and was of the large landholders of this part of the state. Prospering in his various undertakings, he became
a man of considerable means and unselfishly shared his substance with others,
being as well known for his generosity and public spirit as for his enterprise
and business ability.
Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania,
November 7, 1875, Mr. Beyer pursued his education in the Keystone state until
graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, and later
completed a course of study in the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla. As a mining engineer he went to Alaska for
the Guggenheim interests, for which he afterward exploited the San Juan
district of Colorado, and while in that state joined the rush of prospectors to
Silver Creek, Cripple Creek and Silvertown. Two decades ago he was following booms in
Nevada, and in 1915 entered the Imperial Valley of California. During all this period he was gathering color
that causes him to be remembered as a gambler of the old school. In 1918 he became a resident of San Ysidro and
plunged into life across the border at Tia Juana, Mexico. At one time he was associated with Marvin
Allen and the late Carl Withington in the ownership
and control of the racetrack, Sunset Inn and the Foreign Club. His later years were devoted to the
supervision of his dairy and breeding farm, the Rancho Lechusa,
near San Ysidro, and the management of his many real
estate and other investments. His
property holdings were extensive and included a number of fine farms between
National City in San Diego County and Tia Juana on the Mexican border. Possessing keen discernment and mature
judgment, he readily recognized the difficulties as well as the possibilities
of a business situation and focused his energies in directions where fruition
was certain.
In 1909 while on a business trip to
Alaska, Mr. Beyer was married in Ruby to Miss Blanche Swinehart, whom he met
during his travels in that country. Her
father, Charles M. Swinehart, who engaged in agricultural pursuits in
Wisconsin, is deceased but the mother, Mrs. Dakota (Walbridge) Swinehart, is
living in San Diego. Mr. Beyer was a
member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Masons
and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Always regarding his citizenship as a primary
obligation, he gave liberally of his time, energy and means for the good of his
community and was one of the most progressive and public-spirited men in San
Ysidro. He was the donor of the civic
center and of the public library, with several thousand dollars worth of books,
one of the finest institutions of the kind to be found in any town of this
size. The San Ysidro Public Library
enjoys the unique distinction of having a smoking room, an innovation for which
Mr. Beyer was responsible. Believing
that there is good in all creeds, he fostered the progress of religion in his
city by purchasing and donating the land for both the Catholic and Protestant
Churches, and was never weary in well doing.
Keenly interested in the project for a new highway, he bent every effort
toward the attainment of that end.
Sympathetic and unselfish, his benefactions were as wide as his
knowledge but were never advertised. Mr.
Beyer was one of the most widely known and best loved men in this
district. On February 15, 1931, at the
age of fifty-five years, he responded to the final summons, passing through the
portal of the Great Beyond as he had lived—peacefully and courageously. Mrs. Beyer resides at San Ysidro and is
capably managing the large and valuable estate left by her husband. Like him, she has ever manifested a deep and
helpful interest in civic affairs and philanthropic work, finding true
happiness in service to others. She is
vice president of the Woman’s Club of San Ysidro, president of the local
Parent-Teacher Association, and vice president of Sweetwater Council of that
association.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 251-253, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S SAN DIEGO BIOGRAPIES