San Diego County
Biographies
AUBREY C. SEARS
Aubrey C. Sears, a rancher and
cattleman residing at El Cajon, is engaged in the operation of various farms
and cattle ranches in the Jamul and Dulzura district
comprising about five thousand acres. He
is a son of George and Sarah Jane (Meredith) Sears, both of whom are
deceased. George Sears, one of the
pioneers and builders of San Diego County, was born in Germany but in his
childhood crossed the Atlantic with his parents, who settled in Valparaiso,
Indiana, where he grew to manhood. He
acquired his education in the public schools and when not engaged with his
books aided his father in the work of the farm.
He began his independent career as a conductor on the Pittsburgh &
Fort Wayne Railroad, but when he resigned this position he went to Pueblo
County, Colorado, and engaged in the general merchandise business. From a humble beginning he built up a large and
profitable enterprise, securing a representative patronage by reason of his
straightforward business methods, his reasonable prices and his careful
consideration for the wants of his customers.
During his residence in Pueblo County he took up a government claim of
desert land and after proving his title, farmed on an extensive scale, adding
to his holdings from time to time until he owned two thousand acres of land,
divided into four ranches. He gave his
time and attention to the further development and improvement of his extensive
holdings in Colorado for thirty-six years, becoming well known among the
enterprising agriculturists of Pueblo County.
On coming to El Cajon, California, Mr. Sears purchased forty acres near
the town, and this property he developed along modern and progressive lines. He had other important holdings in this
section, for he engaged in farming on an extensive scale at Hillsdale and Jamul
Valley, where he operated fourteen hundred acres of fine land as a grain and
cattle ranch. In addition he leased one
hundred and sixty acres in Imperial County and upon this conducted a model
dairy, keeping seventy-six high-grade cows for this purpose. The capable management of his large
interests, as well as his shrewd, discriminating and resourceful business
ability all contributed to his steady advancement and to the prosperity which
placed him in the front ranks of progressive agriculturists and substantial
businessmen. He was, however, not only
ambitious for his own prosperity, but also was eager for the growth of the
valley. As president of the El Cajon
Valley Development Company he was a factor in upbuilding and a force in
increasing the wealth and resources of this section. Mr. Sears was one of the organizers and
became president of the Cuyamaca State Bank of El
Cajon and had other important business interests, all of which were conducted
in a progressive and able manner.
In 1872 George Sears was united in
marriage to Miss Bertha A. Jones, and they became the parents of a son, Robert
W., now a resident of Arcadia, California.
In 1883 Mr. Sears was again married, his second union being with Miss
Sarah Jane Meredith, by whom he had four children, all born in Colorado,
namely: George M., a resident of San
Diego, who has two children; Edna, who is the wife of Norman Russell and lives
in Los Angeles; Aubrey C., of this review; and Myrtle, who is the wife of
Charles Schwartz, of Los Angeles. Two
years prior to his death George Sears took all of his children and their
families on a world tour. Though
eighty-two years of age at the time, he was hale and hearty and had perhaps
more vigor and enthusiasm than some of the younger members of the party. He had purchased round trip tickets for the
entire party, which on leaving California went to Vancouver, British Columbia,
thence to Quebec, then Cherbourg and through the European countries of Holland,
Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France and England. Returning to New York, they sailed to
California via the Panama Canal, thus concluding a trip none of his family will
ever forget. In the passing of George
Sears in 1928 at the advanced age of eighty-four years, the community sustained
the loss of one of its best loved and most respected citizens, for he was a man
of genuine personal worth and high moral character. He remained active in the supervision of his
extensive business interests to the last.
Aubrey C. Sears, whose name
introduces this review, resides on the Sears ranch at El Cajon, and as stated
above, operates the various farms and cattle ranches in the Jamul and Dulzura district, embracing about five thousand acres. He is also a director in the Cuyamaca State Bank of El Cajon and in the capable control
of his extensive and important interests has proved a worthy successor of an
honored father. He is a member of the
Rotary Club and has manifested an active and helpful interest in all civic
projects.
In early manhood Aubrey C. Sears
married Miss Marion Hall, daughter of D. W. Hall, a pioneer of the El Cajon
valley, who is president of W. D. Hall, Inc., conducting a lumber-yard, general
machine shop and hardware store. Mr. and
Mrs. Sears are the parents of two children:
Aubrey M., and Florence Jane, who are eleven and four years of age,
respectively.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 201-203, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S SAN DIEGO BIOGRAPIES