Kern County
Biographies
A. Y. MEUDELL
A. Y. MEUDELL. - The
superintendent of machinery for the San Joaquin Light and Power Corporation
possesses qualifications that adapt him admirably for his responsible post and
that have enabled him to fill with marked efficiency other positions of equal
importance. Upon the installation of the machinery and the electrical
appliances of the great corporation at Bakersfield his services were
retained as superintendent of machinery, his selection for the responsible task
being induced through his wide reputation as an expert in the line of his
specialty. When it is considered that the company operates the street car
system in Bakersfield and has laid double tracks to East Bakersfield, besides
having built more than one-hundred and twenty-five miles of feeder lines in
Kern county (the principal line being from Weed Patch to a point fifteen miles
south of Edison); when it is further appreciated that hydro-electric power is
furnished for illuminating cities, propelling factory plants, and raising water
for irrigating purposes.
Through his father, George
Meudell, who came to America from Edinburgh, Mr. Meudell is descended from
Scotch ancestors, while his mother, Mary (Yeoman) Meudell, was a member of an
old New York family identified with the colonial history of our country.
Although he is a native of Chicago, Illinois, born in 1872, from the age of
three years he was reared in Belleville, Ontario, and at a very early age he
learned the trade of machinist. Coming to California in 1893 he engaged in ranching
at Gardena for two years, after which he worked as a machinist and
boiler-setter for J. B. Meyer & Co., of Los Angeles. During 1900 he entered
the employ of the Los Angeles Railway Company as
engineer and machinist at the power house and thus was identified with the
inauguration of the Huntington electric system in that city. After six years in
one position he was promoted to be chief engineer in charge of the Central avenue
power plant, but soon resigned on account of ill health.
While engaged with Charles
C. Moore, erecting engineer, Mr. Meudell assisted in the construction of the
Redondo electric plant and remained to take charge of the first test, which
covered a period of eight months. During 1908 he entered the employ of the
Pacific Light & Power Company in Los Angeles and was sent to the Redlands
plant as engineer but after a few months he
resigned to take charge of the power plants of the Monterey Gas and Electric
Light Company at Monterey and Salinas. Returning from Monterey to Los Angeles
he engaged for a brief period as erecting engineer with the Pacific Light and
Power Company, leaving that important place in order to accept his present
position in Bakersfield when the corporation installed its plant in this city.
Mr. Meudell is very optimistic over the great possibilities of the soil
production in Kern county and owns two small farms in
the county. One, of twenty acres, at Lerdo, is given
to the raising of hemp, while the other, of ten
acres, on the Rosedale road is devoted to alfalfa. While making his
headquarters in Los Angeles he married in that city Miss Bessie Hannam, who was born in Witby,
Ontario, and by whom he has two daughters, Mary and Myrtle. In fraternal
relations he holds membership with South Gate Lodge No. 320 F. & A. M. in
which he was made a Mason. His life has been an existence of busy activities
and it has not been possible for him, in any city of his residence, to
participate prominently in civic upbuilding or
political affairs, yet he has kept posted on national problems and in sentiment
is a stanch upholder of Republican principles.
Transcribed
by Sally Kaleta.
Source:
"History of Kern County with Biographical Sketches," Wallace M.
Morgan, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914, Pages
533-534.
© 2014 Sally Kaleta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S KERN COUNTY
BIOGRAPHIES