Los Angeles County
Biographies
ROBERT MONTGOMERY VERMILYE
VERMILYE, ROBERT
MONTGOMERY (Retired Physician), Orange Culturist, Redlands,
California, was born in New York City, May 23, 1879, the son of
Robert M. Vermilye and Annie (Hunter) Vermilye.
He married Frances M. Howard of New
York City, April 24, 1904. Dr. Vermilye is a member of one of New York’s most
influential families, his grandfather, William M. Vermilye, having been the
founder of the old and well-known banking firm of Vermilye & Company, one
of the prominent banking houses of the metropolis.
Dr. Vermilye
spent the early part of his life in Europe and received the preliminary part of
his education abroad, having attended private schools in Berlin,
Germany, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Upon his return to the United States, he
entered the preparatory department of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and
from there went to Princeton University, graduating in the class of 1902 with
the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He took
up the study of medicine in the College
of Physicians and
Surgeons of Columbia University and was graduated from that institution in the
year 1906 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
After two years
in hospital work and study in Europe, Dr. Vermilye opened offices in New York City for the practice of his profession and was
thus engaged until 1910, when he retired from the medical field of New York and transferred his home to Southern
California. This was
prompted partly on account of Mrs. Vermilye’s health and partly because of a
decision he had made to purchase a home in that section of the country, which
he considers to be one of the most desirable parts of the world in which to
reside.
Dr. Vermilye’s
decision to locate permanently in Southern California
was the result of extensive travel.
After visiting most of the world’s attractive centers he came to the
conclusion that Southern California possessed
more advantages, due to the goodness of nature, than any other part of the
world he had visited.
Locating at Redlands, California,
Dr. Vermilye invested in two orange ranches and immediately engaged in
fruit-growing, of which he has made a success.
In addition to improving his property and making his ranches among the
best in that section; Dr. Vermilye built a handsome residence at Redlands.
In 1910, Dr.
Vermilye aided in the organization of Calzona Mines Company, a corporation
capitalized at $1,500,000, of which he was elected President. The company owns gold and copper property in
the Mojave Desert country, its mines lying in California
near the Arizona
line. Dr. Vermilye and his associates
operated the property for about a year and a half, and after bringing it up to
a certain point of development disposed of their interests to a syndicate of
well known Los Angeles capitalists who are continuing the development work
started by Dr. Vermilye’s company.
Since locating in
Southern California, Dr. Vermilye has devoted
himself almost exclusively to his business interests and has taken no part in
public affairs, although he occupies a splendid standing in the business and
social circles.
During his
residence in New York, Dr. Vermilye was a
member of the Seventh Regiment, New York National Guard, but resigned, after
four years of service, upon moving to Redlands. Although he is not in active practice, the
Doctor still retains membership in the Medical Society of New York County and
the New York State Medical Society, and he also belongs to a number of clubs,
including the Princeton Club of New York, N. Y.; the Jonathan Club of Los
Angeles, Cal.; the University Club of Redlands, Cal., and the Country Club of
the same place.
Transcribed
by Bill Simpkins.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 897, International
News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston,
Atlanta. 1913.
© 2012 Bill Simpkins.
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