Orange
County
Biographies
MRS. MARIE HORTSTMANN DWYER
Anaheim mourned the loss of a
beloved pioneer in the passing of Mrs. Marie H. Dwyer, who died as the result
of an automobile accident on the 10th of May, 1933, when seventy-one
years of age. Marie L. Horstmann, as she
was known in maidenhood, was born in June, 1862, in Anaheim, Orange County,
California, in a dwelling located adjacent to the present Pioneer House. She was reared and educated in Anaheim, and
the property on which she resided throughout her life was part of the original
sixteen acre tract her father bought from Christian Mosseman,
while in San Francisco, before colonists came to settle here. Mr. Horstmann came with others subsequently,
and set out a vineyard. He died in 1867.
Marie L. Horstmann became the wife
of John J. Dwyer, a native of Connecticut, who arrived in California in
1905. Mr. Dwyer has been a successful
orange grower for many years, is a director of the Anaheim Citrus Fruit
Association and also a director of the Anaheim First National Bank.
We quote from a review of the career
of Mrs. Dwyer which appeared in the Anaheim Gazette at the time of her tragic
death: “Mrs. Dwyer throughout her life
has been associated with civic, church and charity work of the community. She was particularly interested in the
history of Anaheim. Some of her recent
work included acting on a committee appointed two months ago by the city
council for selection of a fountain in the city park in memory of Mrs. Clementina Langenberger, who left
money for the gift; taking an active part in the Diamond Jubilee celebration in
September, 1932, when she unveiled the marker installed at North and Los Angeles
streets; and numerous private charities. In 1929 she installed the monument to Anaheim
pioneers in the cemetery, and in 1928 deeded property at the corner of Sycamore
and North West streets, just across the street from her residence, to the
Mother Colony Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, where the first
residence built in Anaheim was moved and now is known as the Pioneer
House. She also contributed many of the
furnishings, all original heirlooms of settlers, to the chapter.
Mrs. Dwyer was associated with St.
Michael’s Episcopal Church and throughout her life took an active interest in
its work. Rev. D. Howard Dow, rector,
states that records of thirty-five years ago show that she headed a committee
which raised money for church activities, and she contributed some of the
windows that now are in the building.
She was a member of the Sunday-school classes when a girl … Over a
period of about five years, Mrs. Dwyer worked on the original minutes of the
Los Angeles Vineyard Society, founder of the Anaheim colony. The minutes were written in German. She translated them for the Anaheim Union
Water Company, and they have been running in serial form in the Gazette for the
last seven months.
Even in death the charitable spirit
of Mrs. Marie L. Dwyer manifests itself.
The widower, J. J. Dwyer, who acted upon the oft-expressed wish of his
wife, requested that no flowers be sent to the funeral. His statement said: ‘No flowers requested in accordance with
expressed opinion of Mrs. Dwyer that friendship be
shown by donation to charity.’ Hundreds
of friends see in the statement a continuance of the unostentatious charity for
which Mrs. Dwyer was particularly noted.”
Mrs. Dwyer was buried in the family plot at the Anaheim Cemetery, not
far from the impressive memorial which she erected in 1929, entirely from her
own funds, in memory of Mother Colony pioneers, among whom were her parents,
Mrs. and Mrs. Christian Horstmann.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 239-240, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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ORANGE COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES