San Diego County Biographies

MELFORD D. ARMS

Submitted by Carolyn Feroben

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of National City was born in Franklin County, Vermont, in January, 1859. His 
father is engaged in agricultural pursuits and now lives within a mile and half 
of his native place. Melford, in 1880 went to Kansas and engaged in the nursery 
business, which grew on his hands until it extended over a large portion of the 
State. Afterward he went to New Mexico, and for several years had charge of the 
car department and wood repairs on locomotives for the Atlantic & Pacific 
Railroad Company. Desiring to remove to the Pacific coast, he resigned his 
position, and in January, 1887, he came to San Diego and became a partner in the 
firm of Arms & Chappell. After doing an extensive and profitable business for 
more than two years the firm was dissolved in consequence of his partner being 
obliged to go East to take care of his parents who were advanced in years. Mr. 
Arms then removed to National City, where he now resides and purchased one-half 
interest in the National City Reduction Works. Messrs. Pearson and Arms, the 
proprietors, soon placed the business on a good footing , putting in a large 
amount of new machinery, making it one of the larges plants for the reduction of 
ores south of San Francisco. Mr. Arms, who is an enthusiast in his business, is 
the mill and mechanical superintendent and vice-president, and will doubtless 
make a success of anything he undertakes.
 
An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San 
Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California, from the Earliest Period of Occupancy to the Present Time.... - 
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. pp 262