Tulare County
Biographies
R. HILARY BOETTNER
R. Hilary Boettner, mine host of the Palace and California Hotels of Visalia, California, is a native of the Keystone state, having been born in Pottstown, January 13, 1886, son of John W. E. and Henrietta M. (Bleim) Boettner. Few men have had a more varied experience in the business world than Mr. Boettner. As a boy in Pennsylvania, he attended the common schools, afterward spending some time in the high and preparatory schools, and then started in to learn the trade of plumber. He followed that occupation for a number of years, when he decided to take Horace Greeley’s advice and “go west.”
In 1907 he landed in California with only fifty-five cents in his pocket. But he was blessed with good health and a determination to succeed, and soon found employment. For about eighteen months he was with the Haslett Warehouse Company in San Francisco as shipping clerk. He then went to Alameda, where he took a position as plumber for the city during the installation of the electrolier system in the streets. From Alameda he migrated to the San Joaquin valley, where he entered the employ of the Barnett Lumber Company of Tulare. This company sent him to Tipton to take charge of a lumber yard there, but he shortly afterward abandoned the lumber business for a life on a ranch, with Dr. Hull and John Hummell. His next employment was with the Los Angeles Creamery Company, installing its plant in Tulare. When the creamery was finished he went to Exeter, where for the next sixteen months he was manager of a bakery.
Mr. Boettner then came to Visalia and assumed the management of the California Hotel. A little later he took charge of the Harvey House and the San Joaquin Hotel, but disposed of these when he took over the management of the Palace Hotel. The two hotels now controlled by him contain sixty rooms each and the Palace had four years been the leading hostelry of Visalia. On April 19, 1920, his father joined him in Visalia and there passed the remained of his life. In the hotel business Mr. Boettner seems to have “struck his gait.” His long and varied experience in dealing with all sorts of people has made him a good judge of human nature, which often enables him to anticipate the wants of a guest before these wants have been expressed. Actuated by a desire to please and appreciative of the patronage of his guests, his hotels have become popular stopping places for many of the traveling public.
Mr. Boettner has remained true to Pennsylvania’s political traditions and is an unswerving republican in his party affiliations. He is a member of the Visalia Kiwanis Club, belongs to all of the various branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In all these organizations he stands well because of his often timely suggestions and general good fellowship.
Mr. Boettner has been twice married. One son was born to his first marriage. His present wife was Miss Agnes M. Rose of Pennsylvania, before her marriage.
History of Tulare County and Kings County, California – Kathleen Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. I, Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926, Page 288
Transcribed by Jeannie Miyama
AMOS T. BOONE
In a list of Tulare county boosters the name of Amos T. Boone would stand near the head. And what is better, he believes that actions speak louder than words; that deeds are more important than mere talk. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, September 18, 1883, and after attending the public schools he learned the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for several years. He made his first visit to California in 1900 and worked on the Times building in Los Angeles. The following year he went to Trinidad, Colorado, where he was employed in building operations until 1922.
In 1922 Mr. Boone came to Visalia, California, where he began the manufacture of cottage and pimento cheese for the Castle Products Company of Los Angeles. The officers of this company are: W. J. Llewellyn, president; Amos T. Boone, vice president; J. H. Hamilton, secretary. The Visalia plant utilizes the skimmed milk from the Dairymen’s Cooperative Creamery and manufactures from six thousand five hundred to seven thousand pounds of cheese daily. Prior to the establishment of this business the skimmed milk was regarded as so much waste by the creamery people.
This is just an example of Mr. Boone’s idea of doing good for a community- taking a waste product and turning it into an article of commercial value. The cheese made by the Castle Products Company is sold at wholesale only and since the business was established by Mr. Boone it is safe to say that no industry in Visalia has done more to advertise the city as an important business center.
Mr. Boone married Jennie Strickland, a native of Missouri, and they have three children: Erwin D., Helen A. and Roland A. Mr. Boone is a republican in politics and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church.
History of Tulare County and Kings County, California – Kathleen Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. I, Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926, Page 50
Transcribed by Jeannie Miyama