I remember sitting across from him at the dinette table in
the kitchen. We had creamed tuna on
toast for lunch that day. I’m sure I scrunched
up my face at it then as I would today.
He gave me blue and pink blank note pads. Those were cool.
I remember sitting on his lap in his huge upholstered rocking
chair. We were in the den. We talked about the potatoes growing out of
his ears. Actually, it was hair but
calling them potatoes was more fun.
 |
| Alba W. Hibsch c.1946 {Click images to enlarge) |
I called him ‘Pop’. He
was my grandfather, Alba William Hibsch.
These are the few memories I have of him before he died when I just
turned eight years old. But there’s more to tell about him.
Alba William Hibsch was the first son of W.C. Hibsch and Martha Bashor Hibsch Collette.
He was born at home on 24 May 1896[1],[2] in
Covina, California. The house was located
on the site of the current parking lot at Inter-Community Hospital in
Covina. He had one brother, Cecil, born
in 1902. Except for a brief stay in
Yuma, Arizona and overseas during WWI, he lived his entire life in the
California San Gabriel Valley towns of Alhambra, Baldwin Park and Covina.
Life changed drastically in 1907 for 11 year old Alba and 5 year old Cecil. Their father died unexpectedly while working as a blacksmith for the McCabe Mining Company near Prescott, Arizona. His mother had taken in boarders over the years for extra money but now, a single mother, she needed more income. Shortly after W.C.'s death, Alba's mother became the first female mail carrier in Covina. While she was driving her route, Alba and Cecil stayed at their Aunt Becky’s house, had dinner and played with their cousins. Becky was Rebecca Bashor Bonham, Martha’s sister. (Full disclosure - Martha's other sister Cordelia Bashor was married to James Lewis Matthews, the Postmaster of Covina and editor of the Covina Argus newspaper.)
Life changed drastically in 1907 for 11 year old Alba and 5 year old Cecil. Their father died unexpectedly while working as a blacksmith for the McCabe Mining Company near Prescott, Arizona. His mother had taken in boarders over the years for extra money but now, a single mother, she needed more income. Shortly after W.C.'s death, Alba's mother became the first female mail carrier in Covina. While she was driving her route, Alba and Cecil stayed at their Aunt Becky’s house, had dinner and played with their cousins. Becky was Rebecca Bashor Bonham, Martha’s sister. (Full disclosure - Martha's other sister Cordelia Bashor was married to James Lewis Matthews, the Postmaster of Covina and editor of the Covina Argus newspaper.)
At age 14, Alba quit high school and went to work for the Covina
Argus newspaper as a "printer’s devil", one who cleans ink off
printers, commonly referred to as “grunt work”.
 |
| 1917 Draft Registration for Alba W. Hibsch Source: Ancestry.com |
In August 1917, he left for Army training. His WWI draft registration record[3]
said he was 21 years old and employed as a printer at the Covina Argus. He was medium height and build with brown
eyes and dark hair. Unfortunately I was
told by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs that his official military
record was burned along with others with surnames beginning with ‘H’.
At this point, I only have newspaper articles
that offer clues about his military service:
 |
1917 Jul 27
Covina Argus Newspaper
Source: newspaperarchive.com
|
 |
| 1919 Apr 4 Covina Argus Newspaper Source: newspapers.com |
- Served with the 55th Coastal Artillery Company, 24th company
- Departed on the ammunition train
- Stationed in France
- Rank of Corporal
- Departure and return dates
He may have been in the Army Reserves before WWI but more
specifics are needed to conduct further research.
After his discharge from the Army, Alba worked for a newspaper in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California. He wanted to be on his own rather than working for his Uncle Louie. However, he eventually returned to the Covina Argus.
After his discharge from the Army, Alba worked for a newspaper in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California. He wanted to be on his own rather than working for his Uncle Louie. However, he eventually returned to the Covina Argus.
On 4 Jun 1922, he married Ethel May Kendall in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California. He was 26, she was 23.
 |
| 1922 Jun 9 Marriage Announcement Covina Argus Newspaper Source: newspapers.com |
In all, Alba worked for the Covina Argus for 40 years. He literally worked his way up the line. From his early days as a printer's devil, he transitioned to linotype operator and make-up man for the front page and eventually became part owner and Mechanical Superintendent.[5] One of his early assignments was printing materials for the Covina Women’s Club. He also bound old editions of the paper after attending night school to learn book binding. My MFUG remembers the kitchen table being covered with old editions being prepared for binding. He read the sports pages, his dad read the whole paper before binding it. The bound volumes were donated to the Covina Historical Society. Alba never wanted his sons to be printers – “he said it didn't pay well”! They took his advice.
Alba also worked part-time at a newspaper the Argus managed in South Gate, Los Angeles County, California. The paper may have been a weekly at the time. Chronicling America[6] lists a few titles to help determine which newspaper it was.
 |
| Source: Chronicling America |
In 1937, Alba and Ethel took in Ethel’s teenage niece
Gloria and helped her through high school, become a member of Job’s Daughters
and plan her wedding. I think having a
young lady in the house was a pleasant experience for them.
Alba was a member of the American Legion Baldwin Park post and the Masons. He liked the Los Angeles Angels and the Hollywood
Stars, both Pacific Coast League baseball teams in his day. He and Ethel traveled throughout California and other places in the U.S.. My cousin Linda
and I still have the music box they brought us from one of their trips.
Not unlike many in his generation and the one to follow, he smoked. No, he was a chain smoker, a habit that probably
contributed to his two heart attacks. The
first attack happened at age 58. He and
Ethel were preparing to move into a newly built home in Covina. She quickly finished the move before his
release from the hospital. Sadly, the
second heart attack in 1959 was fatal. He
died on 29 May 1959 at age 63 and was buried at Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendora, Los
Angeles County, California.
From all that I've heard about him, my grandfather was a well-liked and respected
man. I just wish I could have learned
this first hand.
Future Research
- WWI and National Guard service information
- 55th Coastal Artillery Company history
- Membership in the Masons
- Name of South Gate newspaper he published
Sources
[1]
1900 US Census, Yuma, Yuma, AZ Territory, “Hipak”, Line 80, screen 11 of 51;
Roll: T623 48; Page 5B, Enumeration District 74.
Ancestry.com
[2]
WWI draft registration record. Ancestry.com
[3]
Ibid
[4] My
MFUG was the source for much of Alba’s profile.
[5] Covina Argus newspaper, 26 Jan 1934, Page 2, third column. Newspapers.com. Mr. Matthews acknowledging the staff at the newspaper in an article about being awarded the best front page for 1933 by the Los Angeles Times and California Newspaper Publishers association.
[6] Chronicling America, a service of the Library of Congress providing free access to America's historic newspapers, some digitized.
[5] Covina Argus newspaper, 26 Jan 1934, Page 2, third column. Newspapers.com. Mr. Matthews acknowledging the staff at the newspaper in an article about being awarded the best front page for 1933 by the Los Angeles Times and California Newspaper Publishers association.
[6] Chronicling America, a service of the Library of Congress providing free access to America's historic newspapers, some digitized.
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