Glendale, California Biographies

        Louis G. Scovern, who is the owner and proprietor of the L. G. Scovern Company, Funeral Directors, was born at Jefferson City, Missouri, May 17, 1880, a son of Samuel and Pauline (Wagner) Scovern. His father was a wholesale grocer at Kansas City, Missouri, before he moved to Jefferson City, where he and his father-in-law, Christian Wagner, were manufacturers of saddletrees, furnishing the state penitentiary with all it used in the manufacture of saddles. This business was sold to the Sullivan Company, who still manufactures the same tree, which has become internationally known as the Sullivan Saddle Tree. Mr. Wagner was a pioneer steamship operator on the Mississippi river and an early resident of Keokuk, Iowa. He was mayor of Jefferson City for three terms.

        The two sisters and brother of Mr. Scovern are: Mrs. W. G. Noble, of San Fernando, California; Mrs. J. B. Ferris, of Glendale; and Charles E. Scovern, cashier of the Long-Bell Lumber Company at Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating from the St. James Military Academy, Macon, Missouri, with the class of 1896, Mr. Scovern came west and followed railroading for twelve years, as a ticket agent on the Southern Pacific system. Leaving Santa Barbara, his last post with the railroad, he took up mining in Kern County, California, and in Nevada, until 1910, when he came to Glendale. For many years before coming to Glendale he had cherished the desire to become an undertaker, and when opportunity presented itself he entered the employ of Mr. Pulliam, remaining with him for four years before going into that business for himself. In 1915, H. E. Betz erected a building for his business at 1000 South Brand Boulevard where he has since been located. His equipment includes a motor ambulance and hearse, and his facilities for the business in general are equal to those of the much larger cities. In the near future, however, Mr. Scovern will erect a building on his own property on Brand Boulevard near Garfield Street.

        At San Bernardino, in 1911, Mr. Scovern married Edna Marie Anderson, a native of Sioux City, Iowa. Their two children are: Louis G. Jr., and Pauline Marie. Mrs. Scovern is a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, and is a Past Noble Grand of the Rebekahs, while Mr. Scovern is a Master Mason, a Past Grand of the I.O. O. F., and Elk, a Knight of Pythias, a charter member of the Kiwanis and Progressive Business Men’s Clubs and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. and Mrs. Scovern are Republicans. They are members of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Scovern assists in the business.