USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol II > Part 14
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WILLIAM WALLACE ALLEN, JR.
William Wallace Allen, Jr., a prominent young lawyer of San Fran- cisco, has the talent and ability and the devotion to the jealous mistress of the law which are the principal factors of success in the legal profession, and he has already gained recognition from the people and a rapidly extend- ing patronage throughout the city.
Mr. Allen was born in Stanwood, Iowa, in 1871, being a son of William Wallace and Ellen M. (Armstrong) Allen, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Illinois, and both of old American families dating back to the Revolutionary epoch. His father, who had also espoused the profession of law, brought his family out to California in 1875, and estab- lished his home and practice in Los Angeles, where he still continues as one of the leading lawyers of the city.
Mr. Allen, Jr., was educated in the public schools of Alameda county, California, graduating from the Oakland high school in 1890. From 1891 to 1894 he was in the general freight department of the Southern Pacific Railroad, but resigned in order to take up the study of law, which he had decided upon as his life work. He was admitted to practice before the supreme court in 1895, and has maintained his office in San Francisco up to the present time. He has always taken an active part in Republican politics, and in 1902 was elected to the general assembly for the session of 1903-04. during which he was appointed by the speaker chairman of the corporations committee.
In 1896 Mr. Allen married Miss Henrietta Chaquette, a native of Cali-
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fornia and a daughter of E. C. Chaquette, who was born in Quebec and came to California in the early sixties. One child has been born of this marriage, Alberta. Mr. Allen has fraternal affiliations with the Masonic order, the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Work- men.
FRANCIS X. SPRANGER.
During the years which mark the period of Dr. Spranger's professional career he has met withi gratifying success, and throughout the time of his residence in San Jose he has won the good will and patronage of many of the leading citizens and families of the place. He is a great student and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in everything relating to discoveries in medical science, taking and also contributing to the leading journals devoted to the discussions of the "ills that flesh is heir to" and to the treat- ment thereof. The Doctor was born at Bavaria, Germany, March 13, 1840, being a son of Lawrence and Mary (Schuster) Spranger, both also natives of that country. They came to this country in 1849, locating in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and the father was a merchant.
Francis X. Spranger was nine years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the United States, and the education which he had begun in the public schools of Germany was supplemented by a course at St. Joseph's College of Carrollton, Pennsylvania, which he attended until his eighteenth year. In the following year he became a student of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. H. H. Hoffman, a prominent physi- cian, and later entered the Western Homeopathic College of Cleveland, graduating therein in 1864 with the degree of M. D. Going thence to De- troit, Michigan, he was there engaged in the practice of his profession until 1890. During his residence there he was for five years connected with the Detroit Homeopathic Medical College, for four years as a professor and one year as president. While in that city he enjoyed as large a practice as was accorded to any one physician there.
In 1890 Dr. Spranger came to California, having previously purchased a ranch at Skyland, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, to which his son-in-law had preceded him. After eight years spent as a fruit-grower there the Doctor sold his ranch and located in San Jose, where he resumed the prac- tice of medicine He is again in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative general practice. although he makes a specialty of the diseases of the heart and kidneys. In addition he has also been a contributor to the leading med- ical journals, and is a member of the California State Homeopathic Society. Although a graduate of homeopathy, he is liberal and not exclusive in his practice.
In 1858 Dr. Spranger was united in marriage to Mary Sattig, a native of Ohio, and seven children were born to them: the four living are: Ida, the wife of Dr. Lang, of Detroit, Michigan; Mamie, the wife of John Detrich, also of that city: Minnie, widow of Fred Bush and who makes her home with her sister in Detroit: and Francis X., Jr., a graduate of the Pulte Homeopathic Medical College of Cincinnati, and who completed his
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medical education in Berlin. Mrs. Spranger died in 1888, and two years later the Doctor was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Balwick-Adams, a native of Ohio and a daughter of a prominent early settler and farmer of that state. Since 1887 Dr. Spranger has been identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being a charter member of Peninsula Lodge of Detroit, Michigan, and is also a charter member of Lincoln Lodge, Knights of Honor of that city.
HENRY ADOLPH PFISTER.
One of the most prominent and representative citizens of San Jose is Henry Adolph Pfister, who is now serving for the third term as county clerk of Santa Clara county, and his prominence and popularity are indi- cated by the fact that he has been chosen for the office by constantly increas- ing majorities. He is one of the native sons of San Jose, his birth having here occurred on the 26th of January, 1859.
He is a son of Adolph and Louise (Glein) Pfister, the former a native of Alsace, France. Crossing the broad Atlantic to the new world when a young man the father landed at New York and remained a resident of that city for some time. At the outbreak of the Mexican war he enlisted for service in Stevenson Regiment of New York and served throughout the period of hostilities, taking part in all of the movements of his regiment. His company was discharged at Monterey, California, and Mr. Pfister de- termined to remain upon the Pacific coast. He made his way northward to San Jose, where he has continuously resided to the present time, being now eighty-three years of age. He is one of the oldest settlers of Santa Clara county, and as an honord pioneer well deserves representation in this volume. During his business career he was active and influential in com- mercial circles and in public life. He owned and operated four flour mills and also engaged in general merchandising and dealing in grain. His busi- ness activity was a factor in the commercial advancement and prosperity of the town. In public affairs, too, he took a most commendable interest, and his co-operation was ever along the line of progress and improvement. For a number of years he was honored with the office of mayor of San Jose, and his administration of the city's affairs was characterized by unfal- tering loyalty to the general good and to the trust reposed in him. He established the San Jose library by devoting his salary as mayor to that purpose. The agricultural class have ever found in him a warm friend and champion, and he has labored most earnestly and effectively for the welfare of the city and county, public improvements having been largely conserved through his efforts. Following his discharge from the army at the close of the Mexican war in 1849 Mr. Pfister was married in San Francisco to Miss Louise Glein, and to them have been born three sons and three daugh- ters, of whom the following are yet living: Henry Adolph; Herman C., who is connected with the Eagle Brewing Company; and Emily, who is living at home.
Henry Adolph Pfister is indebted to the public school system of Cali- fornia for the early educational privileges he enjoyed, and later he benefited
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by instruction in Santa Clara College. He left school, however, at the age of sixteen years and was engaged in mining for a considerable period, being thus connected with the development of the mineral wealth of California, Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. In 1887 he embarked in merchan- dising in Santa Clara, California, and continued to operate along that line until 1895, when he was chosen county clerk of Santa Clara county. He discharged the duties of the office so capably that in 1899 he was re-elected for a four years' term, and in January, 1903, was again chosen for a term of four years. In 1899 he received a majority of thirty-seven hundred and in 1903 his majority was forty-six hundred. No higher testimonial of efficient service could be given than this fact. He entered the office with the trust and confidence of his fellow men, and no act in his official career has ever caused him to fall one degree in public estimation.
In 1880 Mr. Pfister was married to Miss Marie La Molle, a native of California. They have been blessed with two daughters, Emily and Marie. Mr. Pfister has attained to the Knight Templar degree in Masonry, and also holds membership relations with the Knights of Pythias, the American Or- der of Foresters, the Woodmen of the World, the Eagles and the Native Sons of the Golden West. In politics he is a Democrat, unfaltering in his allegiance to his party yet placing the public good before partisanship. His career has been one of activity, full of incidents and results. In every sphere of life in which he has been called upon to move he has made an indelible impression, and by his excellent public service and upright career he has honored the city and county, which has honored him with official prefer- ment.
EDWARD P. HEALD.
Indelibly engraven on the pages of California's history is the name of *** Professor Edward P. Heald, for there is perhaps no man in the state who has done as much for its industrial and business development, his labors proving of direct benefit in advancing the material upbuilding and prosperity of the state. His fame as an educator is worldwide, for he has largely been a pioneer in a field of instruction which, up to a few decades ago, was unknown in this country and abroad, the preparation of the young for the practical duties of the everyday working world. With a realization and keen appreciation of conditions existing in the electrical world of trade and commerce and an intelligent and comprehensive understanding of the de- mands of the public in this particular, he set in motion a movement which has resulted in the growth on the Pacific coast of one of the most extensive and successful business colleges of America, and the name of Heald has be- come a synonym for instruction in the practical branches of learning which equip one for life's strenuous labors. Not alone in this direction, however, has California and the west profited by his labors, for his work has largely demonstrated the possibilities of the state along agricultural and horticultural lines. He has also been connected with the development of its rich mineral resources, and the production of fine live stock. In fact his efforts have touched along so many lines of activity that it would be impossible to present
Edward Reteall
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an adequate account of the life work of Professor Heald until the move- ments which he has set in operation shall have attained their full fruition in the lives of those whose labors and ambition he has stimulated.
Professor Heald was born in Lovell, Oxford county, Maine, February 5, 1843, and in both the paternal and maternal line is of English descent. Almost three centuries have passed since the Heald family was planted in America by one who came from England with Governor Winthrop and the Puritans, who guided their little barque into Massachusetts bay and founded homes in what became known as the Massachusetts colony. They settled in Boston in 1660 and their descendants have since been residents of New England.
Professor Heald, reared in the Pine Tree state, began his education in the public schools, and there began the study of Latin and higher mathe- matics. He continued his studies in the Gorham Seminary, near Portland, Maine, for two years, and there his curriculum embraced French and Greek in addition to Latin and the sciences. In the Bridgton Collegiate Institute he studied mathematics, Latin, Greek, French and English literature, pursuing a three years' course, and after acquiring a thorough English and classical education he commenced his career as a teacher at the Portland Business Col- lege, where his adaptability to his chosen labor was soon manifest and made his reputation such as was known beyond the borders of his own state.
Becoming a resident of California in 1863, Professor Heald has been since that tinie a most distinguished factor in educational work on the Pacific coast. Although only in his twentieth year he opened a business college- the first of its kind in the western part of the continent. The school was opened along lines that could not fail of success, the object being to make the institution one of practical value as a preparation for business life. As com- mercial and industrial interests have developed and grown more complex there has been a continually growing demand for skilled employes, and the Heald Business College has met this demand in the west until there have gone out from the school at least twenty thousand young people equipped for various industrial and commercial callings as well as for the professions. This is one of the foremost, if not the leading, school of the kind in the United States. The college employs a large faculty of specialists, seldom less than thirty, and the attendance frequently numbers six hundred students, who come not only from all the Pacific states but also from Central and South America, the Hawaiian Islands, Japan, Mexico, British Columbia, the central and southwestern states, and often from the more distant parts of the world.
Among other results due to the moral and educational powers exerted by a few commercial schools in metropolitan centers, has been the opening up of the world's business to women. The social gain by this revolution has been most marked. Heald's Business College has been foremost in this work, and a large number of the young women of San Francisco who are engaged in clerical pursuits have found a course in Heald's Business College the open sesame through which they have been able to enter the business office.
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Mr. Heald has repeatedly visited every large city in Europe and the United States and all the leading commercial schools and institutions of technology for the purpose of studying their systems of instruction. It will thus be seen why he has become a leading authority on practical education and why his Business College and the School of Mines and Engineering rank as the foremost for useful training in the entire country.
Mr. Heald can well be considered a promoter of the industrial develop- ment of California by the encouragement he has given to manual training in the special field of electrical, steam and mining engineering. Recognizing that the next step forward in education must be something that would com- bine hand and mental culture, he inaugurated a school wherein one might study engineering and at the same time have the practical experience of the workshop. This institution, located at 130 Union Square avenue and known as Heald's School of Mines and Engineering, has been successful beyond expectation, as is attested by the large number of pupils which it has gradu- ated.
While devoting his energies chiefly to the great work of practical edu- cation, Mr. Heald has not neglected the material interests of the state. He has given attention to nearly all forms of industry, including mining, farm- ing, horticulture, petroleum and stock-raising. He has been constantly inter- ested in mines since 1864, and at this writing in 1904 is president of two mining companies and treasurer of four others. He is also president of the Casanova Oil Company and vice-president of the Palace Oil Company. His business capacity has also been felt as a stimulating influence in other lines, and he is now a director and the treasurer of the California Petroleum Miners' Association, of which the Hon. M. H. De Young is president. This association was organized for the protection and advancement of the petroleum interests of California and has already accomplished a vast amount of good in that direction. Mr. Heald is considered an expert on mines and oil lands, and his opinion is often sought by those contemplating invest- ments. In this connection he has visited all the leading mines and oil dis- tricts on the Pacific coast.
Had Professor Heald done nothing else in life than the points already mentioned, he would be entitled to distinction as a successful man and one whose career could be termed that of signal usefulness and honor to the state, and yet into other fields of labor he has directed his labors, with results that have been very beneficial to California. He is widely known as a nurseryman, horticulturist and agriculturist. For many years he has been planting and selling orchards and vineyards in both Napa and Fresno coun- ties, and every year he is adding to the productiveness of the state by trans- forming its unimproved lands into productive fruit and grape plantations. He is the owner of four vineyards in Fresno county and a fine experimental orchard in Napa county. He is engaged in the raising of grain on other farms and is well known as an extensive breeder of fine cattle and blooded horses. He has a large stock farm in Napa county, where he has made a specialty of breeding fine roadsters, trotters and carriage horses. For many years he has been president of the Pacific Coast Trotting Horse Breeders'
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Association, and he is also chairman of the Pacific board of appeals of the National Trotting Association of Hartford, Connecticut, an organization which has done much to promote the interests of the driving horse of America and whose influence extends throughout the civilized world. Love of animals has always been a strong characteristic of his nature, which has been recognized by his election as a member of the board of directors of the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He has also been for a long time a trustee of the Mechanics' Institute, which pos- sesses the most extensive scientific and technical library in San Francisco, and he has always been active in the promotion of the industrial Fairs given by that worthy institution.
ยท On the 5th of February, 1894, Mr. Heald was united in marriage to Mrs. Rowena Jacott, and they occupy an enviable position in the social circles of the city, while the hospitality of their own home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Their home is an evidence of refined and cultured taste, and Professor Heald's love of art is indicated by the fact that he is a life member of the San Francisco Art Association, as well as the promoter of various art exhibitions that have been held in San Francisco. He was also appointed chairman of the art committee and had charge of the fine exhibits of painting, drawing and sculpture seen at many of the industrial fairs of the Mechanics Institute. He is a man of fine personal appearance, and his scholarly attainments have developed in him nothing of the recluse. On the contrary he is entirely approachable, according to all the courtesy of an interview, and his manner is cordial and kindly-an indication of his broad humanitarian spirit. He has not only kept abreast of the best thinking men of the age, but has been the leader of the vanguard in many lines of progress in the west, and when the history of California shall be fully written much credit will be given to. Professor Heald for what he has done for the com- monwealth along lines of material, intellectual and aesthetic advancement.
HENRY L. DAVIS.
Henry L. Davis is one of the oldest business men of San Francisco, and is still prominent as the president of the California Optical Company and the California Title Insurance and Trust Company. He has been identi- fied with the varied interests of the Golden state for a period of over half a century, mining having been the lodestone which attracted him out to the coast and the occupation in which he engaged for the first few years, but most of his subsequent career has been occupied in the conduct of large and important commercial and financial enterprises. He has also performed a worthy part in the public life of the state and city, and from every stand- point he has good reason to be well satisfied with the results of his long life of over seventy-five years.
Mr. Davis was born in Rhode Island, in 1827, a descendant of Welsh ancestors who came to America many generations ago. His father, John W. Davis, was a merchant, and his mother belonged to the Coddington family, people well known in Rhode Island and one of whom was a gov- ernor of the state.
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Mr. Davis was reared and lived in the east until 1851, in which year he arrived in California. He followed mining pursuits for a time, and then embarked in the mercantile business in San Francisco, where he has been connected with commercial affairs ever since. In 1888 he organized the well known California Optical Company, and is still its president, although he has turned the active management of the concern over to his son. He has also been president of the California Title Insurance and Trust Company since its organization.
Mr. Davis was one of the prominent early officials of San Francisco county. He has always been a Republican, and in 1858, after the vigilantes had made a pretty thorough cleaning out of the rough element of the city, he was made the candidate of the reform party for sheriff of the county, and was elected and held the office for four years, having held the office of deputy and under sheriff for six years prior to his election. Mr. Davis is one of the leading Masons of the city, having been an active member of the fraternity for fifty years, and is now president of the Masonic Hall Association. He is a charter member of St. Luke's Episcopal church, and has been vestryman for years. He has been married twice, and has five living children.
JOSHUA COWELL.
Joshua Cowell, a well known and representative citizen and pioneer of San Joaquin county, residing at Manteca station, settled upon his present ranch in 1863. He is now interested in general farming and dairying, and is one of the leading advocates of irrigation, having proved in his own farm operations the value of this method in enhancing the productiveness of the land. So widely and favorably is Mr. Cowell known that his record cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers.
A native of Tioga county, New York, he was born on the 2d of January, 1842, and is a son of Henry and Elida ( McMaster) Cowell, also natives of the Empire state. The paternal grandfather, Joshua Cowell, was a soldier of the war of 1812. About 1845 Henry Cowell removed with his family from New York to Grant county. Wisconsin, and there he lost his wife nine years later. Joshua Cowell was reared in Grant county, where he made his home until 1861, when at the age of nineteen years he came to the west, mak- ing the journey across the plains with a train of emigrants. He drove an ox team all the way, reaching his destination after four months of travel. He left the train, however, at the Carson river in Nevada and remained for a time in that state. Subsequently he continued his journey to California, where he arrived in January, 1863, crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains on foot and coming direct to San Joaquin county. He then took up his abode at the place where he now resides and it has been his home continuously since. He had two brothers, Henry W. and Williston Cowell, who also lo- cated with him on the ranch. They were partners in its ownership and for some time they conducted farming operations there.
On the 25th of November. 1868. Joshua Cowell was united in marriage to Miss Vientta Graves, a native of Grant county, Wisconsin, and to them
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were born five children, of whom three are now living: Mary E., the wife of Charles L. Salmon, a resident of San Joaquin county; Clara C., the wife of Clifford Wiggins, also of the same county; and Otis M., at home. In September, 1884. Mr. Cowell was again married, his second union being with Emily F. Sanders, a native of New York, and to them was born one daughter, Hattie, now at home.
After his first marriage Mr. Cowell took his bride to his farm, whereon he has resided continuously since and is now well known as one of the lead- ing agriculturists of the county. For several years he has been interested in the subject of irrigation and is a strong advocate of that method of ren- dering the soil of San Joaquin county more productive. Irrigation ditches have been built throughout his entire farm, and the waters being turned upon the fields render the soil very rich and enables him to harvest abundant crops. For a number of years Mr. Cowell has been engaged as a contractor in the building of irrigation ditches and levees mainly in San Joaquin county. He devotes his farm to general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, and both branches of his business have proved profitable. He is also extensively engaged in the dairy industry, and for five years served as president of the Cowell Station Creamery, being the first incumbent in that position. What- ever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, and while his labors have brought him prosperity they have also been of a character that has promoted the general good.
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