USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol II > Part 15
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In his political allegiance Mr. Cowell is a Republican, but while he renders unfaltering support to the party he has never sought or desired pub- lic .office for himself, preferring to give his attention to his business interests. He was, however, a candidate for the office of supervisor in the '8os. He belongs to the Brethren church and never withholds his support and co-opera- tion from any movements that he feels will contribute to the general good. His business career exemplifies the force of industry and energy in the utili- zation of opportunity. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, and though he started out in life empty-handed he is to-day numbered among the most progressive agriculturists of San Joaquin county.
THOMAS ELLIOTT KNOX.
Thomas Elliott Knox, mayor and postmaster of Livermore, was born in Huron county, Canada, on the 13th of March, 1855, his parents being Thomas and Catherine (Young) Knox, the former born in Buffalo, New York, while the latter was a native of Canada. The father died in the year 1873, but the mother is still living and yet makes her home in her native country.
Thomas E. Knox pursued his education in the schools of Canada and at the age of fifteen years he left home, going to Michigan, where he secured employment in the lumber woods. After engaging in scaling timber two years he made his way to Lake Superior, Michigan, where he worked for a time at brick work and at plastering. The year 1875 witnessed his arrival in California. He was then a young man of twenty years, and he made his
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way from San Francisco to Santa Barbara and the following year came to Oakland. Here he followed his trade for a time, and subsequently removed to Berkeley, Alameda county, California, where he remained until 1878, and during that period assisted in the organization of the town, which at that time contained only about two hundred voters. This was during the period of the Kearney excitement, and Mr. Knox organized what became known as the Workingmen's party, and, although in no way connected with the Kearney principles, placed a ticket in the field and was instrumental in elect- ing the whole ticket. In 1879 he was elected town marshal and held that position for two terms, being the second incumbent in the office in Berkeley. In 1880 he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land near Livermore and established what is known as the Berkeley colony. He was here engaged in the conduct of a vineyard for ten years, and when that decade had passed he took up his abode in the town of Livermore and has since been very active in its political circles. He first entered the assessor's office as an employe, doing field work in the district known as Murray township. He was thus employed for eight years, a part of the time being under Tom Molloy, the first county assessor, and a part of the time under Robert Leckey, the present chief deputy recorder. On his retirement from that position he began con- tracting and building, and has since been identified with industrial interests in this locality. He has taken and executed the contracts for considerable bridge work in the county, and at present is associated with Mr. Bradshaw as contractors in the construction of the new Livermore opera house.
Mr. Knox, however, has never put aside his active and helpful interest in political affairs, and is a stanch Republican in his views. He has been to many of the county conventions of his party, and his opinions carry weight in its councils. He was elected a trustee of Livermore in 1899, and has continuously served in that capacity for more than four years, being chairman or mayor of the city during 1902-3. In April, 1903, he was appointed by President Roosevelt to the position of postmaster at Livermore and has since acted in that capacity. His official service is always faithfully and promptly performed, and he is as loyal to the welfare of his community as he is to his private business interests, whereby he is acquiring a comfortable competence for his family. In his social relations he is connected with the Independent Order of Foresters.
In October, 1881, Mr. Knox . was united in marriage to Miss Amy Squires, a native of England and a daughter of John Squires, the former treasurer of Berkeley, California. Her brother-in-law is now secretary of the harbor commission. To Mr. and Mrs. Knox have been born two sons and a daughter: Arthur. who is assisting his father; Elliott, who is now in school; and Mattie, a student in the high school at Livermore.
JOHN CHRIST.
John Christ, who has served continuously as town marshal of Redwood City since 1887, is one of the successful retired business men of this place, where he has been established for over thirty-five years. During his life- time, whose length is nearly that set by the Psalmist, he has traveled many
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seas and fared in many climes, has seen and experienced much of the world, has had dealings with men and with favorable and adverse circumstances, and after many years' connection with the business interests of California has practically retired from the " strenuous life" and is enjoying comfort and ease as well as the high esteem of his fellow citizens and many friends.
Mr. Christ was born June 8, 1838, in Gluckstadt, Holstein, now a part of the German empire, but at that time belonging to the kingdom of Den- mark. His father, Neils Christ, was an officer in the Danish army, was retired and pensioned in 1847, and lived at his old home till his death in 1890, at the age of ninety-two years. His wife's maiden name was Mar- garet Rodges, who was of an old German family, and died in 1875 at the age of seventy-eight.
Mr. John Christ received his education in the public schools of his native land. In 1854, when sixteen years old, he went to sea "before the mast," and from an ordinary seaman, by close study of navigation, rose to the rank of second mate in 1858. He quit the sea in 1861, after having visited nearly all the countries of the world and made complete trips around the globe, and having spent considerable time in Australia and Chile. He arrived in San Francisco in 1861, and for about a year was mate of a schooner running to Sacramento and Redwood City. In 1862 he bought a schooner, of which he was captain and which he employed in a coast and river trade until 1868, in which year he located in Redwood City. He there established a warehouse and a wood and coal business, and also continued the operation of several schooners. He carried on these combined enterprises very suc- cessfully until 1896, when he sold out all his business interests, and has since been practically retired, giving most of his attention to his property and the executive and official duties which his fellow citizens have placed upon him.
In 1878 Mr. Christ was elected to the office of town marshal of Red- wood City, serving for two years, and in 1882 was again elected for the same term. In 1884 he was chosen town trustee for a term of three years. In 1887 he was elected once more to the position of town marshal, and has ever since been honored with that place, having made a fine record. In politics he is a Republican. He affiliates with the lodge and encampment of the Odd Fellows and with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a member of the Congregational church. He is an exempt, but still an active volunteer fireman.
He owns a fine home on Madison street, and it has been the scene of much domestic happiness for many years. In 1867 he married Miss Teresa Puttner, who was born in New York and was a daughter of Baron Charles Von Puttner, of an old German family. Nine children were born of this union, but four of them died in childhood, and a son, Cornelius, died at the age of thirty, during his short career having been recognized as one of the prominent young business men of Redwood City. The children still living are: Julia, the wife of L. D. Rathbone, a Congregational minister at Santa Rosa; George; Lottie, wife of Frank Wentworth, of Redwood City; and Olle, wife of H. Brace, a merchant of Redwood City.
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WILLIS GUY WITTER, B. S., LL. B.
For sixteen years San Francisco has numbered Willis Guy Witter among its most progressive and public-spirited citizens. He has been the promoter of many of the leading business enterprises of California and at the same time, as a member of the bar, has gained a position of distinctive preferment. The natural resources of the state have been developed through his co-operation, with a foresight that enabled him to look beyond the exigen- cies of the moment to the possibilities of the future, and he has so directed his labors that California has benefited by his efforts in no unimportant de- gree. His connection with any undertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the same, because it is in his nature to carry forward to successful comple- tion any enterprise with which he becomes associated.
Mr. Witter's residence on the Pacific coast dates from 1889. He was born in Grand Rapids, Wood county, Wisconsin, April 23, 1862, a son of Dr. G. F. and Frances L. (Phelps) Witter. The father, a native of New York. was a representative of an old American family founded in New England at an early day. He became one of the pioneer residents of Wisconsin, and for many years practiced his profession with success in Grand Rapids, that state. His mother, also a native of the Empire state, was a member of the Phelps family of New England. Her grandfather was a colonel in the Revo- lutionary war, and her father held the rank of captain in the war of 1812. The Witter family was also represented in the early wars of America. To Dr. Witter and his wife were born two sons and a daughter.
Willis Guy Witter began his education in the public schools of his na- tive town and continued his studies in the high school of both Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. He afterward engaged in teach- ing in a district school at Auburndale, Wood county, Wisconsin, for a year, before entering the state university of his native state, in which he completed a course by graduation with the class of 1883. While there he belonged to the Hesperian Society, and served as its president during his senior year. Continuing his work as an educator he was the superintendent of the public schools of Wausau, Wisconsin, from 1884 until 1886, and at Menominee, Michigan, from 1886 until 1888. He accredited the Wausau high school to the Wisconsin University in the scientific and English courses, and the Me- nominee high school to Ann Arbor University, of Michigan, in the modern classical and scientific courses.
When in the University of Wisconsin Mr. Witter had prepared for the bar, and in 1889 he sought a home on the Pacific coast, believing that the west offered better opportunities to the young man of ambition with his own way to make in the world. Locating in San Francisco he began practice, and his thorough preparation and capability were soon manifest in his careful handling of the causes entrusted to him. His legal work brought him favor- able attentions, and in 1891 he was appointed assistant United States at- torney for the northern district of California, in which capacity he served for four years, or until 1895. Since that time he has continued in the active practice of law in San Francisco, and in his profession he devotes his time to
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corporation law. He is considered a safe and conservative attorney and coun- sellor and one whose presentation of a case is based upon a thorough knowl- edge of the law applicable thereto. He is a nephew of the late Hon. Timothy Guy Phelps, of San Mateo county, and represents the heirs in the adminis- tration of the estate.
Mr. Witter's efforts along other lines have been of marked value to the state, and at the same time have greatly enhanced his individual prosperity. While there is no state in the Union richer in its natural resources than Cali- fornia, nature has seemed to conspire that man shall be her co-laborer in pro- duction, and the efforts of the individual must needs supplement those of na- ture in order that she shall yield of her bounty and fruits. The delta and overflowed lands of the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys are the most fertile in the state, and are capable of being brought to the highest state of cultivation and productiveness after once leveed, reclaimed, and prepared for cultivation, and in this connection the labors of Mr. Witter have been most ef- fective and beneficial. He has been identified with the reclamation and man- agement of the delta lands of the San Joaquin river, and is an authority upon the subject of these lands, recognizing their possibilities to a large degree. Through his efforts have been reclaimed upward of fifteen thousand acres, thus redeeming the tract from a worthless condition to one of great value, the present market price being one hundred dollars per acre. This work has added to the assessed value of these properties fully one-half million dollars. He is the president of the Golden Gate Dredging & Reclamation Company, which has been engaged in several enterprises of vast importance to the gen- eral public, including the straightening of the San Joaquin river channel from Antioch to Stockton, California, and the removal of Arch Rock and of Shag Rocks, Nos. I and 2, which were serious obstructions to navigation in San Francisco bay. The company has also improved the deep water chan- nel at Vallejo, as well as doing extensive work upon Stockton and Petaluma channels and that of the Napa river. He is a stockholder of the California and Nevada Land and Improvement Company, and of the Bradford Reclama- tion Company. He also has valuable interests in business property in Oak- land, and has been largely identified with vine culture in California, in which connection he is the owner of the Belle Roche vineyard, at Asti, Sonoma county, California. This is one of the choicest vineyards in the Russian river valley, comprising about three hundred acres.
In 1886 Mr. Witter was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Gooding, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Alonzo Gooding, a member of an old New York family. They have six children: Dean, who is sixteen years of age; Margaret, aged thirteen; Willis Guy, Jr .; Elizabeth G .; Charles ; and John Irving.
Mr. Witter belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Union Club, a social organization of Berkeley, in which city he and his family make their home. His political allegiance is given to Republican principles, and he was formerly active in the work of the party, but in more recent years his extensive business interests have made heavy demands upon
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his time, and he therefore has not been a participant in the labors of the po- litical organization. To him there has come the attainment of a distinguished position in connection with the legal profession and also with the great ma- terial enterprises of the state, and his efforts have been so discerningly di- rected along well defined lines that he seems to have realized at any one point of progress the full measure of his possibilities for accomplishment at that point. He is an important factor in the development of the natural resources of the state and in the upbuilding and promotion of the enterprises which add not alone to his individual prosperity, but also advance the welfare and gen- eral prosperity of central California.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COOPER.
Benjamin Franklin Cooper has been one of the foremost merchants of Redwood City for nearly forty years, and for almost fifty years has been identified with the commercial interests of California. In fact, he has known no other occupation since he was a boy of thirteen, which was his age when he started out on his independent career as a clerk. From that time he made his own way in life, and is a self-made merchant, shrewd and self- reliant from his long experience and dealings with men, and in business, social and domestic life has been esteemed for his many genuine qualities of heart and mind.
Mr. Cooper was born at Wellsville, Ohio, September 30, 1834, being a son of William A. and Mary Cooper, both of English descent, and who were early settlers of Columbiana county, Ohio, where they reared a family of eleven children.
Mr. B. F. Cooper was the tenth in order of birth in this family. He received his education and remained on his father's farm until the age of thirteen, when he left home and went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and ob- tained a position as clerk in a dry-goods store. In 1852 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, continuing the same line of business, and in 1855 came out to California during the early times of the state. He established a general merchandise store in Petaluma, Sonoma county, and continued it until his removal to Redwood City in 1865, since which time he has conducted general mercantile enterprises in this city, and is one of the long established and successful business men.
He has given his allegiance to Republican principles since his boyhood days. He joined the Odd Fellows fraternity in 1865, and is a member of both the lodge and the encampment, and also affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Mr. Cooper married, in 1860, Elizabeth S. Laird, a twin daughter of M. S. Laird, a California pioneer who crossed the plains and drove cattle. with which he started a dairy in Marin county, and who was an honored resident of the state till his death at a ripe old age. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper had two children. The daughter Alice died in infancy, and the son, M. S., has for some years been occupying an important position with the Standard Oil Company.
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DAVID M. BURNETT.
Among the leading members of the legal profession in San Jose is inscribed the name of David M. Burnett, who is a son of John M. and grand- son of Peter H. Burnett, the latter of whom was born in 1807, in Nashville, Tennessee, and was an author and a self-read man in the law. Crossing the plains in the year 1843 with ox teams, he located with his family in Oregon, where he became quite prominent in organizing the state government. In 1848 he came to the Golden state, taking up his abode in Sacramento, and two years later, in 1850, was elected the first governor of California, which necessitated his removal to San Jose, the then capital of the state. In 1851. however, he resigned that important position in order to devote his entire time to his personal affairs, and returned to Sacramento. He was also one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of California. He organized the Pacific Bank of San Francisco, of which he was president for many years, but in 1880 he retired from all business cares, and the remainder of his life was spent in the home of his son, John M. Burnett, where he passed away in death in 1894, at the age of eighty-seven years, dying in the faith of the Catholic church.
John M. Burnett was born in Missouri, in 1838, and his early education was received in private schools, subsequently becoming a student in Santa Clara College, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1858, and a year later that of Master of Arts. Immediately thereafter he began the study of law, and was admitted to practice about 1865, thereupon opening an office in San Francisco, being now numbered among the leading probate lawyers of the city. His office is located at 420 California street. Early in his professional career Mr. Burnett married Miss Ellen Casey, a native of New Jersey, where she was born in 1842, and her education was received in the Ville Marie Convent at Montreal, Canada, in which she was graduated in 1856. Immediately thereafter she came to California and began teach- ing in the old Union grammar school in San Francisco, continuing the teacher's profession until her marriage. She also educated her seven children up to the age of twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Burnett still make their home in San Francisco.
David M. Burnett was born in San Francisco, California, December 26, 1870, and when twelve years of age entered Saint Ignatius College at San Francisco, in which he received the Bachelor's degree in 1891. In the fall of the same year he entered Hastings College of the Law in this city, and after a thorough legal course was admitted to practice in August, 1894. While pursuing his law reading Mr. Burnett also taught mathematics and English one year in his alma mater and also one year in Santa Clara College of Santa Clara, California. On the Ist of September, 1894, he began the practice of law with the late Charles F. Wilcox, and later, on the Ist of March, 1897, entered into partnership relations with H. E. Wilcox, their principal practice being probate and corporation law, and they enjoy an ex- tensive and lucrative patronage. They are special attorneys for the public administration, the Safe Deposit Bank of San Jose, the Commercial Bank of
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Los Gatos, the Madera Flume & Trading Company, the Auzerais Estate Company and the Ryland Corporation. Mr. Burnett spares neither time nor labor in his legal investigation and preparation, and his zeal in his chosen calling is winning for him a large and paying practice.
The marriage of Mr. Burnett was celebrated on the 2d of July, 1902, when Miss Mabel Arques became his wife, she being a daughter of Luis Arques, a prominent attorney of San Jose, and of this union was born, on May 1, 1903, a son, John M. Burnett, making the fourth generation incor- porated in this sketch. Mr. Burnett is a member of the Young Men's Insti- tute, the Native Sons of California, the National Union, Sainte Clair Club, the California Pioneers and the Greek letter law fraternity, Phi Delta Phi.
HANS DANIEL ANDERSON.
Hans D. Anderson is a representative of an old and honored family of Norway, which was originally of German origin, but early in the fifteenth century was established on the west coast of Norway. Anders Hanson, the father of him whose name introduces this review, was a native of that country, and after coming to America made the voyage around the Horn to California in 1847, taking up his abode in Sacramento, where he followed the fortunes of a miner with varying success for eight years. Returning thence to Norway, he was there married to Mathea Ericson, also a native of that country, where her people were prominent and well known. Her father was a seafaring man, dealing in salmon, mackerel, lobster, etc., ship- ping to England and carrying on extensive operations in all sea products, this business having been carried on during the past seventy-five years. Anders Hanson died in New York in 1870, and in his family were two children, the sister of our subject being now deceased.
Hans Daniel Anderson in his youth received the educational advantages afforded by the public schools of his native land, and in 1871, just after leaving school, he started alone for America, arriving in Chicago, Illinois, in June of that year. From that time until 1885 he followed the sea and lakes, also the tent and awning business, but in that year he made his way to North Dakota and secured a homestead and one pre-emption claim at Devil's Lake, and resumed his tent and awning operations at Grand Forks, North Dakota. There also he operated a steamboat line on the Red river in connection with the Northern Pacific Railroad. On the 12th of November, 1901, Mr. An- derson arrived in California, having previously purchased the San Jose Awn- ing & Tent Company, which had been established in 1889, and he now manu- factures all kinds of canvas wares, including tents, awnings, sails, canvas irrigation hose, etc., the business being the only one of its kind in San Jose. The extensive business interests of San Jose place him among the leaders in industrial circles, and he has achieved that success which is the result of enterprise and straightforward methods.
In Chicago, Illinois, in 1880, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Amelia Peterson, a native daughter of Chicago. In that city her parents were also married, having both removed there from Norway in 1832, al-
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though at that time they were not acquainted, and for many years her father was a prominent street contractor for the city of Chicago. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, four of whom are living : Thomas, Ella May Edith, Hobson Dewey and Earl Theodore. Since 1881 Mr. An- derson has affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was the first commander of the Uniformed Rank, Knights of Honor, at Chicago, and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Mac- cabees.
IRA COTTLE.
There are few people now living in Santa Clara county who have been identified with its history and made their home within its boundaries for a longer period than has Mr. Cottle, a pioneer of 1854, now residing on Lin- coln avenue, San Jose. When he came to the far west the railroad had not yet spanned the continent nor had the art of telegraphy obliterated distance. California was but sparsely settled, and its residents were principally miners and cattle-raisers, a cosmopolitan throng gathered together from every part of the world, showing little trace of the Spanish régime of the past or the American supremacy of the future. The fruit industry, which has since brought the state world-wide fame, had not yet sprung into existence, while kindred or different lines of enterprise were still awaiting the progressive pioneer. Reflecting upon the advancement of the past half century, Mr. Cottle may truly say : "All of which I saw, and part of which I was." Now in the twilight of his busy existence somewhat retired from the world's activ- ities, he finds pleasure in comparing conditions of the past with those of the opening years of the twentieth century and rejoices in the supremacy which the state has won among the commonwealths of our nation.
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