USA > California > San Benito County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 41
USA > California > Monterey County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 41
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land, and when this was not sufficient for his needs, leased land also.
At the time Mr. Fonte first became associated with Salinas it was a small village boasting only a few shacks for residences, and the other towns which have since grown to be important places in the county were either unheard-of or in an equally primitive condition. Land was exceed- ingly cheap at that time, selling as low as $3 per acre, the same land today costing the pur- chaser as many hundred dollars per acre. Mr. Fonte followed the sheep industry on his own behalf in this vicinity for ten years with splendid results, but as the country became more thickly settled and the fence law became a necessity, the sheep business became less and less remun- erative. After selling his herds he bought sev- enty acres of land near Blanco for which he paid $75 per acre and there he made his home for a number of years. Later he bought three hundred and fifty acres near Salinas in the Graves district, which he improved and devoted to the raising of grain and stock, in addition to maintaining a small dairy. Although he still owns the property above mentioned he has not made his home upon it for some time, having in 1905 purchased a home in Salinas at No. 184 Capitol street.
Mr. Fonte's marriage occurred in California and united him with Miss Constance Fonte, and of the children of this marriage, all were born in Salinas valley and were educated in Salinas. Named in order of their birth they are as fol- lows : Manuel; Michael; Mary, the wife of Paul Bidasche; Frank, who is a practicing at- torney of Salinas; and George, who has charge of his father's ranch. Since becoming an American citizen Mr. Fonte has made a careful study of the principles of the two great political bodies, and in his opinion the principles of the Republican party rightly interpreted and carried out would be a solution of many of the prob- lems which now exist. He has always been a persistent advocate of good schools and good roads, and in fact has never lost an opportunity to advance any undertaking that has the wel- fare of the community at heart. It is now over forty-three years since he came to California empty-handed and a stranger in a strange land. but he possessed what was in all probability
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more valuable to him than financial backing- youth, a good constitution and a determination that would not brook defeat. With these as his chief assets he started out to win his way, and it needs but a glance over the events of his life to see that he has succeeded.
CHRIS. MORTENSEN.
Worthy of mention as one of the industrious and respected residents of Monterey county is Chris. Mortensen, a keen, wide-awake represen- tative of the agricultural interests of this sec- tion of the state. A man of energy, he is in every way a self-made man, his present pros- perity being due altogether to his own efforts. From working as a farm hand in the employ of others when he came to this country in 1892, he has worked his way up steadily, until today he is in charge of one of the finest ranches in Mon- terey county, within easy market distance of Sa- linas.
Mr. Mortensen was born in Denmark, January 2, 1873, the son of parents who made their liv- ing as tillers of the soil. In the midst of these surroundings the son grew up to a familiarity with agriculture, so that when he struck out in the world on his own behalf it was with the assurance that he could earn a livelihood at that calling, should every other endeavor fail. When he was about nineteen years of age he deter- mined to come to the United States, his interest in this country being enhanced by the fact that his uncle, John Mortensen, had been located in California since about 1869. The latter wrote glowing letters to his relatives in the Fatherland about his success in this western country, and the stories so fired the ambition of the young nephew that he could not be content until he had come here also. His relative was located in Chualar, Monterey county, and hither Chris. Mortensen made his way as soon as the vessel landed. For about three years after locating here he worked as a ranch hand for Hans Hansen, and for seven years he was similarly occupied on his Uncle John's ranch. With the proceeds of his earnings during these years he came to the ranch which he now occupies, which is popularly known as the Jacks ranch. Here he has four hundred acres
which he leases on shares, making a specialty of raising barley and oats, as well as raising con- siderable stock. Neatness and thrift are char- acteristics inherent in Mr. Mortensen's make-up, as may be judged by the orderliness everywhere apparent about the ranch and the various build- ings.
Mr. Mortensen's marriage occurred Novem- ber 15, 1901, and united him with Miss Annena Andersen, who like himself was born in Den- mark. Three children have blessed their mar- riage, Arthur, Carl and Bertha, the two last named being twins. In none of her citizens can there be found anyone who is more intensely in- terested in the welfare of Monterey county than is Mr. Mortensen, an interest which has been demonstrated in the efforts he has made to es- tablish and maintain good schools in his section and in other efforts of an unbuilding character. Politically he is a believer in Democratic prin- ciples, but takes no active part in party affairs. Socially he is identified with the Dania Lodge of Chialar. Mr. Mortensen has every reason to be grateful that his life has been cast in such pleas- ant and encouraging surroundings, for here he has found opportunities for progress and ad- vancement which would have been denied him and his family had he remained in his native land.
F. N. C. RUSSELL.
Far removed from his old home and birthplace in Sweden, Mr. Russell finds in Monterey coun- ty, Cal., a climate surpassing that familiar to his childhood and young manhood, and with the pass- ing of years has found as well an opportunity to earn a comfortable livelihood for his family in the midst of an attractive environment. When he came to the New World over twenty-one years ago he experienced the usual difficulties and in- conveniences which the foreigner almost inva- riably encounters, due principally to lack of fa- miliarity with the language and customs, but these have been entirely overcome, and with the passing of years he has accumulated a valuable and productive ranch and has also become an important factor in the business community of the county.
Born in Boros, Sweden, July 15, 1866, F. N.
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C. Russell is a son of Solomon and Carolina (Rodlond) Russell, both likewise natives of that country. Mr. Russell's boyhood and early man- hood years were spent in his native surround- ings, attending the village school and dutifully assisting his parents with the care and manage- ment of the home farm, but by the time he had reached his majority he determined to carry out his long cherished plan to come to the United States and grow up with the country. Setting sail from the port of Guttenburg, Sweden, in 1888, in due time the ship dropped anchor in the harbor of Boston, where for one year there- after he was variously employed. Wisely noting that the west held forth greater inducements for the ambitious young man than the more con- gested east he came to the Pacific coast country in 1889, going directly to Tacoma, Wash. As he had anticipated he had no difficulty in finding employment, and during the three years he re- mained there, was employed by the city. Wish- ing to see more of the coast country he gave up his position at the end of this time, and coming south into California, located in Santa Cruz coun- ty on a ranch. He remained in that vicinity for about five years, when, in 1897, he came to Mon- terey county, and at Spreckels accepted a posi- tion with the great enterprise which brought that town into being, the Spreckels Sugar Company. This position he also filled acceptably for five years, when he resigned it to accept the appoint- ment as manager of the Graves warehouse on the Castroville road, a position which he has filled for the past seven years to the entire satisfaction of the owners.
By the exercise of native characteristics of thrift and frugality Mr. Russell has become the owner of a choice piece of property in the vicin- ity of Salinas, on the Castroville road, the tract comprising twenty-eight acres for which he paid $220 per acre. Although the ranch is cared for entirely by hired labor, it is one of the most pro- ductive and best managed properties in the coun- ty, as may be shown by the fact that it produces forty sacks of barley to the acre, averaging one hundred and twenty-eight and a half pounds to the sack, or an income of $145 to the acre.
Mr. Russell's marriage united him with Miss Mary Goumond, a native of Canada, and three children have been born to them, Mildred, Wal-
ton and Robert, all attending a convent at Salinas. In looking back over his life Mr. Russell has every reason to be thankful that Fate led him not only to take up life in the New World, but more particularly in this part of the Pacific coast country, where he has been prospered far beyond his expectations.
JAMES H. SMITH.
As one of the younger generation of ranchers in Monterey county mention belongs to James H. Smith, familiarly known to those associated with him as "Manny." He is the son of one of the state's early settlers, John Benson Smith, an account of whose life and accomplishments will be found on another page in this work. Upon coming to the state in 1852 the father settled in Santa Clara county, where he first engaged in mining, and later became interested as a rancher in the same county. It was on the parental homestead in that county that James H. Smith was born February 26, 1865, but he remembers little or nothing of his birthplace, for he was only about three years old when the family home was transferred to Monterey county. His entire life therefore has practically been passed in this county, where through the accomplishments of father and sons the name has become a synonym for all that is upright, substantial and worth while.
Being the oldest son in the parental family, after the death of the father in 1888, James H. Smith assumed the responsibilities of maintain- ing the home ranch, caring for his younger brothers and sisters, for the mother had died several years previously, in 1879. He continued in charge of the home place until 1900, when his youngest brother, Edward E., assumed the re- sponsibilities, while he purchased other property in the county and has since resided there. This land, according to Don Pedro Zabala, an old resident here, is supposed to be the site of the last battle in which General Fremont engaged. At the time of purchase it was in a primitive con- dition, and Mr. Smith paid for it at the rate of $25 per acre. The last nine years have witnessed great changes in its appearance, and only one with indomitable courage and persistence would
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have been able to accomplish such a transforma- tion. Live Oak dairy is a name well known throughout Monterey. county, and its products are equally well known and in great demand. Altogether Mr. Smith owns five hundred and forty acres, of which one hundred acres are used for dairy purposes, while on the remainder he raises grain, besides devoting considerable at- tention to raising horses and cattle. Few of her citizens have taken more interest in the welfare of her public institutions than has Mr. Smith, who is a stanch advocate of good schools and competent teachers, and to acquire and maintain this high standard is one of his chief activities.
The marriage of James H. Smith occurred in San Luis Obispo county and united him with Miss Ella May Tucker, who was born in Kansas and since 1879 has been a resident of California. Three children were born to them while they were living on the old home place in this vicinity, Harvey Benson, Alice Magdalene and Sherwin Tucker. Fraternally Mr. Smith is associated with Alisal Lodge No. 163, I. O. O. F., the Foresters of America, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Smith is looked upon as one of the representative men of the county, and the younger generation of the community might do well to pattern- after his methodical and consistent life.
G. B. GAMBETTA.
The lineage of the Gambetta family is traced to Switzerland and the first of the name to seek a fortune in the new world was the father of the gentleman whose name introduces this article. During the latter part of the year 1868, soon after the birth of his son, he had migrated to California via Panama and settled in Marin county, where for three years he worked for wages. At the expiration of that time he in- vested his savings in such a way as to enable him to embark in agricultural pursuits for him- self. Five years later he sold out in California and returned to Switzerland with $4,000 made during his sojourn on the Pacific coast. He was born in 1846 and his wife in 1848 and both are still living at Coreeppo, canton Ticino, where since about 1890 he has served as postmaster.
In addition he served as clerk of the town for about ten years.
Canton Ticino, Switzerland, is the native place of G. B. Gambetta, and November 22, 1868, the date of his birth. The schools of that republic afforded him fair advantages. While still very young he was united in marriage with Genoeffa Codoni, by whom he has one son, Peter. Shortly after his marriage he bade farewell to family and friends and set sail for California, where in due time he arrived in safety. For seven years he worked for wages at King City. His earnings were carefully hoarded and eventually enabled him to start out for himself.
After having been a resident of Gonzales dur- ing 1895, in 1896 Mr. Gambetta came to the Alisal district and for a year operated the P. Zabala ranch on shares, then for two years he conducted a dairy farm of four hundred acres and for three years acted as foreman of the Zabala ranch of eight thousand acres near Sole- dad, having there under his supervision the land, fences, nine windmills and four hundred and fifty head of cattle. The next enterprise which engaged his attention was the forming of a part- nership with Mr. Balestra and the leasing of the Guadeloupe ranch of two thousand acres near Chualar. Seven hundred acres of this ranch were given over to the raising of farm products and the balance was utilized for the pasturage of stock.
The partnership was dissolved after a success- ful continuance of four years and thereupon Mr. Gambetta removed to the vicinity of Gonzales, where he rented ninety acres of alfalfa land and one hundred acres of river bottom. A year later he sold his dairy comprising one hundred head of cows and taking about sixty-five head of young stock he leased and removed to the Zabala ranch, which he operated for two seasons. In 1908 he purchased six hundred and twenty- three acres for $36 an acre. Five hundred and fifty acres of the tract are under cultivation or tillable.
A dairy of thirty cows has been started on the ranch and the owner expects to devote his at- tention to the specialties of butter and cheese, in the making of which he ranks as an expert. The land is being improved and it is the owner's hope to equip the estate with all modern dairy
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appliances. During 1896 he sent for his wife and son, who joined him here and since then he has had the valuable assistance of his wife in his dairy work. The son has been sent to local schools, in order that he might have the neces- sary training for a life of usefulness. Mr. Gam- betta is a stanch friend of educational move- ments. Fraternally he is connected with the Salinas lodge of Druids. In politics he has sup- ported Republican principles ever since he be- came a citizen of our country. In 1908 he acted as a delegate to the county Republican conven- tion and in other ways he has promoted the cause whose tenets he endorses. More than ordinary success has rewarded his efforts. When it is remembered that he had only a limited educa- tion and that after landing in America he had but $5 with which to start out for himself, it will be conceded that his rise has been noteworthy and that he amply merits a position among the pros- perous and progressive men of his county.
HANS H. HOLLENSTEIN.
It was over forty years ago that Mr. Hollen- stein first set foot on California soil, in 1869, and after making considerable money in raising grain he took the proceeds of his ten years' labor and located in Arizona. Many years in that territory as a successful miner and stock-raiser made him wish to rest from the rush and stress which he had continued for so many years, hence his de- cision to again locate in California. This deci- sion was carried out in 1902, at which time he purchased the property on which he now lives, near Salinas. A native of Denmark, Mr. Hollen- stein was born in the province of Sleswick, March 4, 1836, on his father's farm, where he learned the rudiments of agricultural life. As soon as he was old enough he began to assume respon- sibilities under his father's training, and finally undertook cares on his own account, making a specialty of raising and dealing in stock.
Mr. Hollenstein had become well established in his native land when, at the age of thirty-three, he decided to come to the United States and begin life under new and unfamiliar conditions. The ship on which he sailed from Hamburg cast anchor in the port of New York, and from there
he came by rail to California. From Sacra- mento, where he stopped for a few weeks, he went to Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, where on leased land, for which he paid at the rate of $12 an acre, he endeavored to raise wheat. Dif- ficulties overtook him in that he had to learn western methods of farming, but finally he was able to apply this knowledge with good results, as was demonstrated in the bountiful crops of wheat which he later reaped. Altogether he re- mained in that vicinity about ten years, when, in 1879, he went to Arizona, locating in the Tomb- stone district, at Wachuca, a government post. There he engaged in the buying and selling of cattle, as well as carrying on operations in a number of mines which he owned, yielding sil- ver, copper and gold. While his large bands of cattle were ranging on the broad ranges of gov- ernment land he traveled all over the territory buying stock for the large mining companies. He was one of the earliest settlers in the terri- tory, and practically no restrictions were encoun- tered for years in the use of the government's land as a range, hence he was pre-eminently suc- cessful in the undertaking. During this time he employed thirty men to look after his various stock and mining interests. After twenty-three years spent in Arizona he decided to come to California to pass the last years of his life, and in 1902 he came to Monterey county and pur- chased the property on which he has since lived, about seven miles from Salinas. This consists of three hundred and ten acres for which he paid $30 an acre. At the time Mr. Hollenstein pur- chased it the land was unimproved, but years have seen a transformation in its appearance, fruit trees having been planted, fences built en- closing the land, as well as suitable buildings erected, altogether making one of the finest ranches in this part of Monterey county. A specialty is made of raising black oats, potatoes, beans and barley, and the quality of the soil is exceedingly rich.
In Santa Cruz county Mr. Hollenstein was united in marriage to Miss Marie Bonde, like himself a native of Sleswick, Denmark. Five children have been born to them, as follows: Andrew B., a native of Watsonville, Cal .; and Henry, Henrietta, Mabel and Cora, natives of Arizona. Mr. Hollenstein has always been a be-
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liever in the best educational advantages possible to obtain, and acting on this principle he has done all in his power in this direction for his children. While in Arizona he wielded a strong influence in the upbuilding of the locality in which he re- sided, and for years acted as trustee of the school district. He was also a large property owner in the territory, and since coming to California has leased two hundred and thirty-five acres in addi- tion to the home place, and on this his sons carry on a ranching enterprise. Personally Mr. Hol- lenstein is a man of upright principles, the prac- tice of the Golden Rule being habitual with him, and with his family he is affiliated with the Luth- eran Church. Politically he is a Republican, though not a partisan, in local elections voting for the candidate best fitted for the office in question.
PETER KELLY.
Thirty years had come and gone since Peter Kelly purchased and located upon the ranch near Chualar, where his earth life came to a close April 1, 1909. He was numbered among the foreign-born residents of Monterey county who have meant so much to the citizenship of this part of California. A native of the Emerald Isle, he was born in 1834, the son of parents who never left their native soil to found a home elsewhere.
Peter Kelly grew up on the parental home- stead in his native land and in all probability would have been contented to remain in his native surroundings indefinitely had not the finding of gold in California called his attention to the United States. He did not come hither for the purpose of finding wealth in the mines, how- ever, but rather to engage in a substantial busi- ness. He was about fifteen or sixteen years old when he debarked in the harbor of New York a stranger in a large city. He remained in the metropolis for seven years, during which time he found employment which enabled him to lay by from his earnings sufficient means to bring him to the west. This he did in 1861, and for one year he was located in San Francisco. Go- ing to Marin county from there, he became in- terested in the dairy business and followed it successfully for six years. His residence in
Monterey county dated from the year 1867, when he located in Salinas, and during the twelve years he made his home there became thoroughly familiar with the country round about through his occupation as teamster. It was therefore with considerable satisfaction that he selected and pur- chased the tract of land near Chnalar, the ranch comprising two hundred acres of fine land well adapted to raising grain. In addition to the home ranch he also rented twelve hundred acres near by on which his sons are located, all making a specialty of raising grain, a commodity which produces abundantly and brings excellent prices.
Mr. Kelly was united in marriage in 1873 with Miss Josephine Mudd, who was formerly a resi- dent of Missouri. Three sons were born of this marriage, but the eldest, Joseph, is now de- ceased. The others, Samuel and Charles, are interested together in a tract of twelve hundred acres near Chualar, to which reference has al- ready been made. The first-mentioned, Samuel, was married in 1905 to Miss Tillie Cooper, of Gonzales, and they now have two children, Helen and Charles. The other son, Charles, was mar- ried in 1903 to Neta Blomquist, of Chualar, and they have one son, Lloyd, five years of age.
No one had a keener interest in the welfare of his home community than Mr. Kelly, this being specially true of all matters of an educa- tional character, and for one term he served as trustee of the Chualar school district.
SOLOMON JOHANSON.
Yet another of the citizens of Monterey county whom Sweden has furnished is Solomon Johanson, whose ranch in the vicinity of King City is indicative of a practical understanding of the various lines of agriculture on the part of the proprietor. Much of this knowledge and exper- ience Mr. Johanson gained in his boyhood home, on his father's farm near the town of Engel- holm, Sweden, where he was born in 1859. By the time he had reached young manhood he be- came convinced that a larger field of activity was awaiting him in the United States, and it was this idea that prompted him to leave home and native land to take up life under new condi- tions.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The year 1881 found Mr. Johanson among the immigrants that landed on our shores at the port of New York, and from there he made his way immediately to Monterey county, Cal. His knowledge of farming was his chief asset, and it was along this line that he sought employment in the vicinity of Salinas. His abilities were soon recognized and he did not lack for employment, working on ranches in that vicinity for nine years continuously. It was about 1890 that he came to King City and entered the employ of Charles Carlson, a large rancher near this city, with whom he remained for a number of years, or until he assumed re- sponsibilities on his own account. This he did in 1906, at which time he bought a squatter's right to one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he proved up and located. He at once set about improving the property, and though it has been under cultivation but a short time comparatively, it is in fine condition and yields bountiful crops of barley, to which commodity it is devoted en- tirely. So successful has he been in the culti- vation of his own property that he also rents four hundred acres of the Carlson ranch which he also has in barley. He also raises large num- bers of high-grade horses. He is recognized as one of the successful ranchers in this part of Monterey county, to whose progress he has added in a substantial manner.
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