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 48
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 48
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In his political belief Mr. Wagner is a Demo- crat, voting the ticket of this party at national elections, although in local matters he invariably supports the man best fitted to occupy the chair in question, regardless of party support. While he was living in Illinois Mr. Wagner joined' the Masonic order and upon his removal to: California he transferred his membership to San Benito Lodge at Hollister. One of Mr. Wag- ner's recollections of life in Illinois is of the. Mormon uprising, which occurred in 1844 and resulted in the killing of Deacon Joseph Smith and his brother by a mob in Carthage, Hancock county, ten miles from Nauvoo, Ill.
WILLIAM CAGNEY.
The name of Cagney is associated with the. pioneer history of Hollister, for in 1869 William Cagney located here and began the improvement and cultivation of property which now ranks with the best and most productive in this part of San Benito county. The pioneer is a native of Ire- land, born near the City of Cork, in 1841, the- son of parents who had known no other home than the Emerald Isle. The parents were farm- ers, and as the time and place were not propitious for extended educational opportunities, the son' spent the greater part of his time in helping his parents to maintain and make a living for the. fainily from the unproductive land under their supervision.
William Cagney saw little prospect of better advantages for progress than had fallen to his-
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father's lot by remaining in his native land, so it is not surprising, that, being an ambitious lad, he fell an easy prey to the idea of coming to the New World, the land of opportunity, push and enterprise. The year 1858 found him embark- ing on a vessel at the port of Liverpool, which in due time dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. To familiarize himself with the cus- toms of his new home he determined to remain in the east for a time, and going to Massachusetts he was variously employed in that state for about three years. The west had begun to attract his attention, however, and in 1861 he made his way to the Pacific coast country, going direct to the Santa Clara valley. Farming was the occupa- tion with which he was most familiar and it was along this line of employment that he sought an opening. Finding a suitable tract of land he engaged in cultivating the soil there for about eight years, when, in 1869, he gave it up and located in the vicinity of Hollister, on what was known as the Balsey ranch. Giving this up at the end of two years, he then entered the em- ploy of George Nagel, a rancher near Hollister, an association which continued two years, or until Mr. Cagney purchased the James Hudner ranch in the Santa Clara valley. As compared with San Benito county, however, the Santa Clara valley did not meet his expectations, and after one year's experience in the latter locality he sold his property there and returned to Hol- lister. Here he purchased two hundred acres of land from the firm of Flint & Bixby, then en- tirely unimproved and uncultivated, and all that- it is today is the result of his own efforts. A comfortable and commodious house shelters the family, and suitable barns and outbuildings for his special necessities have been erected, all of which are kept in repair and mark the owner as a man of thrift and neatness. Besides raising hay and grain in large quantities, a dairy of ten cows is maintained. In addition to the land which he owns, Mr. Cagney also rents five hundred acres of the Flint ranch, a part of this being devoted to the raising of horses, this being an industry which he is following with considerable success, only high-grade driving and draft horses being raised on this ranch.
For his companion in life Mr. Cagney chose one of his countrywomen in Miss Catherine Mc-
Aullife. Ten children, eight sons and two daughters, were born of this marriage, named in order of their birth as follows: Daniel; Mary, the wife of William Brown, of Hollister; Will- iam Joseph, principal of a grammar school in Hollister ; George and John, both at home and assisting their father in the care of the home place ; Kate, the wife of George Crosby, of Santa Maria, Santa Barbara county; Austin, a resident of San Francisco; Clarence, at home; William J., who passed away May 23, 1866; and Clarence, residing in Hollister. Mr. Cagney is recognized as one of the enterprising residents of the vicin- ity of Hollister, always awake to the needs of the community and ready to lend his aid in any enterprise which tends toward the development of public interests. Fraternally he holds mem- bership in but one organization, the United Workmen of Hollister.
JEREMIAH O'CONNOR.
The owner and proprietor of the Monterey mineral well and baths at No. 622 Spencer street, New Monterey, is a native of Ireland and was born at Cork in 1852, being a son of Cor- nelius and Mary (Donovan) O'Connor. At the age of fourteen years he came to California and ever since that time he has made his home in the state, meanwhile having been engaged in business at different times in different locations. For a long period he made a specialty of cutting stone and furnishing granite, and during nine- teen years he had the contracts for the stone work on the principal buildings in Oakland, be- sides taking numerous contracts in San Fran- cisco and having charge of considerable ceme- tery work. As the pioneer stone contractor in Alameda county he built up a large business and became well known for skill and efficiency.
While making his home in Oakland in 1876 Mr. O'Connor married Miss Mary Redmond, a native of New York. Upon selling out his business at Oakland he removed to Los Gatos and for two years carried on a fruit industry, but at the expiration of that time he returned to Oakland and took up the business of house- wrecking, also officiated with fidelity as super- intendent of the public parks of the city. On
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the erection of the court-house at Oakland he had the contract for furnishing the granite. From Oakland he went to Oregon and there had the contract to furnish stone for the locks on the Willamette river.
It was during April of 1902 that Mr. O'Con- nor came to New Monterey and bought property at No. 622 Spencer street. While digging for a well here he discovered on his property the now famous mineral spring, whose waters have cured patients from all parts of California. The water is for both internal and external use, and has never yet failed to cure cases of liver, stom- ach and kidney trouble. The proprietor con- tracts to cure or forfeit his pay, a method of procedure quite new in the conduct of such in- stitutions. A chemical analysis of the water made at the University of California shows the following ingredients :
Potassium sulphate, very small
Sodium sulphate, (glauber's salts) etc., large
Sodium chloride (common salt) large
Sodium carbonate (sal soda) very small .47.89
Calcium and magnesium nitrates, large
Calcium and magnesium carbonates, etc., large
Calcium sulphate (gypsum) chiefly Iron carbonate, large. 18.10
Silica 2.34
Organic matter and chem. combined water
and Nitric fumes on ignition. 25.70
94.03
It is stated that the water has cured rheuma- tism of every form in an average time of three weeks ; kidney and bladder trouble in two to four weeks ; dropsical troubles, gout and sciatica, six to eight weeks, stomach troubles, average time two weeks; dysentery, constipation, gastritis and flatulence, two to five weeks ; nervousness, sleep- lessness, neuralgia, average time four weeks ; ma- laria, jaundice, ague, chills and fever, one to three weeks; skin diseases and piles cured at home by following special directions in the use of the water; grippe frequently cured with one or two baths and water taken at meals ; gangrene. wounds, etc., relieved by bathing; tan and freckles, bunions and corns removed, and hair revived, eyesight improved, nasal catarrh and sore throat cured, every function increased in
power and even the bones rebuilt. It is necessary that the water be taken immediately after each meal to the amount of a teacup at a dose, but it may also be taken freely at any time. It in- creases the appetite, digests the food and from the first meal prevents the formation of uric acid, while the baths remove the old acid, which after the first few baths can be plainly seen on the sides of the tubs.
JOHN F. BUTTS.
Upon no other condition in life does so much depend as upon the possession of a sound body, for without it one is handicapped at every turn. Humanitarian efforts are visible on every hand which tend to correct the ills of mankind and even the smallest town is not without its hos- pital or institution for the relief of suffering. Santa Clara county has made provision for her sick and suffering in maintaining a county hos- pital which reflects credit on her citizens, and which is presided over by one thoroughly com- petent to discharge the duties which this respon- sible position involves. Thirteen years ago, in 1897, Mr. Butts was appointed superintendent of this institution by the board of supervisors and he has since filled the position to the satis- faction of all concerned.
Mr. Butts is a native son of the state, and was born April 4, 1861, in Santa Clara county, the son of Rufus and Celia ( Hastings) Butts. When he was about eight years of age his parents re- moved to Hollister, then included in Monterey county, but about three years after they located there the division of the counties made them residents of San Benito county. In the vicinity of Hollister the father purchased a ranch which was the family home for several years, after which they located in the Santa Ana valley, also in this county. John F. Butts continued to make his home with his parents in their various loca- tions, attending school first in Santa Clara coun- ty and later in Hollister. Being the son of a farmer he naturally received a practical training along agricultural lines and until he grew to manhood he was a valuable assistant to his father in the care of the home place.
Politically Mr. Butts is a Republican, and it
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was through this influence that, in 1897, he was appointed superintendent of the county hospital by the board of supervisors. His long reten- tion in office is indicative of his ability, and speaks more eloquently than can words of the satis- faction of his fellow-citizens in his efforts. The grounds connected with the institution contain fifty-five acres, all of which under his super- vision is very productive and bountifully sup- plies the institution with the various vegetables and fruits common to this locality. A number of beneficial changes have been made in the man- agement of the institution during Mr. Butts' incumbency as superintendent, all of which have been productive of good.
Mr. Butts was married in 1888 to Miss Helen Goodrich, and of their union three daughters have been born, Helen, Hazel and Naomi. In his make-up Mr. Butts combines admirable quali- ties of mind and heart which combine to make warm friends of his associates and by all with whom he comes in contact he is admired for his equable temperament.
CHRISTIANO LEONARD MACHADO.
One of the well-known men of Monterey county and a resident for the past forty-two years is Christiano L. Machado, the caretaker of the Carmelo Mission, founded in 1770, and also a farmer by occupation. Mr. Machado was born in the Western Islands, on the Island of St. Michaels, in 1841. Leaving his boyhood home in 1855 he went to sea and followed that voca- tion until 1867, which year he came to California. He had heard a great deal about the land of gold and thought to try his fortune on this coast. Settling at Point Lobos he found employment with the Portuguese Whaling Co., and for ten years followed the whaling business. He then removed to the Carmel valley and rented nine acres of the Mission land and at the same time, 1877, was made caretaker of the Mission. The building was in bad condition, part of the roof having been demolished. By arousing the inter- est of the settlers in its restoration Mr. Machado accumulated the funds necessary for the repair- ing and rebuilding of the Mission, and to him is due the credit for prolonging the life of one
of the landmarks of the old Mission days. Dur- ing the process of overhauling the ruins the re- mains of the founder of the Mission, Father Junipeiro, were discovered; they were re-interred and still remain as a part of the treasures sacred to the spot.
After the restoration of the Mission Mr. Ma- chado became interested in the establishment of a school at Carmel, and with the assistance of another citizen equally public-spirited the Bay school became a reality, the first institution of the kind in this part of Monterey county.
In 1867, just after landing in California, Mr. Machado went back to his island home to claim his bride, Mary Souza, who was likewise born there. Returning to California they settled in Monterey county and have since been residents here. Their ten children were born in this county, six daughters and four sons, viz : Antone, of , Monterey; Christ, of Salinas; Manuel, of Spence ; John, in Carmel-by-the-Sea; Mary, Mrs. Suckow, near Blanco; Jessie, Mrs. Dicauli, of Monterey ; Katie, Mrs. M. F. Martan, of Salinas ; Lottie, Mrs. John Freitas, of Salinas; Mary Ann, Mrs. Gould, of Carmel-by-the-Sea; and Emilie, at home with her parents. When the eldest daughter, Mary, was only sixteen years old she was the first gate-keeper of the Mission, and during the time she served in this capacity she inet many wealthy and noted people from all over the world. In young womanhood she was married to Maurico Souza Almeida, a native of the Azores, who had come to California in boy- hood. Later he became interested in business in Nevada and accumulated considerable means, with which he returned to California and pur- chased a ranch near Salinas, in the Graves dis- trict. This was the home of the family until the death of Mr. Almeida, which occurred January 6, 1889. Of the three children born to them only one is living, Antone Souza Almeida, who is a veterinary surgeon, having graduated from the State Veterinary College at San Francisco. During the latter part of the year 1889 Mrs. Almeida became the wife of Francis Luis, he too being a native of the Azores and an early immigrant to California, where for about fifteen years he followed mining. He passed away at the early age of forty-three years, October 26, 1894, leaving one son, Franklin Alfred Luis,
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
who was born in Perry, S. Dak., and is now a student in Stanford University, preparatory to taking up mining engineering. About two years after the death of Mr. Luis his widow became the wife of John Suckow, their marriage occur- ring December 14. 1896. Although a native of Iowa, Mr. Suckow had made his home in South Dakota for a number of years, and he remained there two years after his marriage. Finally they returned to California and have since made their home on a ranch of eighty acres near Salinas.
Mr. Machado has twenty-four living grand- children. He gave his children the advantages of a public school education. During his life in the county he has been interested in the develop- ment of the various interests that have brought it to the front rank in the other counties of California.
JOHN H. BRAY, SR.
The success achieved by John H. Bray, Sr., has been the result entirely of his own efforts, for he came to this country with nothing but cour- age, energy and ability as the foundation for the competency he hoped to win. Not only has he gained the object of his quest in a material sense, but what is better still, he has gained the esteem of his fellow-citizens during his residence of over a quarter of a century in Monterey county. His earliest recollections are of his birth- place in England, his birth occurring in County Cornwall in 1851, but the happiest and most profitable years of his life have been passed on this side of the Atlantic, whither he came as a young man rich in hope and courage, though not so well fortified in material wealth. The ship on which he made the voyage landed him in the east, and for two years he was variously occu- pied in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan, but finally, in 1873, he came to California and has been contented to remain here ever since.
The mines of New Idria, San Benito county, had been attracting newcomers on account of the reported wealth to be had for the seeking, and Mr. Bray was among the number who set out for the eldorado with hopes high and courage bright with promise. Altogether he worked in the quicksilver mines of that district for seven years, and from there went to the mines in Eu-
reka, Nev., remaining there for three years. After following mining for ten years altogether he gave it up, and coming to Monterey county, lias since followed agricultural pursuits. Coming direct to Long valley, he purchased four hun- dred acres of land near San Lucas, upon which he has since lived, and besides this property he also rents one hundred and sixty acres of ad- joining land.
Mr. Bray's marriage was celebrated in San Francisco in July, 1875, uniting him with Miss Nellie Smith, who, though a native of Cornwall, England, had been a resident of Monterey coun- ty, Cal., for a number of years before her mar- riage. Four children were born of the marriage of John Bray and his wife, as follows: Bessie, the wife of W. C. Eade, of Long valley ; John, Jr., of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere; Bert, a resident of King City ; and Nellie N., who is at home with her father on the ranch, the wife and mother having passed away in 1891. Mr. Bray takes a commendable interest in political matters, and on a number of occasions has served in an official capacity in the county conventions of the Republican party. His interest in school matters has made him a valuable adjunct to the school board in his locality, which he has served in the capacity of trustee for twelve years at Long valley and San Lucas. He also served in a public capacity for eight years as deputy as- sessor under J. B. Bennett. His activities in fraternal affairs have been instrumental in the organization of the first lodge of Knights of Pythias in Monterey county, of which he was the first representative in the grand lodge, and he is also a member of and active worker in Alisal Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Salinas.
GATTARDO CAVALLI.
In the prime of young manhood, in 1874, Mr. Cavalli came to the United States, poor in purse, but full of energy, with a robust constitution and willing hands. In Canton Ticino, Swit- zerland, he was born in 1841. Reared in a dairy country, he early in life learned that industry in all of its details. By the time he had attained maturity he was skilled as a worker with butter and cheese. On coming
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to California in 1874 he secured employment in Monterey county and for eight years he was em- ployed principally in dairying, although for a time he also herded sheep. At the expiration of eight years he bought a band of sheep, rented land and engaged in raising sheep for four years.
The property near Soledad now owned by Gattardo Cavalli was acquired by him in 1885, when he bought one quarter-section and secured another quarter by homesteading in the foot- hills. Here he started in farming for himself and here he has continued to the present time. In addition to the management of his own place he rents three hundred and twenty acres ad- joining and also rents eight hundred acres of the Zabala ranch, where he is engaged in raising barley, horses, cattle and hogs.
The marriage of Gattardo Cavalli and Sintina Megini was solemnized in 1864. Seven children were born of the union, the eldest being Louis, who is a resident of King City, while the young- est is Dollie, now the wife of John Barrioni, residing at Fort Romie. The remaining chil- dren, Guy, Joseph, Tranquil, Barnabie and Del- phina, reside with their parents and assist in the ranch work. The children received fair educa- tions and were fitted for responsible positions by thorough training at home and in school. Ever since he became a citizen of this county Mr. Cavalli has been warmly interested in the maintenance of good schools and since the erec- tion of a school in the Soberanes district about 1903 he has officiated in the capacity of trustee. As a rancher he shows capability and a thorough knowledge of our soil as well as the products that can be raised with the greatest success.
JOE VIOLINI.
Another of the natives of Switzerland who have taken up their residence in the United States and made the interests of his adopted country parallel with his own, is Joe Violini, who was born in the canton of Ticino in 1870. Until he was eighteen years of age he was reared under native skies and in the midst of scenes familiar to his ancestors for many generations. The period following the abatement of the rush of the gold-seekers to California was no less im-
portant in the state's history than was the epoch following the year of famous '49. When the large numbers who had come hither in the hope of making their fortune by delving for the yel- low metal became discouraged with the plodding life which it entailed with no satisfactory returns, they turned their attention to other pursuits, some with the idea of gaining enough to take them back to their native land, but the larger majority of them sought means of making a liv- ing with the ultimate intention of becoming land- owners and future citizens.
Joe Violini was eighteen years of age when he set out for the land of opportunity, making his way direct to California from the eastern sea- port at which he landed. In Monterey county, near Salinas, he found work on a dairy ranch, this being work with which he was familiar, for his father was a farmer. He remained on the ranch just mentioned for about nine years, or until 1897, when with Peter Pedrazzi he estab- lished a dairy on his own account. This com- prised fourteen hundred acres of land, on which they raised grain sufficient for their cattle, be- sides having eighty acres in alfalfa, and on the remainder of the land they pastured one hundred and forty cows. This co-partnership existed to the profit and pleasure of both parties interested until 1907, when Mr. Vio- lini, Peter Pedrazzi and Joe Balestra leased the property near Chualar on which they are now located. This comprises nineteen hundred acres known as the Guadalupe ranch. Of this, one hnudred acres are in alfalfa, four hundred acres in grain, and on the remainder of the land their one hundred and twenty cows find excel- lent pasture. Much of the product is converted into cheese, a well-ordered and up-to-date cheese factory being maintained on the premises. In addition to raising their own dairy stock they also raise large numbers of horses and hogs. Besides the ranch near Chualar, Mr. Violini and Mr. Pedrazzi also had a ranch near Gonzales, which they recently sold.
Mr. Violini's marriage united him with a sis- ter of his partner, Miss Mary Pedrazzi, whose birth occurred in Gonzales, and two children have come to bless their home, Attilla and a baby as yet unnamed. In his political sympathies Mr. Violini is independent, and fraternally he holds
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membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Gonzales. Mr. Violini is one of the thoroughgoing citizens of Monterey county, to whose enterprise and courage much of the prog- ress of the county may be attributed.
MICHAEL C. COLLINS.
The scenes familiar to the boyhood vision of Mr. Collins were those of old Ireland, where he was born in 1851 and where from earliest recol- lection he was inured to poverty and hardship. Owing to the humble circumstances of the fam- ily it was not possible for him to secure a finished education ; in fact, he has learned far more from observation than from text-books and in the school of Nature he has been an apt student. Early in life his thoughts were directed toward America as the land of opportunity and he had re- solved to emigrate as soon as the necessary means could be earned. With that incentive in view he early became a wage-earner and in 1868 he crossed the ocean, proceeding direct to Califor- nia, arriving in San Francisco without means, but with an abundance of energy and determina- tion, which backed by youth form a capital of no small value. During 1869-70 he was in the employ of Hilgeil & Dunphy, stock-raisers near Soledad, Monterey county, and on leaving their employ he rented two hundred and fifty acres of the Gonzales ranch, where until 1878 he engaged in general ranch pursuits.
Upon leaving the Gonzales ranch Mr. Collins bought a residence in the village of Gonzales and while making his home there he engaged in cul- tivating the Monross ranch at Soledad for a year, after which he operated a livery business at Gon- zales. During 1890 he disposed of the stable and moved to the Soberanes ranch, where for three years he acted as ranch foreman, filling an im- portant position with efficiency and energy. At the expiration of the three years he purchased five hundred acres of the Soberanes ranch and since then he has made his home here, engaging in raising barley and stock, and also making a specialty of the dairy industry. The improve- ments noticeable on the ranch have been put here under his supervision and include substantial fenc- ing, a neat residence and outbuildings adapted to
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