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 49
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 49
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their intended uses. The pleasant home is pre- sided over by Mrs. Collins, who prior to her mar- riage in 1877 was Miss Sarah Smith of Salinas. They are the parents of eight children, the eldest of whom, Dennis, assists in the management of the home place. The second son, Francis, is now in the north, and the third son, Charles, is em- ployed in Monterey. The eldest daughter, Catherine, is the wife of Charles Escoll and re -. sides in San Francisco. Richard Harvey and Abel assist their father on the home ranch. The. youngest children, Nettie and Elenora, are stu- dents in the local schools.
It has been the ambition of both Mr. and Mrs .. Collins to give their children good educational' advantages. They have considered no sacrifice too great which would be helpful in the attaining of that object. The interest which he maintains in local educational matters led him to accept the position of school trustee and at this writing he- holds office as clerk of the board in the Sober -- anes district. For twelve years he held the office. of constable in. Monterey county. To the ex- tent of his ability he has been instrumental in- promoting local movements for the benefit of the- land owners of the county and always he has been depended upon to do his duty as a pro -- gressive public spirited citizen.
ANDREW FRANSCIONI.
Monterey county owes a debt of gratitude to- the native sons of Switzerland who have set- tled within her borders, made her interests their own, and in every way possible contributed to the- well-being of their adopted home. This has been noticeable in the lives of Andrew Fran- scioni and his father, the latter of whom was a. resident of the state from 1868 until his death. Andrew was only one year old at the time his father emigrated to the New World, his birth' having occurred in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, June 9, 1867, and it was not until he himself came to the United States in 1882 that he became- acquainted with his father. The latter had be- come established on a ranch near Watsonville, and thither the son went to meet his parent, the two thereafter being associated in the care of this property for fifteen years. They then went
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to Castroville and shared the duties and labors on a ranch for about one year, when they went to Gonzales, and for three years had charge of the Lugo ranch. A later undertaking was on the Three-mile flat, to which they moved in 1887, and there for fifteen years they carried on an enterprise that well repaid them for the labor expended. This property included nine hun- dred acres of rich soil, well adapted to general ranching purposes.
In 1902 Andrew Franscioni settled on the Soberanes bench ranch, of thirteen hundred acres, here, as in his previous undertakings, mak- ing a specialty of the dairy business for a num- ber of years. In 1906, however, he located on property of his own, having in the meantime pur- chased forty acres of M. P. Kelly. This prop- erty is located across the river from Soledad and is counted some of the best land in this part of Monterey county. At the time the property came into his hands nothing had been done in the way of improvements, so the residence, barns and sheds now seen on the place represent the work of the present owner. Besides the home place, he also owns fifty-four acres of the Soledad Mission ranch, which he purchased in 1908, and which is devoted entirely to the rais- ing of potatoes. His forty acres is in alfalfa, used for hay, and besides he raises some horses and cattle. It is a matter of pride among the citizens of Soledad that their town has a pa- vilion, which they have enjoyed the use of for several years past. This was erected by Mr. Franscioni in 1907 and represents all that is modern in the way of conveniences for an amusement and dance hall. Besides the various interests already mentioned, Mr. Franscioni is a stockholder in the Soledad Mercantile Com- pany, one of the substantial business enterprises of this thriving town.
In 1892 Mr. Franscioni was united in mar- riage with Miss Severina Morgantini, a native of Switzerland, but a resident of Modesto, Cal., at the time of her marriage. Four of the five children born to them are living, as follows: Achilles, Caroline, Andrew, Jr., and Rosie. Fra- ternally Mr. Franscioni is identified with the Foresters of America, belonging to Soledad Circle, No. 153, and he also belongs to Soledad Grove, U. A. O. D. As is natural for one of
his public spirit, Mr. Franscioni has worked in- defatigably to improve the school facilities in his vicinity, and his efforts along this line have borne fruit, especially while he was serving as trustee of Romie district and during his one term in this capacity in the Soberanes district.
HANS NIELSEN.
Born in Denmark in 1857, Mr. Nielsen re- ceived a fair education in the schools of that country and after leaving school he took up the struggle to earn a livelihood. At the age of nineteen he served six months on a man of war in the Danish navy. Conditions were unsatis- factory and wages so low in his own country that the outlook for a laboring man was dis- couraging, therefore he resolved to seek a new home across the ocean and in 1881 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, proceeding from New York west to Illinois, where he secured employment in Bureau county and remained for three years. From that state he removed to Nebraska, going overland eight hundred miles with team and wagon. Six months later he started for California, stopping for a time in Santa Maria.
Coming to the Salinas valley, Mr. Nielsen secured work first with William Logwood and later, for two years, with Mr. Jackson of Sa- linas, and until 1886 he continued as a wage- earner. During the year named he rented one hundred and sixty acres near Gonzales and for two years cultivated that land. Next he re- moved to Ranch No. 3, where he began to farm on shares with Thomas J. Fields, and for eight- een years he continued on the same estate, mean- while carefully saving his profits in order that he ultimately might invest in land of his own. Finally in 1907 he was in a position to carry out his lifelong ambition and he then bought six hundred and forty acres two and one-half miles east of Soledad, where now he carries on general ranch pursuits. Ninety acres of the ranch is under cultivation to grain, while the balance is utilized for meadow and pasture. The. raising of cattle and horses has proved profit- able and he further conducts a dairy business, milking fifteen cows and shipping the milk to
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the creamery in San Jose. Modern machinery lias been installed in the dairy and the entire equipment is kept in first-class condition. Since coming to the place he has built good fences, put up barn and chicken-houses, erected a neat ranch-house and a blacksmith-shop, and made other improvements of permanent value to the property.
The marriage of Mr. Nielsen, October 24, 1886, united him with Miss Christina Greger- sen, a native of Illinois. Seven children were born of their union. The eldest, George N., is employed as a bookkeeper in the Bank of Mon- terey. Harry J. and Jesse G. are employed by the Spreckels Company. Christ works on the home ranch and Clarence S. likewise remains at home. Gertrude M. B. and Annie Botilda are attending school. For the past six years Mr. Nielsen has been a trustee of the Soledad school and during that period he has been earnest in his efforts to promote the welfare of the school in every way possible. Fraternal relations bring him into membership with Soledad Lodge No. 153, Foresters of America, and he has been warmly interested in the welfare of the order.
MICHAEL TYNAN.
More than half a century has come and gone since Mr. Tynan came to California, and it is now forty years since he located in Monterey county. He is interestingly reminiscent of those early days, when the plains were waving fields of wild mustard, and when Indians and wild cattle were common sights. He also recalls the primitive surroundings of Salinas when he first became ac- quainted with it, calling to mind the fact that water to supply the town was taken from a spring on his property and which was sold throughout the village by James McDougall.
Buffalo, N. Y., was the native home of Mr. Tynan, and November 27, 1827, the date of his birth. While he was still a small child the fam- ily home was transferred to Detroit, Mich., and there the father's death occurred soon afterward. With her two children the mother then went to Toronto, Canada, but soon afterward, however, she returned to Detroit. Michael had in the meantime reached school age and in Detroit he
attended school for a number of years. At the age of fourteen, however, his school days were over, for at that early age he began clerking in a store. He did not remain at this for very long, nevertheless, for he had become interested in nautical life through constantly seeing the boats which plied the Detroit river. He was first en- gaged on boats along that river, and by diligent work and strict attention to his duties he was advanced from time to time until he was made captain of the steamer Red Jacket, a position which he held for three years. Among comrades of the craft he was familiarly known as "Curly Mike," on account of his black curly hair.
The announcement that gold had been discov- cred in California made a deep impression upon Mr. Tynan and he readily made arrangements to come to the new eldorado. With a company of nine men he outfitted for the trip across the plains, and as captain of the company he guided them through the three months journey. Be- tween Fort Leavenworth and Hangtown they ex- perienced some trouble with the Indians, but aside from this they had an uneventful journey. Arriving in California, Mr. Tynan started a store at Diamond Springs which he continued for two years, when he became similarly interested at Ladies valley, also in Eldorado county. There he also erected a hotel property known as the Golden Exchange, a hostelry which he managed successfully until 1854, when he rented it in order that he might give his attention to mining. This he followed with the average luck of the miner, sometimes gaining and sometimes losing, and after giving it up he went to Amador county, where at Lancha Plana he established a livery and hotel business. Life and property were in constant jeopardy there on account of the at- tacks from savages and bandits, and it was not until the law-abiding citizens banded together and drove them out that any degree of security was enjoyed.
For the purpose of finding a more congenial locality in which to locate permanently Mr. Tynan came to Monterey county in 1869, and being pleased with the climate, and believing that he saw a good business prospect, he closed out his interests in Amador county and in 1870 located with his family in Salinas. His first venture here was as proprietor of the Salinas hotel, which
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he leased from Mr. Branch, and soon afterward he erected the Commercial hotel. After many years as "mine host" he gave up the hotel busi- ness altogether, in 1892, after which he was made superintendent of the county hospital and farm. During the sixteen years in which he had charge of the institution he was instrumental in bringing about many improvements which added to the comfort of the inmates. At the expiration of this long term of service he retired from the position in order to concentrate his efforts on his own personal affairs, his advancing age also making the change desirable.
Mr. Tynan's marriage united him with Miss Angeline Foster, a native of Illinois, the cere- mony being performed in Diamond Springs, Cal., in 1852. Of the children born to them, only four are living, as follows: Alonzo, a res- ident of San Francisco; John, Clarence and Gertrude, all residents of Salinas, the latter at home with her father, the mother having passed away in 1882. Politically Mr. Tynan is a Dem- ocrat, and on the ticket of this party. has been elected to many positions of trust at the hands of his fellow-citizens, one of them dating back to the time when he first came to the state, serv- ing as administrator of Eldorado county for twelve years. While he was living in Amador county his father-in-law, Clayborne Foster, built and operated a sawmill at Jackson and also con- ducted a hotel at what was known as Shake Ridge. On account of Mr. Tynan's popularity among Democrats this became a sort of rendezvous for those who espoused that party's principles. Foster's ranch is still pointed out as one of the historical spots of pioneer days, this being the stopping place of all travelers on their way to the mines. Mr. Tynan had not been in Monterey county long before his abili- ties became recognized and his election as a member of the city council followed, which office he held for four years. Fraternally he is a Mason, having joined the order at the time Salinas Lodge No. 204 was organized ; is a mem- ber of Salinas Chapter No. 59, R. A. M., and of the Veteran Masonic Association, and he is also a member of the Pioneers Society of Cali- fornia. Formerly he was a member of the Odd Fellows also, but is now demitted. Looking back over his life he is happy in the thought that
it has been cast along such pleasant lines and that he is permitted to spend his declining years in the companionship of his children and many friends.
M. F. MARTAN.
As one of the natives of Portugal who have contributed to the citizenship of California, men- tion belongs to M. F. Martan, who first became a resident of the Salinas valley in 1887. He was born in the Azores or Western Islands, in May, 1856, and continued to live in his island home until he attained manhood years. During his childhood days he was bereaved by the death of his mother, whose early teachings, however, were so instilled upon his mind that he has ever felt their influence. He attended the public schools in the neighborhood of the parental home during his boyhood, and when not in school he assisted his father in the care of the farm.
Mr. Martan was a young man of eighteen years when he boarded a vessel bound for the United States. The vessel with its burden of human freight landed at Boston in due time and without accident or unusual occurrence. Mr. Martan spent about two months in and around this New England city and then resumed his journey toward the west, making the trip by rail. Reaching San Francisco, Cal., where he had friends awaiting him, through their influ- ence he was enabled to secure work readily, and for about a year was employed on a ranch near that place. He then went to Nevada where he became interested in a cattle and sheep business, having charge of one ranch as foreman for seven years, and of still another for the same length of time. During the years thus spent in Nevada Mr. Martan and a partner were associated in the ownership of a band of sheep which numbered between seven and eight thousand head. The venture proved very profitable and agreeable un- til the fence law made the business less remuner- ative. when they sold off their herds.
After the sale of his stock Mr. Martan came back to California and located on property which he purchased near Salinas, this being the property on which he now resides. It comprises one hun- dred and seven acres, for which he paid $90 per acre, the land at the time of purchase bearing
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few improvements. From the first he set about industriously to put the land under cultivation, and the work of the years which have inter- vened has rewarded his efforts, for it is con- ceded that his ranch is one of the best producers in this part of the county. The secret of this is no doubt the fact that he gives the work his personal supervision and care. His specialties are potatoes, beans, barley and beets, the latter being profitably disposed of at the sugar factory.
After coming to California in 1888, Mr. Mar- tan formed domestic ties, his marriage uniting him with Miss Katie Machado, who was born in Monterey county, the daughter of one of the old pioneer settlers in this county. Three children have been born of this marriage, Isabella, Stella and Frank, all natives of this county. The par- ents' greatest ambition for their children has been to give them educations and such other ad- vantages as will fit them to fill honorable posi- tions in life, and all of them are graduates of the public and high schools of Salinas. Politically Mr. Martan is a Republican, and socially he holds membership in the U. P. E. C. Adhering to the teaching of his childhood Mr .Martan is a Catholic, and he has also reared his own chil- dren in this faith. Ever since he came to the county he has had the utmost confidence in its ability to take rank with any other county in the state in point of productiveness and other in- ducements, and he has done his part as a faithful citizen to raise the standard of excellence along all lines so far as lay in his power.
HEINRICH ANDRESEN.
Among those who came to California during the years of her mining activity was Heinrich Andresen, who for many years has been a well known and highly esteemed resident of Salinas. A native of Denmark, he was born in 1833 in Apenrade, Sleswick-Holstein, around which town the associations of boyhood, youth and young manhood cluster. It was while filling a clerical position as bookkeeper with a firm in that city that he was attracted by the mining possibilities in California and determined to come here and try his luck. Setting out from the Fatherland in 1855 he made the voyage hither by way of
Cape Horn, the vessel on which he sailed landing in the harbor of San Francisco in November of the same year. As his prime object in coming to California had been for mining purposes he did not lose any time in the metropolis, but sought information regarding the mining local- ities and at once acted upon the information re- ceived. Without going into the details of his mining experiences it may be said in brief that he spent about eight years in the mines on the Feather, American and Yuba rivers and in other mining districts in the northern part of the state.
In 1863, by way of Panama, Mr. Andresen returned to his native land, and in Apenrade es- tablished a mercantile business which he carried on until 1869. In the meantime, early in the year 1865, he had formed domestic ties by his marriage with Caroline I. Hestorff, and two sons, J. H. and H. C. Andresen, were born of this union. Upon relinquishing his mercantile busi- ness in 1869 Mr. Andresen returned to Califor- nia, locating first in Watsonville, but after a few months came to Salinas, where he passed away July 15, 1909.
JOSEPH LAWSON DOUGLASS.
The gold excitement in California in the days of '49 brought the parents of Joseph L. Douglass across the plains to the Pacific coast, and like the majority of the pioneers of that period the father engaged in mining. Joseph Berry Douglass, for such was the father's name, was a descendant of Scotch antecedents, and in his nature were com- bined all those characteristics which have made the endurance and hardihood of the Scotchman. Joseph Lawson Douglass was born in Mud Springs, Eldorado county, Cal., and was a lad of about fourteen years when with their family the parents removed to Monterey county and settled in Salinas. In the meantime the father had given up mining and turned his attention to the cultiva- tion of the soil, having purchased a ranch in the vicinity of Salinas.
The education of Joseph L. Douglass was gained entirely in the schools of his birthplace in Eldorado county, for after the removal of the family home to Monterey county his services were necessary in assisting with the farm duties which left no opportunity for further scholastic training.
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After he had worked in this capacity for about one year an opportunity to learn the machinist's trade in the shops of H. W. Rice, in San Fran- cisco (at that time one of the largest plants for the manufacture of harvesters and engines on the Pacific coast) presented itself and he seized it with avidity, for this was an opportunity which he had long sought. After mastering the me- chanical construction of the engine he began to demonstrate its usefulness in the field, and to him is given credit for running the first successful straw-burning engine that was ever operated on the Pacific coast. He followed this business in the interests of his employers for some time, and finally, in 1881, undertook harvesting on his own account, a business which he has followed ever since throughout Monterey county. In connection with this he has found ample opportunity to ex- ercise his knowledge of mechanics, his training enabling him to repair or construct any me- chanical device or machine known in the rancher's calling.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Douglass oc- curred in Salinas Valley December 22, 1886, and of the seven children born to them, six are liv- ing, as follows: Joseph L., Jr., Mary, Ray, Agnes, Martin and Jesse. The second child in order of birth, John W., is deceased.
PAUL TAVERNETTI.
The little republic of Switzerland has fur- nished many citizens to California, and especially to Monterey county, where their efforts along agricultural lines are unexcelled. This may, in a measure, be due to the fact that their ancestors for generations have followed this calling, and thus it comes to the present generations as sec- ond nature. Paul Tavernetti was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, August 8, 1854, being one of a large family born to his parents. He was fairly well educated in the schools near his boy- hood home, and when he came to the age when it was necessary to learn a trade he decided to become a stonemason. He began his apprentice- ship when he was still quite young, and at eight- een he had completed it and was ready to start out in the world for himself. Three of his elder brothers had come to the United States and were
located in California, so it was natural that he should come to the new world also. At the age of eighteen he set out from his native land, and on this side was met in Watsonville, Cal., by the brothers, where they went into partnership on the Chittenden ranch. They remained there one year, when they moved to Gonzales, Monterey county, and leased land still in its primitive con- dition. They worked indefatigably at the seem- ingly impossible task of clearing the land, and finally Paul Tavernetti had the satisfaction of using the first plow on the ground. He also plowed the ground for the first time across the river, on the Lugo ranch, where he also engaged in raising stock to some extent. The brothers re- mained together for about five years on these ranches, during which time they had uniformly good crops, notwithstanding the fact that they were overtaken by a very dry season.
When the brothers' interests were divided at the end of the five years Paul Tavernetti remained on the ranch, to which he added in acreage from time to time until he had nine hundred acres un- der his control, his specialty being the raising of horses, cattle and hogs. He remained on this property seventeen years, when, in 1890, he bought forty acres near Salinas, for which he paid $135 per acre, and again he had to clear the land of stubble before he could build the house and barn, and otherwise prepare the land for habitation and cultivation ; here he has made his home ever since. Still later he purchased three hundred and ten acres of land near Natividad, where he raises the products common to this locality-beets, grain, beans and potatoes. All of the land under cultivation is in excellent con- dition, and yields crops above the average, which is a just reward for the unwearied attention given to it by the owner.
In Gonzales, Monterey county, Mr. Tavernetti was married to Jaocondo Rianda, who was also a native of Switzerland, and nine children have been born of their marriage, as follows: Mary, who is a graduate of the Healds Business Col- lege and is now filling a position as bookkeeper in the Spreckels sugar factory; Thomas, who is a graduate of the high school at Salinas and is attending the University of California; Amelia; Achille and Rosa, both attending the high school at Salinas; Paul, Lena, Leo and James. In na-
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tional politics Mr. Tavernetti is a Democrat. He is a stockholder and director in the Salinas Valley Savings Bank, and is also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Salinas. He has also served as school trustee of the district, filling this position at the time of the building of the school at Spreckels. During his early residence in the connty Mr. Tavernetti and his brothers were the moving spirits in making the town of Gonzales a possibility, and wherever they have chanced to make their home the same progres- sive spirit has been manifest. Fraternally Mr. Tavernetti belongs to Alisal Lodge, No. 163, I. O. O. F., and also to Compromise Encampment of Salinas. He is of an inventive turn of mind and among other useful articles he invented and has patents for a combination wrench.
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