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 50
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 50
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JAMES GIACOMAZZI.
Many years have passed since, at the dawn of young manhood, James Giacomazzi left the can- ton of Ticino. Switzerland, where he was born in September of 1848, where he had received his education in common schools and where he had been trained to a knowledge of agricultural pur- suits. Upon starting out to make his own way in the world he came to California. The long voyage from Europe finally came to an end, the isthmus of Panama was crossed, with its fifty miles of railroad between Aspinwall and Panama, the voyage north on the Pacific ocean was suc- cessfully completed, and the young emigrant found himself in the land of which he had heard so much in the country of his nativity.
Immediately after debarking from the vessel Mr. Giacomazzi visited San Jose and then went to Watsonville, where he made an unsuccessful search for employment. On his return to San Jose he found work at fair wages and for four years he remained there, following any occupa- tion that offered an honorable livelihood. After- ward he worked at Watsonville for three years. With the savings accumulated through frugality and industry, he leased land and began to en- gage in farm pursuits. Two years later the tract of two hundred acres was sold.
Eight years after coming to California, Mr. Giacomazzi settled in Monterey county in 1875
and since then he has engaged in farming and dairying. Like other farmers, he has had his share of good and bad luck, his most serious mis- fortune being caused by the dry years which ruined all crops and entailed heavy losses. In 1882 he bought three hundred and thirty-two acres at $18 an acre. The land was covered with brush and stumps and could not be cultivated until he had done much arduous work in clear- ing. No improvements had been made. The buildings and fences represent his own labors. At this writing he has one hundred and fifty acres under cultivation and utilizes considerable land for the pasturage of his cattle, for he makes a specialty of dairying and raising stock.
The marriage of Mr. Giacomazzi took place in California and united him with Miss Katie Giacomazzi, who died in December, 1900, after having been an invalid for fourteen years. Four sons were born of the union, Vincent, James, William and Elwin, all of whom remain with the father and assist him in the management of the farm. Coming from a country with a re- publican form of government, Mr. Giacomazzi is a believer in republican institutions and is thoroughly loyal to the land of his adoption. At national elections he votes the Republican ticket, but in local matters he votes for the men he considers best qualified to represent the people irrespective of their political ties. Good schools have enlisted his support, as have all other pro- gressive movements, and in charitable enterprises he has been willing to aid to the extent of his ability.
J. H. ANDRESEN.
The greater part of Mr. Andresen's life has been passed in California, whither he came with his parents in boyhood, so his knowledge of his birthplace and home in the Fatherland from ac- tual experience is limited indeed. He was born in Apenrade, Sleswick-Holstein, December 19th. 1865, the son of Heinrich Andresen, who was also a native of the same town. During young manhood the father came to California to take advantage of the mining possibilities, and for about eight years was engaged in searching for gold on the Feather. American and Yuba rivers and in other mining districts of northern Cali-
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fornia. Upon his return to his native land he settled down to business life, established a home by his marriage with Caroline I. Hestorff, and for a few years remained contented with life in the Fatherland. In 1869, however, he re- turned to California, and with the exception of a few months spent in Watsonville, thereafter made his home in Salinas.
J. H. Andresen received the first insight into books through an attendance of a private school in his native town, and after coming to Salinas, Cal., in 1872 he continued his studies in the pub- lic schools of this city and in the University of the Pacific. After teaching school for four years he began reading law preparatory to following the legal profession, and that he successfully accomplished his purpose is best told in the rec- ord which he has since made. In addition to building up a large private practice he has served efficiently in a public capacity, having been deputy district attorney for four years. Sub- sequently he was elected to that office and served four years, and at the present writing (1909) is city attorney of Salinas City. He is also rendering valuable service in the capacity of trustee of the Salinas Public Library. He is well known in fraternal circles, being a member of Salinas Lodge No. 614, B. P. O. E., of which he is past exalted ruler : Alisal Lodge No. 163, I. O. O. F .; Violet Lodge, Rebekahs; Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Dania Society.
HANS SUNDBERG.
The family represented by this Swedish-Ameri- can citizen, who for twenty years or more has been identified with the agricultural interests of Monterey county, comes of old and honored Scandinavian lineage. For generations its mem- bers lived and labored in the vicinity of Fahlun, Sweden, not far from the Gulf of Bothnia, and there Hans was born, October 17, 1855, being a son of John Hanson, a prosperous citizen of Fahlun and a man held in the highest regard throughout that section of the country. The owner of two farms and a valuable tract of tim- ber, he cut considerable timber each year and eventually disposed of the lands for $9,000. The mother died in Sweden when Hans was thirty-
three years of age, and shortly afterward the father, with three sons and a daughter, crossed the ocean to America, settling in Mexico and taking up two hundred acres of raw land.
The surroundings in that country were not al- together agreeable. There were no churches of the faith preferred by the family. Schools had not yet been established. Dissatisfied with con- ditions, the family gave up their land and re- moved to California, where they bought unim- proved land near Kingsburg, Fresno county, pay- ing $100 for the same. The climate proved un- healthful for the children, the father fell ill and died, the sister with her husband returned to Sweden, and since then the family has been scattered. Of the sons, Olaf lives in Monterey county, Eric in Kern county, and Hans for the past sixteen years has occupied the same farm in Monterey county.
The schools of Sweden afforded . Hans Sund- berg excellent advantages, and self-culture de- veloped his fine, natural mental endowments, so that while still in the old country he successfully served as correspondent for various papers. Be- sides possessing considerable literary ability, he is a natural mechanic, and all work of that kind is done in his own shop on the farm. In addi- tion to other qualities he is a practical farmer, energetic and resourceful, and by applying him- self to the work at hand he has found agriculture to be profitable in Monterey county. Before leaving Europe he gained a thorough knowledge of farming as conducted in his native land. In addition he had charge of the building of a road in his home province, also kept books for the storekeepers, received excellent recommendations for government work, and had charge of the payments of large sums of money for public pur- poses.
The marriage of Hans Sundberg took place in Sweden in 1876 and united him with Bertha Hedman, a native of that country. Five chil- dren were born of their union, namely: John, August, William, Marie and Ida. All were born in Sweden, with the exception of the youngest, who is a native of California. John is employed at Soledad and Marie is a student in the high school of Salinas, where also she is making a special study of music. Coming to California in 1888, Hans Sundberg has made his home in
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Monterey county since the spring of 1892, when he came here from Fresno county, and for a year or more worked for wages. Since then he has rented land from C. Hebert, and in 1909 leased six hundred acres, of which ninety acres were in beans and the balance in grain. The raising of beans has proved a very profitable venture, and the crop is a source of a gratifying revenue each year. Sufficient stock is raised on the farm to supply the needs of Mr. Sundberg in the opera- tion of the land. Politically he has voted the Republican ticket ever since becoming a citizen of the United States. A man of progressive ideas and a high ideal of patriotism, he has con- tributed to churches and charities to the extent of his ability, and always has been found on the side of measures for the benefit of his commu- nity.
MATEO SILACCI.
An illustration of the prosperity which has re- warded the efforts of our Swiss-American citi- zens may be found in the life of Mateo Silacci, who for almost one-quarter of a century has been identified with the interests of Monterey county and has won recognition as an expert in the dairy industry. Without energy and resolute determination he could not have risen to his pres- ent station in the community. Nature endowed him with the faculties necessary to the struggle for a livelihood in a new country. With the keen mind characteristic of his family, he soon ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the English lan- guage, which he speaks with the same fluency as his native tongue. One of his noticeable traits is his love of system and order in his business and household affairs, and in this he has the hearty co-operation of his wife, who superin- tends the home with diligence and neatness un- surpassed.
Mateo Silacci was born at Corippo, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, September 22, 1867, and under the careful training of his widowed mother he was prepared for the responsibilities of life. During January of 1885 he arrived in California and immediately entered the employ of his brother, B. Silacci, at Casa Blanco ranch. For three and one-half years he remained in the same position, without losing a single day from work
and receiving $25 a month and board. The earn- ings were carefully hoarded, for he was a youth of good habits and with no desire to squander money.
On leaving his brother's employ Mr. Silacci worked for four months in the dairy business under William Logwood, who paid him $25 per month and board. Coming to Salinas, he imme- diately secured work at the same wages with Duncan Mckinnon, and remained in that posi- tion for one and one-half years. During this period he loaned his savings at eight per cent. per annum. Next he went to Gonzales and formed a partnership with Matt Williams, of whose dairy he took charge. In this partnership he made „more money than when working for wages, and he continued with Mr. Williams until 1907, meanwhile milking about one hundred and fifty cows and manufacturing butter that commanded the highest prices. The price of stock was high, but of recent years the dairy products have brought such excellent prices in the markets that the business has been profitable. Mr. Silacci owns property in Salinas and has become known as a prosperous dairyman and wise investor. For about twelve years he has been a naturalized citizen, and during this time he has voted for the men and measures of the Republican party. During 1901 he married Petromella Tanella, who had come from Switzerland a short time prior to their marriage. They are the parents of four sons and one daughter, Emelio and Minnie, twins; Albert ; and twins, infants, recently born. The two eldest children attend the local school.
JOSEPH WARTH.
A long and varied experience as an agricul- turist in Monterey county has given Mr. Warth a thorough knowledge of the soil of this part of the state. Since his retirement from ranching he has made his home in Salinas, where he is now employed in the city fire department. He is a loyal adherent to the cause of Democracy and in behalf of that party received fitting recog- nition in his nomination as the Democratic can- didate for the state legislature. While he made a forceful campaign he suffered defeat with the rest of the party's candidates.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Joseph Warth was born in Baden, Germany, December 8, 1844, and is a son of the late Will- iam and Elizabeth (Giglin) Warth. During 1852 the family crossed the ocean to the United States and settled on Long Island, where the father followed the carpenter's trade. As soon as old enough to earn his own livelihood the son secured employment in New York City in a shoe establishment, remaining there until he de- cided to seek a home in the west. It was during 1864 that he came to California via the Nicaragua route and settled in Monterey county, where he embarked in ranch pursuits near Blanco on a grant of land owned by David Jacks. The fol- lowing year his father joined him in this county and soon purchased a large tract of raw land, to the improvement of which he gave his attention, meanwhile receiving the aid of the son. After the death of the father in 1871 the property was divided into three parts and sold.
After the death of his father Joseph Warth removed to a ranch at Peach Tree owned by. Miller & Lux, but he remained there a short time only. Soon he purchased and moved to a ranched three miles from Soledad and there he remained until 1898, meeting with his share of good fortune and reverses according to the sea- son. Since 1898 he has made his home in Sa- linas, where he owns a residence at No. 86 Lang street. August 8, 1869, he was united in mar- riage with Catherine C. Coneley, a native of Il- linois. They are the parents of the following- named children : Joseph W., of San Francisco; Evelina, wife of James Stewart and a resident of Salinas: Albert E., of Salinas; Pearl, Ray- mond C., Grace and Lillian, who reside with their parents.
JOHN FOLETTA.
It is over thirty years since John Foletta land- ed on the shores of the United States a stranger in a strange land. Switzerland was his native country, and December 15, 1861, he was born on his father's farm in the canton of Ticino. He grew up to a sturdy boyhood in the active coun- try life on the farm, and at an early age he was forced to see the necessity of making his own way in the world.
Mr. Foletta came to the United States in 1878,
when he was about seventeen years of age. Com- ing direct to California, he readily found work on the various ranches in Santa Cruz county, for his training had been along the line of agri- culture altogether. He continued in the employ of others for a number of years, gaining thereby an experience which he was to put to good use later on. This he did in 1902, when he settled on rented property in Monterey county. This consisted of two hundred and seventy-eight acres near Gonzales, which he stocked for dairy pur- poses, and this, with a number of changes and additions as his growing business demanded, has since been the scene of his activities. The nucleus of his stock for this ranch he brought with him from Santa Cruz county, where he secured a fine breed of Holstein cattle from which he has raised all of the cattle now on his ranch. While stock-raising forms an important feature of his enterprise it nevertheless represents only one branch of his undertaking, for his dairy is with- out doubt one of the largest and best established enterprises of the kind in this part of Monterey county. Here he cares for and milks one hun- dred and sixty cows, the milk from which he manufactures into cheese in a factory on the ranch. One hundred and sixty acres of the ranch are planted to alfalfa, while the remainder of the land is used for pasturage. In 1908 Mr. Foletta purchased two hundred and two acres near Gon- zales, this being a part of what is known as the Gonzales ranch. Of this he has one hundred and fifty acres in alfalfa, while fifty-two acres are in pasturage. Besides the property already men- tioned he rents one hundred acres about one mile from Gonzales which is devoted entirely to rais- ing hay for feed. For a number of years Mr. Foletta has had the assistance and co-operation of his brother Severino in all of his operations, and their united efforts have enabled them to ac- complish many times over what each could have handled singly. Severino Foletta was born in Switzerland in 1874, and came to California to join his brother in 1893. After the removal of the elder brother to Monterey county and the es- tablishment of his dairy enterprise he bought an interest in it and since that time the brothers have been associated in whatever has been undertaken.
John Foletta married Miss Savina Dotta in Santa Cruz in 1883. Three children were born
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of this marriage, as follows: Florence, the wife of Eugene Tavernetti of Soledad; Mary, the wife of Henry Tavernetti, residing in the vicinity of Camp Phora, near Soledad ; and Edwin, who is a student in the school at Gonzales. Fraternally Mr. Foletta is a member of Avalon Lodge No. 89, K. P., of Santa Cruz, and also of the U. A. O. D. of that city. Severino Foletta is also mar- ried, his wife in maidenhood having been Miss Maria Della Vacchia, a resident of Gonzales at the time of her marriage, although her birth oc- curred in Switzerland.
JOSEPH GOMEZ.
No object lesson could be presented by the student of history more striking than the trans- formation wrought in California during the last forty years. Joseph Gomez well remembers the appearance of the country at that time, when, after a voyage of hardship and peril, he arrived in what is now one of the greatest commonwealths in America. During the intervening years he has made his home continuously in Moss Land- ing, Monterey county, where he is well known and highly respected.
By birth Mr. Gomez was a subject of Portu- gal, having been born on one of the Azore Islands, in March, 1853, one of the eight chil- dren born to his parents, Loraino and Anna Gomez. Both of the parents are now deceased, as are also three of the children. Joseph was reared in the island home of his parents, under whose careful guidance he had instilled into his mind and heart those principles of honesty and uprightness which have ever since been the foun- dation of his career. These traits and a sturdy, manly frame were his chief assets when, as a youth of sixteen years, he set out from his early. home and came to California, the ship on which he sailed landing in San Francisco. Monterey county in general and Moss Landing in particu- lar was his objective point, and hither he came at once after debarking at the metropolis, arriv- ing at his destination in 1869. It does not fall to the lot of every newcomer to find employ- ment waiting for him, as seemed to be the case with Mr. Gomez. Be that as it may, it is known that he at once secured a position with the Good-
all-Perkins Company and has remained with the same employers ever since, a period of forty years. During this time many changes have taken place in the personnel of the management of the business, but through them all Mr. Gomez has been retained, as has also the superintend- ent of the plant, Hon. S. N. Laughlin, to whom Mr. Gomez appeals as his superior officer.
At the age of twenty-eight years, in 1881, Mr. Gomez formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Mary Hayes, and the only child born of their marriage, Annie, is the wife of Frank Bettencourt, and they make their home in San Francisco. They have one child, a daughter. Ever since taking out naturalization papers, Mr. Gomez has affiliated with the Republican party, giving his allegiance to this political party after a careful study of the platforms of all of the- great political parties. None of the citizens in Moss Landing take greater pride in their home town than does Mr. Gomez, who came here a stranger forty years ago and met with such good fortune that he has never had any desire- to make his home elsewhere.
JAMES P. SGHEIZA.
The canton of Ticino, Switzerland, is the native home of Mr. Sgheiza and February 15, 1873, the date of his birth. When a mere boy attending school and aiding in the work on the farm, he frequently heard his elders converse concerning California, and as one and another of his acquaintances started for the new world he determined to follow them as soon as oppor- tunity offered. The desired chance came when he was seventeen years of age and the year 1890 found him taking the long and interesting trip to a European harbor, thence across the- Atlantic and on to California, where he stopped for eight months in Marin county.
Coming next to Monterey county, Mr. Sgheiza began to work in a dairy. Already he had learned the business of making butter and cheese and now ranks among the experienced men in that industry. After having worked for wages un- til 1905, he then rented on shares a ranch owned by B. Silacci, a cousin, and there he labored pros- perously for three years, meanwhile building up
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a dairy of fifty cows and manufacturing butter in large quantities. During 1908 he relinquished his dairy interests and moved to a ranch owned by P. Zabala. Since then he has farmed two hundred and sixty acres, a part of which is seeded to barley each year, while the balance is in summer fallow.
During the period of his residence in Mon- terey county Mr. Sgheiza has seen many changes. When he came here barley was selling at fifty cents per sack, butter was very low, and indeed prices on all products were below the point of the cost of production. Wages were about $15 per month. At this writing wages are much higher, while the returns from the sale of produce are also much more gratify- ing to the seller. Having met with success here, he naturally favors Monterey county and has never regretted his removal hither. Ever since becoming a citizen of the United States he has voted the Republican ticket. Fraternally he is associated with the Druids at Salinas. In November of 1905 he was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Tonelli, a native of Swit- zerland, and they are the parents of three children, one son, Albert, and infant twins not named.
ANTONE RIANDA.
The Salinas valley seems to be particularly adapted to the raising of beets, and Mr. Rianda seems also to be particularly fortunate in his suc- ·cess with handling this commodity, having one of the highest records of production in Monte- rey county, which is twenty-three tons to the acre. The entire ranch of sixty-five acres yields in this proportion, the product being disposed of at the beet sugar factory at Spreckels.
A native of Switzerland, Antone Rianda was born in the Canton of Ticino, January 17. 1842, and the first seventeen years of his life were spent under the native sunny skies. In the mean- time he had attended the schools of his home town, and at the age of fourteen began a prepara- tion which was to fit him for the more serious affairs of life. Selecting the trade of stone-cutter as congenial to his tastes, he had followed it for four years when a desire to come to California became paramount to all other ambitions. On
the ship Golden Gate he came by way of Panama to the west, landing at San Francisco, June 4, 1859. He had intended to take up work at his trade, but upon finding that the stone in this country was different from that to which he was accustomed, and that it required different tools from those with which he was equipped, he gave up the idea of following that business. He there- fore sought employment of another character, and was variously occupied, first in a grocery and later in a restaurant, until 1866, when he went to Watsonville. At that time the railroad ran only as far as San Jose, and from there he took the stage over the mountains. After arriving in Santa Cruz county he worked at anything that promised fair returns for his efforts, and by carefully saving his earnings he was enabled, in the course of a few years, to purchase property. This constituted sixty acres of fine land, and for the following fifteen years he gave his attention to its cultivation, making a specialty of raising hay, grain and corn, and he also was especially successful in raising chickens.
It was while living in Santa Cruz county that Mr. Rianda formed domestic ties, his marriage uniting him with Ellen Nichols, a native of Ire- land, but who had been brought to California by her parents when she was eight years old. Six children were born of this marriage, as follows : Albert, a blacksmith by trade; George; Fred, a graduate of the Santa Clara Business College and now employed as bookkeeper by the Ocean Shore Iron Works, of San Francisco; Henry, at home, as are also the two youngest children, Mamie and Katie, who are students in the pub- lic schools of Salinas. In 1896 Mr. Rianda sold his ranch in Santa Cruz county and located in the Salinas valley, since which time he has con- tinued to make his home on his present property. As has been stated, he is making a specialty of raising beets on his ranch of sixty-five acres, and in point of productiveness he has the banner ranch in the county.
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