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 51
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 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
Since becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Rianda has given himself unreservedly to the support of his adopted country, wherein he has been able to make an advancement which in his own country would have been impossible. In politics he is a Republican in national issues, al- though in local affairs he votes for the men and
693
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
measures he considers best qualified to fill public need. His interest in school matters led to his election as a member of the board of trustees of the Green valley school district, in which ca- pacity he rendered valuable service. At the time of the heated discussion regarding the incoming of Chinese he was a delegate to the convention held in Santa Cruz, this meeting being only one of many held in all parts of the state, throughout whose breadth sounded the slogan, "The Chinese must go." Mr. Rianda is well posted on all gen- eral topics of interest and keeps abreast of the times on all important matters. He has been an interested witness of the progress made in the state since his arrival within its borders, over fifty years ago, and in this advancement no one takes more pride than does he. Among those with whom he has associated during this time he is thoroughly respected and honored, and among them, too, his word is considered as good as his bond. 1
NICHOLAS FRUNZ.
Just a quarter of a century ago, with little in his favor but youth and a willing heart and hand, Mr. Frunz came to the United States. With these as his chief assets he has been able to accumulate all that he now has and take his place among the prosperous citizens of Monte- rey county. Memory of his boyhood days takes him back to a home in Switzerland, nestled among the snow-capped mountains, where his birth occurred in Canton Unterwalden in 1866. His parents were hard-working farmers, and as a dutiful son he did all that he could to relieve them of such chores as he was able to per- form.
The prospect of a larger scope for his abili- ties brought Nicholas Frunz to the United States in 1884, at which time he was eighteen years of age. California was his destination, and he came direct to Sonoma county and ac- cepted the first honorable work that offered, which was on a ranch in the vicinity of Lake- ville. He continued in that locality for about five years, when he went to San Benito county and was similarly employed for about four years. At the end of this time he came to Monterey county, and this has ever since been his home.
For a time he was employed on ranches in the vicinity of Chualar, but since 1901 he has had entire charge of the Somavia dairy of one thou- sand acres, near Gonzales, which is one of the most representative enterprises of the kind in the county. This he operates on shares with others, he himself having ninety cows, the milk from which he manufactures into cheese upon the ranch. In addition to the dairy he raises hogs, cattle and horses, this industry in itself bringing in a good income.
Before her marriage Mrs. Frunz was Miss Mary Feisther, a native of Switzerland, and two children have been born to them, John and Frank.
MANUEL QUILLA.
Among the active and industrious citizens of Monterey county is Manuel Quilla, who has been identified with the development and prosperity of the section around Salinas for a number of years. Mr. Quilla was born in the Azores Islands in 1872, a subject to the crown of Portu- gal. He was not the first of his immediate fami- ly to find a home elsewhere, for his father and an elder sister had preceded him to America a num- ber of years. He was a lad of only fourteen years of age when he determined to come to the United States and join his father and sister, who had come to California and were located in San Mateo county. Before coming to this country he had become familiar with farming as carried on in his native surroundings, and it was along this line of endeavor that he sought employment. His efforts were rewarded by securing a position on a ranch in San Mateo county, where he had charge of one hundred cows, the milk from which was manufactured into cheese in a factory on the ranch. The undertaking was in splendid work- ing order when, on account of the owner wish- ing to divide the property, the business had to be given up.
It was at this juncture that Mr. Quilla came to Monterey county and rented the property on which he now resides, comprising fourteen hun- dred acres of excellent land, conveniently located, lying only a short distance from Salinas. Here he maintains a dairy of one hundred and seventy cows, an undertaking which requires the services
694
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of five hired men in addition to his own. All of the milk is manufactured into cheese, of which there is an average of three tons every month, and as his product is of an excellent quality there is a constantly growing demand for his brand of cheese. His long training in this special line of agriculture has made him an adept in the dairy business.
In 1898 Mr. Quilla formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Yole J. Perelli, a native of Italy, and five children have been born of their marriage, as follows: Louisa, Virgillia, Clara Belle, Mary Agnes and Madalena B., all of whom were born in San Mateo county. Politically Mr. Quilla is an advocate of Republican principles, and fraternally he is associated with the Foresters of America and the U. P. E. C.
FREDERICK L. BARNHISEL.
The name of Barnhisel has been associated with the history of California ever since the year 1852, when Lewis Barnhisel came to the state with his parents, he then being a boy of fifteen years. Previous to this his life had been passed in the locality of his birthplace, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he was reared and edu- cated. A six-months voyage around the Horn finally landed the family at their destination, San Francisco, and from there they went to Redwood City, San Mateo county. About four years later Lewis Barnhisel returned to Ohio, engaging in business there for several years, and in the meantime was united in marriage. Subsequently he returned to California and settled in San Jose, Santa Clara county, purchasing and locating upon property which is his home at the present time. The children born of the marriage of Lewis and Mary ( Betts) Barnhisel are as follows: Emma B .; Frederick L .; Arthur H., a resident of Tacoma, Wash .; Grace, the wife of C. B. Hudson, of Pacific Grove; Edith, the wife of Forest Fisher, of Portland, Ore .; and Walter, a resident of Seattle. All of the children were born in Cali- fornia.
Next to the oldest of the children comprising the parental family, Frederick L. Barnhisel was born in San Jose April 12, 1868, and with his
brothers and sisters was given good advantages for an education in the public schools of San Jose. Under the instruction and training of his father he gained an understanding of the prin- ciples of agriculture while he was yet a boy, so. that by the time he reached young manhood he was equipped with a knowledge that fitted him to begin life independently. This he did in 1891, when, at the age of twenty-three years, he came to Hollister and purchased a tract of one hun- dred acres two miles south of the city, and this has since been the scene of his activities. At the time of purchasing the property he set it out to apricot, peach and prune trees, and as a re- sult of his thorough understanding of horticul- ture he now has one of the finest orchards in San Benito county, his average yield being over four hundred tons of fruit per annum. The fruit industry is a subject to which Mr. Barn- hisel has given much thought and study, and the great success with which he is meeting is only the just reward for his unremitting efforts and concentration along this special line of. agri- culture. He has also made a special study of the eucalyptus tree, and his plan to grow them for commercial purposes is the first attempt of the kind known in San Benito county. He has. recently planted a grove of these trees on fifty acres of land which he owns north of Hollister, and from these he expects large returns in a few years, as they are rapid growers and will sell readily for timber or fuel.
Mr. Barnhisel was married April 25, 1895, to Miss Marion Dean, a native of Vermont, and two daughters have been born to them, Laura and Winifred. Mr. Barnhisel's name is well and favorably known in fraternal circles, his name appearing on the roster of the Woodmen of the World, Masons and Odd Fellows.
VICTOR BIDACHE.
Though nearly a quarter of a century has passed since the death of Victor Bidache, his life. and accomplishments are still fresh in the memo- ries of old settlers in Monterey county, into whose midst he came during the mining days of 1850. He was born in the southern part of France in 1828, and was a young man of about
695
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
twenty-two years when he came to California and located in what has since become the thriv- ing city of Salinas. Instead of going into the mines as did the majority of the new comers, he opened a house for the accommodation of the traveling public, and as proprietor of the famous old Washington house he gained a repu- tation for hospitality and good cheer throughout the country, far and near. Subsequently he established the Plaza hotel at San Juan, here as in his first undertaking being entirely suc- cessful.
While Mr. Bidache was well known as "mine host" throughout the country, he was equally well known as a prosperous rancher, owning two of the largest ranches in the county. He first purchased and maintained a large cattle and sheep ranch about two miles from Salinas, and later purchased what is known as the Guadalupe ranch, twelve miles from the city. Physically, Mr. Bidache was a man of splendid proportions and strength, the result of a life- long training in athletics, which enabled him to perform many feats of strength.
Mr. Bidache was twice married, and two of his children survive, Leopold, born of the first marriage, now a resident of Sacramento, and Herbert L., of Salinas.
JOHN LOCATELLI.
Many of the natives of Switzerland have been attracted to California, where they find oppor- tunity to carry out their ideas of farming on a larger and more satisfactory scale than would be possible in their own country. John Locatelli was born in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland, in 1864, and came to the United States when he was a youth of twenty years. May 18, 1884, was the date of his arrival in Monterey county. After he had worked in the employ of others for about two years, he rented seven hundred and seventy-four acres of the Espinosa ranch near Greenfield, Monterey county, on which prop- erty he has since made his home. Here he car- ries on diversified farming, having quite a large acreage devoted to barley and wheat, and in ad- dition to this raises sufficient cattle for his own use and a fine grade of horses, having a thor-
oughbred stallion. All of the improvements on the ranch have been made by Mr. Locatelli.
Mr. Locatelli was married in 1907 to Miss Paulina Franscioni, at the time of her marriage a resident of Gonzales. One child, Rosie, has been born of their marriage. Since coming to this country Mr. Locatelli has been a hard worker, but he is happy that a kindly fate di- rected him to this particular part of the west. He takes a commendable interest in school mat- ters in his home county and for one term served as a trustee of Romie district.
HENRY RIANDA.
One of the most up-to-date and enterprising ranch industries in Monterey county is that owned and managed by Henry Rianda, in the vicinity of Gonzales. Here he makes a specialty of dairying, manufacturing his own cheese, be- sides raising sufficient hay and grain to feed his cattle. Much of Mr. Rianda's ability and suc- cess in the line of business which he has chosen may be traced to a hereditary tendency, for he comes from a long line of antecedents whose lives were spent as dairymen in Switzerland. He himself was born in that country, his birth occurring in canton Ticino in 1865. When six- teen years of age he followed the course which many of his countrymen had carried out and came to the United States to take advantage of the opportunities here offered to young men of push and determination.
Coming direct to Gonzales, Cal., in 1882. Henry Rianda had no difficulty in finding em- ployment, his first work being on a ranch in this vicinity. Two years in the employ of others gave him confidence in his ability to undertake an enterprise on his own account, and in 1884 he leased nine hundred acres of land located be- tween Gonzales and Soledad, which he sowed entirely to grain, making a specialty of barley, although he also raised some wheat and hay. The fact that he remained on this property for over twenty years is ample evidence that the undertaking was a success, and when he gave it up in October, 1908, it was for the purpose of locating on land which he had recently purchased in this vicinity. His ranch includes one thousand
696
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
acres, one half of which he uses for dairy pur- poses, while the remainder is in grain, with the exception of fifty acres in alfalfa. Seventy-five cows supply product for his dairy, in connection with which he also maintains a cheese factory. Besides the various interests just mentioned Mr. Rianda also raises sufficient stock to supply his own needs, is interested in a harvesting company, and also owns stock in the Farmers Mercantile Company of Soledad. In addition to the home ranch of one thousand acres he also owns two hundred and fifty acres in the irrigation district near Gonzales, all of which he has planted to alfalfa, a commodity which produces abundantly and commands high prices in the market.
Mr. Rianda's marriage united him with Miss Avarillio Tavernetti, a daughter of a well-known resident of Gonzales, Vincent Tavernetti. Seven children have been born of this marriage, as follows : Pauline, at home; Henry, attending the Gonzales high school; Thomas, Minnie, Freder- ick and Ernest, who are pupils in the Somavia school ; and Raymond, the youngest child. The parents are giving their children every advantage within their power to bestow and training them to habits of usefulness and uprightness, with the view to making them helpful citizens. Mr. Rianda has indeed been a. valuable acquisition to the community in which he has made his home for so many years, his helpful encourage- ment and support being limited only by the number of projects brought before his notice. He has taken a special interest in school mat- ters and for three years served as trustee of the Camp Phora school district. Politically he is a believer in Republican principles, and fraternally he is associated with the Odd Fellows order of Gonzales.
JOHN AUGUST JOHNSON.
Sweden has furnished a number of enterpris- ing citizens to Monterey county, none of whom is better known or more cordially welcomed among her better class of residents than John A. Johnson. He was born October 18, 1845, on his parents' farm in that country, and in the schools near his birthplace he was educated until his services were necessary to his father in the care and management of the farm.
John A. Johnson dutifully remained with his father, co-laboring with him on the farm until he had attained his twenty-fifth year, when he brought his youth and experience to the New World to cope with the new experiences which every foreigner has to encounter. Coming to Monterey county, he found plenty of opportun- ity for young men of muscle and brawn on the ranches in the neighborhood of Salinas, and for seven or eight years thereafter he found con- stant employment in this capacity. This experi- ence made him courageous to undertake a ranch of his own, and at the end of this time he rented the Hartnell ranch of one hundred and sixty- three acres in close proximity to Salinas. Dur- ing the five years that he was the proprietor of this property he saved of his earnings whatever was not necessary to defray his expenses, and was thus at the end of this time enabled to be- come a property owner on his own account, pur- chasing a ranch of four hundred and fifty acres close to Natividad, which was his market town and postoffice. A similar period was also spent in that community, when he sold his ranch and stock, the raising of which had been his specialty, Mr. Ollason assuming the responsibilities. Mr. Johnson then rented the Spence property of seven hundred acres, discontinuing his lease, however, three years later. His leasehold on his present property dates from the year 1888, when he rented five hundred acres of the David Jacks ranch, all of the land being in grain, while in addition he also rents four hundred and eighty acres of pasture land, on which he does a large business in raising cattle for the market. Be- sides the various pieces of property which he rents Mr. Johnson in 1901 bought four hundred acres of land near Deep Well station, this being in grain entirely.
From the foregoing account of Mr. Johnson's activities it would seem that his time was well filled, but notwithstanding this he still has time for the social amenities of life. For the past eight years he has been a trustee of Chualar Canyon school district. Mr. Johnson's marriage occurred in 1883 and united him with Miss Caro- line Olesen, who at her death, October 29, 1908, left nine children to mourn her loss. Named in the order of their birth they are as follows: Carl William, Frank Albert, Henry Walter, Gottleib
697
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Randolph, Oxel Fabian, Harry Rodolph, Selma Occelina, Olga Louisa and Nannie Otidia, all living in the vicinity of Chualar, and who since the death of the wife and mother are dutifully looking after the father's comfort and interests.
JOSEPH F. GIACOMAZZI.
The name of pioneer rightly belongs to Mr. Giacomazzi by reason of his indentification with the agricultural interests of Monterey county, whither he came in 1874, and which has since been the scene of his activities along this line, as well as in commercial and financial undertakings.
As the name would indicate Mr. Giacomazzi is a native of Switzerland, that being the home of his ancestors for many generations, his own birth occurring in the canton of Ticino in 1857. Boyhood and youth were passed in sight of the mountains, and as his parents were tillers of the soil, much of his own life was passed in out-of- door employment in doing the share of the farm work that generally falls to the lot of farmers sons. It was while performing these homely duties that his mind often reverted to the New World and he lost no opportunity to gain in- formation concerning the advantages which it of- fered to ambitious young men. All of his efforts to gain information tended to strengthen his be- lief that it was his duty as well as his privilege to come to the New World and make a start in life, and this he did in 1874. The vessel on which he made the voyage landed at the port of New York and from there he came direct to Cali- fornia and in Watsonville found employment as a ranch hand. This and other lines of employ- ment occupied liis time profitably for sixteen years, and at the end of this time, in 1890, he came to Monterey county and has since made it his home. He first located on rented property. This lies in what is known as the Espinoza tract and is well adapted to the raising of barley, which is his chief crop, and in addition he also raises horses for his own use and for market, which have always brought the highest prices.
It might seem that the care of nine hundred acres of land would consume all of Mr. Giaco- mazzi's energies, but in reality the care of his property forms but one of the interests which
make demands upon his time, as the following will prove : He is a stockholder in the Soledad Mercantile Company, and is also a stockholder in several banking institutions of Monterey coun- ty, all of which benefit by his good judgment in business matters. For a number of years he has been the official government crop reporter for this. section of the state, his efficiency and accuracy in detail in everything that he undertakes making him well fitted to fill this position. In his political sympathies he is a Republican, and as a delegate he has represented his party on two occasions in state convention, and has also served as county delegate for years. Fraternally he holds mem- bership in Lodge No. 113, K. P., of Watsonville, and in Court No. 153, Foresters of America, of Soledad. At present Mr. Giacomazzi is retired from business and taking a well earned rest from busy life, and his competency may be well en- vied by his host of friends. In the near future he may take up another business which he has- in view.
FERDINAND FRANSCIONI.
The qualities noticeable in his countrymen- were found in the character of the late Ferdin- and Franscioni, a native of Canton Ticino, Switzerland, where he was born in 1837. He. came to California in 1868 and settled at San Jose, but later removed to Watsonville. The- country pleased him and the opportunity for earning a livelihood seemed all that could be de- sired. so he sent back to Switzerland for his family and was then joined at Watsonville by his. wife. Mrs. Caroline Franscioni, a native of the. same country as himself. and a woman of great resolution of character and energy in action. During 1885 the family removed to a farm near Gonzales and later settled on a ranch near Sole- dad, where the husband and father died in 1898.
Surviving Mr. Franscioni are his widow and five children, the latter being as follows: An- drew, who is engaged in ranching at Fort Romie on the Mission ranch; Walter, who is farming on the Zabala tract and is a well-known member of the Soledad Lodge, Foresters of America; Mary, wife of Vincent Ioppini, and residing at Soledad; Victor, who is married and resides at Fort Romie; and Corinne, who makes her home.
698
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
with her mother on the ranch. The two sons, Walter and Victor, with their mother purchased two hundred and seventy acres in the Green- field tract, where they are engaged in raising al- falfa and barley. In addition they rent eight hundred acres of the Zabala ranch and are there engaged in raising barley, also utilize the pas- ture land for their horses and cattle, some of these being raised each year. Besides their agri- cultural holdings they are stockholders in the Soledad Mercantile Company and their interests are further enlarged by the acquisition of a threshing machine with outfit, this being in con- stant use during the threshing season each year. The family are energetic and useful members of local society and possess a broad knowledge of agriculture as well as thorough information ·concerning local farm affairs.
ANTONIO S. BORDGES.
Yet another of those born under the flag of Portugal and now a citizen of the United States is Antonio S. Bordges, who for the past thirty years has been a prosperous rancher just outside the limits of Salinas. Born on one of the Azore Islands, he remained with his parents on his island home until a lad of sixteen years, when he boarded a vessel which landed him in the port of Boston, Mass., after an uneventful voy- age. After remaining in that eastern metropolis for eighteen months he came to California and located at Half-Moon Bay, San Mateo county. where he secured employment as a dairy and farm hand. Actuated by a desire to see the country as well as to gain experience in the meth- ods of farming in this part of the country, he went to San Jose and Gilroy, in Santa Clara county, where for three years he was similarly employed. From there he came to Monterey county, and near Salinas purchased the ranch on which he now lives and which has been his home for the past thirty years. The property com- prises one hundred and twenty-five acres and is devoted exclusively to sheep-raising and general farming. At one time he operated a thresher in partnership with his brother, Manuel S. Bordges, who like himself is one of the enterprising ranch- ers of this vicinity.
The marriage of Antonio S. Bordges occurred in 1889 and united him with Miss Annie Phillips, who was a resident of the Pajaro valley at the time of her marriage, and was reared and edu- cated in Monterey county, her father, Joseph Phillips, being one of the well-known residents of Castroville. Nine children, five daughters and four sons, have been born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bordges, as follows: Mary, Nel- lie, Constantia, Rosie, Adaline, Annie, Mathew, Antonio and Edward.
ANTONIO JOSEPH SEMAS.
Of the numerous nations who have contributed to the citizenship of the commonwealth of Cali- fornia comparatively few trace their origin to the Azore Islands, but of those born on that far-off island who later made this state their adopted home, none has added to her citizenship more truly than the late Antonio J. Semas. Born in 1842, he was reared in his island home until nineteen years of age, when he set sail for the United States and landed in Boston, Mass. From there he went to Fall River, in the same state, but after he had been there five months he con- cluded to come to the Pacific coast country and soon afterward we find him located in San Benito county. In those days sheep-raising was a prof- itable undertaking, and this he followed with splendid success for about five years, when he gave it up and for about two years carried on a ranch in the vicinity of Watsonville, Santa Cruz county. Returning to San Benito county, he fol- lowed cattle-raising for seven years, when he came to Monterey county and located on the DeSerpa ranch near Salinas, where for four years he made a specialty of raising grain. From Salinas he then went to Alameda county, and near Centerville he operated a dairy and car- ried on general farming for about four years. Coming back to Monterey county at the end of this time, he located at Spreckels and began rais- ing beets for the manufacture of sugar, an under- taking which thus far had been the most suc- cessful of any he had engaged in, and one which he continued to follow for nine years. From there he came to the vicinity of Salinas and pur- chased the Manuel S. Bordges ranch, a tract of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.