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 52
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 52
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
seventy-nine acres, which was his home and the Upon selling out their interest at the end of this scene of his activities throughout the remainder of his life. Since his death, which occurred April 4, 1906, the ranch has been maintained by his wife, who is a woman of ability and one thor- oughly capable of discharging the duties which thus devolve upon her. All of the land is under cultivation and is devoted almost entirely to the raising of grain.
Before her marriage, which occurred in Cen- terville, Alameda county, January 15, 1894, Mrs. Semas was Miss Agnes Zloria. She is the mother of five children, Harry, Carrie, Katie, Louis and Marguerite, all of whom are receiving the bene- fits of a public school education. By a former marriage Mr. Semas became the father of seven children, as follows: Frank; Mary; Tony, who served in the United States navy for four years and is now a resident of Watsonville; Manuel, a rancher near Blanco; Jack, on the home ranch ; Virginia ; and William, who is also assisting in the management of the home ranch.
BLAETTLER BROTHERS.
Under the name of Blaettler brothers, Melchior and Peter Blaettler are associated with Frank Kiser in the management of the Malarin ranch, located in Monterey county not far from the town of Chualar. This is one of the most up-to-date ranches in this part of the county, having an equipment for supplying irrigation which is un- surpassed. The ranch includes eleven hundred acres, upon which a specialty is made of dairy- ing, two hundred cows supplying the cheese fac- tory which is maintained in connection with the ranch.
Melchior and Peter Blaettler are natives of canton Opwalden, Switzerland, where they were reared and educated and made their home until 1881, when they came to the United States. Coming at once to California, they obtained em- ployment in Monterey county on the dairy ranch of C. S. Abbott, then under the management of William Logwood. There they remained until 1895, when they bought out Mr. Logwood's farming material and settled on the Natividad ranch, an undertaking which proved a wise one and was maintained successfully for ten years.
time the brothers formed an association with Frank Kiser in the maintenance of the Malarin ranch, as previously stated.
Peter Blaettler formed domestic ties in 1908, by his marriage with Miss Bernardino Miller, a native of Monterey county.
EDWARD E. ANDERSEN.
Although Mr. Andersen has been a resident of California since 1884, it was not until 1907 that he took up his abode in Monterey county, where, though comparatively a newcomer, he has gathered around him a ranching enterprise which might do justice to one of many more years standing. The recollections of his boyhood take him back in memory to Denmark, where in 1865 he was born into the home of Capt. Lars. H. and Christiana Andersen, who were also natives and lifetime residents of Denmark. His father being captain of a vessel on the high seas, Ed- ward E. naturally inherited a love for life on the deep also, and after his school days were over, which terminated with his confirmation at the age of fourteen, he gave vent to his long cherished ambition to go to sea. He followed this calling for five years, when, in 1884, he came to California, having become interested in this part of the United States through the fact that an elder brother had come hither by way of Cape Horn some time previously.
Going direct to Santa Cruz county, where his brother was located, Edward E. Andersen readily found work on ranches, receiving for his labor $25 a month. He was not content to remain in the employ of others long, however, and as soon as he was able to find a suitable place he leased seventeen hundred acres in that county, stocked with one hundred and eighty cows, for which he paid an annual rental of $3,000. Even at this high rental Mr. Andersen made a success of the undertaking, and during the eleven years that he had the property in charge he became known as one of the best informed and most successful dairymen in Santa Cruz county. After giving up the management of the property just men- tioned Mr. Andersen assumed the control of the Baldwin dairy, one of the largest dairy enter-
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
prises in Santa Cruz county, and there as in his former .undertaking he made a great success of the enterprise. Although he did not become per- sonally identified with Monterey county until recently, Mr. Andersen had for years recognized the happy combination of rich soil, climate and surroundings which awaited the settler, and here he came in 1907 determined to make it his home the remainder of his life. Locating in the vicinity of Salinas, he purchased two hundred acres for which he paid $71 an acre, besides purchasing the home place of three hundred acres for $46 an acre. Both properties have undergone re- markable changes even in the short time Mr. Andersen has had them under his control, which demonstrates his ability and preseverance in whatever he undertakes. As in his former un- dertakings he is making a specialty of dairying, besides which he raises grain, both for his own use and for the market.
In Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, Mr. An- dersen was united in marriage with Miss Lina Petersen, one of his own countrywomen, and four children were born to them, all natives of Santa Cruz county. Named in the order of their birth they are as follows: Louis Edward, Martin P., May Louise and Earl B. Mr. Andersen has always taken more than a passing interest in educational matters, and during his residence in Santa Cruz county was school trustee and clerk of the school board in Laguna district for five years. He is also interested in the welfare of the Republican party. having on a number of occasions served as a delegate to county con- ventions. Energetic and enterprising. Mr. An- dersen is one of the wide-awake citizens who stands ready to give his support to any under- taking that has for its object the uplifting of his fellow-men.
SERAFINO SETTRINI.
The dairy business commands the close at- tention and painstaking oversight of Mr. Settrini, who displays the same foresight, knowledge and sagacious judgment in the industry that has marked the majority of his countrymen in what- ever part of the world destiny may lead them. Since 1904 he has been established on the Patton ranch in partnership with Mr. Codoni and has
operated about one thousand acres, of which about one hundred and fifty acres are sown to grain for hay. The dairy comprises from seventy-five to eighty cows and the product is principally cheese, which is manufactured on the ranch according to the most modern methods, supplementing the skill evinced by the old Swiss cheesemakers.
The canton of Ticino, Switzerland, is the native home of Mr. Settrini, and March 5, 1863, the date of his birth. His father, James, who was born in the same canton in 1841, immigrated to the United States during mature years and settled in California, where he worked for wages at Point Reyes, Marin county. However, he never fully felt at home far from the scenes of youth and the friends of early life, and in 1885 he returned to Switzerland, where he has re- mained to the present time, living quietly and contentedly amid the old familiar scenes.
Having come to California in November of 1884, Serafino Settrini felt satisfied with the prospects in the west to a degree that prevented him from returning to Europe with his father the following year. His life in the old country had been very uneventful and included attend- ance at the common schools, labor on the home farm and a service of forty-five days in the Swiss army. He can scarcely recall the time when he was unfamiliar with the dairy business and the manufacture of cheese as conducted on the farms of Switzerland. It was natural, there- fore, on coming to California that he should seek employment in an industry with which he was familiar, and for seven years he worked at dairy- ing in Marin county. Eventually he came to Monterey county, where a brother-in-law had established his home. For a time he worked as a farm hand on ranches, but in 1904 he em- barked in the dairying business with Mr. Codoni as a partner and since then he has devoted his attention very closely to the details of the work.
The marriage of Mr. Settrini took place in 1891 and united him with Celestia Codoni, who was born in Switzerland. They are the parents of four children, namely : Clara, who was born in Marin county ; Henry, Walter and Augustus, born in Monterey county. No local movement possesses greater interest to Mr. Settrini than the maintenance of high-grade schools and since
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he was elected trustee of the Natividad district in 1908 he has given considerable thought and time to the improvement of the educational op- portunities offered by the district. Other local projects also find him a progressive promoter and among the Swiss-American settlers of Mon- terey county his reputation is the highest, his standing the most enviable. In fraternal rela- tions he is associated with King City Lodge No. 358, I. O. O. F., and has been interested in the philanthropies conducted by the order.
EDWARD ANDERSON.
Life on the high seas had constituted Mr. Anderson's highest ambition, until in the course of his travels he came into the harbor of San Francisco, after which he became a landsman from choice, and with as much avidity as he had chosen the life of the sailor ten years previously. Edward Anderson was born in Sweden October 12, 1851, and under the clear skies of his Scan- dinavian home, with its active outdoor life, he grew to a stalwart manhood. When he was eighteen years old he gave expression to a deep- seated desire to go to sea, and this he did in 1869, when he shipped as ordinary seaman on board a Swedish vessel. For ten years thereafter he followed life on the high seas continuously, in the meantime entering all of the important ports on the globe. His first impressions of California date back to the year 1879, when the ship Knight Commander from Liverpool on which he was one of the crew, entered the harbor of San Fran- cisco. He was charmed with the country from the first and determined thenceforth to change his plans to conform to a life on land.
From San Francisco Mr. Anderson went to Marin county, where he had a brother living, and after making him a short visit he came to Monterey county, at a time when crops were being gathered, and he had no difficulty in find- ing employment in the harvest field. Subsequent- ly he returned to San Francisco, where for about a year he was employed in a candle factory, and at the end of this time he came back to Mon- terey county, settling at that time on the Jacks property, which has since been his home. This consists of four hundred and seventy-five acres
near Chualar, which he devotes entirely to the raising of grain, making a specialty of barley. One of Mr. Anderson's characteristics is con- centration, and in exercising this in whatever he undertakes he cannot fail, hence his success in his ranch enterprise.
Edward Anderson formed domestic ties in 1880, when he was united with Miss Botilda Johnson, who like himself is a native of Sweden. Eight children were born of this marriage, as follows: Elmer, who assists his father in the conduct of the ranch; Gilbert P., engaged in a merchandise business in Chualar ; John, a resident of Watsonville, this state; Albion, also at home and assisting with the duties of the ranch; An -. nie, deceased; Jennie, the wife of Jacob Boysen, of Chualar; and Abby and Linda, both still at home with their parents. Politically Mr. Ander- son votes for the candidates of the Republican party.
JOHN FREITAS.
In all but in birth, John Freitas is an Ameri- can citizen, for while he was still a small child he was brought to the United States by his par- ents and has never known any other home. He was born on one of the Azores Islands in the north Atlantic ocean, May 13, 1871, this Portu- guese possession having been the home of the parents for many years. The vessel on which they sailed landed them at the port of Boston, and from there they made their way direct to California, of whose advantages they had heard glowing reports. Coming direct to Monterey county, the father found plenty of opportunity to employ his abilities as an agriculturist, and in Carmel valley he engaged in farming and stock-raising for many years.
The earliest recollections of John Freitas are of his boyhood days spent on the farm in Car- mel valley, where he assisted his father when not attending the short term of the village school in the vicinity of the home farm. With the close of his school days father and son united their efforts on the home place and for many years they labored amicably and profitably together. In 1898, however, the son set out on his own behalf, and coming to Spreckels, rented one hundred and forty acres on which he has
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since made a specialty of raising beets for the sugar factory in this vicinity. His product is of an especially fine quality and consequently is always in great demand. In addition to raising this vegetable he also deals in fine draft horses, having at the head of his stock a Percheron stallion valued at $3,600 which he imported from France.
Mr. Freitas' marriage united him with a na- tive daughter of California, his wife before her marriage being Miss Lottie Machado of Carmel valley. Four children have come to brighten their home, Louise, Grace, Roy and Inez, the two eldest attending the public school at Spreck- els. Fraternally Mr. Freitas is a member of the U. P. E. C.
CHARLES BADASCI.
In the canton of Ticino, Switzerland, Charles Badasci was born, January 1, 1863. Dairy farm- ing formed the means of support for their fam- ily, and in performing his share of the work Charles gained his first knowledge of the busi- ness. He was a young man of twenty years when, in 1883, he set out from his native land with California as his destination. The ocean voyage and the journey across the country to the Pacific coast was accomplished in due time. He finally reached Monterey county and at once found work on ranches in the country round about. For about five years he was content to remain in the employ of others, in the meantime learning the language and customs of this coun- try and also becoming familiar with the methods of ranching as conducted in this western coun- try.
In 1888, however, Mr. Badasci felt entirely competent to undertake a ranch on his own ac- count and took a lease on one thousand acres of land near Moss Landing, which he main- tained with success for sixteen years. In 1904, however, he disposed of his dairy and stock to his brother and located on his present property near Gonzales. This consists of two hundred acres of land well suited to dairy purposes, on which he maintains eighty cows of fine breed, the milk from which he manufactures into cheese on the ranch. On the land not used for dairy purposes or for raising hogs Mr. Badasci raises
large quantities of alfalfa, having ninety-six acres in this commodity. Until recently he also owned seven hundred and seventy acres in hill land, but he has disposed of all of this with the exception of one hundred acres, which he uses as pasture for his cattle.
Mr. Badasci was married in 1903 to Miss Hay Danini, a resident of Gonzales, where their mar- riage was celebrated.
CIPRIANO VALENZULA.
The truism that "in union there is strength" is brought to mind in noting the accomplishments of Martin Valenzula and his sons on the home- stead ranch near Gonzales, on which the father settled many years ago. He is a native of Cal- ifornia, his birth having occurred in Los Angeles in 1835, and his entire life has been spent in the Golden state. His marriage united him with a native daughter of the state, Miss Maria Rodri- guez, who was born in Santa Cruz, and eight children have been born to them. Named in the order of their birth, they are as follows: Cipriano, Fidel, Joseph, Frank, Henry, John, Maggie and Carrie, the latter the wife of Manuel Ruiz, of Gonzales. All of the children with the exception of the married daughter still make their home with their parents on the old homestead, where for so many years parents and children have worked harmoniously together, contented with the results of their labor and happy in their surroundings.
At the time of the birth of Cipriano Valenzula in 1869 the parents were making their home in Santa Cruz, Cal., but two years thereafter the family home was transferred to Monterey county, the father at that time, 1871, purchasing the property upon which he has since lived near Gonzales. When Cipriano became of school age he attended the district schools in the vicinity of Gonzales and gradually grew familiar with farm duties also in the meantime. Finally, as the eldest son of the family, he became his father's right hand man in the care and manage- ment of the property and much of the responsi- bility still devolves upon him, notwithstanding the fact that all of the other sons have their stipulated duties and perform them conscientious-
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ly. The ranch includes one hundred and forty- nine and three-quarters acres, all of which is kept in a high state of cultivation as the result of a thorough understanding of keeping the soil in a healthy and productive state. Aside from supplying the home needs with garden vegetables the land is devoted exclusively to raising grain, a commodity which finds a ready market at good prices.
PETER DANINI.
A combination of circumstances tending to make Monterey county an exceptional dairying country has been recognized and taken advan- tage of in a remarkable degree by the natives of Switzerland, where dairying has been brought to a fine art, and among those who have thus transferred their knowledge and ability and are taking advantage of the opportunities in Cali- fornia, mention belongs to Peter Danini. He was born in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland, in 1869, and was brought up in the vicinity of his birthplace, attending the public schools near his home and altogether passing a very unevent- ful boyhood. His father was a farmer and the practical training which he of necessity received as the son of a farmer was his principal stock in trade, when, as a young man of twenty years, he set out for the United States.
The year 1889 found Peter Danini taking leave of home and friends with the intention of establishing himself where he could make the most of his ability and knowledge, and having heard through fellow-countrymen of the super- ior advantages in California, he lost no time in reaching the Pacific coast after debarking at the eastern port. Going to San Luis Obispo county, he was successful in securing employ- ment on a dairy ranch near San Luis Obispo, a position which he held for six months, and which he gave up in order to establish a business of his own. Coming to Monterey county he leased a ranch of four hundred acres near Gonzales for the purpose of establishing a dairy, and that the undertaking was a wise one may be judged from the fact that he continued there uninterruptedly for eleven years. During this time he gained considerable practical experience in American methods of dairying and had also laid by means
sufficient to enable him to purchase land. This he did in 1900, when he purchased of Thomas Graves and Paul Bidache two hundred and nine acres in the Malarin district, which is conven- ient to the markets of Gonzales. This he main- tains as a dairy, having thirty cows in his herd, and in connection with his ranch he also manu- factures cheese. All of his stock is of the finest breed, and his product is therefore necessarily of the finest quality and in constant demand. Hay and grain sufficient to supply his own de- mands he raises on the ranch, and taken as a whole he has one of the most complete and well- equipped dairy ranches in this part of the coun- ty. In addition to the home ranch he also owns five valuable residence lots in Gonzales, all of which goes to prove his satisfaction with this part of California, both from a business view and as a desirable place to rear his family.
Mr. Danini's marriage occurred in 1897, unit- ing him with Miss Wilhelmina Dotta, and three sons have been born to them, Emil, Andre and Walter, all of whom are pupils in the Somavia district school. Mr. Danini takes a commend- able interest in the various plans which from time to time are promulgated for the upbuilding of his home community, no project of this char- acter ever failing for lack of his support or practical help. At this writing (1909) he is serving as a trustee of Somavia school district. Politically he is a Republican in his sympathies.
JOSEPH R. SILVEIRA.
There is probably no state in the Union that lays claim to a more cosmopolitan population than California, and among those now resident here who were formerly subject to the crown of Port- ugal, is Joseph R. Silveira, who for the past twenty years has operated ranches in Monterey county. Born on one of the Azores Islands, in the North Atlantic ocean, in 1856, he was reared and educated there, and there also he gained his first insight into agricultural life through assist- ing his father in the duties on the latter's farm.
Until he was seventeen years of age Joseph R. Silveira gave his father the benefit of his services, and at that age, in 1873, he determined to strike out in the world on his own behalf. The records
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
do not state whether he came to California en- tirely by the water route, or whether he landed on the eastern shore of the United States and thence came overland to the Pacific coast. It is known, however, that he located in Fresno, Cal., in 1873, and the same year entered into the sheep- raising business in that vicinity. At that time sheep could run at will over the vast ranges, but as settlements sprang up the ranges became more circumscribed, until finally sheep-raising became unprofitable. It was this circumstance that led Mr. Silveira to discontinue the business in 1889, at which time he located in Monterey county. However, he still owns his property in Fresno county, which he rents as pasture land to Miller & Lux. The property upon which he now re- sides lies in close proximity to the village of Blanco, and comprises one hundred and forty acres, the greater portion of which is sown to barley.
Mr. Silveira's marriage occurred in Salinas in 1889 and united him with Miss Vierra, a native of this county. Two children have been born to them, William, who is a student in the high school, and Mamie, who is being trained in a· convent in Salinas. Though Mr. Silveira notes very little difference between his native land and California in the matter of climate and produc- tions, he is not lacking in appreciation of the greater opportunities which this country has to offer, and he looks back with thankfulness to the fact that a kind Fate led him to take up his life in the New World, and especially in California.
PAUL FANOE.
Since his arrival in Monterey county almost forty years ago Mr. Fanoe has witnessed the steady progress of the country in agricultural development, commercial importance and educa- tional interests. He was born April 26, 1840, in Denmark, and reared on a farm. Later he was apprenticed to the trade of a bricklayer and for ten years followed that occupation prior to leav- ing his native country.
Reports from friends in California concerning the opportunities offered by the west led Mr. Fanoe to come to the United States and in 1870, at the age of thirty years, he landed in California.
Proceeding direct to Monterey county he worked for wages on a ranch near Salinas and for five years continued as a farm hand. Meanwhile his brother had come a year after his own arrival and the two formed a partnership in leasing land and raising grain. After a year Paul sold out and bought the holdings of a tenant on the Hartnell ranch. With a partner he cultivated seven hun- dred and fifty acres and for a time raised wheat, but later found greater success in raising oats and barley.
In connection with his brother in 1894 Mr. Fanoe bought for $45 an acre three hundred and fifty acres of farming land in the vicinity of Gonzales, and since then the brother has occupied the ranch, Mr. Fanoe remaining at his old home- stead, which since 1907 he has rented to others. Since becoming a citizen of the United States he has voted the Republican ticket.
WALTER R. TAVERNETTI.
Since 1869 the name of Tavernetti has been associated with California, and especially with Monterey county, whither several brothers came over from Switzerland and established the name. One of these brothers was Vincent Tavernetti, whose accomplishments along agricultural lines have meant much to the community in which he has made his home for so many years. Though he is not as actively occupied as in former years when the necessity was greater, he prefers ac- tivity to idleness and in assisting the ranchers of the county with his threshing outfit he finds his time sufficiently occupied.
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