USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume II > Part 17
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Temple, where he operated three stores until 1922, since which time he has been in the Herrscher building at the corner of Washington avenue and Ward street. He occupies the first, second and third floors of this building and carries a large and well selected stock of groceries, delicatessen goods, vegetables, fresh and salt meats, household goods, furniture, stoves, bakery goods, confectionery, fruits, linoleum, curtains, caskets, crockery goods, and in fact everything required in the furnishing and operating of a home. He has a free delivery truck and employs five assistants in the store.
In 1901, in Freeport, Illinois, Mr. Hirschmann was united in marriage to Mrs. Olga Lienau, who was born in Wheatland, Iowa, but was living in Freeport at the time of her marriage.
In his political views Mr. Hirschmann is a democrat and he has always taken a good citizen's interest in public affairs. He has been active in his support of all local interests and is a persistent and effective booster for San Leandro. He is a member of the Foresters of America and the U. P. E. C. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church and the basis of his religious belief is the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. He is a reader, a thinker and a philosopher, and says he can never think as clearly as when engaged in a game of solitaire. He is generous and charitable, "others" and "otherdom" being words of profound meaning to him, and no worthy cause appeals to him in vain. His varied ex- periences have given him a broad outlook on life, and he is characterized by a spirit of tolerance and good will. He enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout his section of the county, and all who know him hold him in the highest esteem for his genuine worth.
H. MORTON SPRINGER
H. Morton Springer, who is rendering capable and satisfactory service as under-sheriff of Alameda county, for which position he is well qualified, was born in Oroville, Butte county, California, December 24, 1886, and is a son of Benjamin and Nina Bernard (Morton) Springer. His father was a pioneer of California, having come to this state in young manhood, and during his early years here was employed as a blacksmith at the mines, later following that line of work inde- pendently to the time of his death, which occurred in 1910.
H. M. Springer secured his educational training in the public and high schools of Oroville and was then appointed to a position in the postoffice there, in which he remained for six years. He next went to work for a lumber company, having charge of accounts, and during the following eleven years was office manager for the Alameda Sugar Company. On the 1st of July, 1927, he was appointed under- sheriff of Alameda county and is discharging the duties of that position in a manner that has gained for him the high regard of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Springer was united in marriage to Miss Rose Grugan, who also was born and reared at Oroville, and they are the parents of a son, H. Morton, Jr. In politics, Mr. Springer is an ardent republican and has been active in local public affairs. In Masonry he has attained the fourteenth degree of the Scottish Rite, and belongs also to the Eastern Star. He is a member of the Benevolent Protec-
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tive Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekah and the Native Sons of the Golden West. A man of sterling character and strong indi- viduality, he has attained an enviable place in public esteem and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of Alameda county.
DAVID URY
The history of San Leandro and that of the Ury family are pretty much one and the same thing, for when David Ury located here in 1856 the town was still in its early stage of development and during the subsequent years he or his de- scendants have been active and influential in the commercial and civic affairs of the community. Mr. Ury established the first meat market here and for over seventy years it has stood among the leading business concerns of San Leandro, always enjoying the confidence of the public and commanding its full share of patronage.
David Ury was born in Alsace-Lorraine, under the French flag, about 1828, and was given the advantage of a good education, acquiring a speaking knowledge of several languages, including French, German, Spanish, Mexican and English. On coming to the United States he first located in New Orleans, Louisana, where he remained until 1855, when he came to California. He lived in San Francisco one year and in 1856 located in San Leandro, with which city he remained closely identified up to the time of his death, which occurred July 25, 1900, when he was seventy-two years of age. In April, 1856, he established the first meat market here and soon built up a good trade. Being able to speak Spanish was an advantage to him and among those to whom he sold meat were members of the notorious Muri- etta gang of bandits but whose banditry was unknown to Mr. Ury at that time. They lived at Fandango, which is the present site of the extinct village of Mexico, near Livermore. At one time he sold a sixty-dollar suit of clothing to one of the "dons" belonging to the Murietta gang, selling it on credit or "manana" as the Spanish say. A month later, to Mr. Ury's possible surprise, this person handed to him three twenty-dollar gold pieces in full payment of the account. When Mr. Ury first started in business his only source of meat supply were the wild Spanish cattle, the meat from which had a wild, deer-like taste, there being no high-grade cattle of any breed in this locality then. Meat refrigeration was unknown, and the first carcass handled by Mr. Ury spoiled before he had it all sold. However, he kept pace with the times and when ice came into use here as preservative of foods he was the first to install a refrigerator for commercial purposes in San Leandro. On March 14, 1857, Mr. Ury received a deed to the property now occu- pied by the market, paying two hundred dollars for the lot, which is fifty by one hundred and twenty-five feet in size, the deed being signed by Juana M. Estudillo and six other Estudillo heirs. This was one of the earliest business structures in the town, and it is worthy of note that the first house built in San Leandro in 1851 is still standing, being located across from the bridge back of Ford's place. When the county seat was moved from Alvarado to San Leandro the principal thorough- fare here was Davis street, Kanacka Davis, after whom the street was named, hav-
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ing married into the Estudillo family. In those days public hangings took place in the jailyard in the courthouse square. On October 21, 1868, a terrible earth- quake occurred, totally destroying the old courthouse, of which not even a chimney was left standing, while the corners of the old Webber House also fell. In the destruction of the courthouse J. W. Joslyn, deputy county clerk, was killed. Flag poles and other tall objects swayed until their tops almost touched the ground, while at a number of places cracks ten feet wide were opened up in the ground, some of these chasms draining the creeks so that their beds were dry in a few hours.
David Ury took a keen interest in the development and progress of his com- munity and gave of his time and influence in the advancement of measures for the general good of the people. He rendered effective service as a member of the board of city trustees and was for many years a member of the old volunteer fire department. He was kind and generous in disposition, his integrity of char- acter and square dealing commending him to the confidence of his fellowmen, and he was regarded as one of the progressive and dependable men of his community.
In February, 1857, in San Francisco, Mr. Ury was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Levy, of that city, and they at once started housekeeping in San Leandro. The citizens of the town tendered them a grand reception and ball at the old Estu- dillo House, which at that time was being run by A. Rettig, a Frenchman. Mrs. Ury proved a true helpmate to her husband, encouraging and assisting him in every possible way, while in the circles in which she moved she was deservedly popular because of her gracious and tactful manner and her excellent personal qualities. Her death occurred April 23, 1899.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ury were born eight children, namely : Sol, who, at the age of seventy years resides in San Leandro, married Miss Gertrude Marshall and they became the parents of four children, Stella, Sadie, Ruth and Fannie. Felix, who is deceased, was married but left no children. Aaron, who on the death of his father, was made owner of the Ury meat market in copartnership with his sister Sarah, married Miss Elizabeth Seligman and they became the parents of six chil- dren, David, Fannie, Evelyn, Adrion, Gilbert and Joseph. Sarah, who is a member of the firm of A. Ury & Company, operating the business established by her father, resides in the old Ury home, of which she is the sole owner, and she enjoys a wide reputation for her hospitality and friendliness. Jeanette, deceased, was the wife of W. J. Wallace. Joseph died in 1914, at the age of forty-eight years, unmarried. Isaac B. is manager of the San Leandro Meat Market, owned by A. Ury & Com- pany. Rose is the wife of Axel Peterson of Hayward, California, and they have a son, Herbert. Isaac Ury, who resides on Washington avenue in San Leandro, married Mrs. Grace Bacon, a widow and the mother of two children by her first marriage, and to them has been born a daughter, Phyllis, who is attending the University of California. Miss Sarah Ury has been actively interested in local civic affairs and is a past noble grand of the Daughters of Rebekah. Sol Ury, now the oldest living white boy born in San Leandro, is a meat cutter by trade and is well and favorably known throughout this section of the country. He is intimately familiar with the history of this locality and two years ago wrote an interesting and valuable histor- ical article on San Leandro for the Oakland Post Enquirer. He served as a mem- ber of the old volunteer fire department. The members of the Ury family have
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always stood among San Leandro's enterprising and public-spirited citizens and have taken a just pride in the advancement of their community to an honored place among the best towns of Alameda county. "Live and Let Live" has been their motto and no movement for the betterment of community welfare has lacked for their hearty support. For these reasons, as well for their upright and sincere lives, they command the genuine regard and good will of all who know them.
EDMUND DE FREITAS
The name of de Freitas is well known throughout Alameda county, the fam- ily having been established here in an early day, and it is now worthily represented by Frank L. de Freitas, who is numbered among the leading members of the bar of this county, his law offices being in the Easton building in Oakland. Mr. de Freitas was born in Flores, Azores islands, on the 28th of February, 1860, and is a son of Frank J. and Mary E. de Freitas. On coming to the United States, the family located in Alameda county, California, where the parents spent the re- mainder of their lives, both dying here at the age of eighty-five years.
Frank L. de Freitas attended school to some extent in the Azores ; continued his education in the public schools of Oakland, and then entered Heald's Business Col- lege in San Francisco, from which he was graduated in June, 1884. During the following two years he was employed as a bookkeeper in a cigar factory and then went to San Diego, where he was similarly employed for twenty-two years. Mean- while he had been devoting his spare time to the study of law and in 1904, after taking the bar examination, was admitted to practice. He then returned to Oak- land, where he has practiced his profession continuously to the present time. Years of conscientious work have brought increase of practice and reputation, and Mr. de Freitas has long been regarded as one of the dependable and trustworthy lawyers of this section of the state, having been connected as counsel with many of the most important cases tried in the courts of this and neighboring counties.
Frank L. de Freitas was united in marriage to Miss Rose Crabb and to them have been born two children, namely: Mabel, who is the wife of O. L. Brillhart, manager of the Merchants Credit Association of Oakland, and Edmund. Frank L. de Freitas has been a lifelong supporter of the republican party and has at all times shown a deep interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the U. P. E. C. and the State Bar Association. A man of sterling character, marked individuality and friendly manner, he has a wide acquain- tance throughout this section of the state and commands the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
Edmund de Freitas was born in San Francisco, September 2, 1892, and be- came a resident of Oakland in 1904. He attended the public schools, graduating from the Franklin grammar school in 1912 and from the Oakland high school in June, 1916. He then entered the University of California, from which he was graduated, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in May, 1920, and, continuing his studies in the law school of that university, was granted the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence in May, 1922. He has since been associated with his father in the
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practice of law, with offices in the Easton building, Oakland, and has won recog- nition as an able and successful practitioner.
Edmund de Freitas was married October 15, 1924, to Miss Alice Jane Nielsen, of Piedmont, a daughter of Captain and Mrs. E. H. Nielsen, the former being a well known canner and packer of this city. Mr. de Freitas is a republican in poli- tics and is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Pi Kappa Alpha and Phi Alpha Delta college fraternities. He is a veteran of the World war, having on his enlistment gone into training at the machine gun replacement camp at Au- gusta, Georgia. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of the Seventy-third Company of the Sixth Group Machine Gun Training Center, and from June, 1918, to June, 1919 served as machine gun instructor.
THOMAS FERRO
Thomas Ferro has gained a well merited reputation thoroughout Oakland as an enterprising business man and a good citizen, who has been loyal to his adopted country and is worthy of the respect which is accorded him by his fellowmen. Mr. Ferro was born in Italy on the 2nd of May, 1889, and is a son of Nicholas and Bessie (Perrata) Ferro. The former is a stonemason and both parents are still living in Italy, but expect to come to Oakland soon.
Thomas Ferro was educated in the public schools of Italy and then learned the trade of stonemason under his father. He came to the United States when seven- teen years of age, locating in Oakland, where he secured employment at the Dowd Pump Works. He remained there until 1909, when he became connected with the Oakland Scavenger Association, of which he has been president since 1915. There are one hundred and eighty-three persons interested in the association and two hundred and twenty men are in its employ.
Mr. Ferro was united in marriage to Miss Mary Perrata, who was born and reared in Oakland, and they are the parents of three children, Norma, Thomas Jr., and Donald. Mr. Ferro is a republican in his political views and has shown a deep interest in the general welfare of his city and county. He is a member of the Bene- volent Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose and various Italian societies. A lover of outdoor life, he is very fond of hunting, in which sport he frequently indulges. He is friendly and affable in manner and stands high in the regard of his associates and friends.
JOSEPH E. FRANCIS
Joseph E. Francis has long been recognized as one of the leading plumbing ex- perts of Oakland, and in his present position as chief plumbing inspector for the city is rendering valuable service to his community. A native of Oakland, he was born on the 24th of March, 1881, and is a son of Joseph Thomas and Mary (Cun- ningham) Francis. The father who was a seaman, came to this state in 1877.
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Subsequently he quit the sea and engaged in general contracting, coming to Oak- land in 1879, and here living until his death, which occurred in 1909. His wife, who is a native of San Francisco, still resides in Oakland.
Joseph E. Francis attended the public schools and the Oakland high school, and then learned the plumbing trade, which he followed until 1914, when he was appointed chief plumbing and sanitary inspector, which position he held for eighteen months. He then resumed his trade, which he followed until 1920, when he was appointed deputy plumbing inspector of the city, and in July, 1927, was made chief plumbing inspector. His thorough technical knowledge and the high standard which he always maintained in his own work have given him strong qualifications for the responsible position which he holds and his record has gained for him the respect and confidence of all who know him. He possesses marked talent along mechanical lines and has invented and patented a number of articles relating to plumbing, all of which are in demand by the trade.
Mr. Francis was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Comiel Nicol, who was born and reared in Oakland, and they are the parents of three children, Adele Severine, Raymond Kenneth and Dorothy Isabel. Mr. Francis gives his political allegiance to the republican party and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He gives close attention to the conduct of his department, in which he has made an enviable record, and is regarded as one of the most loyal and efficient members of the city administration.
T. L. CHRISTIANSON
When T. L. Christianson, who is successfully engaged in the practice of law in Oakland, entered upon his professional career he was unusually well prepared with a practical knowledge of certain outside subjects which has stood him in good stead as an attorney, and today he is regarded as one of the most astute and depend- able members of the Alameda county bar. Mr. Christianson was born in Oakland, California, on the 16th of February, 1880, a son of Captain H. O. and Karen (Thompson) Christianson, who were natives of Norway. His father was a sea- faring man, being a master mariner, and was captain of the "Melpomone," which at that time was the largest steel vessel in the world. He came to California in 1876 and his death occurred in Oregon in 1893. He was survived a number of years by his widow, who died in Oakland in 1901.
T. L. Christianson spent his boyhood years in Washington county, Oregon, where he received a country school education. When seventeen years of age he returned to Oakland, where he attended the public schools and night schools, and later studied dentistry. He was employed for a time as a clerk in a drug store and during that period also studied medicine under the direction of several physicians, thus gaining knowledge which has been invaluable to him in his legal practice. He made such progress along that line and showed such ability that he was appointed assistant to the surgeon-general under Governor Pardee. While holding that posi- tion he took up the study of law and later entered the law department of Valparaiso University, at Valparaiso, Indiana, and completed his last year of law study in the Central Law School of Indianapolis, from which he was graduated with the degree
T. L. CHRISTIANSON
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of Bachelor of Laws, standing near the head of his class. After taking the bar examination, he was admitted to practice in the courts of Indiana, and was later admitted to practice before the department of the interior in 1913. For two years he was associated with the law firm of Holtzman & Coleman in Indianapolis, after which he returned to the coast and was admitted to practice in this state, opening a law office in the Plaza building in Oakland. He has been more than ordinarily successful and as a patent lawyer has no superiors in this section, being at this time the California representative of Samuel Herrick, the eminent patent attorney of Washington, D. C.
On May 28, 1907, Mr. Christianson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth L. Spencer, who was born in Denver, Colorado, and is a daughter of Joseph Spencer, now connected with the water company at Burlingame, California. Her grandfather, who was of English descent, was a prominent physician of New York city. Mrs. Christianson died January 2, 1919, leaving five children, Lawrence, Blaine, Elizabeth and Loraine, twins, and Primavera. Mr. Christianson is a mem- ber of the Medico-Legal Society of New York. A man of scholarly tastes and wide learning, his ability is recognized by all who come in contact with him and his resourcefulness, determination and sound judgment have enabled him to realize a splendid measure of success in the courts of California, in which he has fre- quently appeared in important cases. Personally, he is a man of cordial and agree- able manner, well liked by all who know him, and he commands the respect of his colleagues and the confidence of the public.
RICHARD M. HAMB
For the past seventeen years Richard M. Hamb has been numbered among the efficient and loyal employees of the city of Oakland, and his recent appointment as executive secretary to the city auditor was a well deserved promotion, for he has proven a man of ability, and dependable in every position in which he has served. Mr. Hamb was born in Oakland, on the 28th of April, 1875, and is a son of William J. and Margaret (Cosgrove) Hamb. His father came to California, by way of Cape Horn, soon after the great gold rush, but later returned east, where he remained until 1874. In that year he again came to this state, making the journey by way of the isthmus of Panama, and for several years was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Later he assisted in the construction of the narrow gauge railroad built by James Fair, and afterwards became a member of the Oakland fire department, with which he served for many years, or until re- tired on a pension. He died in 1925, at the age of eighty-six years, and his wife passed away in 1915.
Richard M. Hamb secured his early education in the public schools of Oak- land, which he supplemented by a university extension course and attendance at business college and night school. He then taught in the night school without pay for a short time, and later turned his attention to the wood-working trade, which he thoroughly learned in all of its branches. For several years he was in charge of plants for various companies and in 1910 entered the employ of the city of Oak-
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land. He was in the revenue and finance department, having charge of the tax office until 1927, when he was advanced to his present position as executive sec- retary to the city auditor.
Mr. Hamb was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Moore, a native of this state and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Moore, and they now have two children, Richard C. and Mabel G. In his political adherency Mr. Hamb is a republican and has always shown an active and effective interest in local public affairs. He was elected a freeholder and helped to frame the charter under which the city of Oakland now operates. He spent much study and time in working out the retire- ment system of the city, which is now the basis for the pensioning of retired em- ployees. He has long been an active member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, of which he is now a grand trustee; is a member of the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks and served for twelve years as president of the Employees Association of Oakland. Every enterprise tending to better the community or advance the public welfare receives his hearty support and he is generally recognized as one of the city's most progressive and public-spirited men, commanding the con- fidence and respect of all who know him.
A. C. JENSEN
Alameda county has never neglected its people whose misfortunes have made them dependent on the community or whose physical infirmities have disqualified them from earning a livelihood. The county now owns and operates three insti- tutions of a benevolent nature, each of which is specific in its functions, though all three coordinate in their operations and mutually promote their general program of relief and helpfulness. These institutions are the Fairmont Hospital, located on the Foothill boulevard, about three miles east of San Leandro and about ten miles from the center of Oakland, which cares for the chronic and convalescent cases and the indigent poor of the county; the Highland Hospital, at Fourteenth street and Valacito place, Oakland, which takes care of all acute medical and surgical cases, except tubercular ; and the Arroyo Hospital, located five miles beyond Lum- mon, which is a sanitarium for tubercular cases in the early stages.
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