USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume II > Part 22
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In 1907 Mr. Johnson came to California and engaged in the contracting busi- ness at Santa Rosa, Sonoma county, where he erected the Luther Burbank residence and several houses on his ranch, also building the hall for the Native Sons of the Golden West in Santa Rosa and a number of fine residences. In 1908 Mr. Johnson came to Oakland and erected the Methodist Episcopal church at Thirty-eighth street and Telegraph avenue, after which he built a large number of homes in Pied- mont, Berkeley and Oakland. In recent years he has devoted his activities largely to building and selling homes, and has been particularly successful in the develop- ment of Melrose Gardens, where he made the record of forty homes sold within a period of five months. Melrose Gardens, located in East Oakland, including Ply- mouth and adjacent streets and extending from Seventy-eighth to Seventy-ninth avenues, is one of the most attractive residence sections in northern Alameda county. Within the past two years Louis Johnson & Sons have built and sold more than one hundred and thirty houses of five or six rooms here. Not only are the homes honestly 'built and thoroughly modern in every respect, some of them having cement base- ments, but the neighborhood is in keeping with the homes, and every sale has been to a desirable purchaser. A feature of each home includes the built-in bookcases in the mantel of each living room, portable or built-in buffets in each dining room, finely appointed breakfast nooks, ironing board, special cupboards, ice boxes and ant-proof cellers. Beautifully wrought iron fixtures are installed in each living room and dining room, while linoleum is laid in each kitchen, breakfast nook and laundry, excepting those laundries in cement basements. Particular attention is given to the harmonizing of the wall paper of each room with its interior finish. Each home is equipped with a late type Hoyt automatic storage water heater, thus insuring an adequate supply of hot water at all times. The homes are ideally situ- ated, being but four blocks from East Fourteenth street, and are thus close to stores, schools and transportation, yet far enough removed from traffic and noise to be ideal for children.
Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Annie Kolen, who is a native of
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Norway, and to them have been born six children, Edward and Arthur, who are partners with their father in the firm of Louis Johnson & Sons; Walter, Howard, Mrs. Mary Anderson and Mrs. Agnes Folsos. Edward is the sales manager and the architect, and is a progressive and enterprising business man. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1896, and was educated in the public schools of Santa Rosa, Berkeley and Oakland. He possesses the faculty of giving to the homes which he designs a distinctive individuality which readily appeals to the tastes of prospective buyers. The cost of the homes built by the company ranges from five thousand six hundred to twenty-seven thousand dollars. The company belongs to the Builders Exchange and is numbered among the solid and dependable building concerns of this section of the state. Louis Johnson possesses exceptional judgment in practical matters, is a man of sterling qualities and has shown a genuine interest in the welfare of his community, while all who have come in contact with him hold him in high regard. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World and is a trustee of Trinity Lutheran church.
W. W. DIXON
W. W. Dixon, of Oakland, has rendered a distinctive service to the home builders of the East Bay district as a designer of houses, displaying an originality of ideas and an accurate knowledge of the service requirements of a home that have gained for him an extensive and satisfied clientele. Mr. Dixon was born in San Francisco, California, on the 19th of November, 1883, and secured his educa- tional training in the public schools of Oakland, to which city his family had re- moved. He took up architectural drawing, studying in the office of A. W. Smith, of Oakland, and with Bliss & Faville, of San Francisco, and during subsequent years he has devoted his attention to the planning of homes. From 1922 to 1926 Mr. Dixon also published a magazine, called The Home Designer and Garden Beautiful, and later edited and published the largest illustrated book on small homes ever issued in this country, it having a ready sale throughout the United States. The book gives illustrations of homes of various types and designs, with floor space and plans drawn to scale. He maintains a "House Plan Service," including a complete line of stock plans, and comprising a complete service for the builder. Mr. Dixon maintains that the same selling principles must be applied to houses that are used in any commercial business. Features that attract a buyer should be incor- porated in the plans. The exteriors should be so designed that they will appeal to the prospective home builder-little features that suggest and give the character and feeling of the larger, more expensive home should also be used. In other words, his central idea is to get away from the boxy, unattractive, carpenter-de- signed house, and give the public what it wants-something better-and there will be no trouble in disposing of houses at a handsome profit. For years Mr. Dixon has been identified with the most successful speculative builders of small homes and his designs have sold homes by the hundreds. He has designed and planned over three hundred homes built by R. C. Hillen in Oakland, the Spanish, Italian, Norman and Swiss chalet types being frequently used, and the Hillen houses have
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attracted much attention and favorable comment throughout the East Bay district. Mr. Dixon's principal clients are building and loan societies, small banks, tract development companies and lumber companies, and his designs have been success- fully used in Florida, Texas and other states. Mr. Dixon possesses the happy faculty of becoming personally interested in the planning of any home for which his services have been engaged, mere routine performance of a contract not satisfy- ing him, and this is undoubtedly one of the main elements of his success, for his pleased and satisfied customers have been his best advertisement. Mr. Dixon has been greatly interested in the development and improvement of the section of the county in which he lives and for which he has been a loyal and effective booster. He enjoys a wide acquaintance and commands the confidence and respect of all who know him.
JOHN A. AZEVEDO, M. D.
Among the representative physicians and surgeons of Alameda county is Dr. John A. Azevedo, of Hayward, who is also rendering effective service as county health officer. He has demonstrated his mastery of his profession, in the practice of which he has met with success, and he commands the respect and confidence of all who know him. Dr. Azevedo was born in Sacramento, California, on the 2nd of June, 1894, and is a son of Jouquin and Rosalia Azevedo, who were natives of the Azores islands, where they were married. When a young man, Mr. Azevedo came to the United States, in 1853, locating in the mining fields of northern California, where he labored for awhile but later turned his attention to the vegetable business. Eventually he returned to the Azores, where he was married and then engaged in the real estate business for a short time. On again coming to California, he located at Freeport, where he bought land and engaged in farming. In partnership with a cousin, he established the Eagle Winery, at Sacramento, which they operated for thirty-seven years. He resided at Sacramento until his death, passing away three years ago, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. He gave his political support to the republican party.
John A. Azevedo lived in Sacramento from his birth until 1911, attending the Brothers College. He then entered the high school department of St. Mary's College, at Oakland, and was graduated in 1913, after which he matriculated in the medical school of Leland Stanford University, from which he received the degree of A. B. in 1918. In 1917 he enlisted in the Medical Corps of the United States Army for service in the World war and was stationed at Base Hospital 47, at Fremont, California. Later he was transferred to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and in June, 1918, was sent to France, where he was assigned to the army hospital at Beaune, Côte d'Or, where he served eight months. In May, 1919, he returned to the United States and was honorably discharged, after which he resumed his medical studies graduating with degree of M. D. in 1923. He served one year as interne in the San Francisco General hospital and for one year was associated with his brother, Joseph L., at Hayward. In 1925 he was appointed county health officer for Alameda county and is still filling that position in a very efficient and satisfac-
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tory manner. He is a man of earnest purpose, is conscientious in the discharge of his duties, and excellent results follow his efforts.
In January, 1920, Dr. Azevedo was united in marriage to Miss Pearl S. Schell, who was born in Blue Canyon, Placer county, California, and is a daughter of Perry and Margaret (Logan) Schell, early settlers of that locality. Dr. and Mrs. Azevedo have two children, John, Jr., and Robert. In his political views the Doctor is independent. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, the Woodmen of the World, the Lions Club, the American Legion and the I. D. E. S., of which organization he is supreme medical examiner. He has led an active and useful life, is devoted to his professional work, and his record has gained for him a high standing among the leading physicians of Alameda county, so that he is well worthy of the high place which he holds in the esteem of his fellowmen.
SAN LEANDRO GRAMMAR SCHOOLS
The city of San Leandro enjoys a high reputation for its excellent educational system, providing the best facilities for the grade pupils, having three thoroughly modern grammar school buildings, splendidly equipped. These schools, under the capable supervision of Professor W. O. Davies, are maintained at a high standard of efficiency. The Lincoln school, at Hepburn and Clark streets, with an attendance of six hundred pupils, has the following teachers: W. O. Davies, supervising prin- cipal, Mina Teregellas, Alfred Ames, Marguerite Perry, June Willis Fontes, Ethel Madsen, Marion West, Alice Arnold, Dorothy Jeffery, Margaret De Cou, Rena Kenney, Corinne Rose, Pearl Liles, Lottie Righter, Madge L. Whelan and Dolores Mote. The Mckinley school, at East Fourteenth and Esterbrook streets, with an attendance of three hundred and eighty pupils, is taught by Andrew Cartwright, vice principal, Leta O. Massey, Gertrude Knudsen, Helen La Shelle Stoaner, Daisy Righter, Alys Claire Garcia, Evelyn Forsyth, Amy Banta, Dorothea Helms, Mar- jorie Tuttle. The teachers of the Washington school, at Dutton and Breed avenues, with an attendance of seven hundred and twenty pupils, are as follows : Roscoe M. Panta, vice principal, Iantha J. Cooke, Gladys Avan, Mary Wells, Della Pursell Whitaker, Nellie Bunker, Cecile Creede, Isabella R. La Shelle, Mildred Ros- borough, Frances Michael, Margaret T. Leite, Myrtle Ware Parker, Pearl Ten Eyck Simmen, Cora E. Nunn, Grace F. Gronger, Edna Simonsen, Dorothy Schauf- ler, Alice Freed. Special teachers are : Eva Cawley, penmanship ; Inez E. Hubbard, music; Ella Swanson, art; Charles C. Way, band; Marguerite W. Brown, secre- tary; John Perry, head custodian; Manuel Perry, Lincoln custodian ; Frank Bento, Lincoln custodian ; Frank Avillan, Mckinley custodian ; Fred V. Scott, Washington custodian. These schools provide instruction in kindergarten and the first six grades. The buildings are large and substantially built and in their arrangement and appointments are admirably adapted to their use. The following comprise the board of trustees : William Lucio, clerk ; Lloyd Stagner, trustee ; Lester F. Sterner, trustee ; W. O. Davies, district superintendent.
W. O. Davies was born in Tuolumne county. His father, the late W. D.
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Davies, who had mined gold successfully in the southern mines, made several trips to California. On one of the first of these trips he served as second mate on a sailing vessel, which stopped at Rio De Janeiro, and from that port sailed around the Horn to California, where, in 1849, he joined the rush to the gold mines.
W. O. Davies has shown a commendable interest in local civic affairs and has been active in matters affecting the progress of his community. He served dur- ing 1925-6 as a member of the San Leandro board of trustees and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Cordial and friendly in manner, he has a wide ac- quaintance and commands to a marked degree the confidence and good will of his fellowmen, who appreciate his splendid educational work, as well as his genuine worth as a man and citizen.
KARL A. JOHANSON
Karl A. Johanson, classed among the leading home builders of Alameda county, passed through a number of years of very discouraging conditions before getting a foothold in the business world and the success which is now crowning his efforts has been won through persistent and unremitting effort. He was born on a farm in Sweden on the 14th of August, 1884, and secured his education in the public schools. He served a three years' apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, being employed as er- rand boy the first year, at shop work during the second year, and on outside build- ing work during the third year, and on the completion of his apprenticeship was regarded as an expert workman, receiving a diploma as a journeyman carpenter. In 1903, when nineteen years old, Mr. Johanson emigrated to the United States and went direct to South Dakota, where he was employed as a farm hand. Later he worked in the lumber woods of Minnesota, and in the spring of 1904 went to Superior, Wisconsin, where he was employed until the following winter, when he went to Drummond, Wisconsin, where he obtained work in a sawmill, receiving fourteen cents an hour for an eleven-hour day. Later he was in Duluth, Minnesota, and afterward in Port Arthur, where he worked in a logging camp, receiving twenty-five dollars a month and his board. When that job was completed, he was out of work and had no money, so he went to work as a railroad section hand, swinging pick and shovel for one dollar and a quarter a day. Not satisfied with that line of work, he went to Minnesota, where he secured work at the carpenter trade, receiving two dollars and a half a day. In the fall of 1906 he went to Seattle, Washington, where he remained for fifteen years, during the greater part of which time he was engaged in building operations. He saved money and took a six-months trip back to his native land. In 1920 Mr. Johanson came to Oakland and engaged in the building business, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful, having built over three hundred houses in this district, one hundred and seven having been built by him in one year, and he is now regarded as one of the leading contractors and most reliable business men in this locality. Recently he went on a second trip to Sweden and Europe, taking his family with him, and had a very enjoyable visit and sightseeing trip.
Mr. Johanson was united in marriage to Miss Janny Lundstrone, a native of
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Sweden, and they are the parents of five children, Lilly, Waldo, Hubert, Karl and Vivian. Mr. Johanson is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Swedish Society. He has richly earned the success which has come to him and his excellent qualities have gained for him the respect and good will of all who know him.
SAN LEANDRO STEAM AND FRENCH LAUNDRY COMPANY
For more than twenty years the people of San Leandro have patronized the Mirande laundry, now operated under the name of the San Leandro Steam and French Laundry Company, and the fact that during these years the business of the establishment has enjoyed a steady and continuous growth is sufficient evidence of the high quality of the work turned out. This business was established here in 1905 by J. B. Mirande, who is a native of France, from which country he came to the United States in young manhood. He opened the French Laundry, which, through his painstaking efforts and careful management, proved a successful venture, and as he prospered he added to the equipment, keeping always in view the fact that satisfactory service should be the first consideration. In 1924 he erected the present building at 251 Ward street, the first floor of which is occupied by the laundry, while he utilizes the upper floor for residence purposes. After carry- ing the business on alone for many years, he took his two older sons into partner- ship and the enterprise is now largely operated by them. They do a general laundry business, though specializing in gentlemen's and fancy hand work, rough and dry wash and hotel work. The laundry is sanitary in every respect and the business is operated along modern and up-to-date lines.
In 1901, in San Francisco, Mr. Mirande was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hauret, also a native of France, and they now have three sons: Frank A., born July 12, 1903; Lucien R., June 13, 1904 ; and Alfred George, April 13, 1921. The sons have received their educational training in the public schools of San Leandro and the two first named are now devoting their efforts to the laundry, in the man- agement of which they have shown sound judgment and great energy. Mr. Mirande is a republican in his political views and is a loyal and devoted citizen of his adopted country, winning a high place in the esteem and good will of his fellow- men. Frank Mirande is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and he and his brother are deservedly popular throughout their community.
GUS STEPHENS
Gus Stephens, who owns and operates the popular Stephens' De Luxe Grill in San Leandro, has had wide and varied experience along his special line of busi- ness and the success which is now his is but the legitimate reward of his earnest and effective efforts to provide the best service to his patrons. A native of Greece, he was born on the 25th of February, 1893, and is a son of George and Rilles Stephens, the latter still living in that country. The father, who died in 1926, was
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a well-to-do farmer in Greece, owning five thousand acres of land, and also gave considerable attention to raising livestock. To him and his wife were born three children: Polanika, who is married and still lives in Greece; Gus; and Stelos, who lived in this country and was a soldier of the United States in France during the World war but died on Easter Sunday, 1927.
Gus Stephens obtained a good education in his native land and is an accom- plished linguist, being able to read, write and speak the Greek, French, Arabian and English languages. When eleven years of age, he went to Cairo, Egypt, where for three years he lived with an uncle, who was engaged in business there, and then returned to his home in Greece. In 1907, when fourteen years of age, he came alone to the United States, landing at New York city in July. He went to Reading, Penn- sylvania, where he made his home with a cousin and attended the public schools. However, in 1910 he went to Baltimore, Maryland, where he obtained work as a waiter in the Belvidere Hotel, where he remained three years. In the meantime he had become a cook and on leaving there he went to New York city. where he was employed as assistant cook in the Astoria and Plaza Hotels. From there he went to Chicago, Illinois, and worked as a waiter in the Blackstone Hotel. A year later he went to Canada and for a time was employed in the leading hotels in Montreal, Quebec, Ontario, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver, and was also in the dining car service on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. In 1914 he returned to New York York city and there served as chef until 1916, when he went to Detroit, Michigan. where he engaged in business on his own account. In this venture conditions were against him, for soon after he started out a number of the automobile fac- tories, including the great Ford plant, shut down and a period of business depres- sion followed. Mr. Stephens next went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he re- mained only one week, and thereafter he traveled extensively, visiting Dallas, Houston, Ft. Worth, San Antonio and El Paso, Texas, was in old Mexico, and from there went to Tucson, Fairbanks, Prescott and Yuma, New Mexico, and thence to Los Angeles, being in the latter city at the time of the Elks' convention, during which he was employed as a cook at the Ambassador Hotel. After two months, Mr. Stephens went to Santa Barbara, where he visited during the summer vacation period. For a short time he was at Paso Robles and also at San Fran- cisco, but did not like the latter city, and went on to Vallejo. Later, locating in Oakland, he worked in a restaurant about three months, and in December, 1921, came to San Leandro and opened the San Leandro Grill. After running that place three years, he sold out and returned to Oakland, where he lived until 1924, when he again came to San Leandro and established his present business, known as Stephens' De Luxe Grill, at 1169 East Fourteenth street. He has a well arranged and nicely furnished place of business and, with a thorough understanding of the art of pleasing the palate, he has here won a large patronage, including the repre- sentative people of the city.
In 1921, in Oakland, California, Mr. Stephens was united in marriage to Miss Hilda Bailey, who was born in South Africa and is a daughter of Stephen and Mary Salina Bailey, who were respectively of English and Irish birth. Her father, who was reared and educated in England, had in young manhood worked in the tin mines in Cornwall, and from there went to New Zealand, where he worked in the gold mines. Later he went to Australia, where he was similarly engaged, and
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eventually went to South Africa, working in the gold mines at Johannesburg, Trans- vaal, and also in the Kimberly diamond mines. His death occurred there when Mrs. Stephens was about six years old and was attending school in England, where the family was then living. Her mother, who is now sixty-eight years of age makes her home with Mrs. Stephens in San Leandro, and has just returned from a visit to England. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey became the parents of eight children, Eleanor, William, Walter, Alice Grace, Stephen, who died young, John Hilda and Stephen. Hilda Bailey received a good education in the common and high schools of Cornwall, England, and then took a course in nursing in the Falmouth Hospital, from which she was graduated as a trained nurse. In 1920 she came to the United States with her mother to join two brothers who were then living in Nevada, and she came to Oakland to live about six months prior to her marriage to Mr. Stephens. To this union has been born a son, George, now five years old. Mrs. Stephens has been a valued assistant to her husband, her travels in various parts of the world having given her an understanding of the wants and tastes of the people. The grill is kept scrupulously clean and is a comfortable and attractive place in which to dine, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens making their patrons feel at home and ren- dering to them the quality of service that satisfies. Mr. Stephens is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Fruitvale, near Oakland, and is a popu- lar member of the circles in which he moves, being cordial and friendly in manner and a man of sincere and honest motives.
BURTON F. BECKER
No citizen of Alameda county is held in a higher measure of esteem than Bur- ton F. Becker, the able and efficient sheriff of this county. Fifteen years of active and faithful service as an officer of the law has gained for him high prestige in this section of the state, while his consistent private life and his unselfish and earnest efforts in the redeeming of human wrecks have earned for him the genuine respect and gratitude of his fellowmen. Mr. Becker was born in Freeport, Illinois, August 1, 1888, and is a son of Charles Cooper and Josephine (Felber) Becker. In 1900 the family came to California, locating in Santa Rosa, where the father engaged in business, to the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1922. The mother passed away in 1901.
Burton F. Becker attended the public schools of Freeport, Illinois, completing his education in the high school at Santa Rosa. He then took up electrical engineering and for two years was in the employ of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Com- pany in Seattle, Washington. From there he was transferred to the East Bay dis- trict, where he remained several years, and was later in the construction depart- ment of that company in the same district. Subsequently he was with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Oakland for a time, going then to the Great Western Power Company, with which he remained until the fall of 1913, when he went to Piedmont to reconstruct the city signal system. He was next appointed chief of police, in which position he served for thirteen years, and so satisfactory was his
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