USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume II > Part 35
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CHARLIE REUBEN NAUERT
Charlie R. Nauert, of Alvarado, is numbered among the pioneers of California, having been a resident of this state continuously since 1858, and, after a long and active career, is now enjoying life in well earned retirement. He was born in Buffalo, New York, November 9, 1841, and is a son of George P. and Catherine (Gammer) Nauert, the former born in Buffalo, while the latter was a native of Germany. Mr. Nauert is of French descent in the paternal line, his grandfather having come from France to this country late in the eighteenth century. From the seaboard he went to Buffalo by way of the Erie canal, and in that city was employed as a mechanic in cotton mills. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. George P. Nauert spent practically his entire life in Buffalo, where he was engaged in farming.
Charlie R. Nauert attended the public schools of his native city and there learned the foundry business. In 1858, when seventeen years of age, he started for California, coming by way of the isthmus of Panama, and thence by an old side- wheel steamer to San Francisco, where he arrived on March 17th. Soon afterwards he came to Alvarado, where, with the exception of a short period spent in the mining regions of northern California, he has lived continuously since. His first business venture here was in operating the American Exchange hotel, for four years, after which he became connected with the George H. Tay Company, which was engaged in making stoves and everything else connected with heating. Through his faithful and capable efforts, Mr. Nauert received deserved promotions, becom- ing manager and later superintendent of the plant, and remained with that concern for forty-seven years, advancing years eventually prompting him to retire.
In 1875 Mr. Nauert was united in marriage to Miss Hattie H. Hyer, a daughter of August and Henrietta (Golestone) Hyer, both natives of Germany. On his emigration to this country, Mr. Hyer made the long voyage around Cape Horn to San Francisco and later went to the mines at Big Oak Flats. He afterward moved back to San Francisco, where he was married and lived for awhile, and then, com- ing to Alvarado, he established the Empire bakery, which he ran for twenty-five years, when he retired, and he and his wife are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Nauert
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have five children, Mildred, August B., Catherine, Oscana and Henry P. Mr. Nauert has always supported the republican party, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president. The only public office he has held was that of game warden. He retains a vivid recollection of the incidents of the early days of California's settlement, recalling the vigilance committee of 1860 and its effective work in rid- ding the community of many of its lawless characters. On one occasion Indians and half-breeds killed a man, and the committee promptly captured and hung the half-breeds. In 1870 boats came up from the bay as far as Sugar Mill. The old foundry was built here in 1852 by S. Z. Harner, as a flour mill and bought by Tay Company in 1869. The first flour mill in the state was established here, and the first beet sugar manufactured in the United States was made here by H. Dyer. Mr. Nauert is a man of splendid personal qualities, retaining his physical and mental vigor to a remarkable degree, and during all the years of his residence here has com- manded the unqualified respect and esteem of his fellowmen, for he has lived a consistent and upright life and has supported those things which have tended to advance the best interests of the community.
CAPTAIN E. B. ARNOLD
Captain E. B. Arnold is owner of the Fairview Trap Nest farm, in the Fair- view district of Hayward. The Captain had a long and honorable record at sea, and is gaining an enviable reputation in his present business. He was born in England on the 18th of June, 1889, and attended school to the age of sixteen years, when he went to sea. He followed that vocation for many years, being successively promoted until eventually he became a captain of steamships, in which capacity he served with the Parr-McCormick Steamship Company, of San Francisco, sailing to various ports of the world. In 1922 the Captain retired from sea service and, coming to Hayward, bought two and a half acres of ground in the Fairview section, back of Hayward. He had made a thorough study of the poultry business, and here he has carried his knowledge into practical effect, conducting his business along scientific lines, and has attained very remarkable results in some respects. He con- fines his labors practically to single comb White Leghorn chickens, in the breeding of which he has been painstaking and careful, so that his stock is now very highly regarded by poultry authorities. He has about sixteen hundred laying hens, many ยท of which he trap nests, in order to secure reliable information as to their laying abilities. Some of these hens are prize winners, one of them having produced two hundred and ninety-six eggs in one year, while two others produced respectively three hundred and sixteen and three hundred and twelve eggs yearly. Many of his hens average two hundred and fifty eggs and the Captain sells settings from some of them at fifty cents an egg. One of his hens laid twenty-eight eggs in February. He has seven electrically heated brooders and is doing a large business in breeding and selling baby chicks, averaging about ten thousand a year.
The Captain is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a director of the Hayward Poultry Producers Association and a director of the Breeders Association connected with the Alamenda County Farm Bureau. He en-
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joys the line of business in which he is engaged and in which he is meeting with gratifying success, and throughout the community in which he lives is held in high regard for his excellent personal qualities and his cordial and friendly manner.
KARL S. FREDRICKSON
Sweden has contributed to this country some of her best blood, many of her sons not only winning material success here, but also attaining places of honor and distinction. Karl S. Fredrickson, of Oakland, stands in the front rank of the home builders of Alameda county and to a very definite degree has contributed to the growth and development of this section of the Bay district. He was born on a farm in Sweden on the 2d of June, 1889, and, after completing a public school course learned the carpenter trade with his brother. In 1910 he came to the United States, locating first in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he was employed at his trade, and went from there to Detroit, Michigan, in which city he resided until 1919, when he came to Oakland, California.
Soon after locating here he began building and selling good homes, averaging in cost from five thousand to fifteen thousand dollars, and during the subsequent years he has erected and sold about fifty residences. He is an expert architect and draws all of his own plans, so that he is enabled to give each of his houses a distinc- tiveness not ordinarily to be obtained from standard plans. These homes have been built in Piedmont, Havenscourt, Fernside and subdivisions of Alameda and are among the most attractive residences of these districts. A few years ago, while on a visit to his old home in Sweden, Mr. Fredrickson gained knowledge of a process of making roof tiling from cement and on his return to Oakland purchased the necessary machinery for its manufacture. He has used this roofing on many of his houses and in every case it has proven very satisfactory.
Mr. Fredrickson was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Sunberg, who is a native of Chicago, and they have one child, Harriet, three years of age. Mr. Fredrickson's success is the legitimate reward of his determined and well directed efforts and at all times he has proven worthy of the confidence and esteem in which he is held by his fellowmen.
A. STENBRO
Among those who have attained substantial success in business affairs, and at the same time have contributed in abundant measure to the upbuilding and develop- ment of Oakland, specific mention should be made of A. Stenbro, who, as a builder of homes, enjoys well merited prominence, for his operations have been on a large scale and in accordance with the best business methods. He was born on a farm in the northern part of Norway July 28, 1884. His father was a large land owner, possessing four ranches, and was highly successful in his business, while the family was socially prominent in their locality.
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A. Stenbro secured a good education in the public schools of his native country and in 1902, at the age of eighteen years, came to the United States, prudently bringing with him enough money to pay his return passage in case he did not like America. He went to Wisconsin, where he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed there and in other sections of the middle-west, traveling to a considerable extent in order to get acquainted with the country. Later he was employed in the construction of depots for the "Soo" railroad, working in Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Canada, and this proved a valuable experience for him in con- struction work. In 1907 Mr. Stenbro went to San Francisco and in 1911 came to Oakland where he engaged in the building business on his own account. He has made a specialty of building and selling houses, costing from fifty-five hundred dollars up, usually buying. a tract of land on which he erects dwellings, many of which are of his own design. He has operated largely in East Oakland, particu- larly on the Mills Garden tract, the Fourth Avenue Terrace tract and on East Thirty-sixth street. He is thorough and painstaking and his buildings stand in evidence of his honest workmanship and his purpose to build what shall be real homes to those who buy them.
Mr. Stenbro was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Johnson, a native of Nor- way, and to them have been born six children, Edwin, Alice, Charles and Clifford, twins, Betty and Jane, twins, all of whom were born in this state. Mr. Stenbro is a member of Foothill Lodge, No. 564, A. F. & A. M., and the Scandinavian Society. He is keenly interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of his community and is regarded as one of its most progressive and substantial citizens, while his genial and affable manner has won for him many warm and loyal friends.
JOSEPH COSTELLO
An enterprise of great importance to the building and construction operations of the East Bay district is the quarry and rock crushing plant of Joseph Costello, at San Leandro. Mr. Costello was born at Torino, Italy, on the 14th of October, 1883, and is a son of John and Fermina Costello, the former a farmer. To them were born five children, three sons and two daughters, namely: Joseph, of this review; Louis, who lives in San Leandro and works for his brother in the rock business; Angelo, who lost his life in battle during the World war; Orsola, who was married, and died in Italy at the age of thirty years; and Mary, who is married and lives in Torino, Italy.
Joseph Costello secured what would be equivalent to a grammar school educa- tion in his native land and at the age of twelve years went to work at the brick and cement construction business. In 1905, when twenty-two years old, he came to the United States, locating in the coal region of Virginia, where for two years he worked as a coal miner. In 1907 he settled in Oakland, California, where he ob- tained employment at his trade, which he followed until 1911, when he began con- tracting on his own account under the firm name of J. Costello. He did the cement work for many foundations, and built a large amount of cement sidewalk, several
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large canneries and other important structures in Oakland between 1907 to 1920, and in the latter year came to San Leandro, where he has resided to the present time. Here he continued his former business, but has given particular attention to the development of the crushed rock interests, in which he is meeting with success. On February 1, 1918, he bought the ten acres of land and in 1924 thirty acres additional, on which is situated his quarry and which is a veritable mountain of rock, five hundred feet high. It contains both red and blue rock. The harder blue rock lies deeper under the surface and is reached by a ninety foot tunnel. Mr. Costello has erected powerful rock crushers, graders and bunkers and is prepared to supply either kind of rock in any quantities on short notice. The crushed rock is graded into six sizes and he operates four large trucks of his own and from five to seven hired trucks to deliver the rock. He has supplied an enormous quantity of rock for various purposes throughout this section of the state and has completed a large contract for cruched rock for the Oakland airport. He has practically an inexhaustible supply of rock and is prepared to meet any demands made on him for either kind of rock.
In 1920, in San Francisco, Mr. Costello was united in marriage to Mrs. Eugenia Moschella, a native of Italy and is a daughter of Philip and Josephine Moschella. She came to California in 1904 and is a lady of charming qualities tactful and kindly in manner, and their home is characterized by hospitality and good cheer. They are the parents of a daughter, Gloria, now a bright and interesting little miss of six years. In 1926 Mr. and Mrs. Costello paid a visit to their native land and greatly enjoyed meeting their old friends and visiting the scenes of their younger days, but were glad to return to their American home. Three years ago they built their present attractive residence, which overlooks San Leandro and San Fran- cisco bay across to the peninsula of San Mateo county on the west, while to the north in clear view is beautiful Lake Chabot, which is the source of water supply for San Leandro and other East Bay cities. Mr. Costello is a man of marked business ability, exercising sound judgment in all of his operations, and well de- serves the title of self-made man, for his present prosperity has been won through his persistent and determined efforts. He is a man of progressive and enterprising spirit, square in all of his dealings, and commands the respect and good will of all who know him.
THOMAS J. KEENAN, JR.
One of the most eminent consulting engineers of Alameda county is Thomas J. Keenan, Jr., of Oakland, who has had extensive and varied experience in en- gineering, in which he has demonstrated his ability in an unmistakable manner, and now commands a large and remunerative private practice. Mr. Keenan was born in New York city on the 25th of July, 1894, and is a son of Thomas J. and Margaret (Garvie) Keenan. He was educated in the public and high schools of his native city and took the engineering course in Columbia University, and special engineering courses at the University of California. His first position after leaving college was that of draftsman with the Consolidated Gas Company of New York, after which
THOMAS J. KEENAN, JR.
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he successively served as construction engineer with the Standard Shipbuilding Corporation, as designer for the Standard Oil Company of California, having come to this state in 1915, as assistant chief draftsman for the Hercules Powder Com- pany, as inspector of installations for the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Corporation, as plant engineer for the Union Oil Company of California and as superintendent of construction for T. Ronneberg. For the past five years he has been engaged in the private practice of his profession and as a consulting engineer has gained a large and representative clientele, having designed and assisted in the construction of many large buildings and in the solving of engineering problems. He is now also a mem- ber of the board of examiners of the building department of the city of Oakland, in which capacity he has rendered effective service.
Mr. Keenan was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Britton, of New York city, and they are the parents of three children, Eleanor, Milton and Thomas J., III. He is a republican in his political views and is a member of the American Asso- ciation of Engineers and American Society of Civil Engineers. Because of his earnest life, high attainments and efficient service, he is held in high regard in pro- fessional circles, while as a private citizen his record has earned for him the re- spect of his fellowmen.
EDWARD OTIS WEBB
One of Hayward's most successful and highly respected citizens is Edward Otis Webb, who, after a long and active career, is now retired, spending the golden sunset years of life in well earned leisure in his beautiful home on Soto street. A native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, he was born August 31, 1851, and is a son of Otis and Deborah (Cory) Webb, also natives of Massachusetts, the former born at Lynn and the latter at Long Plain. Otis Webb was reared and educated in the Old Bay state and then went to sea on a whaling vessel. He and his brother Hiram brought the first vessel to the west coast after the discovery of gold in California. Leaving the eastern seaboard with a cargo of provisions, they stopped at Valparaiso, Chile, where they took on a load of lumber, and reached San Fran- cisco on New Year's day of 1849. They utilized their lumber in building a store, in which they put their stock of provisions, conducting the store for a short time. Later they made a number of trips with their boat to the Arctic regions, and when they dissolved partnership Hiram remained on the Pacific coast, while Otis Webb returned east, making the trip overland. He then took his family on a tour through Europe, visiting all of the principal cities, and in 1876 again came west, locating in San Lorenzo, Alameda county, where his death occurred. He was a republican in his political views and was a man of marked ability and fine character.
Edward Otis Webb was reared and educated in his native state and in 1870 came west, locating first in Oregon, where he was employed on the engineering staff of the Oregon & California Railroad, which was then controlled by Ben Holi- day. Two years later he returned east and made the trip to Europe on the "Glory of the Sea", commanded by Captain Knowles. In 1868 his father bought one hundred acres of land bordering on East Fourteenth street in San Lorenzo, and
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when E. O. Webb came west in 1872 he engaged in farming and fruit raising, developing the land into one of the best ranches in this section of the county. In the course of time it became very valuable, being located near the heart of the business district. He lived on this place for fifty-three years, or until 1926, when he sold it and moved into the splendid home which he had built at 107 Soto street, where he now resides. For the past ten years he has been a director of the Bank of Hayward and its vice president for the past four years.
In 1898 Mr. Webb married Miss Henrietta Lehnhart, who was born in San Francisco and is a daughter of Henry and Julia Lehnhart, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to California in an early day, settling first in San Francisco, where the father was connected with Halbrook, Merrill and Company, hardware dealers. Both parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Webb have two children, Otis, and Deborah, who graduated from the University of California in 1928. Mr. Webb is a republican in his political views and has been actively inter- ested in the educational affairs of his community, having served as a trustee of the Hayward high school district for thirty-four years, during thirty years of which period he has been president of the board. A man of marked business ability, sterling integrity of character and strong personality, he has long been numbered among Hayward's most influential and substantial citizens and no resident of this community commands public confidence and respect to a greater degree.
GEORGE A. TUM SUDEN
George A. Tum Suden, who for many years has been actively identified with the well known corporation, the H. Tum Suden Mercantile Company, of which he has been president for sixteen years, is one of Oakland's most highly regarded business men, esteemed by reason of his high character and substantial worth. He was born at 1551 Thirteenth avenue, in this city June 13, 1869, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Ahrens) Tum Suden. His father was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1835, and was there reared to the age of sixteen years, securing a good education in the public schools. In 1851 he came to the United States, where he obtained employment in a grocery store, at a wage of six dollars a month and board. In 1853 he came to California, locating in San Francisco, where he at once found employment, and during the ensuing three years worked on Kearney, Pine, Dupont, Jackson, Sacramento and Davis streets. In 1856 he bought an interest in a restaurant on California and Davis streets, his patronage coming largely from the lumbermen of the city, all of the lumber firms being at that time located on California street. For about nine years he carried on that business at various loca- tions and in 1863 sold out to his partner and moved to Oakland. Here he formed a partnership with Mr. Erzgraber and opened a store at the corner of East Twelfth street and Fourteenth avenue, in San Antonio, as the place was then known. After the death of his first partner, he became associated with another man, and con- tinued the business to the time of his death. It enjoyed a steady and healthy growth through the years and, in May, 1907, was incorporated as the H. Tum Suden Mercantile Company, of which Mr. Tum Suden was president; A. C. Tum Suden,
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vice president, and George A. Tum Suden, secretary and treasurer. As he pros- pered, Mr. Tum Suden bought land in various parts in the city, on which he erected buildings, one of which was a large brick warehouse, which he used for his own purposes until 1890, when the business was moved to Fourteenth street and Thir- teenth avenue. Prior to that time he had also conducted an express business between Oakland and San Francisco, running teams in both cities, while from two to five carloads of goods were brought daily from San Francisco to Oakland over the old narrow gauge road. This proved a profitable business, and he later sold it at a very satisfactory figure. He was a keen and sagacious business man and remained at the head of his company to the time of his death, which occurred December 22, 1912.
In 1860, in California, Mr. Tum Suden was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Ahrens, a native of Hanover, Germany, and who came to California in 1852. They became the parents of eleven children. The mother passed away in May, 1920. Mr. Tum Suden was a stanch republican in his political views, though he main- tained an independent attitude in local elections. Upon the incorporation of Brook- lyn he was named a trustee of the city, was one of the organizers of the Merchants Exchange, was a strong supporter of education, and took a keen interest in every- thing pertaining to the progress and development of his community. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges and was a member of the Ger- man Lutheran church. Intensely loyal in his religious belief, he did more, perhaps, than any other one man to build up his church in the west. A missionary came to his place of business one day in San Francisco and together they made plans and carried them out for the establishment of the German Lutheran church on Tele- graph hill, from which sprang more than one hundred churches of that denomina- tion in the northwest. By a straight-forward and commendable course he made his way from a humble beginning to an honored and respected position in the business world, winning the hearty admiration of the people of his adopted city and earning a reputation as an enterprising, progressive man of affairs and a broad-minded, charitable and upright citizen, which the public was not slow to recognize and appreciate.
George A. Tum Suden received his education in the Franklin school in Oak- land and then engaged in the insurance business in San Francisco, being for five years connected with the firm of Brown, Craig & Company, after which he became associated with his father's business in Oakland, and on the incorporation of the H. Tum Suden Mercantile Company, in 1907, he became its secretary and treas- urer, which dual position he held until his father's death in 1912, when he became president. He is still at the head of the business, but expects to sell it, after which he will reenter business on his own account. He has had a good business record and stands high in the commercial circles of his city.
Mr. Tum Suden was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Beaver, who was born and reared in Sonoma county, this state. He gives his political support to the republican party and, like his father, has shown a commendable interest in everything relating to the material, civic or moral welfare of his community. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World, is the oldest living charter member of the Brooklyn parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West and has been president of the Brooklyn Improvement Club since its organization, fourteen years
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