USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume II > Part 51
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Miss Head is a communicant of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church, which she loyally supports, as she also does all other worthy causes. She is a member of the Garden Club of Alameda County, the Botanical Club of the University of California and the Cooper Club, these memberships being indicative of her interest
ANNA HEAD
31V2
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in birds and flowers, of both of which she is passionately fond. For this reason she makes many summer visits to the Yosemite valley and the Feather river district, as well as the mountain districts, in search of something new in nature and in the interest of the Academy of Science. She is regarded as an authority on her favorite subjects and has written a number of interesting and valuable articles for the Bird Magazine. Miss Head has made six trips to Europe, where she has done much mountain climbing, and she has traveled through Russia, Egypt and Mexico. Out of the kindness of her heart she has assisted in the education of a number of worthy children, and her hand and purse have always been open for assistance for the needy, especially in the parish of the Good Shepherd in West Berkeley, where she organized a large sewing class of over one hundred, making clothing for them dur- ing the time of the World war. Kind and thoughtful, she never loses an opportunity to say a helpful word to those with whom she comes in contact, and her high pur- poses and her goodness of heart have endeared her to all who know her. She has filled a large place in her community and has long been regarded as one of its most useful residents.
HERBERT L. LANDIS
For more than twenty years Herbert L. Landis has resided in San Leandro, where he is numbered among the prominent and influential citizens. As chairman of the city board of trustees, which automatically makes him the head of the city government, he has shown a progressive spirit that has enabled him to effect needed public improvements and at the same time reduce the tax rate, a program which has been generally commended by his fellow citizens. Mr. Landis was born in Shelbyville, Bedford county, Tennessee, on the 24th of February, 1884. and is a son of Solon and Fannie E. (Dunaway) Landis, who were born and reared in Shelbyville. Mr. Landis is a nephew of ex-Congressman Abbott L. Landis, of Nashville, Tennessee, an attorney and insurance actuary, still prominent in his city. Mr. Landis traces his ancestral line back through several centuries to Switzerland, in which country, at Heutzel, still stands the old home erected in 1488. The family was of French Norman stock and some of its members were soldiers under William the Conqueror and some were among those who exacted the Magna Charta from King John at Runnymede. Solon Landis followed farm- ing in Tennessee until 1889, when he moved with his family to the San Joaquin valley, California, settling near Hanford.
In that locality Herbert L. Landis was reared and attended the public schools. Among his forbears were many who excelled as manufacturers, bankers, lawyers and accountants, and he therefore inherited a natural aptitude for figures and accountancy. He became a bookkeeper for a business firm in San Francisco and devoted his evenings to the study of accounting and law. Eventually he passed the bar examination and was admitted to the practice of law in 1917. In that year he opened an office in San Francisco and is now located at 369 Pine street, where he has competent office assistants and has built up a large clientele. He has been more than ordinarily successful in practice and has appeared a number of times
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before the United States board of tax appeals at Washington, D. C. In that capacity he has won a number of cases for his clients, recovering in one case more than seventy-five thousand dollars. Since 1906 Mr. Landis has been a resident of San Leandro and, on January 1, 1927, opened an office here, in the Thomas building, and now divides his time between the two offices.
In 1907, in San Leandro, Mr. Landis was united in marriage to Miss Anna Larsen, who was born in this city and is a daughter of George and Dorothea (Andersen) Larsen, both of whom are natives of Denmark. Mr. Larsen was for thirty years a foreman for the Best Manufacturing Company in San Leandro, prior to which time he had run a wagon and carriage shop here. He is a man of high character and is one of San Leandro's most highly honored pioneer citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Landis have three children, namely: Avis Margaret, who is a junior in Mills College; Herbert Lavoy, who is a senior in the high school at Haywood; and George L., who graduated from the San Leandro public schools and is now a student in Heald's Business College, San Francisco. Mrs. Landis is the organist in the Presbyterian church, having also for twelve years been an active Sunday school teacher. Mr. Landis, though a busy man professionally, has given a due share of his time and attention to the public affairs of his home city and has been influential in advancing its interests. In 1926 he was elected chairman of the city board of trustees, which position is equivalent to that of mayor, and he is rendering splendid service to his constituency. He is a strong advocate of the extension and improvement of the streets, in which line much work has been done, and at the same time, contrary to the usual procedure in municipal affairs, the board has effected a decrease in city expenses, so that in 1926 it was able to make a reduction of twenty cents in the tax rate, while in 1927 the reduction was four cents. Prior to becoming a member of the board of trustees, Mr. Landis was on the board of education, in which position he rendered appreciated service in the interest of the schools. During all of the years of his residence here he has stood consistently for progress and advancement in community life and has been one of San Leandro's most enterprising citizens. He is a Consistory Mason and Mystic Shriner, at Oakland. Mr. Landis is essentially a self-made man, having forged his way to success through his own indomitable efforts and no citizen of San Leandro com- mands to a greater degree the confidence and regard of the people, who recognize his professional and business ability and his worth as a man and citizen.
CHARLES A. BEARDSLEY
Charles A. Beardsley, member of the law firm of Fitzgerald, Abbott & Beards- ley, was born in Pennsylvania on the 14th of January, 1882, a son of Ezra S. and Mary (Fleming) Beardsley. He received his early education in the public schools of his native state and in 1892, when ten years of age, accompanied his parents to California, where he completed his public school course, graduating from the Campbell high school in 1901. Later he entered Leland Stanford University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1906, after which he attended the law school of his alma mater, from which he received the degree
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of Juris Doctor in 1908. He was admitted to practice by the first appellate court of California in January, 1907, and on June 1 of the following year he entered upon the active practice of his profession, becoming associated with Fitzgerald & Abbott, of Oakland, under the firm name Fitzgerald, Abbott & Beardsley, in 1913. In January, 1911, Mr. Beardsley was made a deputy city attorney, and later became assistant city attorney, in which capacity he handled a large amount of waterfront litigation for the city. He has been active in bar association work, having been vice president of the California Bar Association and now a member of the board of governors of the State Bar of California.
On July 9, 1911, Mr. Beardsley was united in marriage to Miss Agnes I. Lafferty. He is a stanch republican in politics, and is a member of the Claremont Country Club and of the Athens Athletic Club.
C. A. RINDERSPACHER
One of the leading farmers and most highly respected citizens of the Mount Eden district of Alameda county is C. A. Rinderspacher, who owns a well im- proved and productive ranch, in the operation of which he is meeting with very gratifying success. He was born in this county, August 7, 1875, and is a son of Lorenz F. and Paulina (Kaufman) Rinderspacher, both of whom were born in Baden, Germany. Lorenz F. Rinderspacher who was born in 1839, attended the public schools near his home, remaining with his parents until fourteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account. Emigrating to the United States, he landed in New Orleans in 1855, in which city he remained for a time, working at any employment he could find until he had saved enough money to pay his way to California. He arrived in this state in 1857, and after spending some time in the mines settled at San Leandro, Alameda county, where he obtained employment as a farm hand. He was efficient and faithful and eventually became foreman on the ranch of Mr. Mulford, the place later known as the Bay Shore Acres Company. Mr. Rinderspacher gave such satisfactory service that he remained with them continuously until he retired from active labor and resigned his position. Thereafter he devoted his attention to money lending and exchange, in which he met with a very notable success, as there were no banks here at that time, and he filled a real need in the community. In 1872 Mr. Rinderspacher returned to Germany and was married to Miss Paulina Kaufman, whom he brought to his American home, and on the return voyage they experienced some very rough weather. They lived on the Mulford ranch until 1878 and then made their home in San Leandro during the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1910 and the mother in 1922. To them was born one child, C. A., of this review.
C. A. Rinderspacher received his educational training in the San Leandro public schools and Hopkins Academy, which previous to that time was known as McClure's Academy. He was employed in office work from 1894 to 1900, when he entered the employ of the Suburban Light & Power Company, now the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, being employed in the meter department for a while and later
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as office assistant to Mr. Jeffries, of San Leandro, secretary of the company at that time. In 1905 Mr. Rinderspacher resigned his position. In 1900 he had bought a two hundred acre ranch near Hayward, which he rented until 1912, in which year he took up the active operation of the place. His land is all under cultivation and is devoted to truck gardening, alternated with crops of hay and grain. The ranch is well improved, having a fine set of farm buildings, beautiful shade trees and modern conveniences, so that it is an ideal country home.
In 1904 Mr. Rinderspacher was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Gleason, who was born and reared in San Leandro and is a daughter of Dennis and Mary Ann (Gannon) Gleason, the former of whom was born in New York state and the latter in Ireland. Her father was one of the first blacksmiths in San Leandro, having come to California in 1856 and Alameda county in 1860. He was promi- nent in republican politics and was a man of fine character, highly respected throughout the community. Mrs. Rinderspacher's family was one of the oldest in this section. At one time her mother conducted a private school in San Leandro, and among her pupils were many who became quite prominent. Mrs. Rinderspacher is a graduate of the San Jose Normal school, and she taught school in San Leandro and San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Rinderspacher are the parents of a daughter, Irene Charlotte, a graduate of the State Normal School.
Mr. Rinderspacher is a republican in his political views and has always main- tained a deep interest in matters affecting the welfare and prosperity of his com- munity. He is a member of the advisory board of Bank of Italy, Hayward branch. He and his wife have witnessed the wonderful development which has marked this section of the state and have taken a justifiable pride in the fact that for three- quarters of a century their families have had an active part in the work of progress and advancement. A man of splendid personal qualities and agreeable manner, Mr. Rinderspacher is deservedly popular and has many warm friends throughout his section of the county.
OLIVER W. FLETTER
There is perhaps no line of business which offers so broad a field for effective and highly developed salesmanship as does the field of insurance, and it is along this line that Oliver W. Fletter is directing his labors and proving a potent factor in instructing others as to the best and most resultant methods of insurance sales- manship. His record is one of notable achievement, for his analysis has brought him intimate knowledge of every phase of the business and how to combine and direct forces as to bring about the most desired results.
California may be proud to number him among her native sons. His birth occurred in Alameda, October 23, 1887, and he attended the public schools of the East Bay city, while later he pursued his advanced education in the University of California, in which he pursued a mining engineering course. He left school, however, before reaching graduation, accepting a position as office boy with Parrott & Company. Although he yearned for work on the regular sales force, his youth prevented this for a time but at last, in response to his continued requests, the
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manager consented to let him try his hand with some ancient stock that had been stored in the basement for years and was considered practically worthless. This was the opportunity long sought. With unquenchable enthusiasm, industry and determination he turned to the work and in a short time disposed of the goods. From that time forward he passed through the various departments of the com- pany until he had reached the position of manager. In 1913, however, he left the bonding house to engage in the general contracting business and followed that line for two years, during which period he also served as president of the Alameda County Builders Exchange and placed that organization on a firm basis. However, he returned to the San Francisco importing and exporting firm of Parrott & Com- pany, with which he remained for several years, proving his ability in the splendid results which attended his labors.
While thus engaged Mr. Fletter made the acquaintance of Joseph H. Gray, then general agent for the New England Mutual Life Insurance Company and now field supervisor in southern California for the Central Life Insurance Company of Iowa. Through the advice of Mr. Gray, Mr. Fletter resigned his executive position to sign an agent's contract with the New England Mutual. With the thoroughness and adaptability and marvelously keen insight into business situations which he has always displayed, Mr. Fletter immediately improved material for his own use for soliciting business insurance, adopting a plan of making his approach through personal letters. This system of solicitation he has found unusually satis- factory. At the last sales congress held by the Northern Association of California Life Underwriters, Mr. Fletter caused a sensation-decidedly commendatory- with his address on partnership business. When he entered the insurance field, having perviously been a commercial executive, it was natural that he turned toward the sale of business insurance, and with the passing years he has so formulated his plans and developed his business processes that he today enjoys the distinction of being one of the leading authorities on business partnership insurance in San Francisco. He has attained splendid results in selling this form of coverage as well as personal life insurance, and there is in his business make-up a quality which is often lacking-that of being able to tell others how to do it. This characteristic undoubtedly led to his appointment as field supervisor for the Northern California agency of the Aetna Life Company. He may well be called a "born salesman." Tact, courtesy and adaptability combine with his thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the work at hand and he seems to possess an almost intuitive knowl- edge of how to approach a prospect, while his usefulness as a factor in the world's work is also due in considerable measure to his ability to instruct others in an important field.
EDWARD KIMBERLIN TAYLOR
Edward Kimberlin Taylor, who has had a very successful career as a lawyer in Alameda county, is also recognized as one of Alameda's leading citizens, having long been active and influential in civic affairs and contributing by his individual efforts to the advancement of the community.
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Mr. Taylor was born in Elmira, New York, on the 2nd of August, 1860, and in young manhood accompanied his family on their removal to Alameda county. Here he attended the public schools and Heald's Business College, after which he entered the College of the Pacific, from which he was graduated in 1881. He attended the Hastings Law School, a department of the University of California, from which he was graduated in 1886. He was admitted to the bar on August 2, 1885, and has practiced law continuously in Alameda since that time, a period of forty-two years. He has enjoyed a large and representative practice in the courts of this county and has secured a reputation as an able, sagacious and resourceful lawyer, loyal to the interests of his clients and determined in the prosecution of any cause entrusted to him. He served fourteen years as city attorney of Alameda, safeguarding the legal interests of the city in an able and satisfactory manner.
Mr. Taylor was elected to represent Alameda county in the state senate, in which he served on a number of important committees. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity in which he has attained the rank of a Knight Templar ; the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, in which he is a past exalted ruler ; the Kiwanis Club, of which he was the first president ; and has been an active supporter of the Boy Scouts. He is a past president of the Alameda Health Center ; vice president of the Oakland Baby Hospital, is a strong supporter and chairman of the Red Cross; a director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and was president of the board of charter freeholders. He is a com- mittee director and attorney for the American Trust Company Bank of Alameda. He rendered effective service as mayor of Alameda and ever since becoming identified with this city has shown a commendable interest in its welfare and progress. Mr. Taylor's hobbies are hunting and traveling. He has toured a num- ber of foreign countries and has been in a majority of the states of the Union. He is an inveterate reader of both classical and current literature and is a constant student, civil engineering being one of his favorite studies. Personally, he is a man of kindly and generous impluses, cordial and friendly in manner, and through- out the city and county in which he lives he has a host of warm and loyal friends, who esteem him for his genuine worth as a man and citizen.
ELY WELDING PLAYTER
Among the men of courage, strength and enterprise to whom Oakland owes its prosperity and greatness none filled a more important part in the life of the city than Ely Welding Playter, who was a true type of the California pioneer, and although many years have elapsed since his death, his memory is still fresh in the hearts of those who knew him.
A native of Canada, he was born October 6, 1819, in the city of Toronto and was a son of Ely and Sophia (Beaman) Playter. He traced his lineage in England to the year 1400. In the War of the Roses one of his ancestors fought under the banner of the Yorkists and in recognition of his valor was given the Sotterly estate. Captain George Playter, the grandfather of Ely W. Playter, was a member of the Canadian parliament and a distinguished representative of the family. As
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a young man he was midshipman on a vessel which touched at American ports. Deciding to establish his home in the new world he retired from the navy and resided in Philadelphia, where he married and lived for some time. Later he moved to Toronto, Canada.
The father of our subject was born in New Jersey, but moved to Toronto, Canada, where Ely W. Playter was born. When the latter was a small boy the family crossed the International Bridge into Niagara county, New York, and it was there that he acquired his early education in the rural schools of that locality. Later he attended Lima Academy and after his graduation taught school for a time. He also assisted his father in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm. In 1852 he began the study of law in Buffalo, New York, but in the same year a friend offered him a ticket to California and he made the trip to the Pacific coast by way of the Isthmus of Panama and had no desire to return to the east. For a time he engaged in mining in the Golden state but abandoned that occupation, which proved detrimental to his health, and in 1860 embarked in business in San Francisco. He was admitted to a partnership in the hardware firm of Conroy & O'Connor, the store being now conducted by Messrs. Dunham, Carrigan & Company. About 1865 Mr. Playter moved his family to Oakland but retained his connection with mercantile affairs of San Francisco and became a prominent figure in the hardware trade of that city. He was also a director of the Oakland Bank of Savings. He was a sagacious, farsighted business man and prosperity attended his efforts.
In 1860 Mr. Playter had married Miss Sarah Matilda Neville, who was a native of Ireland and during her youth resided for some time in the state of New York. They are survived by two children : Miss Charlotte S. Playter, of Piedmont ; and Grace, the wife of Murrey L. Johnson, also residents of that city.
A man of broad vision, Mr. Playter had great faith in Oakland's future and aided in the development of the city along many lines. In 1885 he was elected mayor of Oakland and ably filled that office for two terms. He was also a member of the board of public works commission for four years and a member of the board of education from 1871 to 1874. His duties were discharged with the con- scientiousness and thoroughness which characterized the transaction of his business affairs and his service was uniformly commended. For some time Mr. Playter was a director on the board of associated charities and also a director of the Young Men's Christian Association for a number of years. Honor was the keystone of his character, and his death, on January 9, 1893, deprived Oakland of a valuable citizen and an honored pioneer.
REV. P. E. DOYLE
Rev. P. E. Doyle, pastor of St. Margaret's Roman Catholic church, at Emerson and Excelsior streets, in Oakland, has achieved splendid results and has gained a high reputation in church circles, not only as an able preacher, but also for his executive ability. Father Doyle was born in county Wicklow, Ireland, on the 17th of March, 1882, and secured his preliminary education in the national schools
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of that country. He attended the Patrician Brothers College, at Carlow, St. Mary's College and St. Patrick's College, where he completed his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood in 1908. In that same year he came to Oakland as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's church, and later served as assistant pastor of several other large churches in this state, including Our Lady of Mercy church at Richmond. In 1923 he came to Oakland and erected St. Margaret's church and so effective has he been in building up this congregation, which now numbers about two hundred families, that he is now making preparations for the erection of a new church edifice, which will be necessary in order to properly take care of the rapidly increasing membership. Father Doyle is a forceful and able preacher, is a faithful and helpful pastor, and in the management of the business affairs of the parish has proven a man of sound judgment and discrimination. He is a man of broad sympathies and lends his efforts and influence to the advancement of all measures for the moral and civic betterment of the community, while his kindly and courteous manner has won for him a host of loyal friends.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
The parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is situated by the side of Lake Merritt, is one of the active and influential Catholic churches of Oakland and is doing a splendid work in that section of the city. The parish was established December 9, 1921, and on the 28th of the same month the present property was pur- chased from Mrs. Maude Baker, at a cost of nearly thirty-seven thousand dollars. The lot has a frontage of two hundred and twenty-one feet on Lakeshore, with a depth varying from ninety-three to two hundred and twenty-five feet. In Novem- ber, 1922, ground was broken for the combination school, convent and hall, of which George E. McCrea was the architect, and the first mass was held in the building December 24, 1923. The school, in which instruction is given in the grammar grades, consists of eight rooms, which were first occupied for school purposes on August 18, 1924, at which time there was an enrollment of one hundred and nine, while the present enrollment is two hundred and fifty. There have been fifty- three graduates. The school plant consists of the eight classrooms, auditorium, li- brary, music room, office and cafeteria. The teachers, six in number, are Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary. A convent of seventeen rooms adjoining the school will eventually supply the Sisters with a commodious residence, but is at present occupied by the clergy of the parish, the lack of a parochial residence be- ing a source of inconvenience to all the work of the parish. The parish now com- prises four hundred families, including many of Oakland's most prominent citi- zens, among whom are Attorneys P. A. Fontaine, John McDonald, R. M. Fitz- gerald and John Tolan, Drs. J. R. Tearn and Devine, County Assessor L. J. Ken- nedy, Attorney Frank Coakley and other prominent business and professional men.
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