USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume II > Part 6
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Later Mr. Mattos devoted his time to the study of law and in August, 1897, was admitted to practice. He has been more than ordinarily successful as a lawyer, maintaining offices in Centerville and in the Bank of Italy building in San Francisco, and confines his practice mainly to the probate courts, in which department of legal procedure he is regarded as an expert, so that he has built up a large remunerative clientele. Mr. Mattos took an active part in organizing the Bank of Centerville, of which he was chosen president, and served in that capacity until the bank was sold to the Bank of Italy, in 1919, since which time he has served as vice president and director of the last named Bank. In 1893 he was elected a member of the Center- ville school board, and has been reelected ever since, serving continuously in this last capacity for upward of thirty-five years. In 1895 he became a member of the high school board, of which he was made secretary and served one year. He has long been prominent in the U. P. E. C. (Portuguese Union of the State of California), the strongest Portugese fraternal order in the state, of which he was elected supreme president in 1894, being reelected in the following year. Since 1896 he has been supreme director of that order and since 1902 has held the office of supreme treas- urer. He held the office of justice of the peace for Washington township for eight years, and in that time, assessed fines of over thirty-five thousand dollars for viola- tions of the motor vehicle act. A man of alert and vigorous mentality, sterling char- acter and progressive ideas, he has been true to the highest obligations of citizenship, has done his full part in affairs concerning the welfare of the community, and com- mands the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen to a marked degree.
ALBERT PORT
Albert Port, of Oakland, whose industry, careful management and sound judg- ment resulted in gaining a competence that has enabled him to lay aside the burdens and cares of active business pursuits, is numbered among the respected and hon- ored citizens of his community, of which he has been a resident for forty-three years. Mr. Port was born on a farm in New York, April 14, 1855, and is a son of Albert and Rosie (Carroll) Port, of whom the former was a mason and contractor, and both are now deceased.
Albert Port acquired his early education in public schools of his native state, completing his studies in the schools of Vermont, to which state the family had
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moved when he was eight years of age. On leaving school he became a clerk in a mercantile establishment and followed that line until thirty years of age, when, in 1885 he decided to seek a better field for individual advancement. Coming to California, he located where the Fremont high school building now, stands in Elm- hurst, Alameda county, and found employment as foreman on the Talcott dairy farm. He was ambitious and, prudently husbanding his finances, in the course of time was able to buy a portion of the Talcott property, on which he has since lived. The land, rich and fertile, was always in demand for nursery purposes until the increasing demand for business and residence sites made it too valuable for other purposes. Now, instead of a clear tract of farm land when Mr. Port came here, with not a residence on it, there are now thousands of substantial and attrac- tive homes and the land has greatly enhanced in value through the years. Mr. Port retains the corner block on which he lives and is also the owner of much val- uable property in other sections of Alameda county, so that he is now in a very com- fortable position. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of the Melrose district and has been a very important factor in its development and progress.
Mr. Port was united in marriage to Miss Laura A. Eldred, also a native of New York. He gives his political support to the republican party and in former years was active in the public affairs of his community, having served as sewer and fire commissioner of the Melrose district prior to its annexation to the city of Oak- land. A man of earnest purpose, sterling integrity and fine public spirit, he is a worthy citizen of his locality and none more highly merits the confidence and re- spect of all.
A. DETTMER
San Leandro is the home of one of the largest and most important florist es- tablishments in California, the firm of Avasino, Mortensen & Company being known throughout the coast region for the quantity and quality of its products. The growth and remarkable success of this firm is one of the notable commercial facts in recent Alameda county history and is well worthy of specific mention here. This company had its inception in 1921, when E. W. Mclellan, of Burlingame, Califor- nia, probably the most extensive grower of flowers in this state, sold his three green- houses, one and three-quarters miles south of San Lorenzo, to H. A. Avasino, who was at that time foreman of Mr. Mclellan's wholesale house in San Francisco. The plant covered two acres of ground, and soon afterwards Mr. Avasino pre- vailed upon P. D. Mortensen and A. Dettmer, who also had been in the employ of Mr. Mclellan, to come and assist him in the business, as they were both expe- rienced and competent workmen and former coworkers of his. This they did, and soon afterward became financially interested in the business, which has since been operated under the present firm name. The original two acres, which was located on Holland avenue, was completely built up and the rapid growth of their business soon necessitated more room. This plat contains three greenhouses, each two hun- dred and sixty by thirty-two feet in size, besides a newer and larger house, as well as a boiler plant and pumping station. In 1924 the company bought eight acres more on the west side of Washington avenue, and on this tract they have erected
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nine greenhouses, each three hundred by thirty-two feet in size, four houses four hundred by thirty-two feet in size, a separate pumping plant and a seventy-five- horse-power boiler plant. This seemed at that time enough additional room to care for all future contingencies, but still the business grew until more space was de- manded and in 1927 they bought four acres more, upon which they are now build- ing more greenhouses, propagating houses and a one-hundred-and-fifty-horse-power boiler plant. They have also recently completed a large warehouse, and have bought a large motor truck for transporting their flowers to San Francisco. The main office of the company is at 175-177 Fifth street, San Francisco, where their whole- sale house is located. In addition to the vast quantity of flowers grown in their own greenhouses, they also handle flowers on commission, taking the entire product of several other well known growers in the vicinity of San Lorenzo. In addition to supplying flowers to San Francisco, Oakland and other cities, north and south, along the coast, they make extensive shipments of cut flowers, by railroad refriger- ator cars, to the east and middle west. In their warehouse at the present time there are stored three hundred thousand tulip bulbs and two hundred and fifty thousand gladiola bulbs, for their own use, besides large quantities of moss and other ingre- dients and materials used in the business. Their cut flowers consist mostly of roses, gardenias and carnations, while among the outside flowers are peonies, heather, iris, narcissus, tulips, gladiolas and daffodills. The spectacular success of this firm has been gained through no lucky accident, but has been made possible through the combined industry, progressive spirit and technical knowledge of the three partners, each of whom devotes his time and effort to the business and is not afraid of hard work. They have labored in the spirit of close cooperation and harmony and well merit the prosperity which is now theirs, for they are recognized today as among the largest growers of cut flowers in California. Each one of their buildings has cost an average of four thousand dollars, while their land, at a con- servative valuation, is worth three thousand dollars an acre. They employ an aver- age of twenty men in and around the plant, while six men are employed in the whole- sale house in San Francisco.
A. Dettmer, who superintends the growing of the flowers, both under glass and in the open, was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 19th of April, 1889, and is a son of Henry Dettmer, who was a farmer and nurseryman, Under his father's instructions, he began to gain a practical knowledge of nursery work at an early age. He attended the public schools and the gymnasium, which was really a techni- cal high school, in his native city. He was then apprenticed for three years to a florist and nurseryman in Berlin, and after the completion of his apprenticeship he traveled extensively, working in some of the leading establishments of Europe. He put in five to six years in France, and in Paris particularly he gained a practical knowledge of the art of growing flowers. In England, he took up fruit growing in London and nursery work in Chester and Liverpool, and then went to Belgium and Holland, and later to Switzerland and Italy, in all these countries taking advantage of every opportunity to increase his stock of technical information. In 1913 Mr. Dettmer embarked on the "George Washington" for the United States, landing at New York city, coming for the purpose of study and observation. He was em- ployed in his line of work in New York, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis, and while in Minnesota paid a surprise visit to an aunt in Euclid. He
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found that northern climate too cold for practical floriculture, so went to Houston, Texas, and later to old Mexico. In the course of his travels he finally reached San Francisco. He had intended to visit the Hood River country of Oregon, to satisfy his desire to see the country where were grown the excellent Hood River apples which he had bought in the fatherland. However, that trip was never made, for he soon became busily employed in the flower business in San Francisco, which at that time was making preparations for the Panama-Pacific Exposition. He went to work for E. W. Mclellan, at Burlingame, and while there formed the acquain- tance of the two men who are now his partners and who also were in the employ of Mr. Mclellan. Mr. Dettmer's next position was with James Crockers as manager of his rose gardens at Hillsboro, San Mateo county. He remained there three years, when he was prevailed upon by Mr. Avasino to come to San Lorenzo to take charge of the outside work at his newly acquired plant. Soon afterwards he became a partner in the business, to which he has since devoted his attention. He is regarded as one of the most capable and efficient florists in this part of the country and has been an important factor in the success of the business with which he is identified.
On December 8, 1924, in Berkeley, California, Mr. Dettmer was united in mar- riage to Miss Erna Tauchman, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Tauchman, of that city, and they are the parents of a daughter, Dorothea. Though his business makes heavy demands on his time, Mr. Dettmer does not neglect his obligations to his community and gives his support to every worthy cause in the interest of the public welfare. Because of his excellent business record since coming here and his sterling personal traits he is held in high esteem by all who know him and is de- servedly popular among his associates.
NORMAN J. RONALD
Norman J. Ronald has, during his four years' professional career, exhibited high qualifications as a lawyer and has not only built up a flattering clientele but has won a creditable place among the able and successful members of the Alameda county bar.
Mr. Ronald was born in Los Angeles, California, on the 5th of October, 1898, and is a son of John and Agnes (Hillcoat) Ronald. Both of his parents were na- tives of Scotland, though their marriage occurred in Chicago, Illinois, where they lived until 1898, when they located in Los Angeles. Later they came to Oakland, where the father is now employed as a buyer for a large department store.
Norman J. Ronald received his educational training in the public schools of Oakland, graduating from high school in 1918, and then entered the University of California, from the classical course of which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1922. He entered the law school of his alma mater and in 1924 was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence. He was promptly admitted to the bar and engaged in the practice of his profession in Oakland in association with J. E. Hood. In February, 1928, he opened offices in the Ray building. A close and constant student of the law and devoted to his pro- fession, Mr. Ronald has shown himself an astute and painstaking practitioner,
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careful and thorough in the preparation of his cases and forceful and determined in the trial of causes, while as an office counselor he has been found to be safe and dependable.
Mr. Ronald is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Poli- ticians Club, the East Lake Exchange Club, of which he is secretary, and the Cali- fornia State Bar Association. A man of agreeable personality and cordial man- ner, he has a wide acquaintance throughout Oakland and is deservedly popular, both because of his professional ability and his splendid qualities of character.
R. L. BILLINGS
R. L. Billings is well known throughout the central part of Alameda county because of his unusually successful record as a realtor and his activities have been of material benefit to San Leandro and vicinity. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 22nd of April, 1880, and is a son of O. L. and Lucy (Chapin) Billings. The father, who was born and reared in Maine and served in the Civil war, was a prominent lawyer of Minneapolis and was at one time district attorney of Hennepin county. The mother, who is a native of Minnesota and is now seventy- two years of age, makes her home with her son, R. L., in San Leandro, and, despite her age, is active and spry. She is of German ancestry.
R. L. Billings was reared to the age of seventeen years in Minneapolis and se- cured a good public school education. In 1898 he enlisted in the United States navy and has to his credit a long and honorable service of twenty years, receiving his hon- orable discharge in 1918 with the rank of chief gunner's mate. During these years he passed through many unusual and interesting experiences and his naval service was in fact educational to a marked degree. He has been in nearly every port of importance in the world and in nearly every state in the Union, having served as a naval recruiting officer in Kansas and as an instructor in various naval training schools. During the World war he was in the secret service, working under orders from the United States intelligence bureau, and in that capacity visited many for- eign countries. For a time during the war he also served as instructor at the Great Lakes Naval School. He was a member of the crews who made the historic trip around the world under President Roosevelt's orders. He became personally ac- quainted with Colonel Roosevelt, of whom he is a great admirer. During that eventful voyage Mr. Billings was transferred to the battleship "Kansas," and among the interesting sights which he witnessed was the ruins of the terrible earthquake at Messina, Italy. Mr. Billings' first assignment was to the training ship "Mohican," which later transported ammunition to the Hawaiian islands and took part in the flag-raising ceremonies there. During the subsequent years he served on a number of Uncle Sam's ships, including the training ships "The Adams" and "Mohican ;" the cruiser "Philadelphia," the new battleship "Maine;" the old battleship "Mis- sissippi ;" the destroyer "McCall;" the old "Constitution" at Boston; the old sup- ply ship "Jupiter ;" the revenue cutter "Mccullough ;" and was on the "Princeton" for two years. While cruising in the south seas the "Princeton" struck a rock and went down in seventy-two feet of water. Mr. Billings assisted in the United States
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naval survey of Tutuilla island (also called Pago Pago). Among his other ac- complishments he became a deep-sea diver, and for seventy-two days aided in rais- ing the wreck of the "Princeton," which was accomplished after the most difficult work. As a result of his labors there his right hand became infected from metallic poisoning, and he was taken to a hospital but was incapacitated for further service as an active seaman, though he was afterward assigned to the revenue cutter "Mc- Cullough."
In 1918 Mr. Billings received an honorable discharge and in the following year came to California. He established a real estate office in Hayward, where he suc- cessfully engaged in business until 1923, when he came to San Leandro and has continued in the real estate business to the present time, having offices at 1342 East Fourteenth street. While he carries on a general real estate business, Mr. Billings specializes in the exchange of properties and, possessing an accurate knowledge of real estate values, he has been able to give his patrons a high type of service. He also handles insurance, loans and investments and is a notary public. He is pro- gressive and enterprising in his methods, has handled property all over the East Bay district and his customers have been from various parts of California and also Oregon and Montana.
In 1915, at St. Joseph, Missouri, Mr. Billings was united in marriage to Miss Lucy V. Rutherford, and they are the parents of two children, Raymond L., Jr., and William R.
Mr. Billings was made a Mason at Wichita, Kansas, and is a member of the consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite at Kansas City, Kansas, and of Aararat Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Kansas City, Missouri. In his political views he is a republican and has shown a broad interest in public affairs, being well informed and holding sound opinions on the leading issues of the day. He is now serving his second term as vice president of the San Leandro Realty Board and has shown an effective interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of the community and county in which he lives. Friendly and agreeable in manner, he enjoys a wide acquaintance and all who know him hold him in the highest measure of esteem.
JOHN H. SHEALEY
To John H. Shealey is East Oakland largely indebted for its upbuilding and development, for during the past ten years he has been a very active figure in real estate and building operations, being now regarded as the leader in his line in this section of Alameda county. Mr. Shealey was born on a farm in Germany, Novem- ber 15, 1888, a son of John and Dorothy (Lietz) Shealey, the former of whom died when his son was three years of age, but the mother is still living in that country. He attended the public schools of his native land and took a course in the College of Commerce, in which he received thorough training in business methods. He then became a real estate appraiser, in which capacity he traveled all over Eu- rope, appraising land and properties for large steamship companies and manu- facturing concerns of Germany and other foreign countries, being engaged in that line of work from 1905 to 1913.
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In the following year Mr. Shealey came to the United States, locating first with a brother in Nebraska. For a time he traveled throughout the western states, looking for a location, and from 1915 to 1918 had charge of mining property in Idaho. He then came to Oakland, California, and engaged in the real estate busi- ness, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. He helped to develop Maxwell Park, where he erected two hundred houses, and has since given much of his attention to the building of houses and the financing of home buyers. He has also built a number of large and costly residences in Piedmont and other localities and has built up a large business as builder and real estate dealer, having at times as many as one hundred and twenty people in his employ.
Mr. Shealey was united in marriage to Miss Frances Hessel, who is a native daughter of California. Mr. Shealey gives his political support to the republican party and has shown a commendable interest in local public affairs. He is presi- dent of the East Oakland Taxpayers Association ; is a past director of the Oakland Real Estate Board; and in 1927 was vice president of the East Oakland Kiwanis Club. He is a Mason and has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is a strong and persistent booster for Alameda county, particularly of East Oakland, where his operations have been chiefly centered, and has been influ- ential in advancing its welfare. His actions have been guided by honorable prin- ciples and he is loyal to all those things which make for honorable manhood and pro- gressive citizenship. For these reasons, as well as for his agreeable personality, he has won and retains the unqualified confidence and respect of his fellowmen.
LE GRAND M. TURNER
Le Grand M. Turner, who was for many years engaged in farming and fruit raising near Hayward, is now practically retired. He was born at Veteran, Chemung county, New York, on the 8th of July, 1850, and is a son of Harvey and Jane (Morehouse) Turner, also natives of the old Empire state, where the father fol- lowed farming and was engaged in the breeding of fancy thoroughbred horses. In 1866 the family came west, making the trip by way of the Isthmus of Panama and settling in San Francisco. He was successful in financial affairs and, retiring from active pursuits, returned with his family to New York, where he lived until his death in 1910, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife died there in 1909 at the age of eighty-five years.
Le Grand M. Turner was reared and educated in his native state, remaining there until twenty-one years of age. In October, 1873, he went to Traer, Tama county, Iowa, where he was caught in a blizzard for two days, after which he left that state and came to California. In 1874 he located in San Francisco, where he obtained a position as bookkeeper in a grain commission house, with which concern he remained for ten years. In 1888 he was married and soon afterward went to Napa county, this state, where he engaged in fruit raising until 1899, when he came to Hayward and settled on his present farm, which was then owned by his wife and was a portion of the old Winton estate, comprising eighty-seven acres of good land. Here he made valuable improvements and devoted his attention to the devel-
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
opment of a permanent home, living here to the present time. Though no longer actively engaged in farming, he and his wife and daughter Dorothy are deriving a good deal of pleasure, as well as profit, from the rabbit business on the home place. They have raised registered pedigreed winners of the Pacific strain of Himalayans since 1915, and now also have prize winning Havanas and Chinchillas, in the han- (ling of which they have been very successful, some of their stock bringing fancy prices. They have taken silver cups at the San Jose rabbit show for the best display.
Mr. Turner has been married twice, first in 1888 to Miss Mary E. Winton, who was born in San Lorenzo, Alameda county, and was a daughter of Crayton Winton. To this union were born two children, Frank L. and Rose, the latter being deceased. The mother of these children died in 1904, and on June 16, 1906, Mr. Turner was married to Miss Florence M. Scott, who was born in Oakland, California, and is a daughter of Rev. Winfield and Helen L. (Brown) Scott, the former of whom was at one time pastor of the Baptist church in that city. Later he went to Arizona and became a member of the state legislature, in which he introduced an anti- gambling bill and a bill regulating the liquor traffic. Though a republican politically, he was elected speaker of the democratic house, so highly regarded was he by those who knew him. Later he served as chancellor of the University of Arizona.
The towns of Winfield, Kansas, and Scottsdale, Arizona, were named in his honor. To Mr. and Mrs. Turner have been born two children, Dorothy and Win- field Scott.
Mr. Turner is a stanch republican in his political views and has always main- tained a deep interest in everything relating to the welfare of his community. He has shown himself a good business man and is regarded as one of the solid and dependable citizens of his locality.
DAVID BERCOVICH
David Bercovich, who conducts a profitable new and second-hand furniture busi- ness at 1007 Clay street, Oakland, has also won a wide reputation for his ability as an auctioneer. His success is the legitimate outcome of his persistent and deter- mined efforts, backed by sound judgment and honorable dealing, and he is regarded as one of the leaders in his line in this city. Mr. Bercovich was born in Austria- Hungary on the 5th of January, 1878, and is a son of Abraham and Bertha Ber- covich. On August 10, 1883, the family, consisting of father, mother and nine children, arrived in Oakland, and another child was born here. Two of the children are deceased, one having been killed by an automobile. Abraham Bercovich was a pioneer in the iron and metal business in this city, in which he continued until his death, December 10, 1904. The mother died in 1917.
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