USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California; with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 103
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Mr. Perino is unmarried. He belongs to the Richmond Aërie of Eagles and is gradually enlarging his circle of friends. He believes in progress and is ready to assist all worthy enterprises for the upbuilding of county and State.
MANUEL G. MOITOZA .- The agent for the Ford automobile at San Pablo, Manuel G. Moitoza, is well and favorably known in Contra Costa County. He was born at Suisun, Solano County, on September 6, 1884, the son of M. G. and Ignacia (Gularte) Moitoza, both natives of Portugal, who came to California when they were young folks. Manuel G. Moitoza attended the San Pablo schools, the family having removed here in 1890, where the father followed his trade as a carpenter. He died in 1893, but the mother is still living.
Manuel, known in his home locality by the nickname of "Mose" Moitoza, opened a blacksmith shop in San Pablo in partnership with his brother in 1905, and did all kinds of blacksmithing and wagon repairing. They were both good mechanics and their shop was up-to-date in appli- ances and equipment. During their spare time they built a farm tractor out of such material as they found at hand, and it did the work of four horses; but they did not follow up the manufacture of tractors. The partnership continued until 1920; after this Mose Moitoza ran the shop and business, and about that time secured the agency for the Ford auto- 29
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mobile. Business fairly blew his way, and soon he needed more room and more help. He gave up blacksmithing and devoted his entire time to selling Ford cars, and his profits were invested in San Pablo property. Soon he erected his present building, fifty by one hundred feet, and here his stock of machines are on display. He handles the Ford and the Lin- coln cars, and the Fordson tractor, as well as all accessories. His busi- ness has grown by leaps and bounds, and he is counted among the pros- perous men of his community.
M. G. Moitoza was married in October, 1909, to Miss Ida Flohs, of San Pablo, and they have four children: Clarice, attending high school ; George, Paul and Ruth, in the grammar school. Fraternally, Mr. Moi- toza is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles. He has served on the sanitary board and the board of education of San Pablo, and is a constable and deputy sheriff. He takes great pride in the civic development of his community and is always ready to do his share in every way.
WILLIAM G. SELLICK .- The business methods of William G. Sellick are such as to win for him the commendation of all who have occasion to deal with him. His bakery, located at 649 Main Street in Martinez, is modern in all its appointments, is thoroughly equipped, and up-to-date in every respect; he supplies Martinez with the very best there is in bread and pastry of all kinds. Since buying the business in March, 1923, Mr. Sellick has made a host of friends who appreciate good bread and pastry. He was born in Cardiff, Wales, June 10, 1892, a son of W. A. and Margaret (Johnson) Sellick. The parents were married in England and came to America when our subject was only ten months old. The family came direct to California and settled first at Stockton, and there W. A. Sellick engaged in the bakery business; then he removed to Martinez and for eight years ran the Purity Bakery. He is now located in Walnut Creek and there operates the Walnut Creek Bakery. Our subject is the eldest in a family of twelve children, eight of whom are living in Contra Costa County. One son is living in Stock- ton and runs the Curnow Bakery. The father has reached the age of fifty-five, and the mother is fifty-three years old.
William G. Sellick attended public school in Stockton, and at an early age entered his father's bakery and learned the trade; he then became a journeyman baker, and before he was twenty-one years old had traveled twice around the world. He spent three years in the service of his country during the World War, serving in the 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Division; he was sixteen months over seas, where he was in engagements on five different battle fronts: Soissons, Champagne, the Meuse, Ar- gonne, and St. Mihiel. In 1919 he returned to the United States and was honorably discharged at the Presidio, San Francisco.
At Santa Rosa, in February, 1920, Mr. Sellick was married to Miss Regna Rakestrow, a native of Iowa, but reared and educated in Colo- rado. She came to California with her parents and the family settled in
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Live Oak, Yuba County, where her father, Charles Rakestrow, ran a grocery store for several years. The father is now living at Long Beach, Cal., but the mother has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Sellick are the parents of one son, Charles Ernest. Mr. Sellick is a charter member of the Martinez Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and is also a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Khorassan, both of Martinez. Although believing in the principles of the Republican party, Mr. Sellick is liberal in his political preferences.
LORENZO F. BUFFO .- A native son of 'Contra Costa County, Lorenzo F. Buffo, or "Link" Buffo, as he is more familiarly known by his friends, was born in Somersville, on March 5, 1892, the son of Ferminino and Margarita Buffo, both living in Pittsburg. The father was born in Italy and was one of the early coal miners at Somersville when coal mining was the principal industry in the county. Link grew up in Somersville and attended the public schools there, coming to Pitts- burg in 1906. His first employment was with the Pioneer Rubber Works, and there he remained for eight or nine years before coming to the Columbia Steel Corporation's plant, where he is engaged as a melter and an assistant superintendent of the open hearth furnaces.
Mr. Buffo was married in Pittsburg on August 27, 1914, being united with Miss Louise De Stefano, who was born and reared in this city. They have one son, Melvin. Mr. Buffo is a member of Diamond Parlor No. 246, N. S. G. W., being a Past President; he is also a member of the Moose and the Foresters of America, both in Pittsburg. The family reside at 747 York Street, Pittsburg, where they have a wide circle of friends.
JOHN FRANCIS O'NEILL, JR .- A native son of the Golden State, John Francis O'Neill is meeting with success as a contractor in building golf links and excavations. He was born in this county on March 15, 1873, a son of the late John Francis O'Neill, a California pioneer. At an early age our subject left school and began working at ranch work on the home place. Owing to the death of his father he took charge of operations and remained there till 1903, when he went to Oak- land and engaged in the hay business. Two years later he returned to Pinole and was employed by the Hercules Powder Works as a grading contractor and worked as high as thirty-five men. . He still handles all grading contracts for the powder company. Mr. O'Neill specializes in golf links and built the Berkeley Country Club links, the snappiest course in the county; the Burlingame Country Club in San Mateo County; the Municipal Golf Links of San Francisco; and the Contra Costa Club links at Pacheco. His reputation for good work is his best advertisement and he finds plenty to do.
On October 2, 1901, Mr. O'Neill married Miss Edith Christine Beck, of Hayward. Her father, Peter J. Beck, was born in Denmark and was married to Miss Katherine Johnson, also of that country, where they
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were married. They came to California in the sixties where Mr. Beck worked as a brick-mason and contractor. There were four girls and one boy in the Beck family: Marie, Mrs. Wm. F. Boyd, of San Francisco; George P., of Redwood City; Katherine M., now Mrs. Frank Slater, of Walnut Creek; and her twin Anna C., Mrs. E. M. Bullock, of Occi- dental; and Mrs. Edith C. O'Neill. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill have three children: John Milton, a graduate of the Richmond High School, mar- ried Vivian E. Vogel and they have a son Eugene Milton; Lawrence Gordon and Edith Marie are attending the grammar school. Mr. O'Neill is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Young Men's Institute. He owns his own home in Pinole and always works for the best interests of his community as a loyal native son. A sketch of Mr. O'Neill's parents and family will be found on another page in this history.
GEORGE J. WINKELMAN .- Thirty-five years have brought more than the average realization of expectations to George J. Winkelman, a resident of Martinez for that period. He is the owner of much valuable real estate in the city; part owner and a director in the Martinez- Benicia Auto Ferry; and organizer and a director in the National Bank of Martinez. He is the manager of the Alhambra Market, located at 707 Main Street, and part owner in the apartments known as the City Hall Building on Main Street. No better indication could be exhibited of the confidence in the future of his home city than has been demon- strated by Mr. Winkelman in the investments that he has made in Mar- tinez. In partnership with the late J. J. McNamara the Alhambra Market was established in 1904. Mr. McNamara passed away on De- cember 9, 1922, and Mr. Winkelman since then has succeeded to the ownership of the properties jointly owned by them.
George J. Winkelman was born in Erie County, N. Y., on July 4, 1867, and there he grew up and attended school. After he left school he worked around on farms until coming to California. Arriving in the Golden State he began looking about for farm work and for ten years was the manager of the fruit farm owned by Charles S. Deal; later he successfully managed the Grace Allen farm in Contra Costa County.
Mr. Winkelman has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Josephine Hittman, who passed away in 1906 and left two children: Welford, now assistant manager of the Alhambra Market, married Miss Germina Mazuppa; and Raymond, who married Marie Ruh, of Oakland, is a salesman for the Chanslor & Lyon Company, traveling out of Oak- land where he resides. Mr. Winkelman was married the second time to Miss Martha Powers of Martinez, who passed away in January, 1921, leaving a son, George Joseph, Jr., only fifteen days old. In September, 1924, Mr. Winkelman and his son Raymond, purchased twenty acres of land in Big Valley, Lake County, Cal., which they have planted to Bartlett pears. Mr. Winkelman and his son Welford conduct the Al- hambra Market at 707 Main Street, Martinez; it is clean and sanitary
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and has become one of the leading markets of Contra Costa County. Fraternally Mr. Winkelman is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, Loyal Order of Moose and the Eagles, all of Martinez. With his fam- ily he is a communicant of the Catholic Church. Since the death of Mr. McNamara, Mr. Winkelman has taken his place on directorates and in the ownership of the properties owned in common. He is now serving on the board of trustees of the City of Martinez, having been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Councilman Brunscher.
GIULIO ROSSI .- A highly respected citizen of Contra Costa County and a resident of El Cerrito is found in Giulio Rossi, dealer in real estate and insurance, with his office and residence on Potrero Ave- nue, near San Pablo Avenue. A native of Italy, he was born on May 12, 1873, at Lonate Pozzolo, in the province of Milano. As a lad he at- tended the public schools in his native town and from the age of fourteen began to be self-supporting, as a handy lad for a flouring mill, doing any and every kind of work about the place. He was energetic and advanced rapidly and when he was twenty-four was a foreman of a construction crew of 114 men, from his own village, in the building of a canal to bring water down from the high Alps to generate electric power for the industrial plants in his native province. It was by his persistency of purpose in demanding employment for the men of his village that he was at last given a foremanship and thereafter kept busy with his work, continuing for three years.
In 1901 Mr. Rossi came to California. He had some friends in Stege and at once secured employment with the Stauffer Chemical Com- pany, continuing there for seven years and being advanced from time to time to better pay and a more responsible position. He had married in Italy, in February, 1899, Miss Mary Bossetti, born in his native province and they had one son, Joseph, who is now associated with his father in the real estate and insurance business, under the firm name of G. Rossi & Son. In 1907 Mr. Rossi sent for his wife and boy and they arrived here on April 17, of that year. He had purchased property where he now lives and on it erected a house, into which he moved his family; he also had a store building, which he stocked with general merchandise and for two years carried on a very good business. He lost his building and stock by fire in 1909, causing him a loss of some $4,000, the accumula- tions of his seven years work in the chemical plant. Nothing daunted he rebuilt and opened a liquor store, continuing until the Eighteenth Amend- ment went into effect, at which time he was appointed by the government to look after the wine under bond in his place of business. The court decided in 1925 that the tax should be paid, which amounted to $1265, and the wine was destroyed. Then Mr. Rossi embarked in the real estate and insurance business and handles property anywhere in this district. At one time he owned a ranch in San Joaquin County which was sold some time ago. In 1925 Mr. Rossi remodeled one of his buildings and his son opened an athletic club, the district being well suited for that
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sort of an entertainment hall. A good future is in prospect for the busi- ness. It has been the aim of Mr. Rossi to reinvest every cent he has made here for he knows that in the near future the advance in price will justify his investments.
In 1908 a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Rossi whom they named Edith M. She and her brother Joseph are graduates of the Richmond High School; she is a bookkeeper and was employed by the North El Cerrito General Merchandise Corporation, in which her father is interested and was its president four years. Joseph is a mechanic by trade. While in Italy Mr. Rossi served eighteen months in the Italian Army at Genova. In 1910 he was made a citizen of the United States in Martinez, is a Republican and a stanch supporter of Hiram Johnson and his policies. Fraternally he is a member of the Order of Owls in El Cerrito, and also belongs to an Italian mutual benefit association of Albany. He is a man of his word, believes in treating others as he would have them treat him, and has made a host of warm friends by so doing. He has a firm belief in his county and is a true citizen of America.
E. A. CRIVELLI .- The proprietor of Milano Hotel, corner of Second Avenue and Ceres Street, in Valona, is E. A. Crivelli, an Italian- American of sterling worth. He comes from a family of prominence in the province of Milano, Italy, where he was born near Milano, on Feb- ruary 18, 1888, a son of Felice and Giovanni Crivelli, both of whom are now deceased. The father was for many years in the employ of the Italian government. There were but two children in the family: Mary, who married Orpillo Orlando, formerly of Valona but now of Milano, Italy; and our subject. The public schools of Italy furnished our subject his education, and he has a command of the Italian, Spanish, French and English languages. While he studied the latter in the Italian schools, most of his English has been acquired since he came to America, through business connections and by reading. At the age of nineteen he left his native land and sailed from Havre, France, on July 25, 1907, arriving in New York on August 2, and in San Francisco on August 10. The very next day he came to Valona, where his sister was living, and it was not long before he secured a job as a day laborer at the Selby Smelter. After continuing thus for two years, he was then promoted to be a foreman and remained with the concern for fourteen years. In 1925 he became the proprietor of the Milano Hotel, which has eighteen rooms and is a clean and sanitary hostelry. It has a reputation as the home of real Italian cooking, and the tables are supplied with the best the markets afford.
Mr. Crivelli was married at Martinez, in 1913, to Miss Carolina Mazza, also a native of Milano province. She came to California at the age of seventeen. They have two children, Raymond and Beatrice. Mr. Crivelli is a member of the Foresters and the Druids. The family attend the Catholic Church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crivelli are naturalized citi- zens and Republicans. On all occasions they show their public spirit and their faith in Crockett.
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TOM F. TREZONA .- One of the proprietors of the Superior Service Stations located at the corner of Fourth and Black Diamond Streets and at Tenth Street and Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg is Tom F. Trezona. These service stations handle the Associated products and various oils and auto accessories, and also do battery work under the name of the Pittsburg Battery Company, specializing in the Willard Batteries. The company sell, rebuild and charge batteries. Prompt attention is given patrons of these stations, and obliging attendants are always on hand to see that customers are satisfied.
Tom F. Trezona was born in Virginia City, Nev., July 6, 1894, and his partner, F. T. Bastian, was born in Kansas City, Mo. They came to Pittsburg in 1922 and began their present business, and they now have two of the best stations in the city. They are both able and efficient men, attend strictly to their business, and give a square deal to every- body. Both are men of family and are a welcome addition to the busi- ness circles of Pittsburg. They show their public spirit by supporting worthy projects for the advancement of their adopted community. Tom F. Trezona is a member of the Masons, the Odd Fellows, Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce, all in Pittsburg.
I. P. TIKIOB .- Often referred to as the father of the Farm Bureau of Contra Costa County, and well-known throughout the county as an important factor in water development in this section of California, I. P. Tikiob is recognized as having had great influence on the agricultural and horticultural development of Contra Costa County. Born in Middle- boro, Mass., July 29, 1884, he is a son of I. E. Tikiob, who was born in the Danish West Indies, of English and Danish descent. His grand- father, I. P. Tikiob, was a well-educated man who spoke several lan- guages and was a sea captain. I. E. Tikiob married Maria Roberts, a native of Fayette City, Pa., on the Monongahela River. Her death oc- curred in Massachusetts. Seven children were born to them, our subject being the fourth in order of birth. The father, a contractor and builder in Massachusetts, came to Los Angeles, Cal., and died in 1925.
I. P. Tikiob was reared in Massachusetts and attended the grammar school and high school there. He worked at well-boring and also as an electrician, and followed that trade in Massachusetts until 1912, when he came to California and located in Oakland for a time, working as an electrician. In 1913 Mr. Tikiob came to Walnut Creek and bought a ranch, and in 1917 established himself in business as a well-borer. Since that time he has been steadily engaged in water development and has found that his former experience in that work, both in California and in the East, gives him an excellent understanding of water forma- tions and conditions wherever found. He operates two rigs, both of them built by himself, one being of the percussion, or standard type, and the other a rotary rig. He has been unusually successful in the develop- ment of wells for irrigation purposes as well as for domestic use. He
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had made a close study of geological conditions in Contra Costa County, using former surveys of formations, and checking carefully by logs of wells previously drilled; and the data thus obtained, together with the results of his own experience, have all combined to insure his success. In this work he has helped greatly in forwarding the county's develop- ment, for with an abundance of water and the wonderful soil conditions found in Contra Costa County, its future prosperity is assured.
Mr. Tikiob was one of the prime movers in organizing the Farm Bureau of Contra Costa County, and perhaps the man most instrumental in bringing it to a reality; and he also helped to organize all the Farm Centers in the County, in all of which work he had the loyal support of the local press. He was director at large the first year, and then, be- cause his hearing became impaired, declined further service in that office; but the good work he started has kept growing and expanding, and will always be a monument to his foresight and public spirit.
The marriage of Mr. Tikiob occurred on June 19, 1907, in New Haven, Conn. and united him with Miss Mabel Cummings, a graduate of the normal school there and for several years before her marriage a successful educator. Two children have blessed their union, Marcia and Ruth. The family residence is in the Pleasant Hill district, while Mr. Tikiob maintains his business office on Main Street, in Walnut Creek. Made a Mason in Rising Sun Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., at Washing- ton Depot, Conn., Mr. Tikiob still retains his membership there. In political belief he is a stanch Republican.
ALEX RONALD .- The proprietor of the Pioneer Coal and Trans- fer Company, Alex Ronald is a highly respected citizen of Richmond. In the operation of his business he runs three trucks and employs three men, and the growth of the enterprise has been gradual and satisfactory. Mr. Ronald was born at Moingona, Boone County, Iowa, August 23, 1878, a son of Harry and Lizzie (Drydale) Ronald. The father came from his native country of England with his parents when he was but three years old, and they settled at Roslyn, Wash., where the grandparents of our subject were among the pioneers. Their family consisted of the following children: Alex, James, Robert, Harry, Raymond, Mitchell, Mrs. Annie Dellahan, Mrs. Emma Lumley, and Mrs. Hettie Dunn.
Alex Ronald attended the common schools and grew up in Washing- ton, and his first work was mining, at which he continued for six years. He next worked at railroading for about eighteen years, and then took a contract to operate the coal mines in Vancouver Island for three years, handling from 110 to 115 men. Leaving there, he came direct to Rich- mond in 1925 and bought the coal and transfer business owned and operated by R. E. Schrader; and he is continuing the broad policies of the former owner. Mr. Ronald knows his business and always keeps in close touch with its details. With the growth of Richmond, he plans to en- large the capacity of his plant and to better handle the volume of busi-
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ness from an economic point of view. The territory over which he op- erates covers considerable ground and his trucks are busy all the time.
Mr. Ronald was married at Roslyn, Wash., on June 25, 1900, to Miss Jennie Toner, daughter of Ambhurst Toner. She has one sister, Mrs. Mary Dailey, in San Francisco. There are two children to brighten the home circle: Nellie, a graduate from the high school and Heald's Business College ; and Thelma, attending grammar school. Mr. Ronald's hobby is to "stay on the job." He is fond of hunting and fishing, and when in Washington went out to shoot big game, deer and bear. He mentions the abundance of game on Vancouver Island and the excellent hunting it offered.
AUGUSTUS BESSENT .- A man who has made a really outstand- ing success in a business way in Contra Costa County, Mr. Bessent is well-known throughout the Bay district and is recognized as a business man of strict integrity and unusual ability, with a real interest in the advancement of his adopted country. Born in Pontypool, England, on February 11, 1882, he was reared in that country, the son of Alfred and Jeanette (Deer) Bessent. The father was for thirty-seven years a police- man in Pontypool, where both parents' death occurred.
The youngest of a family of four children born to his parents, "Gus" Bessent, as he is familiarly called, learned the furniture business in his home community, and also worked for the Dunlop Tire factory in Man- chester, England, where he learned tire making in every detail and laid the foundation for future success in life. He came to the United States in 1914 and first located in San Francisco, where he started a retreading tire shop, but only remained in that city for a short time. That same year, with $110 as capital, he came to Contra Costa County, and bought one acre of ground on the Pacheco Road, at Vine Hill. Here he built a shack and started retreading tires, and he has enjoyed almost phenom- enal success. In 1924 he did a gross business of $124,000, handling more tires than the aggregate of other dealers in the county (see mention in the Tire Magazine for December, 1924). He is now vulcanizing, re- treading and distributing tires, wholesale as well as retail, and handles Star, Royal, Lancaster, Savage, Brunswick, and Spreckels cord and fabric tires, and the same makes of tubes, carrying an immense stock on hand at all times and employing two men besides himself, while Mrs. Bessent does her share as bookkeeper for the shop. He attends many tire con- ventions as representative of the tire concerns, and is the best-known individual tire man in the United States.
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