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 104
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The marriage of Mr. Bessent, at Martinez, united him with Miss Emily Eggleston of Vine Hill, daughter of William and Catherine (Lins- key) Eggleston, the former a native of Ottringham, England, and the latter also a native of that country, though their marriage occurred in Detroit, Mich. They became the parents of three children: Kate Ellen; Lilly May ; and Emily Jane, now Mrs. Bessent. Mr. and Mrs. Eggleston came to California and the former became one of the well-known pioneer
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ranchers of the Alhambra Valley, in Contra Costa County. He is now living retired in Berkeley, having reached seventy-eight years in life's span. Mrs. Bessent has been a true helpmate to her husband. Before her marriage she was a successful business woman, having served for fourteen years as deputy auditor for Contra Costa County. One child has blessed their marriage, Trent.
In addition to his tire business, Mr. Bessent wholesales and retails Bessent's Batteries, and is connected with the Standard Battery Company of San Francisco, as a stockholder; and he is also a stockholder in the Pacific Gas and Electric Company of Pittsburg, the Sierra Pacific of Columbia Hill, and other companies. He was naturalized in Judge Mc- Kenzie's court at Martinez, and votes for the men and measures he deems best calculated to further the progress of Contra Costa County.
During 1917 Mr. Bessent's shop was robbed and $1100 worth of merchandise was stolen. Sheriff Veale became acquainted with him at this time and appointed him a deputy sheriff, in which office he is now serving. He is thoroughly well liked, both in his home community and throughout the county. Mr. Bessent is proud of his possession of medals won in the Crimean War by his father, who served as a sergeant during that conflict.
G. W. VAN DER BUNDT .- G. W. van der Bundt is a substantial representative of the industrious citizens of the Antioch section of Con- tra Costa County. He is a native of Holland, born on September 6, 1882, the fourth in order of birth in a family of seven children, all born and reared in Holland. He attended grammar school, and at the age of thirteen began working for wages, but lived at home, and at the same time entered upon an apprenticeship to become a landscape gardener. He studied at night in order to enter the Royal Academy at The Hague, pursuing the preparatory branches such as English, grammar and alge- bra ; and used his meager earnings for private teachers. After completing his apprenticeship he entered the Royal Academy, taking up agriculture and horticulture for the next five years, when he was made head gardener at The Hague.
On November 1, 1909, Mr. van der Bundt was married to Miss Edith Julina Smythe, a native of England, and to them were born three children : Livinus G. W. and Walter Sydney were born in Holland; and Harriet Edith was born after the family came to America.
In October, 1912, Mr. van der Bundt and his family arrived in the United States, settling first at Herbster, Wis., where he was unfortu- nately victimized by an unscrupulous real estate agent who sold him land which took all of his savings, and had to be given up because it was land owned by Indians. The family then went to Minneapolis, where he soon found work as a gardener on a large estate on the shore of Lake Calhoun. Mrs. van der Bundt was then in frail health and her doctor advised coming West to a milder climate. They then came to California and located at Salinas, where Mr. van der Bundt had charge of the nurs-
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ery and flower department of the Salinas Nursery Company; while his brother L. J. took charge of the bulbs. This connection, however, proved unsatisfactory and the family removed to Oakland, where Mrs. van der Bundt passed away on February 12, 1919. The task of rearing his three children was of great concern to Mr. van der Bundt and in order to give them better advantages he came to Antioch, where he be- came gardener for the Great Western Power Company, a position he held for two years; then he went to the Paraffine Company, Inc., and still occupies the position of superintendent of its gardens. In addition to his work as gardener he is operating a poultry farm of twenty-eight acres on the State Highway, two and a half miles east of Antioch; he keeps about 500 pullets and 250 two-year old hens of single comb White Leghorns.
L. J. van der Bundt, the brother of our subject was born in Holland November 1, 1885, and came to America in 1911. He is a landscape gardener and his specialty is the caring for and raising of bulbous plants. The van der Bundt brothers are successful poultrymen and are members of the Poultry Producers Association of California. They are both well trained and well educated and are a valuable addition to the population of Antioch and Contra Costa County.
WILLIAM CHARLES RICHARDS .- One of the leading feed and fuel merchants in Richmond is William Charles Richards, whose place of business is located at 1316 Macdonald Avenue. He is a native son of the State, born at Sonora, Tuolumne County, on February 9, 1875. His parents, William T. and Mary Elizabeth (Lanyon) Richards, were born in Wisconsin and England, respectively. When a child of three years the mother was brought to America and her parents settled at Hazel- green, Wis., where she grew up and later married Mr. Richards. Soon after, they decided to come to California and on reaching here located at Sonora. Their children were: Eliza Ann, Mrs. J. Ferguson, of Sonora; James H., of Hughson, Stanislaus County; an infant that died; William C. of this review; and Cyrus, a rancher in Tuolumne County.
After finishing his education in the public schools of his birthplace, William Charles Richards started out to make his own way in the world. With his father as a partner he carried on a farm at Sonora until 1923. Disposing of his interests, he then came to Richmond and for six months worked for W. J. McCarthy, after which he established his present business at 1316 Macdonald Avenue. He handles feed, fuel, seeds, poultry supplies, bird foods and sprays and spray material, delivering to all parts of Richmond and throughout the surrounding country by auto truck. He owns his home and other property in Richmond and is accounted among the public-spirited citizens of the county; and he still owns a ranch in Sonora.
Mr. Richards was married on September 12, 1900, to Miss Margery Neighbor, of Snelling, Merced County. She is a daughter of the late Gilbert and Matilda (Smith) Neighbor, the former of New Jersey and
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the latter a native daughter of California, born in Jamestown. The children in the Neighbor household are: Charles Grant, in Oakland; Mrs. Richards; Mrs. Fred Robinson, of Merced County; Mrs. R. H. Allen, of Tracy; Melvin W., of Snelling; Ethel, Mrs. J. East, of Snell- ing; Pearl and Josephine, both deceased. Mrs. Neighbor still makes her home in Snelling. Mr. and Mrs. Richards have four children. Mary A., wife of J. Rihn, of Richmond, is a teacher and has a son, Richard. She attended the high school and took two terms in the University of Cali- fornia. Elmer L. was educated at high school, specialized in manual training, and is employed by the Santa Fe as a machinist. Gertrude and William Gilbert are in grammar school.
HENRY DEWEY MASON .- A prominent man in business and fraternal circles in Richmond is Henry Dewey Mason, proprietor of the Richmond Ice Delivery Company. He is a native of California, born in Merced County, on November 28, 1872, the son of Ezra C. and Clara (Dewey) Mason, natives of Elizabethtown, N. J. and Worcester, Mass., respectively. The father came to California as' a sailor in 1864, and settling in Merced County, engaged in ranching for many years. He came to Point Richmond in 1901 and opened a saloon. For a time the family lived in a tent because there were but few houses here and all occupied. Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Mason were married in Monterey in 1871, and their children were: Henry D., of this review; Lulu, married J. R. Johnson and lives in Richmond; Elvina, married T. D. Wilson of Le Grand, Cal .; Walter G., also lives in Merced County; George and Charles are deceased.
Henry D. Mason attended the Merced public schools and his first employment was in a drug store in that city. Two years later he went to Coalinga as superintendent for the Merced Oil Company, but after two years there he went to ranching, continuing for three years. Leaving that occupation he came to Richmond and secured employment with the Standard Oil Company at the refinery; then was employed with the Santa Fe Railroad about two years. Meantime he engaged in the ice business, beginning on a moderately small scale; and now by giving the business his entire attention he has built up a lucrative trade. His place of busi- ness is No. 11, Sixth Street, where he began in October, 1903. His father was a partner until 1918, when Henry D. took it over and has since conducted it alone.
On October 26, 1910, Henry Dewey Mason and Miss Mabel Ny- strom were united in marriage. She is the daughter of the late John R. Nystrom, who is mentioned elsewhere in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have six children: Laurel and Lloyd are in the high schools in Richmond; Clyde and Edwin are grammar school pupils; Clara and Mabel Louise are the youngest. Mr. Mason served three years as secretary of the Eagles, of which he is an active member and a Past President; also is a Past President and secretary of the Native Sons. He
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belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Encampment and the Rebekahs; and to the Elks. Mrs. Mason belongs to the Eastern Star, the Rebekahs and the Native Daughters, and is a Past President of the latter. Mr. Mason is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and takes an active interest in all civic movements. His recreation is found in camping and motoring.
JOHN E. STALLINGS .- The chief engineer of the Coos Bay Lum- ber Company at Bay Point, Cal., John E. Stallings, thoroughly under- stands both electrical and steam engineering, and by study and practice has equipped himself for the important position he has been filling with much credit to himself and to the company. He was born in Pike County, Miss., on October 4, 1870, a son of John and Lucy (King) Stallings. His father was a mechanic in the employ of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad at Tylertown, Miss., and in that State both his father and mother were born and married. Thus it was that early in life, after his school days were over, young Stallings took to mechanics and worked with machinery till he had mastered the business fairly well, when he changed and became a stationary engineer with the Big Creek Lumber Company, a subsidiary of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, and for ten years was stationed at Pollock, La., until the mill was destroyed by fire in 1906. His next move was to Rochelle, La., and there he was engaged with the Louisiana Lumber Company, installing their engines and boilers. When this company was sold to the Fremont Lumber Com- pany, Mr. Stallings remained with the new owners until 1920. He ar- rived at Bay Point on February 1, 1921, for his work with the present company.
The Coos Bay Lumber Company operate one of the largest lumber manufacturing plants on the Pacific Coast. Their main power is a 600 h. p. Allis-Chalmers Corliss steam engine for the planing mill. This same engine runs a 200-kilowatt generator for additional power, and the company also buys additional power. The water supply comes from four deep wells with two 75 h.p. pumps, electrically driven and supplying water to the lumber company's plant and to Bay Point for domestic use, as also to the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding plant. There are four boilers with a total of 750 h.p. to generate steam for the Corliss engine that also supplies power. The duties devolving upon the chief engineer are exacting, but he has proved himself able to give entire satisfaction to his employers. He is a kindly man and able to look upon both sides of questions before making any decision. While working in Louisiana he met with a serious accident that unfortunately crippled him for life, but notwithstanding this he fulfills every duty his position necessitates.
When Mr. Stallings came to marry he chose for his wife Miss Louisa Lucas, daughter of Ed. Lucas, a Louisiana planter. Their wedding was celebrated at Alexandria, La., on October 11, 1888; and they have four sons. John Oliver is head filer for the Euwona Lumber Company, at Klamath Falls, Ore. He was married at Rochelle, La., to Marguerite Heartbunnier; and they have three children: Geraldine, Jewell, and
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Juanita. James Augustus, known as "Gust," is the proprietor of a gar- age at McNeary, Ariz. He was married at Rochelle, La., to Miss Ellen Taylor; and they have two children, Dorothy and Doris. William is head filer for the Shaw-Bertrand Lumber Company, at Klamath Falls, Ore. He was married at Rochelle, La., to Miss Lillie Belle Nash. Luther Edgar is in the sales department of the Pelican Bay Lumber Com- pany, with general offices at Klamath Falls, Ore. He also was married in Rochelle, La., his wife's maiden name being Mary Cole; and they have two children, Edgar, Jr., and Zachrie. Fraternally, Mr. Stallings is a member of the Odd Fellows at Bay Point, and of the Woodmen of the World at Rochelle, La. Mr. and Mrs. Stallings hold to the Bap- tist Church and support its work, although there is no church of that denomination at Bay Point. Politically, he votes with the Democrats.
MICHAEL LOUIS DEL MONTE .- A native son of Contra Costa County, Mr. Del Monte has lived practically his entire life here, and is now enjoying the fruits of a life of industry and intelligent cooperation. Born at Black Diamond, now Pittsburg, on December 5, 1885, he is the son of Frank and Ida (Scudero) Del Monte, the former a native of Italy, and the latter of Pittsburg, where she passed away at the early age of forty-one years. Of their ten children, Michael Louis is the sec- ond, and when the family moved from Pittsburg to Rodeo, in 1892, he came with them and finished his schooling there. Leaving grammar school to go to work for the Union Oil Company, he learned the steam- fitting and plumbing trade, and worked at different jobs for that company and for the Hercules Powder Works and the Selby Smelting Company. For a time he was engaged, with his father as a partner, in running the Hotel Rodeo, at Rodeo. His father, now seventy-five years old, is in the furniture business in Pittsburg, still active and hearty.
Returning to work for the Union Oil Company in 1907, Mr. Del Monte has been with them since that date and is now the head of the pipe line department at Oleum, with thirty-five men under him. He has served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Veale since 1906, and has won the confidence of the people of the county by his strict adherence to duty, under all circumstances, some of them exceedingly hazardous, and stands in line for political preferment.
The marriage of Mr. Del Monte, occurring at Richmond on Septem- ber 7, 1910, united him with Miss Mary Wasco, a native of Mckeesport, Pa., who was reared from the age of fourteen in California. Her father, Andy Wasco, is a pipe-fitter, now employed at El Segundo, Cal. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Del Monte, Bernice and Jeanette.
Fraternally, Mr. Del Monte is a Mason, a member of the Pinole lodge of that order. Politically he is a Republican. In all walks of life he is an upright and public-spirited man, with the best interests of his community at heart.
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JAMES E. RIAL .- A self-made man now residing in Richmond and an employee of the Standard Oil Company, at their refinery, is James E. Rial who lives at No. 510 Washington Avenue. He was born at Emlenton, Pa., and was orphaned at a tender age by the death of his parents, after which he was adopted into the family of Edward Rial, by whom he was reared. He attended the public schools at Franklin, Pa., and at the age of twenty-two started out in life on his own account and entered the book and stationery business in Franklin, remaining about eight years. He then went to New York and was employed by Lord and Taylor for two years, after which he returned to Franklin, Pa., and found work with a brass manufacturing company for two more years. Thus equipped with a firm foundation he came to California and to Rich- mond and here entered the refinery, starting in the manufacturing de- partment and is still in that part of the work in this great institution, where he is fuel man.
On April 11, 1898, Mr. Rial was united in marriage with Miss Alice Parker, of Oil City, Pa., daughter of the late Henry Parker and his wife, who is also deceased. They have one child Catherine, Mrs. Ross Stewart, of Houston, Texas, who has a son and a daughter. Mr. Rial is a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was reared a Presbyterian. They own their own home in Richmond and take an active interest in all civic affairs. Mr. Rial enjoys automobiling as his recreation.
GIUSEPPE TROIA .- Persistency of purpose, coupled with a defi- nite aim in life, has helped Giuseppe Troia to reach the goal set before him when a lad in far off Italy; and that is a plumbing establishment of his own. On January 1, 1890, he was born at Palermo, Island of Sicily, Italy, the son and the fifth child of Giuseppe and Pietra Troia. The father has been for years in the service of the railway managed by the Italian government; the mother passed away in the spring of 1925 at the age of sixty years.
Giuseppe Troia received a good education in the public schools of Palermo and when only thirteen years of age was apprenticed to the plumbing trade. In 1905 he emigrated to America and for a while worked at the plumber's trade in Chicago. About 1913 he made his first trip to California, but later returned to Chicago and from there returned to Italy and enlisted in the Italian Army, being assigned to the Infantry. He served twenty-two months, thirteen of which he was actively engaged in battle-front service, including Piave, Monte Ciamissi, Monte Grappa, Camp Elonda, and from there marched to Triento, after which he was honorably discharged from service. In 1919 he returned to America and for two years was in San Francisco, employed at his trade as a plumber. In July, 1921, Mr. Troia located in Pittsburg, where he again engaged in plumbing. That year he opened a plumbing establishment at 327 Black Diamond Street, and this he has successfully managed and operated ever since. During this time he has done the
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plumbing in twenty bungalows in Pittsburg and conducted a general plumbing business. He is a member of the Pittsburg Chamber of Com- merce and is keenly interested in the advancement of the city.
On October 22, 1922, Giuseppe Troia was united in marriage with Mrs. Angelina Milta, whose maiden name was Angelina Camara, a daughter of the late Alfonso Camara, a veteran sailor who had visited many ports throughout the world. Mr. and Mrs. Troia are the parents of one son, Giuseppe Troia, Jr. Mrs. Troia has a daughter by her first husband, Lucy Milta.
D. G. STATHAKIS .- Another intelligently enterprising and ener- getic business man who has made good in Martinez is D. G. Stathakis, proprietor of the Martinez Candy Store and one of the substantial men of the community. He was born near Sparta, Greece, on February 24, 1887. His father, now deceased, was a farmer by occupation, and died before his young son was five years old; the mother, Georgia (Sin- adinou) Stathakis, is still living in the old home in Greece. Educated in the public schools of his native country, and reared in the Greek Ortho- dox Church, Mr. Stathakis was ambitious to make his way in the world and left home when a youth of seventeen, sailing from Piraeus, Greece, and landing at Ellis Island, New York City, on April 14, 1904. He came on to Sioux City, Iowa, where he had a cousin, and remained there three months. From there he went to Chicago, thence to Springfield, Ill., then back to Chicago, and in 1905 to Terre Haute, Ind., where he remained until July, 1907. During most of this time he was en- gaged in the confectionery business.
From Terre Haute Mr. Stathakis bought a ticket to Redding, Cal., and there he worked in a sawmill for a time. In the fall of 1907 he came to San Francisco, remaining in that city until August, 1909; and on August 6 of that year he located in Martinez. For a time he worked for John Magulas, the pioneer confectioner of Martinez; and then, on May 6, 1911, he started his own confectionery store at 719 Main Street. He spent thousands of dollars in putting in modern fixtures, marble counters, soda fountain, and up-to-date dining booths finished in ma- hogany, for besides his confectionery store he engaged in a complete fountain and restaurant service, equal to any found in the largest cities. His confidence in Martinez as a place in which to start such a business met with immediate response from his fellow townspeople, and he has prospered exceedingly. In September, 1921, he purchased the building, known as the Dr. Rattan Building, in which his store is housed, on the main business street in Martinez.
Mr. Stathakis was married in 1925 to Miss Dragica Ellen Andratich, of Martinez. He was made an American citizen on April 17, 1913, in the United States District Court at San Francisco, before Judge Van Fleet. He served in the World War in the 12th Infantry, getting as far as New York, after having trained at Camp Fremont, before the
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armistice was signed, and he was honorably discharged at Newport News. He had a manager in charge of his business while away, and returned to civilian life once more to take up his business affairs, on February 4, 1919. Fraternally, Mr. Stathakis is a member of the Martinez Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the American Legion. In politics he is a Republican.
BEN EDWARD STOTTS .- Numbered among the Spanish-Ameri- can War Veterans in Contra Costa is Ben E. Stotts of Martinez. He is connected with the Gazette Publishing Company and is an all-round practical printer, having followed that trade practically all his life since leaving school. He was born on November 23, 1877, in Wichita, Kans., the son of Ben Bell and Sarah Catherine (Pennington) Stotts. The father was a native of Kentucky and served during the Civil War with the Kansas Volunteer Battery.
Ben Edward Stotts was sent to the grammar schools in Colorado, where the family were then living, and as soon as he had finished the work there he entered a printing office to learn the business from the ground up. Starting as "printer's devil" he has risen through the ranks till he is accounted one of the old-time experienced printers, able to hold down any kind of a job to be found in a printing office. During the Spanish-American War he enlisted and served in the Philippines with Company C, First Colorado Volunteers. He belongs to the Spanish War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Veterans Service Club. In his political views Ben is a Republican.
On January 25, 1915, Ben E. Stotts was united in marriage with Miss Mackie May Shelby, daughter of William Reed and Fannie D. Shelby, and they are the parents of a son Ben Edward Stotts, Jr. For recreation Ben goes trout fishing, a sport he greatly enjoys.
OSWALD HARRY REBER .- An employee of the Columbia Steel Corporation who is making a name and place for himself in the steel business is Oswald Harry Reber, more familiarly called Harry Reber by his many friends. He was born on July 20, 1891, at Angels Camp, Calaveras County, where his father, Godfrey Reber, was a jeweler. God- frey Reber is numbered among the pioneers of Calveras County, but is now living in San Pedro.
Oswald Harry Reber attended the public schools in Calveras County until he was ten years old, then accompanied the family to Petaluma, and from there came to Richmond in 1911. He found employment at the great winery at Winehaven, and from that position went to work for the Pioneer Rubber Works in Pittsburg, remaining there four years. His connection with the steel company dates from this period, when he en- tered the furnace department as second helper in the open-hearth fur- naces. He continued at his work until he joined the army, in the 1st Division of the 26th Infantry. He trained at Camp Lewis, and at Camp Mills for three weeks, and then went over seas on the Leviathan and
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landed in Liverpool on December 25, 1917. He trained at Gonder- court, in France, from which place he was assigned to the Soissons front and took part in the first skirmish. He was taken with the flu and was in the hospital and evacuation camp when the armistice was signed. He was sent to Brest, where he embarked for New York, and landed on his home shores on July 25, 1919. He received his honorable discharge at Mitchell's Field, Long Island. Arriving in Pittsburg, Cal., he re- sumed his position with the Columbia Steel Corporation as first helper at the open-hearth furnace. From this position he became a melter, and then an assistant foreman in 1924.
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