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 106
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ANTONIO FILOMEO .- An energetic and successful man of Italian birth, but who was brought to San Francisco when a mere babe and reared in California, Antonio Filomeo has made good in his adopted country, where he has held various public offices and reached a substantial position in life. Born in Concenso, near Naples, Italy, on November 16, 1871, he is the son of John and Rosa Filomeo. The father came to San Francisco and for a time engaged in working for the Southern Pacific Railway, and later at ranching near Vacaville. Two of their four chil- dren were born in Italy. The mother and two children joined Mr. Filo- meo here in California, where the two youngest children were born. Their names follow: Agnes, wife of Peter Dito, residing in San Fran- cisco; Antonio, of this review; Frank, of Oakland; and Mary, wife of George Dalto,a business man of Vacaville. The good wife and mother died in Oakland, in 1918, having reached seventy-two in life's span; the father passed to his reward in 1896, his death occurring at Vacaville when he was fifty-five years old.
Antonio Filomeo was reared in San Francisco and attended the public schools of that city until thirteen years old, when the family moved to Vacaville, where he continued his schooling, and passed his boyhood on the home ranch of thirty-six acres. He helped in the ranch work until reaching twenty-one years, when he bought a ranch of his own, near Vacaville, and raised hay and fruit. Since then he has owned and farmed several ranches, at one time owning and operating 500 acres near Vaca- ville. An exceptionally public-spirited man, for sixteen years he was road master at Vacaville, and also served on the high school board of that city for eight years, being twice elected.
In 1920 Mr. Filomeo purchased his 196-acre ranch in Contra Costa County, situated about three and one-half miles south of Martinez, and has met with deserved success in its operation. The property has sixty acres planted to grapes; apricots, peaches and prunes on twenty addi- tional acres; and the balance is devoted to hay, grain and pasture, mak- ing it one of the most valuable ranches in Contra Costa County. The ranch is operated by the son John Filomeo. Mr. Filomeo is now a resi- dent of Oakland, where he is in the real estate business. Mr. Filomeo is
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a stockholder in the Oakland branch of the Banca Papolan Fugazi. He is a man of fine business acumen, making his industry count for some- thing, and profiting by his investments.
The marriage of Mr. Filomeo, which occurred at San Francisco, September 16, 1895, united him with Miss Severia Dalto, a native of Italy, who was brought to the United States when she was eleven months old, by her parents, Joseph and Conchica Dalto. After living one year in New York City, the family came west to California and became ranch- ers at Vacaville, and there the young people met and were married. Mr. Filomeo ranched in Vacaville from 1884 until 1916, and is still largely interested in ranch lands at that place. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Filomeo: John, married Miss Madalene Corabello and is the father of five children, John, Vivian, Bobby, Elma and Donald; Joseph, married Miss Mamia Alexander and has one child, Leonard; Edward, married Vittie Jacoso; William, married Hazel Johnson and has one child; Rosa, wife of Brazil Sobasco, is the mother of two chil- dren; Alvira and Lucile.
MISS AGNES M. DRISCOLL .- The institution known as the Cot- tage Hospital, in Richmond, is owned and presided over by Miss Agnes M. Driscoll, a very competent nurse and good business woman who lo- cated in this industrial city in 1918. The principal work here is emer- gency surgical cases coming from the various industrial plants located in Richmond and its environs. The hospital is equipped with the most modern appliances to be found in the realm of surgery, and has a capac- ity for the accommodation of twenty patients. This humanitarian insti- tution fills a long-felt need in Richmond, and is patronized by practi- tioners of the medical profession in the city, who here find ample ac- commodations and competent nurses for their patients.
Miss Driscoll was born in Newfoundland, Canada, in 1884, a daugh- ter of Edward and Sarah Driscoll, who were farmers and merchants in Canada. The daughter attended the public schools in Newfoundland, and after finishing high school entered a nurse's training school, in 1906, at the Massachusetts State Infirmary, graduating three years later. For the next two years she did tubercular work in charge of a sanitarium at Redding, Mass .; then for two more years she was in the contagious de- partment of the Municipal Hospital in Philadelphia. A call came to go to Texas, and she spent two years in San Antonio. In 1917 she came to San Francisco and started private nursing, continuing thus until she moved to Richmond to locate her own hospital here. She found a favorable field for such an institution and from the beginning was suc- cessful. She employs five nurses, has an X-ray laboratory, and gives every detail of the work brought to her hospital her personal supervision.
The Cottage Hospital is one of the leading hospitals in Contra Costa County, and Miss Driscoll stands high in the esteem of the physicians of Richmond, as well as of her many friends, who know her as a woman of
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keen perception, humanitarian instincts and warm sympathy. The hos- pital is located at Ninth Street and Barrett Avenue, Richmond. Miss Driscoll takes a live interest in civic matters relating to the progress of Richmond, and supports all projects of merit that are brought to her notice. She was reared in the Catholic faith.
HERBERT E. SULLIVAN .- A loyal native son of the Golden State is found in Herbert E. Sullivan, contractor and builder now living in El Cerrito. He was born on Wild Cat Creek, Contra Costa County, on September 3, 1873, the son of Eugene Owen Sullivan, a native of County Cork, Ireland, born in 1833. He came to America when a lad of seventeen and for a time lived and worked in Somerset County, N. J .; from there he went to Australia and engaged in farming. He was married in Australia to Mary Ellen Dowd, a native of County Kerry, Ireland, and soon thereafter they started for California where Mr. Sullivan had a brother, Patrick, living on Wild Cat Creek. Upon his arrival here he was in partnership with his brother for a year, then leased the Hurstel ranch, near what is now Orinda, and as he prospered he bought the ranch adjoining from W. W. Cameron and carried on ranching with considerable success until he retired to Oakland, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying on October 20, 1921, aged eighty- eight years. He was a man who showed his public spirit in all things and with others helped to build the first school house near his ranch and there educated his children. He served as a school trustee for many years. Mrs. Sullivan, now aged eighty-six, is making her home in Oak- land and is hale and hearty and surrounded by her children, grand- children and many warm friends. Their children are as follows: Fred- erick, who was born under the British flag while they were en route to California, died at the age of seventeen. Herbert E., the subject of this sketch. John L., now of Berkeley, is engaged in the building business ; he is married and has two children, Robert and John L., Jr. Elizabeth married D. S. Barack and had one son Dion, and a daughter Aloha, be- fore she died. Isabella Geerdts Petersen lives in Oakland; she had two children, Albert and Edgar Geerdts, by her first hubsand. James E. still owns the 250 acres at Orinda ; he is married and has a son Bert and a daughter Kathleen and lives in Oakland where he is a builder.
Herbert E. left home when he was about twenty years old and went to San Francisco and learned the trade of boilermaker at the Risdon Iron Works, the Dundan Iron Works and the United Engine Works, becom- ing proficient at the trade. His brother, John L., had spent some time in Los Angeles at the carpenter's trade, but in 1905 came north and he and our subject joined forces and began building houses. Herbert E. picked up the carpenter trade quickly and for a time they carried on con- tracting and building under the name of Sullivan Brothers. At one time James was associated with them. In 1907 Herbert E. moved to Oakland and carried on business until 1914, when he moved to the Stege district in Contra Costa County. From 1911 until 1924 he carried on contract-
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ing under the name of H. E. Sullivan, but at that time he enlarged his scope of business and does business under the name of the Sullivan Build- ing Company. He has erected some seventy-five homes in Richmond and El Cerrito. He was active in the incorporation of El Cerrito in 1917. As a young man while working on the home ranch he was engaged in baling hay and worked all over the district that now is embraced in El Cerrito and Richmond before either city was started.
In 1909 Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage with Buelah May Martin, born in Wichita, Kans., and they have two children: Bryon, at- tending the Richmond High School, and Herbert, in the El Cerrito Grammar School. Mr. Sullivan registers as a Democrat, but in all local matters supports the men and measures he thinks best suited to the wel- fare of the people and community. He favors good roads and good streets, as well as good schools, for he realizes that to the latter is due the education of the men and women of the future. He believes in pre- serving the old landmarks in California as well as its history and has a host of warm friends in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, who es- teem him for his worth as a citizen.
ERNEST FLORES .- A well-known and prominent architect of Richmond, Ernest Flores was born in San Francisco, on November 8, 1884. His parents were Daniel and Magdalena Flores, the father born in Chile and the mother in Los Angeles. An only child, our subject at- tended the grade and polytechnic schools in San Francisco and took a special course in the John Hopkins School of Fine Arts, now known as the California School of Fine Arts, in his native city. He studied archi- tecture under Shea and Shea, who are the architects for the new St. Mary's College in Oakland. He was with this firm four years and then was with L. B. Sutton three years. Next he went to Sacramento and was with R. A. Harold for two years, and afterwards he spent five years in San Diego with T. C. Kistner. Coming to Richmond, he was with J. T. Narbett about five years, and then spent two years with John Reid, Jr., city architect of San Francisco.
In May, 1925, Mr. Flores came back to Richmond and engaged in business for himself. He feels that this city offers great inducements for men of worth and ability and is satisfied with the growth of his business. He is erecting a building of his own at 810-814 Chanslor Avenue. He has been connected with some important structures in the various places where he has been employed, among them the State Capital at Sacra- mento, and the Roosevelt Junior High School, City Hall and city build- ings in Richmond. Mr. Flores has specialized in school architecture, and has served on some very important committees
Mr. Flores married Miss Edna Davies, of Richmond, on July 10, 1922, and they have a daughter, Barbara, aged three years, and an infant son, David Ernest. Mrs. Flores has a sister, Mrs. Hazel Yarnell, of El Cerrito. Mr. Flores is fond of landscape drawing, indulges in swimming and golf, and enjoys camping for a rest. He is highly esteemed by all who know him and has a bright future before him in his profession.
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STEVE J. PONGRACE .- An intelligent, energetic and farseeing young man, who has worked his way to the front in Martinez business circles, Steve J. Pongrace is now proprietor of the People's Ice and Fuel Company of that city, making prompt deliveries of these great necessities of life. Born in Bohemia, on April 8, 1893, he is the son of John and Anna Pongrace, and came to the United States in 1910. He received his education in the public schools of Martinez, and also attended a pri- vate school there. His father's death occurred in Bohemia, but his mother came to this country and located in Pennsylvania.
Young Steve first began to work for C. Borghesani, in the ice and soda-water business, and gradually acquired the business which he now owns and which he has built up to a thriving establishment. During the World War he served at Camp Fort McDonald and was honorably dis- charged at the Presidio, November 18, 1918. His marriage, occurring May 19, 1917, united him with Miss Frances Borghesani, daughter of C. Borghesani, and three children have been born to them; Frances, Pauline, and Anita.
Mr. Pongrace realizes the advantages to be obtained in his adopted country, and became a citizen in Judge Mckenzie's court at Martinez a year before the World War. He is a Republican in political belief, and fraternally belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose, the Woodmen, and the Y. M. I., all in Martinez.
EARL D. McCADDAM .- To be recognized as a self-made man is an honor that Earl D. McCaddam, owner of the Antioch Sand Company, is justly proud. He is the owner of thirteen acres of sand hills near Antioch, which extend back to the water front on the river, and from which an excellent quality of sand, especially adapted for making a high grade of asphalt concrete for street paving, is secured. This sand is used for street paving in Richmond, Oakland, San Francisco and other cities. The Santa Fe Railway has constructed a spur track into the sand pits which facilitates the shipping to all points; the annual amount shipped by Mr. McCaddam amounts to about 800 cars. The excavating and loading machinery are operated by electric power. Mr. McCaddam is an excellent business manager and personally superintends the loading of the cars. With his keen foresight he can visualize the appearance of his thirteen acres after the sand has been removed, which he estimates will be about fifteen years, at that time he believes he will possess a valuable site for a manufacturing plant, located on the water front of the San Joaquin River. The Antioch Sand Company maintains offices in the Lowe Building in San Francisco.
Earl D. McCaddam was born at Roswell, Miner County, S. Dak. on August 22, 1884, the son of John and Ellen (Bates) McCaddam, both natives of Scotland, who were married in Iowa. Earl D., their only child, was reared in South Dakota until he was fourteen years of age, when he started out to make his own way in the world. His various employments and experiences, if put into print, would read like a fairy
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tale. In 1906, two weeks after the great fire and earthquake in Cali- fornia, he came to the Golden State and was engaged by the Peninsular Teaming Company, at 62 Duboce Avenue, San Francisco, where he became foreman. The company failed in business and Mr. McCaddam was appointed assistant receiver for the company; but it was extricated from its financial difficulties largely through the keen business ability of Mr. McCaddam. Afterwards he began business for himself by accepting small contracts for grading, using horses and mules. He was successful in his contracts for macadamizing streets, and by living economically and saving his money, in time he had sufficient capital to purchase caterpillar tractors of the best well-known makes, which he rented to contractors. By industrious efforts, wise and judicious management of his financial affairs, he has succeeded in building up a splendid business. He possesses those sterling traits of character, honesty, integrity, and industry, which he inherited from his Scotch ancestors, and is the type of business man whose presence is helpful to the welfare of any community. He resides at 579 Haight Street, San Francisco.
DOMINICK CAMPAGLIA .- With the energy and resourcefulness characteristic of the race from which he springs, Dominick Campaglia has hewn his way to a prominent place in the business life of Martinez, eliciting approval as the successful proprietor of the Palm Garden Grill on Ferry Street. For many years Mr. Campaglia was the chef in the Palm Garden Grill, and during that time made that restaurant famous for its French and Italian meals. Later he established a grill at the corner of Main and Court Streets, which was known as Dominick's Place; still later he owned the Court House Cafe, which he sold in October, 1924, and immediately leased the Marconi Hotel which he remodeled and improved at considerable cost. He bought the Palm Garden Grill in August, 1926, which he now conducts.
Dominick Campaglia was born in the province of Vincenza, Italy, and grew up and received his education in that city, where his father, Giuseppi Campaglia was a merchant and innkeeper from young manhood to the day of his death; he was an honored citizen and prominent politically, serving as a member of the board of trustees of Vincenza; he married Miss Angela Todeschini and they were the parents of eight children, of whom our subject is the eldest. The father passed away aged fifty-six years. The mother of this family still runs the place established by her husband so many years ago.
Dominick Campaglia assisted his father in business until he was nineteen years old, when he entered the Italian army serving the re- quired term of three years. Returning to his home in Vincenza he began preparations to come to America. On December 28, 1909, he sailed from Havre, France, landing in New York on January 6, 1910. His first job was as assistant chef in the Nelson Hotel at Rockford, Ill., where he remained for nine months; then going to Omaha, Nebr., he became chef for the Country Club Hotel; later was chef in Hotel Cafe, in Omaha,
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and still later chef at the Chesapeake Restaurant in Omaha. From Omaha he removed to San Francisco, where he was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company for six months; then for a time he was chef at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco; from there he went to Santa Rosa. He located in Martinez in 1918, where from the first he has been gratifyingly successful in his calling.
At Santa Rosa, Cal., Mr. Campaglia was married to Miss Anna Rux, one of California's native daughters, born in Sonoma County, and they had one son, Albert; he was married to his present wife June 17, 1926. Mr. Campaglia is affiliated with the Woodman of the World and B. P. O. Elks of Martinez.
HENRY H. GOODFELLOW .- An adventurous and eventful career has characterized the life of Henry H. Goodfellow, now a resi- dent of Richmond, Cal., after having ventured far in many lands. He is a veteran of the Spanish-American War, and during the campaign in which he took part in the Philippine Islands he gave tangible proof of his loyalty to the country of his adoption.
Mr. Goodfellow was born in England on July 27, 1878, the son of William and Elizabeth (Wilson) Goodfellow, both natives of England. His father was a butcher, and his mother died while he was an infant. They were the parents of four children, three boys and a girl, Elizabeth, who resides in Troy, New York. One of the boys, George, lives in Ver- mont. At the age of ten young Henry was sent by the Orphan's Home to Prince Edward Island, where he was educated in the grammar school. His first employment was on a farm. At the age of seventeen he left Prince Edward Island and settled at Barton, Vt., where he remained for two years. At the call for volunteers at the outbreak of the Spanish- American War he enlisted for the Philippine expedition, being a member of the 43rd U. S. Volunteers and going to Burlington, Vt., to mobilize. From there he was sent to New York and then to the Philippines via the Suez Canal. His first location was back of Manila, where he engaged in a skirmish. From there his regiment proceeded to the Island of Luzon, where it took part in several engagements, and then to the Island of Laitite. Here, after another engagement Mr. Goodfellow was dis- charged from service. For a time he engaged in the restaurant business in Manila and also worked for the government in the fire department, being in the Philippines about six years all together.
After leaving the Islands he came to California and was connected with the Redwood Lumber Company in Mendocino County for a time. In 1905 he came to Richmond and for sixteen years was an employee of the Standard Oil Company. For two years he was on a ranch in San Pablo, and for the past three years he has been employed by the Certain- teed Company as a stillman.
On September 1, 1917, Mr. Goodfellow married Mrs. Celina Glaser of Richmond, the daughter of Louis and Chotilda Leloy, both natives of France. By her former marriage Mrs. Goodfellow has one son, George
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Glaser, now a student in the Richmond High School. Mr. Goodfellow is a member of the Spanish War Veterans. His chief recreations are gar- dening and camping. He owns a nice home at 203 South Thirteenth Street, Richmond, and other property.
CAESAR BORGHESANI .- A highly intelligent and prosperous business man of Martinez is found in Caesar Borghesani, who owns and operates a soda works near his residence on F Street; in this same locality he has fourteen acres of rich land, and also owns considerable valuable real estate in Martinez. Mr. Borghesani is well-known in this vicinity and is held in high esteem as a man of worth and integrity. He was born in the Province of Bologna, Italy, on December 26, 1867, and at the age of twenty-four came to the United States and settled first at Spring- field, Mass., where he was employed as animal keeper at Forest Park.
From Springfield, Mass., Mr. Borghesani came to San Francisco and was engaged as an engineer for the Fontana Company. Thirty years ago he located in Martinez, where he has continuously lived ever since. Mr. Borghesani is fraternally affiliated with the Dante Society, the Knights of Pythias, Loyal Order of Moose, Odd Fellows, I. D. E. S., and Eagles all of Martinez. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Borghesani's first marriage was in Italy and by this union there were two children. Everisto is now living with his father in Martinez. Frances, or Fannie as she is familiarly known, is now the wife of S. J. Pongrace, one of the proprietors of the people's Ice Company in Mar- tinez. Mr. Borghesani was married the second time, in Martinez, to Miss Mary Mathos, and of this union there are three children living; Louis, Henry and Jennie. Martin died at Mare Island at the age of eighteen while serving in the marines. Mrs. Borghesani passed away at the family home in Martinez several years ago.
K. LOUIS DOUGHERTY .- The enterprising and efficient man- ager of the Concord Branch of the Tilden Lumber Company, K. Louis Dougherty is a native of Arizona, where he was born on October 3, 1899, the son of Frank and Esther Dougherty; the father being a school teacher in Arizona. When Louis was quite young the family moved to Texas, and from the Lone Star State, where they resided for nine years, they migrated to California, locating for a while at Los Angeles, but later settling at Oakland. By the time the family located at Oakland Louis was ready to enter the high school. Being a very ambitious boy he found employment at various occupations while not in school, which aided him financially to complete his education. He worked at one time in a lumber camp and at another time for the American Express Com- pany; also at dredging. After leaving high school Mr. Dougherty at- tended Gallagher and Morris Business College at Oakland, and in that city was employed by the Sunset Lumber Company as an estimater and checker, from this position he was advanced to the auditing department; 30
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later he accepted a position as salesman, but only followed it six months when he resigned to enter the automobile business. Mr. Dougherty's experience in the lumber business gained by his energetic efforts and progressive business methods made it possible for him to secure his pres- ent position as manager of the Concord yard of the Tilden Lumber Com- pany, to which place he was appointed in April, 1926. His many friends predict for him a prosperous business career and feel assured that his intelligent application of wise business methods, loyalty to his employer's best interests at all times, will eventually lead him to a larger and more responsible position with the company.
In June, 1922, K. Louis Dougherty was united in marriage with Estella Mae Harvey, of Oakland, daughter of Roy and Susie A. Harvey, and this union has been blessed with one child, James Louis Dougherty. During his school days Mr. Dougherty was very fond of athletics and was considered a star in football and on track teams.
SOREN PEDERSEN SKOW .- A prominent dairyman, cattle raiser and rancher on San Pablo Creek, Contra Costa County, is found in the public-spirited citizen, Soren Pedersen Skow. He was born in Denmark on February 22, 1869, the son of Hans C. and Christina Skow, both natives of Denmark, who have spent their entire lives in that country. Soren P. attended the Danish schools until he was fourteen and then was confirmed. He at once decided he would go to sea and, after serving an aprpenticeship, sailed as a sailor before the mast until he came around Cape Horn to California in 1887 and landed in San Francisco. He con- cluded he could better his condition as a landsman and therefore left the sea and secured work with the street car campany, driving on the horse car lines then in that city; he also did some carpenter work. In 1889 he came to San Pablo Creek, leased land and began raising cattle and horses. Success crowned his efforts from the start and he gradually enlarged his scope of operations until he now has 900 acres of land under his control. He established the Richmond Farm Creamery and has about 150 head of dairy cattle. During the hoof and mouth disease he lost 367 head of good stock, but nothing daunted, he once more embarked in the busi- ness and has since built up a fine herd. He runs three wagons, and with two hired men and his own boys, carries on a lucrative business. He is an intelligent and influential citizen and believes in lending a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. He has served as a school trustee for years. Mr. Skow is a naturalized American citizen, upholding the laws of his country to the best of his ability and doing what he can to make his community a better place in which to live and prosper.
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