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 58
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PATRICK LUCEY .- A pioneer hotel man of Crockett, Patrick Lucey has seen this part of Contra Costa County grow from practically its virgin state to the best industrial town in the county. In all movements for its growth Patrick Lucey can always be counted upon to do his share. He was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1869, one of a family of three boys and two girls who are still living. The parents both passed away when Patrick was only six years old, and in 1885 he came to America with three brothers who hoped to better their condition in the New World. What education he secured from books was in his native land, but his education in the school of bitter experience has meant more to him than all he could get from books. When he struck California he worked as a laborer until he saved enough to start in the hotel business. This has continued to occupy his time, with the exception of eighteen months that he spent in Martinez, where he was interested in the Martinez Ferry. To assist in the develop-
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ment of his town Mr. Lucey has been connected with banking interests and with lodges, having helped to organize the Eagles in Crockett with fifty members. Mr. Lucey believes in boosting for his home town in every way he can.
Patrick Lucey was married to Miss Mary Crowley, of San Francisco, and they have had seven children. The two oldest died in early child- hood; the others are John Lucey, a machinist; Patrick Jr., a graduate from the Crockett High School who took a course in college and is a sur- veyor; Bernard, a graduate from the high school and employed by the gas company; Aileen, a high school graduate now attending normal school at San Francisco; and Rose, in the high school. In politics Mr. Lucey supports the men he considers best qualified to serve the people rather than stick to party lines in local affairs, but in national affairs he leans toward the Democratic party. He is a whole-souled gentleman and tries to do his duty as he sees it.
HANS A. M. HANSEN .- Another of the early settlers in what is now El Cerrito is Hans A. M. Hansen, living at 406 Schmidt Lane and conducting a small dairy there. He came to this locality in 1897, about the time the partition had been made on the San Pablo Grant, and began raising chickens and hogs on six acres that he leased. In 1903 he pur- chased two acres and in 1906 added two more, making all the improve- ments on the place except the three-room house that was already on the land. He has been an interested spectator of the growth and develop- ment of this part of the county and has willingly done his share to pro- mote all forward movements for the good of all the people located here.
Mr. Hansen was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark, March 4, 1860, and attended the public schools when he could be spared from work, for at the age of eight he worked among the cattle in the farming country where he was born, attending school an hour each day, and that was usually the noon hour. When he was old enough to enter the army he offered his services but was rejected and put back three years on account of being much under weight, weighing less than 100 pounds. At the age of twenty-three he came to the United States, intending to go to Nebraska; but on account of there being no such town shown on the map of that state as the one where his letter showed his nephew lived, he was sold a ticket to a town of the same name in Minnesota. Being unable to understand a word of English, he did not know where he was being sent. It was necessary to get a job and he did so, working on the construction of the railroad to Grand Island. He soon found trace of his relative and at once joined him for a visit, spending one winter with him. He then went to Wyoming, again working on railroad construction or on section work, until he had worked his way to California, landing in San Francisco in 1884. He liked the city life with its continual variety and change, and for thirteen years followed teaming for wages; and dur-
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ing this time he came to know almost every corner of that city. In 1897 he began to look about for a place to make a home. Coming to Contra Costa County, he found his present location, then a farming section, leased six acres, and began for himself. This has continued to be the family home. During the World War, Mr. Hansen was employed at the ship yards in Oakland, but afterwards he engaged in the dairy business.
In 1903 Mr. Hansen was united in marriage with Mrs. Johannah Welte, a native of Germany and the mother of two boys by her marriage with Mr. Welte. The boys were small at the time their mother married Mr. Hansen, and they took the Hansen name. Harry is married and lives in Berkeley. The other is named John. By this second marriage, Mrs. Hansen also has two boys: Christian, of Richmond; and Andrew, a graduate of Heald's Business College at home. Fraternally, Mr. Han- sen is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Berkeley. Po- litically, he is independent in his views, supporting the men he deems best suited for the offices. He is an interesting conversationalist, and is well posted on early times and conditions in his locality.
CALVIN W. MINAKER .- A rancher of Antioch Precinct No. 5 of Contra Costa County worthy of mention in this volume is Calvin W. Minaker, whose productive fifty-two acre ranch is located on Wilbur Avenue about one mile east of Antioch. In 1902 Mr. Minaker located in the vicinity of Antioch and at first leased thirty acres from his cousin, Will E. Minaker, who is now a commission merchant in San Francisco. He made his first purchase of land, twenty acres, in 1905 and by subsequent purchases he has added to this until he now has fifty-two acres all planted and bearing, mostly in table grapes, but a few acres remain planted to hay. Mr. Minaker also owns another small ranch of five acres near Antioch.
Mr. Minaker was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, on June 10, 1867, a son of Thomas and Christine Minaker, farmer folk in the Province of Ontario, Prince Edward County. Both parents are now dead. Calvin W. Minaker grew up on his father's farm, remaining there until he was twenty years old. He came to California, locating in Humboldt County, where he was employed by the Pacific Lumber Company at Scotia doing all kinds of work connected with a lumber mill.
Returning to his home in Canada he was married on April 26, 1899, at Bloomfield, to Miss Mabel C. Hudgin, also a native of Canada. They returned to Humboldt County where they resided until they came to San Francisco, remaining until 1902. In 1905 they acquired their present home place where they have since resided. Mrs. Minaker is a practical nurse and finds plenty to do in Antioch and vicinity. They have four liv- ing children: Maude L., the wife of Melvin H. Cavanaugh, resides in San Francisco; T. Alfred works for the Columbia Steel Corporation in Pittsburg; Gertrude C. and Prudence E. are at home. Mr. Minaker is a member of the Eel River Lodge of Odd Fellows at Rohnerville, Cal., and in politics is a Republican.
ChNayden
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CHARLES H. HAYDEN .- Among the leading citizens of Contra Costa County, Charles H. Hayden has been identified with the growth of both Martinez and the county since his arrival here in 1896. He is a native of Iowa, born in Calhoun County on June 29, 1870. His education was obtained in the public schools of his locality, and there he grew to manhood. From a youth he had always had a desire to visit the Pacific Coast country and in due time he landed in Portland, Ore., where he found employment with W. S. Ladd, of Ladd & Tilton, Bankers. He rapidly developed into a keen business man and in 1896, severing his re- lations in Portland, came to California and soon after located in Martinez, where he was employed in the hardware and plumbing establishment of E. Morgan, remaining there for eight years. His agreeable manners and clean-cut personality soon attracted the attention of some of the leading men of Martinez, and when the time came to fill the vacancy of the un- expired term of D. S. Carpenter as justice of the peace, Mr. Hayden was selected and thereafter gave his time to the duties of the office. So satisfac- tory were his services that he was elected at the following election and each succeeding one until he had served for thirteen years, when he re- signed. His close attention to details, and the success with which he car- ried out the plans outlined, soon led to the proffer of further responsi- bilities, and for sixteen years he was a member of the board of trustees of Martinez, four years of that time serving as mayor. He helped put over the campaign for city ownership of the water supply; and he served as chief of the fire department for six years and assisted in its reorgani- zation, scrapping the obsolete equipment and motorizing the entire de- partment in order to bring it to its present efficiency. Always interested in the cause of education, Mr. Hayden has served for five consecutive terms as a school trustee, during which time modern buildings have been built and equipped, and thirteen acres purchased for a new grammar school site. He was elected a member of the board of county supervisors in 1918 and is now serving his second term. He has been prominently associated with the good roads movement in this county and believes that the best is none too good for a county that stands at the head of all the counties of the State in progress and wealth. Mr. Hayden is a firm be- liever in the future growth of Contra Costa County and Martinez, and backs that faith by investing in real estate. He opened up a real estate office many years ago and has steadily built up a name for himself as a man whose word is as good as his bond. He buys and sells property in any part of the county, does an insurance business to accommodate his patrons, and also loans money to help people establish themselves in the county. He helped to organize the Plywood Products Company in Mar- tinez, and was one of the organizers of the Schlage Lock Company in San Francisco, both of which are concerns with great possibilities. It would be difficult to find a man that has been more interested in the development
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of California's interests than he, or more ready to boost every worthy project for the betterment of his home city and county. It is to such men that the present growth of the West is largely due.
Charles H. Hayden was united in marriage on December 28, 1898, with Miss Letta M. Cottrell, a native of Texas. They have had three children born to them, namely: Hoyt H., born August 31, 1903, now em- ployed in the Jackson County Bank at Medford, Ore .; Hilda H., born May 25, 1907; and Ruth M., who died in early childhood. Mrs. Hayden belongs to the Woman's Improvement Club of Martinez, the Women of Woodcraft, and the Pythian Sisters. Mr. Hayden is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hayden are popular in social, civic and educational circles in Martinez, and are very public-spirited. During the World War they both took an active part in promptly putting Contra Costa County over the top in all the allied drives for the good of the cause.
DAVID A. GATTO .- Conspicuous among the pioneer business men of Pittsburg, Cal., is David A. Gatto, a man of enterprise and splendid business judgment who possesses a genial disposition, uprightness of char- acter and a kindly heart towards all in need. He is the junior member of the firm of Gatto Brothers of Pittsburg. He and his brother Louis built the frame building at the corner of Black Diamond and Front Streets in 1902, and still occupy it as a place of business. The Gatto Brothers have been residents of Pittsburg for many years and have aided very materi- ally in the upbuilding and advancement of the city by building business blocks and residences.
David A. Gatto was born in San Francisco, February 7, 1878, a son of Michael and Theresa (Gatto) Gatto, natives of Genoa, Italy. Al- though Miss Gatto bore the same surname, she was no relative. Soon after their marriage the young couple emigrated to America, settling for a time in New York City, but later removed to California, locating at San Francisco about October, 1874. Michael Gatto engaged in the wood and coal business and died in San Francisco when David was an infant. Their family consisted of five children: John, born in New York City, died in 1924; Louis, born in New York City, July 2, 1872, now a pioneer business man of Pittsburg; Charles, born in San Francisco, now de- ceased; David A., the subject of this review, and a twin brother Frank, who died in infancy. The widow of Michael Gatto married Giuseppe Guaragnella, a pioneer fisherman of New York Landing, later called Black Diamond and now Pittsburg. After her second marriage the mother removed with her family to the home of her husband at Pittsburg, and here passed away on November 21, 1911, at the age of sixty-two years. The stepfather, Mr. Guaragnella, still lives at Pittsburg and was ninety years old on February 12, 1926. He is well and favorably known in the bay region, having built a home at New York Landing, in 1876, a resi-
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dence still standing and occupied by him as his home. By the second marriage of Mrs. Gatto, she had a son, T. J. Guaragnella, who is now a broker in San Francisco.
David A. Gatto attended the early schools in Black Diamond and assisted his stepfather in his fishing and other business enterprises. In 1897 he began the barber business here, being the pioneer barber of what is now Pittsburg, and he has been very successful in all that he has under- taken ever since. He early saw the great future for Pittsburg and in 1911, with his brother Louis, erected the first substantial brick block, located at the corner of Black Diamond and Front Streets, a two-story structure used for stores and lodge rooms and occupied by the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. This building is a decided adjunct to the business blocks in Pittsburg and a credit to the builders of it.
Mr. Gatto has always taken an active interest in local politics. He is a leader among the Italian people, and it is the opinion of many that he has more friends and is stronger politically than any other person in Pittsburg. His counsel is eagerly sought by business men, laboring men and women, and candidates for office, and his judgment is highly re- garded in matters pertaining to the welfare of Pittsburg and the com- munity. He was appointed deputy city treasurer of Black Diamond by his stepbrother, T. J. Guaragnella, and so efficiently did he discharge his duties that he was regularly elected to the office at a subsequent elec- tion and afterwards it was said of him, "Gatto was the best city treasurer we ever had." For many years he has been a deputy sheriff under R. R. Veale. He has always stood for the advancement of education, and his stepson, Dave Irwin, was sent to Heald's Business College at Stockton and is now the accountant at Leland Stanford Junior University.
In October, 1901, at Pittsburg, David A. Gatto was united in mar- riage with Miss Jennie Junta, who died on July 19, 1904. This union was blessed with one child, Theresa, who is now with the Redwood Manufacturers Company at Pittsburg. The second marriage of Mr. Gatto took place at Pittsburg, March 27, 1907, when he was united with Mrs. Pauline Irwin, a sister of his first wife, who had one child, David Irwin. Of the present union there are two children : Jennie, now a student at San Francisco Normal School; and Michael, attending the local pub- lic school. Fraternally, Mr. Gatto is a member of Roma Lodge No. 147, K. of P., San Francisco, which he joined in 1899; a trustee of Diamond Parlor, N. S. G. W., of Pittsburg, and the designer of its seal, being a charter member of the Parlor; and a member at large of the Ancient Order of Foresters.
SABATINO BARLETTANI .- As a natural result of his thrift and industry, Sabatino Barlettani has become a prosperous citizen of Mar- tinez, Contra Costa County, which has been his home for the past twenty years. His birthplace was Florence, Italy, where he was born on January
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29, 1877, a son of Antonio and Marie Barlettani, both natives of the same country. He was reared and educated in his native country and there learned the blacksmithing trade, which he has followed persistently and successfully since. He came to America in 1907 and established his home in Martinez, where he has continuously resided and is now running his third blacksmith shop. Because of his reliability and adeptness he has built up a splendid trade in general blacksmithing and horseshoeing. The family residence and blacksmith shop are located on his own property at 516 Ward Street, besides which he owns other valuable real estate in the city.
The marriage of Mr. Barlettani united him with Miss Amelia Gui- nasso, who was born and reared in the vicinity of Genoa, Italy, and as a young woman came to America and to Martinez only one week later than the subject of this sketch. In Mrs. Barlettani are found the same qualities of thrift and industry which are outstanding characteristics of her hus- band. Their union has been a happy one. They are the parents of six children : Norma, Antone, Ardo, Frank, Woodrow and Sabatino. The family are communicants of the Catholic Church. Mr. Barlettani is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Societa Operia Italiana di Muto Soccorso, both of Martinez. In politics he is a 'Republican.
GEORGE H. WRIGHT .- A well-known rancher of the Pacheco district, where he has lived since coming to Contra Costa County, on Janu- ary 24, 1910, George H. Wright comes of old American stock, and in his life has adhered to the principles instilled through generations in the tra- ditions of his family. Born in Elkhart, Ind., March 2, 1845, he is a son of Henry S. and Orilla (Smith) Wright, the former, who lived to be eighty-seven years old, being a native of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and a founder and ironworker by trade; the latter, who lived to be seventy- four years of age, being a native of Geauga County, Ohio, of English extraction. Her ancestors settled in Massachusetts in 1620, and some of them served in the Revolutionary War. Grandfather Wright, father of Henry S. Wright, was of Welsh stock, and took an important part in the industrial life of New York in the early days.
Henry S. and Orilla Wright moved to Elkhart, Ind., in 1842, and there our subject's father built the first blast-furnace in northern Indiana. This furnace was located on the banks of the St. Joseph River, upon which stream Charles Crocker, the father of the family of California Crockers, boated iron ore to Wright's furnace; and Mr. Oliver, of the great Oliver Plow Works, there served his apprenticeship in the iron works. It was there that Henry S. Wright discovered the art of putting cold chilled points on cast iron, an art which was further developed by Mr. Oliver, who became the patentee and manufacturer of the celebrated Oliver Cast Chilled Plows, and thus became one of America's foremost millionaire manufacturers. In that vicinity the Studebakers started their
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first wagon shops, which during the Civil War grew to such importance that the plant covered ten acres of ground, and is now one of the great automobile manufacturing plants of this country.
George H. Wright received his schooling in a little log schoolhouse, rough as well as rustic, and studied his early lessons out of the New Testament and Webster's spelling book. He grew up in an abolitionist neighborhood, and when the Civil War broke out he volunteered at Kala- mazoo, Mich., enlisting in Company B, 11th Michigan Infantry, in March, 1863, his younger brother, Edwin, then but fifteen, enlisting with him. Being a fairly good penman and scholar, he was detailed to do office work at headquarters, serving under both General Thomas and General Sherman. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., at the close of the war, and honorably discharged at Jackson, Mich., in September, 1865.
Returning home to Indiana, the young soldier realized his lack of education, and entered high school at Bristol, Ind. There he was married on June 13, 1869, to Miss Annie Williamson, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and daughter of William and Ellen (Neidig) Williamson, the former a wagonmaker and millwright of note, who helped to build the Pillsbury Flouring Mills, at Minneapolis, and lived to be past eighty years of age. Satisfactorily passing the examination for a teacher's cer- tificate in 1868, Mr. Wright taught three winter terms in Indiana, and then, in 1871, with his wife, first child and meager belongings, moved out to Sumner County, Kans., and there homesteaded 160 acres in South Haven, where their second child was born, the first white child born in that vicinity. The Indians were hostile, however, and the blizzards and scourge of grasshoppers so discouraged the young pioneers that they aban- doned their homestead and came to California in 1873. Locating in Oak- land, Mr. Wright engaged as a clerk for Gurnett Brothers, and later became an employee of the West Coast Manufacturing Company, in San Francisco, though still residing in Oakland. This firm manufactured fur- niture from white mahogany for the old Palace Hotel, and also made the seats for the old California Theatre, two chairs of which were presented to Mr. Wright, who remodeled them and has them in use in his home.
He next became manager of Kimball's horse and dairy ranch at San Rafael, for Mr. Kimball, of the then prominent and wealthy firm of Kimball & Ralston, at that time one of San Francisco's wealthiest com- panies. They failed, however, and Mr. Wright went across the Bay to San Pablo and there, after 1876, was with Henry Benson for three years. He then engaged successfully in the grocery business in Oakland for one year. About this time, Mr. Wright interested himself in the candidacy of J. C. Mellen for councilman, and after his election Mr. Mellen ap- pointed him a member of the Oakland police force, where he was soon detailed to do office work. This position he held for three years, after which he served as deputy license collector for one year, and then for
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the next two years as deputy county assessor for Alameda County, under Tom Malloy. Following this, he went to South Berkeley, and success- fully conducted a grocery business for fourteen years.
At the end of these various activities Mr. Wright decided to retire to ranch life, and in 1910 came to his present home place of some twelve acres on the Pacheco Road, two and one-half miles south of Martinez, where he has a comfortable home, built by the former owner, then a banker of Martinez. He devotes his acreage to fruit-growing, raising peaches, pears, apricots, grapes, and olives. With his family he has re- sided here for the past sixteen years, dispensing true California hospitality and taking an active part in the community life.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright: Lillian I., wife of . G. J. Icard, residing at Baguio, P. I .; Minnie Alice, widow of William Kirkman, residing at Tacoma, Wash .; Albert P., who married Daisy J. Baird and resides in Martinez; George O., who married Genevieve Corn- wall, and resides in Berkeley; and W. Merrill, who served in the navy during the World War and is now in charge of a Standard Oil station at Martinez. There are nine grandchildren in the family. Besides their own children, Mr. and Mrs. Wright reared Fred LeMar, now employed with the Shell Oil Company in Martinez. Mr. Wright is a charter mem- ber of Lyon Post No. 8, G. A. R., of Oakland. A Republican, he cast his first vote for General Grant, and his last vote for La Follette.
PERRY O. ROSS .- One of the real pioneers of Richmond is Perry O. Ross, a trusted and efficient employee of the Santa Fe Railroad Com- pany. He built the seventh building in what is now the city of Richmond proper, in 1903, at No. 324 Sixth Street. When he bought the property he could have had the corner where Basham's drug store is now situated for $350, but he was given to understand that Macdonald Avenue was going to be a business street and he decided he would get back from the main artery to a quiet place where he could keep a cow and chickens. He paid $450 for two lots, erected his present house, and has lived here ever since. For $630 he sold a strip of nine feet for an alley when the post office association located the post office at Sixth and Macdonald, and later he moved his house to the north end of his lot and built a shop, which he leases. The property he now owns is valuable as a business lot. Where the Santa Fe depot stands, an old sawmill was located, and at that point was a fine place to dig clams. This part of the town was in disfavor with those who were living at East Yard or Point Richmond, and those who bought property and erected buildings here were called "clam diggers," and the location was known as the "mud flats."
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