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 62

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1118

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 62

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Besides his work as a producer, Mr. Douglass has given much study to marketing of the products of the ranches, and the Lone Tree Shipping Company was organized in February, 1926, with the following officers : C. B. Douglass, president, and J. L. Claghorn, secretary, who, with the following members, make up the full board of trustees: Andrew DeMartini, W. J. O'Hara, C. L. Lindquist, J. A. West, C. O'Brien, E. A. H. Prewett and Fred Heidorn. The board was authorized to pur- chase eighteen acres of land, construct a spur track on the Southern Pacific, erect a shipping and packing shed, and prepare dry yards. The association is cooperative. Already 1300 acres of fruit land and 800 acres of grapes have been pledged to the association, and this movement bids fair to make of this section a very important shipping point for the best fruit ever sent to the markets of the world.

Mr. Douglass was married at Fresno in 1893 to Miss Elizabeth Byer, who was born in Napa County but was reared and educated in Con- tra Costa County. They purchased their present home place in 1896. Two children have come to brighten the home circle, Esther and Robert. Esther is the wife of C. J. Painter, a machinist in San Francisco, and has two children, Douglass and Betty Ann. Robert assists his father with the ranch work. Both Mr. and Mrs. Douglass are highly esteemed by all who know them, and take an active interest in all problems for the betterment of their community and the State in general. They are Re- publicans in principle and action.

JAMES FRANK MAUZY .- When James F. Mauzy went to Wal- nut Creek, Contra Costa County, in 1914, there was little to suggest the prosperity which it has since been his privilege to help bring about. In 1924 he erected a modern Class A building, 40 by 100 feet, where he con- ducts a lucrative plumbing business, carrying a complete line of up-to-date plumbing fixtures, together with pumps and general equipment for same. He was born in Springfield, Mo., June 14, 1884, a son of William Elliott and Margaret (Patterson) Mauzy, natives of Indiana and Tennessee, respectively. The family left their Eastern home in 1897 for California. William Elliott Mauzy made a business of purchasing soldier claims and selling them; he is now living retired in Los Angeles, Cal.

The schooling of James F. Mauzy consisted of seven years in the grammar school; he then was obliged to go to work to help support the family and was apprenticed to a plumber, taking a full four-years course. He spent one year as a journeyman plumber, and then went to San Fran- cisco and was there during the great earthquake and fire, remaining there until his removal to Walnut Creek in 1914.

The marriage of Mr. Mauzy united him with Miss Ina F. Lewis, a native of Ohio, daughter of Selvin and Mary (Miles) Lewis. Her father

Louise Meyer

Fred Meyer

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is a chemist and drug manufacturer in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Mauzy are the parents of three children, Jessie, Elliott, and Elizabeth Jane. During the World War, Mr. Mauzy was a member of the Walnut Creek Home Guards. He is a Republican in politics, and serves as chair- man of the board of town trustees and a member of the executive board of the Chamber of Commerce. He belongs to the Lions Club.

FRED MEYER .- A Richmond pioneer who has had much to do with street development in the early days is Fred Meyer, well-known and successful contractor for streets, highways, sewers and cement work; in fact all heavy contracting of that kind is his specialty. He was born near Minden, Germany, on September 16, 1869, and at the age of fourteen accompanied his mother to California, settling in San Leandro, Alameda County. She died on November 11, 1919. Besides Fred there were the following children in the Meyer home circle : Minnie is living in Masport, N. Y. Herman is in Brooklyn, N. Y. William is in the employ of the government at the Brooklyn Navy Yard; he was employed at the Panama Canal zone at times, and between times he was a Pinkerton detective. Mary is at Pittstown, N. J. Christ, who died in an auto accident in Richmond, was employed by his brother Fred for eighteen years. Fred is the subject of this review. Ferdinand accompanied the mother to Cali- fornia, but returned to Germany. He was a sea captain and died in 1920. The father, William Meyer, was a teamster and freighter in Germany and died in 1880.

Fred Meyer had meager educational advantages and at the age of thirteen worked in a glass works in Germany. He had an uncle, Ferdi- nand Meyer, in San Leandro who crossed the plains in 1851, and when the mother came to California she brought her three boys, leaving Fred and William here when she went back to Germany. Fred worked in San Lorenzo for fifteen dollars per month for five years for Stenzel Brothers. He worked on a threshing machine and from 4 A. M. to 8 P. M. for about six years; one season the run lasted 110 days. His contact with the world as a dry-goods peddler, driving his team through Alameda and Contra Costa County for two years, gave him a first-hand schooling in meeting people and has been of untold advantage to him in later life. In 1891 he began teaming and hauling, with headquarters in San Leandro, until moving to Richmond in 1901, at the solicitation of Laymance Brothers, to do some grading work on the streets of a tract just laid out in lots. He graded the first four streets of the town, viz .: First Street, Second Street, Third Street and Fourth Street. His first residence was on Fourth Street, between Nevin Street and Macdonald Avenue. His second residence was where the Stanley blacksmith shop now is located, and here he bought two lots and erected a house and stable. John Nicholl came to see him and told him he would have to get a boat or go swimming in such a location; but fortunately he was not called upon to do so, for there has been no high water since he has lived in this section, though he

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says he has seen Mr. Nicholl literally swimming in $20 gold pieces be- cause he was so fortunate as to sell land for $5000 per acre that at one time could have been bought by Mr. Meyer for $75 per acre. The twenty acres through which Mr. Meyer graded the first streets was sold by Walter Laymance of Oakland in sixty days, in twenty-five foot lots.

In 1909 Mr. Meyer bought an acre in the Richmond Tract and erected the buildings suitable to his needs, and he has since lived upon it. He has done all kinds of street, road, sewer, cement and sidewalk work wherever he got a contract. He has a complete equipment for all work of the kinds mentioned and employs many men at times, according to the size of the contract. Besides his contracting work, Mr. Meyer owns the Pullman Water Company. This he developed from one well and one customer; now he has sunk seven wells to an average depth of 137 feet, and one well is 187 feet deep. He has laid water mains, from one-inch pipe to five-inch, all over the districts of North Richmond and Pullman and has 465 customers. Between the Nicholl home and San Pablo, where now stand fine homes and many business blocks, he has seen as many as three threshing machines at one time.

Mr. Meyer was married in San Leandro in 1899, at the home of Dr. Mason, to Louise Neindick, who was born and reared in San Fran- cisco. This union has resulted in the birth of seven boys and one girl, viz .: Herman, Fred, Raymond, August, Henry, Harry, Lester and Doris. The older sons are associated with their father in business, and the others are attending school. All were born in Contra Costa County except Herman. Mr. Meyer stands for good schools, good roads, good government and all modern improvements for the bettering of conditions and the welfare of the people. In his political affiliations he picks the man he considers best fitted for the office regardless of party lines. He is well and favorably known throughout Contra Costa and Alameda Counties as a liberal- minded man.

GEORGE S. TANDY .- An expert carpenter and builder is found in the person of George S. Tandy, a native son of California and now a res- ident of Richmond, who, under a partnership arrangement with C. L. Theis, is carrying on a successful contracting and building business in western Contra Costa County. Mr. Tandy was born at Capay, Yolo County, on January 11, 1893, one of eleven children born to George W. Tandy, a harnessmaker by trade and a native of South Carolina. Grand- father George Tandy came around the Horn with his family in 1851. He was from County Cork, Ireland, and in his family were two children, George W. and a sister. The mother of G. S. Tandy was named Anna Faure before her marriage to Mr. Tandy, and was born in Germany. They were married in June, 1887, and had the following children: Catherine, deceased; Josephine, who married C. E. Armstrong and lives in Rich- mond; George S., of this sketch; May, deceased; William B., a petty of- ficer in the United States Navy; Earl, of Richmond; Thomas, a real estate

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man in San Francisco; Ann, a trained nurse and a missionary in China ; Clyde, employed by the Standard Oil Company in Richmond; Marie, a student in the University of California; and Pearl, deceased. The parents are living at Capay.

George S. Tandy remained at home and attended school, and worked at various jobs until 1915, when he came to Richmond and worked at the carpenter's trade until 1917. He then enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the quartermaster's department with the rank of first lieutenant. He worked on construction at Camp Lewis, Washington ; the Presidio, in San Francisco; Camp Kearney, San Diego; Camp John- son, Florida ; Camp Meigs, Washington, D. C .; Fort Benjamin Harrison, in Indiana ; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was then sent back to the Pre- sidio and there received his honorable discharge. Returning to Richmond, he was employed at the refinery for a short time and then began taking contracts to build homes in the city of Richmond. Among the buildings he has constructed are the Traverso, Sixteenth and Macdonald; Veale Hotel, 1514 Macdonald; Persico, Eleventh and Macdonald; the Black at Fourteenth and Macdonald; and the Whitesides, at Point Richmond. In 1921 he formed a partnership with C. L. Theis and they work har- moniously together on all contracts, both being expert workmen. As he has prospered Mr. Tandy has invested in the California Guarantee and Loan Association, and he is a stockholder in the Carquinez Hotel in Rich- mond. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Builders' Exchange.

On September 27, 1917, Mr. Tandy was united in marriage with Miss Sylva Morrin, of Rumsey, Yolo County, the daughter of James M. and Estella (Chittenden) Morrin, both natives of Kansas. Her father was a physician and a very successful man in his profession, as well as a typical pioneer of the Rumsey section of Yolo County, and is still living at the age of ninety-two years. Two children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Tandy, Daire Albert and Robert Kent. Mr. Tandy is a member and a Past Commander of the American Legion Post in Richmond, and takes an active interest in the affairs of the Legion. He believes in fos- tering the Boy Scout movement, and says there is not a man in San Quentin who was ever a Boy Scout. His recreation is found as a baseball fan; and he also likes to hunt deer and ducks. Both himself and wife are highly esteemed by their many friends.

GEORGE SKOGEN .- Norway has given to the United States many good citizens, men who have become very successful and influential in the localities where they have settled. To the list of names of Norwegians who have aided in the agricultural development of Contra Costa County must be added that of George Skogen, the efficient superintendent of the Central Creameries Company in the Knightsen precinct and foreman of their 454-acre ranch. George Skogen was born on July 1, 1880, at Kongs- berg, Norway, a son of Olaus and Mariana Skogen, well-to-do farmer folk

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of Oever Eker parish. His father died in 1908, aged sixty-five, but his mother still resides in the old home place. Their family consisted of twelve children, George being the third child in order of birth and the only one residing in California. Two sisters, Dagmar and Signe, reside in Oregon, while two brothers and one sister are still residents of Norway.

On March 20, 1902, George Skogen sailed from Christiania for America, landing at Halifax, N. S., and from there continuing his journey to Balfour, N. Dak., where he found work on a wheat farm. In 1904 he left Dakota and located in Minneapolis, Minn., and secured a position with the Soo Railroad Company as a fireman in their roundhouse. Mr. Skogen made a trip back to the old homeland in 1906-1907, being away about four months, and upon returning to America came again to Minneapolis. The following year he located at Kendall, Mont., where he went to work in a quartz mill. A second trip was made to Norway in the spring of 1911, which consumed about five months, and after returning to the United States he located at Fort Benton, Mont., where he worked one year.

On May 15, 1913, at Great Falls, Mont., George Skogen was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Skagen, a native of Norway, born at Goel, in Hallingdal, a daughter of Herbran and Joran Skagen. Three days later the happy couple left Montana for California, arriving at Stockton on May 21. After visiting San Francisco they finally settled at Menlo Park, San Mateo County, where Mr. Skogen became caretaker on the estate of a San Francisco wholesale coffee dealer.

In the fall of 1913 Mr. Skogen returned to San Francisco and had an interview with E. H. Fox, who at that time was part owner and manager of the Central Creameries, near Knightsen. The splendid record Mr. Skogen had already established as a dependable employee, his sterling character and efficient service won for him the confidence of Mr. Fox and in 1914 he was engaged as foreman of the 300-acre ranch belonging to the Central Creameries in Contra Costa County. His ability to manage men and his untiring efforts in behalf of the creamery company so pleased the management that on October 1, 1924, he was appointed superintendent of the creamery in addition to his duties as foreman of the ranch. This creamery is perhaps the largest of its kind in Contra Costa County and owns some 300 milch cows, four registered Holstein bulls, and consider- able young stock. In addition to the 454 acres owned by the company they rent 800 acres. Mr. Skogen has seventeen men under his supervision, and eight milking machines are operated in the dairy. The milk is shipped to Oakland by truck, where it is pasteurized and bottled, and sold in Oak- land and Berkeley.

Mr. and Mrs. Skogen are the parents of three children : Jerdece, Doro- thy and Jorgen. Mrs. Skogen is distantly related to the late Congressman Berg from Goel, Norway, and also to Syver Olstad, a music dealer of Minneapolis, and agent for the White Star Line Steamship Company. Knut Olstad, of Oslo, Norway, who was the first president of the electric railroad at Christiania, Norway, is her second cousin. Fraternally, Mr.

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Skogen is a member of Covenant Lodge No. 62, I. O. O. F., at Minne- apolis. Mr. and Mrs. Skogen hold memberships in a Rebekah Lodge in San Francisco.

THOMAS MCKEOWN .- For over a quarter of a century Thomas Mckeown has been one of the large ranch operators of Contra Costa County. He came to California from his home in Ireland while still a youth, and has since that early day been a part of the agricultural growth and development of the central part of the state. Born in County Louth, Ireland, on June 22, 1875, he was the third in a family of twelve children born to Patrick and Margaret (Sands) Mckeown, who were honest and upright farmer folk back in the old country, where the father died at the age of seventy-six, and the mother is still living, now seventy-six years old. One brother and three sisters of Mr. Mckeown are living in California.

Growing up on his parent's farm, Thomas early learned the care of sheep, cattle and horses, and the hardships of farm life. When eighteen years of age he came to California, an older sister, Mrs. Mike White. having preceded him, and on arriving in San Francisco, July 2, 1893, he went to the Suisun Valley and there engaged in ranch work. Returning to San Francisco, he entered the employ of the Union Iron Works and for five years worked there steadily. At the end of that period, he came to Port Costa, and in association with his brother-in-law, Mike White, be- came a tenant on the McNear Ranch, which originally contained 3000 acres, from which has been taken the site for the Port Costa Brick Works, and sites for two different oil companies, leaving approximately 2750 acres of land. The partnership continued for several years, and for the past thirteen years Mr. Mckeown has operated the land alone, his lease ex- tending to the pasture, hay and grain lands. A large undertaking, it of necessity has involved much forethought and hiring of a number of men during the busy seasons. Mr. Mckeown has proven the right man on the job, his hard and intelligent work having been rewarded with success, except during the seasons of the heavy drouth which were so hard on all California ranchers, and when the ranch had to be operated at a loss.

The marriage of Mr. Mckeown, which occurred in San Francisco, united him with Miss Delia Kelley, also a native of Ireland, and who has been a true helpmate of sterling worth. Mr. Mckeown has been a mem- ber of the Y. M. I. since he was twenty years old. They both are members of St. Patrick's Church at Port Costa, and are highly respected as hard- working, straightforward, generous-hearted people, who have the general welfare of the community at heart and work toward that end, voting for what they consider the correct principles of government and the men best suited to officially carry them out. Contra Costa owes much to just such people as Mr. and Mrs. McKeown, who settled here as young people and have woven their lives in with the steady advancement of their home community.

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JOSEPH MINTA .- The hard-working Portuguese-American vine- yardist and asparagus grower, Joseph Minta, owns thirty-two acres of as fine land as can be found in Contra Costa County, which he has brought to a very high state of cultivation. On his ranch he has five acres of trees that he has set out and that are now in fine condition. He was born in Contra Costa County on November 12, 1876, the son of Manuel and Philomena (Joseph) Minta. Manuel Minta came from the Azores Is- lands in 1852 and settled in California, and from that time until he died, he was a hard-working and honored farmer. Both parents are now de- ceased. They had six children in their family, three boys and three girls.

Joseph Minta married Miss Rose Jacinta, born in Alameda County, who died in 1909 leaving three children : Ethel, wife of George Livira, a garage man in Knightsen; Elmer, in the high school; and Loretta, also in the high school. One child died at the age of nine years. Mr. Minta was reared in this county and has continued to farm ever since he has been old enough. He is a member of the I. D. E. S., at Antioch, the Odd Fellows at Byron, and the Eagles at Antioch. For many years he has served as a trustee of the Iron House school district, and he was one of the organizers and for three years a director, of the Knightsen Irrigation District. Polit- ically he is a Republican. He has many friends in this section of the county, who esteem him as a high-minded citizen.

WILLIAM A. WARD .- The famous Blackhawk Ranch, known to high-grade cattle breeders throughout the world, is an institution which not only Contra Costa County, but the entire State of California may feel justly proud to have within its boundaries. The importance of the work being done on this ranch cannot be overestimated, for the high place accorded it in the annals of cattlemen everywhere has been justly merited. William A. Ward, one of the owners of this ranch and a recognized au- thority on all phases of cattle breeding, was born in Cambridgeshire, Eng- land, on August 19, 1881. His father, William, was a farmer and stock breeder of considerable note in that country. The mother's name was Caroline Ward, and there were two boys in the family, William of this review, and a brother who continues to reside in England. In 1905 Mr. Ward came to America, on a contemplated tour of the world, and landed in San Jose. After remaining there for six months he received a flattering offer to manage the estate of A. M. Easton at Burlingame, which he did for about five years. He returned to England in 1910 and remained for about two months, but the urge to return to California was insistent. Ac- cordingly he. came back, decided to become an American citizen and took out naturalization papers. In connection with A. M. Easton he established the Blackhawk Ranch, which contains about 1500 acres, and made it one of the most noted institutions of its kind in the world.

On the Blackhawk Ranch corn and hay are raised to feed the cattle, although most of the land is in pasture. The valleys are being set to wal- nuts ; about 200 acres, it is contemplated, will be used for this purpose,

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which offers great possibilities. But the product which has made Black- hawk Ranch noted is its wonderful cattle. Highest honors were awarded cattle from this ranch at the American Royal at Kansas City and at the International Cattle Show in Chicago. In 1925 Blackhawk Ranch won more first prizes on bulls than have ever before been won by any breeder in a single year on cattle of his own breeding. Mr. Ward is an authority on pedigrees. Since he took up permanent residence in America he has made several trips to England, importing cattle and horses, particularly Shire horses and Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Ward's brother is the owner of a herd of Shorthorns in England. The breeding herd of Easton & Ward represents an investment of about $250,000, and it bears the reputation of being the best-bred herd of Shorthorns in America. One calf sold recently for $3500 and $10,000 was refused for the prize-winner at the American Royal.

The genius of Mr. Ward in his line was undoubtedly partly hereditary, for his father was a noted breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Shire horses. Mr. Ward was educated in an English high school and had a tutor in Cam- bridge and also since his arrival in America, although he never went to school here. He has always been in the cattle and horse business. Despite the high honors which he has attained as a breeder, he states that he has never yet been able to produce what he would consider a perfect bull. For the Blackhawk Ranch the best cows and bulls to be had anywhere are purchased, and the high-bred cattle produced by this ranch are in great de- mand in the East and elsewhere.

Mr. Ward was married on March 18, 1914, to Miss Louise Easton, daughter of A. M. and Louise (Adams) Easton, of Burlingame, the father being partner of Mr. Ward in the ownership of Blackhawk Ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are the parents of four children: Elizabeth, Sally, John Adam and William Easton. Mr. Ward is a member of Alamo Lodge · No. 122, F. & A. M. He is fond of athletic games, and of hunting, fishing and camping in the mountains. He is deeply interested in his work.

RICHMOND-SAN RAFAEL FERRY .- In the Bay transportation world, the name of Charles F. Van Damme stands out as a monument to a man with an idea that was founded on a correct interpretation of the needs of the bay region, with a trained mind that builded slowly and sub- stantially on that idea. In the latter part of 1914, Mr. Van Damme was struck with the needs for the connecting link between the great East Bay region and the northern Bay counties and he investigated thoroughly.

The Richmond and the San Rafael Chambers of Commerce, under the leadership of James C. Owens, pioneer of Richmond, had inter- viewed the existing railway companies operating ferry lines on the bays, but the heads of these corporations scorned the idea of an automobile ferry between Richmond and Marin County. Mr. Van Damme stepped into the breach and, with a few friends and business associates, organized the Richmond-San Rafael Ferry and Transportation Co. in March, 1915. On May 1 of that year the corporation inaugurated their first service

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with the old ferry boat Ellen, one of the pioneer craft on the bay, and with a capacity of eighteen automobiles. The Ellen had been used as the relief boat by the Mare Island Ferry Company.

A contract was given to build the steamer Charles F. Van Damme, and this boat was put in commission July 23, 1916. It had a capacity for forty-five automobiles, and was believed to be large enough for many years to come. In 1921 the City of Richmond was put in commission. This was an especially built boat for automobile transportation. On June 26, 1924, the third boat of their fleet, the City of San Rafael, was put on the run between San Quentin Point and Castro Point. From ten em- ployees in 1915, the company have increased their payroll to seventy-five.

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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 62

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1118

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1118