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 67

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 67

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The "Brothers of the Christian Schools" was originally founded at Rheims, France, in 1680, by St. John Baptist de la Salle, who, at sixteen years of age, was elected a Canon of the Cathedral of his native city be- cause of his exceptional ability and piety. It was while exercising his duties there that he became intensely interested in the educational problems then confronting France and the church; after much thought and tribulation he founded his first "free school," in 1679, and despite hardships of every kind lived to see his great work securely established. At his death, in 1719, he had given a new religious family to the church, had organized and prepared teachers for not less than twenty-five schools in all parts of France, had originated the idea of the "normal school," and had established forever the simultaneous, in place of the individual, system of teaching-the last two advances constituting a dual achieve- ment for which the entire educational world, even if unconsciously, today honors his memory. In 1900 his great works and sanctity, following the most striking miracles through his intercession, were recognized by the Church, and he was placed in the calendar of the saints.

De La Salle Institute, Martinez, is a preparatory school for the Order. It trains and educates boys, not for the priesthood, but in the general aspects of a liberal education. Its purpose is to prepare leaders for fostering in the pupils of their schools high moral and spiritual man- hood and exalted citizenship. The schools of the Brothers all along the Coast are well attended and have among their alumni many leading busi-

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ness men and teachers. J. Adolphus Graves, a non-Catholic, president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles, was a student of the Brothers, and for two years following his graduation was a teacher at St. Mary's College. Ex-Governor Campbell of the State of Arizona; the late Judge Maurice Dooling; the late Thomas Lennon, president of the Alumni Association; the late Judge Frank Murasky; the late Judge Louis Ward; the late Garrett McEnerney, attorney; and many other well-known men along the Coast-clergy, professional men and business men-have been students of the Order. Martinez and Contra Costa County are fortunate in having so thorough a school right at their doors, and have shown every appreciation of that fact.

THEODORE M. NISSEN .- From that soil which has ever pro- duced a hardy and industrious race of people comes Theodore M. Nissen, who was born October 8, 1870, in Denmark, the son of Soren and Chris- tina (Sorenson) Nissen. There were four children in the family, two of whom came to America. The father was a farmer, versed in all of the agricultural lore that has been the heritage of the Danes for so many centuries, and it was from him that the son received the thorough train- ing which was to be so valuable to him for the rest of his life. But news of a land of greater opportunities had reached the ears of the young man, and in 1888 he came to America, landing in New York, from which city he came direct to California, locating first in Dublin, where he remained for two years. In 1890 he came to Tassajara, where he worked for T. C. Johnston for six years. In 1896 he started farming for himself, renting at first, and finally, in 1900, moved to the ranch where he has since made his home. He rented the place at first, but by the exercise of industry and good judgment he was later enabled to buy it and has since added to his holdings from time to time, until now his ranch consists of 200 acres of ex- cellent land, on which he does diversified farming. His brother, James Nissen, is the owner of a farm below the home place and resides with our subject, who rents all of his brother's interest.

Theodore Nissen became an American citizen in 1894. He has been road master for the past twenty years, starting with Mr. Casey when he first came into the office of supervisor, and he has built up all the roads in his district from cattle trails.

Since coming to America, Mr. Nissen has taken two trips to Europe. On his first trip he was accompanied by his childhood sweetheart, Caroline Hansen, daughter of L. P. Hansen, a fisherman who, as mate of a ves- sel, had visited America while following the sea. They visited their rela- tives and returned to San Francisco just after the fire and earthquake, and finding everything in confusion, were unable to locate Miss Hansen's relatives. They decided to be married at once, and after a great deal of trouble succeeded in locating the county clerk in an improvised office, where they were married on May 8, 1906. After a sumptuous wedding dinner, which cost fifty cents, in some unknown private place, they journeyed out

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to the ranch which was to be their future home. In 1922 they built a modern stucco residence on their ranch. In 1921 they journeyed to Europe again to celebrate the return of Schleswig to Denmark, and while there visited the battlefields of France and Belgium. They brought back with them to America, a niece, Caroline Erickson, and a nephew, Christen Erickson, both students in night school, preparing to become American citizens at an early date.

For more than thirty years Mr. Nissen has been an active member of the Odd Fellows. He is a charter member of Pleasanton Encampment, I. O. O. F., and belongs to Dania Lodge at Livermore, and to the Grange. He is fond of hunting and fishing and takes an extended camping trip each year. He is one of the leaders of his community, an active political worker, and a sterling citizen, highly esteemed by all who know him.

ANTONIO NICODEMO CODEGLIA .- A California pioneer of 1873, Antonio N. Codeglia has been closely identified with the best in- terests of his adopted State ever since that date, and with the passing of the years has made a name and place for himself in this commonwealth. He was born in Lucca, Italy, on September 14, 1857, the son of a mer- chant, Antonio Codeglia, who had married Miss Assunta Simi. They came to America in 1884, having been sent for by our subject. The family con- sisted of Ida, Mrs. Peter Freggario, now of Lodi; Angelina, Mrs. S. Lenzi, now of Stockton; and our subject.

Antonio N. Codeglia attended the Italian schools and in 1873 came to America and California. He found work as a ranch hand in the Sacra- mento Valley on the Sacramento River and on Grand Island for about eighteen months, and then went to Pescadero on Half Moon Bay and worked there one year. Tiring of farm work he decided he would try his hand in some commercial enterprise and found employment with Daniel Giovanini, wood and coal dealer. This was when he was about nineteen years old. Eighteen months later Antonio started a vegetable and fruit business, supplying the Presidio officers, and met with good success for the following three years. He was frugal and saved his money, and when he thought he had enough to start a fuel business he opened a place at 315 Broadway Street and built up a lucrative trade as a coal and wood merch- ant. He then enlarged his scope of operations, but after ten years sold out and entered the employ of the Geary Street and Ocean Park Railroad Company and for twenty-two years remained with them as a trusted work- man. He still has the badge given him when he began working for this company, and says that in all the years he worked with the company there was not an accident to a passenger. He quit railroading in 1905. Later he traveled for F. Chevalier, a wholesale liquor dealer, and held this post until the Eighteenth Amendment went into effect by proclamation of the President of the United States. He had moved to Richmond in 1906, and two years previous to coming here he had spent two years as an em- ploye of the Fugazi Popular Bank in San Francisco. In 1920 he opened

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a real estate and insurance office and became local agent for all lines of steamships and railroads, doing business especially with foreigners. His work has had a natural increase and he feels well satisfied with results thus far obtained, for while he has been building up a financial business he has also built up many strong and lasting friendships in this community. Mr. Codeglia was admitted to citizenship on July 31, 1886, by Judge J. R. Wilson in San Francisco, and exercises the right of franchise by sup- porting men and measures he considers best suited for the public good.

Mr. Codeglia was married on January 20, 1880, to Miss Mary Zawzi, born in New York City, a daughter of Peter and Teresa Zawzi, and one of eight children. This marriage resulted in the birth of the following children : A. J. Renaldo, who is the father of two children, Morgan and Lucile; Ernest J .; R. W .; Louise, who died aged eight years; Jennie, who died when seven; Albert, who passed away when he was eleven, and Flor- ence, now connected with the Richmond public schools. During the World War two sons were in the United States Navy and one in the Army. E. J. and R. W. are employees of the Standard Oil Company. The sons are all members of the Masonic Lodge, and Mr. Codeglia belongs to Mc- Kinley Lodge No. 347, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, having joined in 1879, and is corresponding secretary and secre- tary of the insurance department, and a member of the Grand Lodge. He joined the Druids in 1881 and twice passed through the chairs of Golden Star Lodge No. 104, of San Francisco. While a student in the schools of his native country, Mr. Codeglia was an apt pupil and was often called upon to substitute as a teacher ; he also had a private class of forty- one pupils, and some of those pupils call to see him when they happen to come to California. He studied French and English and was able to talk and understand the English language when he got to California. He speaks Italian, French and English, and is often called into court as an interpreter ; and he often gives talks in lodge meetings. As a recreation, he enjoys hunting, but always keeps within the law. He is public-spirited and charitable, and always lends a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. In 1884 he sent for his entire family to come to California, and is happy that he was able to put so much cheerfulnees in the lives of his parents. As a loyal citizen of the United States he believes in living and letting live.

HARRY BURDEWICK .- Identified with the agricultural interests of Contra Costa County, California, since his boyhood years, Harry Bur- dewick has gained a thorough knowledge of the 'occupation and has been a contributor to the development of that portion of the state where he was born and reared. He is one of the pioneer and successful alfalfa growers in the Byron-Brentwood section of eastern Contra Costa County, where he now operates about 200 acres. He was born in Byron Precinct on April 29, 1887, the only son of Peter and Emma (Kane) Burdewick, honored pioneers of this section, now living retired in Oakland, Cal.

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Peter Burdewick, the father of our subject, was born in Hanover, Ger- many, November 7, 1847, and came to California via the Isthmus of Panama in 1866. For four years after arriving in California he lived with an uncle who owned a large stock range in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the northern part of the State; later he went to Suisun and there en- gaged in grain and hay farming for a number of years. He then removed to. Contra Costa County, rented land at first, and prospered as the years went by until he came to own some 800 acres; the greater part of it has been sold until there now remains about 200 acres which is all devoted to the raising of alfalfa. There are two children in this family, our subject and his sister Josephine, now Mrs. Sproule, who resides with her parents in Oakland.

Harry Burdewick attended school near the home farm and the Liberty High School in Brentwood. At the age of thirteen he was able to drive big teams of horses and help his father on the farm. He now has full charge of the large ranch of 200 acres which yields him a good return for his energy and industry.

At Redwood City on February 18, 1915, Mr. Burdewick was married to Miss Jasmine Galli, born in Bakersfield. Mr. Burdewick was drafted for service in the World War but the armistice intervened to keep him from going overseas. Mrs. Burdewick is a member of Byron Parlor No. 193, N. D. G. W.

ARCHIE V. McFAUL .- A former chairman of the board of trustees of the city of Pittsburg, Archie V. McFaul is a broad-minded, clear- visioned business man, thoroughly in sympathy with the progress of his municipality and the welfare of its citizenry. He is the owner and pro- prietor of McFaul's furniture store, one of the largest and oldest in Pittsburg, and is also the proprietor of an extensive plumbing business in the city. Born at Hampshire, Ill., on February 26, 1883, he is the son of J. R. and Frances (Davis) McFaul, the former a native of Kingston, Ontario, and the latter born on one of the Thousand Islands, Canada, and a daughter of Robert Davis, who owned and operated the Davis Dry Docks, at Kingston. J. R. McFaul followed mercantile pursuits both be- fore and after coming to California, and he was well known in Pittsburg, where he located in 1904, coming from San Jose, and established himself in the furniture business. His death occurred in Pittsburg, November 6, 1912. He was an upright citizen and a successful business man. His wife was also well known here, though since her second marriage she resides in another city.

Archie V. McFaul came with his parents to California when ten years of age, and was reared in San Jose and Watsonville before coming to Pittsburg, his father being the proprietor of furniture stores in both cities. When the family came to Pittsburg he went to work in the mill of the Redwood Manufacturers Company, while his father opened a furniture store, which prospered from the start. By the exercise of industry and

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thrift, the son was soon able to buy a share in the father's store, and in 1907 the firm name became J. R. McFaul & Son. Their place of busi- ness from 1911 to 1918 was in the store building erected by the elder McFaul, at 105 Black Diamond Street. They added plumbing to the furniture line, and both branches prospered well, for both proprietors were men of intelligence and had a thorough knowledge of their lines.

After the death of the father, Archie V. McFaul became the managing head of the business, and since 1918, when he acquired his mother's in- terest in the business, he has been sole owner. In 1920 he moved to the large store building built by himself, and there he continues to supply the discriminating public of Pittsburg and surrounding territory with the best in furniture and plumbing.

The marriage of Mr. McFaul, occurring at Pittsburg, September 18, 1910, united him with Miss Lillian Rouner, a daughter of C. T. and Delia (Nash) Rouner, both well known in the county. The father still lives in Pittsburg, but Mrs. Rouner passed to her reward in 1924, at the age of sixty-three. She was a pianist and organist of note and a social fa- vorite, active in lodge and church work, and for years was organist in the Congregational Church at Pittsburg. Both the Rouner and Nash families were early California pioneers, lured to the State by the gold excitement, and the Rouners were actively engaged in gold mining at Coloma, on the American River, for many years. Mrs. McFaul's father became an engineer, and has installed the mining machinery in many of Califor- nia's mines. Mrs. McFaul is descended, on her mother's side, from the Mayflower families of Hopkins and Chipman, of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, while on the Rouner side she descends from Terrell, who was in charge of the King's Preserves in Virginia during early colonial days. One daughter, Janice, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. McFaul.

Mr. McFaul was elected to the high school board in 1916; since then he has served continuously, and he is now clerk of the board. He worked hard for the establishing of the union high school at Antioch; and as the three districts attending have grown, and Pittsburg's need for a local high school building is great, he is now interested, as a member of the board, in securing the passage of a bond issue for a high school building in the city of Pittsburg, where the high school classes are held in one of the grammar school buildings. He takes a very live interest in education at all times. In 1918 he was elected to the board of city trustees of Pittsburg, which in 1920 showed a population of 7000 and ranked as a city of the sixth class. In that year a bond issue of $440,000 was voted for the purpose of establishing a city water plant, paving streets, building municipal buildings and a municipal wharf, and carrying into effect other very necessary measures ; and additional bonds aggregating $38,000 were subsequently voted for needed reforms, all of inestimable value to the city. The new library building is now completed, at a cost of $20,000. Mr. McFaul was active and interested in having the bond issue carried

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in 1920, and that same year he was made chairman of the board. The city found in him a very able and efficient executive, whole-heartedly de- voted to its growth and development.

Fraternally, Mr. McFaul is active in Masonry; he is a Past Master of the lodge at Antioch, and is a charter member of the Masonic lodge which was organized in 1912, and was its first Master, and since 1913 has been its secretary. He is a member of the local advisory board of the Pittsburg branch of the Mercantile Trust Company of California, and is a prominent member of the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. McFaul, who assists in keeping the books in their store, is also well known in Masonic circles, being a member of the Eastern Star; and she is also active in the order of Native Daughters of the Golden West.

WALTER S. VAN WINKLE .- There is probably no man residing in Bay Point that has taken a more active part in the upbuilding of the city and county than has Walter S. Van Winkle; and while not a native ,of California, he has made his home in this State for so many years that he is intimately associated with its progress and devoted to its develop- ment. Although still a young man, he is the owner of several business houses and residences, and is successfully operating a large department store at Bay Point, including hardware, furniture and a fine line of elec- trical fixtures. This store is attractive and up-to-date, and would do credit to a city several times the size of Bay Point. Mr. Van Winkle is the president of the Bay Point Light & Power Company, distributing elec- trical power to the citizens and manufactories of Bay Point and vicinity ; and he is also agent for four of the best old-line insurance companies and does a thriving business along this line. He has recently platted a portion of his vacant property, and lots are being sold rapidly for homes. An- other enterprise which he is successfully handling is the Highway Garage, together with the Ford agency; Harry Hines is the capable manager of these. Mr. Van Winkle predicts that Bay Point will be one of the lum- ber centers and manufacturing cities of California, and he is giving his best efforts along every line to help this prediction come true.

Walter S. Van Winkle was born at St. Louis, Mo., November 6, 1889, a son of W. D. and Emma (Krebs) Van Winkle, both parents being natives of Illinois. W. D. Van Winkle is a dentist by profession and prac- ticed successfully in St. Louis until his removal in 1906 to Los Angeles. where he still follows his profession. Walter S. Van Winkle remained in St. Louis for a year after his parents came to Los Angeles, and during that year completed his high school course, graduating from the St. Louis High School, Class of 1907. In the fall of 1908 he matriculated at the University of California at Berkeley, where he pursued the course as prescribed by the Electrical Engineering Department, graduating with the Class of 1912. After his graduation he became connected with the Great Western Electric Power Company, and had charge of the power sales department for five years. In 1917 Mr. Van Winkle was one of

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the organizers of the Pacific Alloy & Steel Company; this company pros- pered exceedingly during the war period, manufacturing ferro-alloys for the government. Since the close of the war, the demand for these products having ceased, this company has had to close down; but they still retain the plant and property, which is leased to smaller manufactories.

W. S. Van Winkle was married at Berkeley in 1914 to Miss Eunice Beal, born in Calaveras County and a graduate of the classical course of the University of California, Class of 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Van Winkle are highly esteemed citizens of Bay Point. Fraternally Mr. Van Winkle is a member of the Bay Point Odd Fellows Lodge. In politics he is a con- sistent Republican. He is a member of the Congregational Church and serves as clerk of its board.

ANDREW HENRY ERICKSON .- The construction foreman of the Coos Bay Lumber Company at Bay Point, Contra Costa County, is Andrew Henry Erickson, a veteran construction man in his line of work. In 1908 he came to the C. A. Smith Lumber Company and assisted in the construction of the yards, sheds, lumber trucks, cranes, and dock, and thirty-three miles of tracks and tramways in their yards. When the fire of 1913 destroyed the greater part of the yards, Mr. Erickson re- built them. During his experience in construction work he has worked for various corporations in many places, and has built at least 1000 miles of tracks for these companies.

A native of Sweden, A. H. Erickson was born on January 17, 1862, a son of John Alvin and Augusta Erickson, farmer folk in their native land. The mother passed away in 1924 at the age of ninety-four years. His father was a large farmer and proprietor of an agricultural imple- ment shop in Sweden. In their family were six boys and two girls, Andrew Henry being the third child. His father was killed in a runaway accident when he was sixty-two years old. The schools of Sweden fur- nished our subject his education, and at the age of seventeen he came to America and arrived in Chicago, where he secured a job in the car-build- ing shop of Wells & French, builders of refrigerator cars. In 1882 he came to Minneapolis and was engaged in the construction department of the Twin-Cities Street Railway, and here he had his first experience in laying tracks. Desiring to see something of the country he had selected for his future home, he traveled through the Mississippi Valley to New Orleans, then returned to the North again and secured work on the Ca- nadian Pacific, remaining four years and doing construction work through to the Rocky Mountains. He worked with the surveying crew and track-layers, and as mentioned has helped build 1000 miles of tracks. Three years of his time were spent as foreman of an extra gang on the Northern Pacific Railroad. He then came to Potlatch, Idaho, and went to work for the Weyerhouser Lumber Company, constructing yards and tracks, and afterwards was with the Humboldt Lumber Company at Sand Point, in that State. In his earlier days he had spent ten years at

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Brainerd, Minn., in construction work for the Brainerd Lumber Company, gaining experience that prepared him for the work of his later years. At Potlatch he became acquainted with S. W. Rodgers, then the super- intendent of the lumber company there, who came to Bay Point, Cal., in 1908 to establish the plant and yards for the C. A. Smith Lumber Com- pany. Being familiar with the work done by our subject, he sent him a telegram to come to California to take the position of yard superin- tendent at Bay Point. Since coming to this State his services have been in demand. He constructed the yards at Stockton for the Stockton Lumber Company, and was employed in the same capacity in Sacramento and Oakland. He has spent four years in the Puget Sound country as a mill- wright for the North Mill Company at Everett, Wash., and one year at Bellingham; and he also spent four years in construction work at the iron mines in Michigan and Wisconsin. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Erickson has a thorough knowledge of every angle of his business, and is one of the most competent men in his line on the Pacific Coast.

The marriage of A. H. Erickson and Miss Florence Howard took place in Hurley, Wis., in 1887, and they have had four children, viz .: Sadie, who died when sixteen years old; George W., a carpenter employed by his father; Florence Mabel, wife of E. A. Dunning, of Oakland; and Alex, of Ironton, Minn. Fraternally, Mr. Erickson belongs to Odd Fel- lows Lodge No. 433, in Bay Point, and to the Modern Woodmen of America in that city. He was naturalized at Brainerd, Minn., and is a Republican. He owns a residence in Oakland and two in Bay Point.

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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 67

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