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 78

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 78

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On July 24, 1920, Dr. Herbert was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Clary, born in San Francisco, in which city their marriage was celebrated. Two sons, William Marden and Ellwood F., Jr., have blessed this union. Dr. Herbert is prominent in fraternal circles, being a Past Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Past President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Past President of the Native Sons of the Golden West, all of Santa Barbara. He has gained a reputation as an eloquent speaker and is frequently called upon to officiate at public gatherings. Since becoming a resident of Pittsburg he has entered heartily into the civic life of the city, and he is to be found on the side of progress at all times, giving of his time and means to help promote worthy projects for the upbuilding of his city and county.

CHARLES B. WEEKS .- The efficient ranch foreman for the Bal- four-Guthrie Company, Charles B. Weeks, supervises some 4000 acres owned by the company in the Brentwood district of Contra Costa County. This is what remains of the original 13,000 acres of the holdings of Bal- four-Guthrie Company, and it is capably managed by Mr. Weeks. The property is divided into several parts. Camp No. 1 is devoted to apricots, prunes, peaches and pears and a large acreage of alfalfa ; Camp No. 2 is devoted to alfalfa and dairying ; and Camp No. 3 is given over to sheep- raising and producing tomatoes. Camps No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 have been sold off. Mr. Weeks makes his home at Camp No. 1. 1926 finds him putting in 350 acres of tomatoes and 100 acres of lettuce. There are some forty men employed as ranch hands and also fifteen dairy work- ers, all under the supervision of Mr. Weeks who keeps in close touch with every department at all times.

Charles B. Weeks was born at Kinsley, Edwards County, Kans., on July 7, 1884, and is a son of James P. and Florence G. (Blanchard) Weeks. The family came to California in 1894 and settled at Red Bluff, where the father began the cultivation of a peach orchard. He died the following year, leaving a widow with three children: Fred, now ranching near Red Bluff ; Charles Blanchard, of this review; and James Pascal, of Dunsmuir, an employee of the Southern Pacific Railway. The mother still maintains the home in Red Bluff. During his attendance at the public schools our subject made himself generally useful around the ranch, and he early took up agricultural and horticultural pursuits, taking an extension course in the latter at the University of California. In time he was ap- pointed horticultural commissioner of Tehama County, serving from 1910 to 1918, and giving general satisfaction to all concerned. He saw many

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changes in Tehama County as its products were changing from grain to fruits, and he did his share as an official. In 1918 he left Tehama County and engaged with the United States Smelting and Refining Company at Redding as field agent for their agricultural department, remaining till 1921, when he became field agent for the Nurserymen's Bud Selection Association, which position he held one year. In 1922 he came to Brent- wood to take charge of the Kirkman Nursery and planted about 1500 acres to trees. In 1924 he assumed his present position with Balfour-Guthrie Company.

Charles B. Weeks was united in marriage at Red Bluff on December 6, 1910, with Miss Myrtle Edna Yancy, born in Colusa County, the daughter of Oliver Yancy, one of the early settlers of Colusa County. Two children have blessed this union: Charles Blanchard, Jr., and Mary Rideout. Mr. Weeks is a member of Vesper Lodge No. 84, F. & A. M., at Red Bluff, and also of the Eastern Star of that city, to which Mrs. Weeks also belongs. They are Republicans. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have made many close friends in their new home district and are highly esteemed by all who know them.

CHARLES B. WIGHTMAN .- A descendant of an honored pioneer, Charles B. Wightman, owner of the Diablo Auto Park Service Station and Tourist Camp Grounds, located at the junction of Borden Highway and the Brentwood-Byron Highway, is the son of Joel D. Wightman an early pioneer settler of California, a man of high ideals and many sterling characteristics; an interesting sketch of his life will be found on another page of this work.

Charles B. Wightman was born at Antioch, Cal., November 7, 1882, the second son and child of Joel D. Wightman. He learned the trade of carpenter from his father and followed it for twelve years. In 1909 he and his brother Percy engaged in the garage business at Byron, Cal. In 1924 he purchased a two-acre tract of land on the highway which he has transformed into a beautiful auto park and camping grounds, erected an up-to-date service station, a modern residence, four cottages for campers and tourists and has tenting space for automobile tourists. He has spared no pains to make Diablo Auto Park attractive to the traveling public. It is supplied with plenty of water, which is pumped from a well by electric power, into a steel tank, and atop of the tank is an electric tower that furnishes light for the park. In addition to these necessities he has installed an electric water heater, and an electric stove, two shower baths and toilets ; and the park is also supplied with a refreshment stand. Such a modern caravansary as this is indeed doubly welcomed by the tired and dusty auto tourists. Here they can enjoy the comforts of home amid the joys of out-of-door life. Although it is a new place it is well patronized by the traveling public.

On August 9, 1906, Charles B. Wightman was united in marriage with Miss Beatrice Wisdom, and this union has been blessed by two children :

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Emma, Mrs. Raymond Parke, resides at Tracy, Cal. ; and Sadie, a student at the Brentwood Liberty Union High School. Fraternally Mr. Wight- man is a member of Byron Parlor No. 170, N. S. G. W .; Byron Lodge No. 355 I. O. O. F .; Brentwood Lodge No. 345 F. & A. M .; and of the Wood- men of the World. He is an enthusiastic worker for the East Contra Costa County Chamber of Commerce and gives his aid to all movements that have as their aim the betterment of social, educational, moral and commercial interests of his community.

JOE CESA .- The leading contractor and builder in eastern Contra Costa County is Joe Cesa, of Antioch. Mr. Cesa was born in Venice, Italy, on October 19, 1893, a son of Andreas and Theresa Cesa. Andreas Cesa was a prominent contractor in Italy and did much work for the Italian government. The parents are still in Italy, enjoying their pros- perity there. They had four children. Two sisters of Joe Cesa still re- main in their native land. His brother, Henry Cesa, was the first of the family to come to California. He was a contractor and builder and was prominent in Antioch up to the time of his death from the flu in 1918. He was married and had two children, but his wife and baby boy both passed away, leaving a little daughter, Theresa. She was adopted into the family of Joe Cesa and is now eleven years old.

Joe Cesa attended his home schools and there learned the trade of the plasterer, cement worker and brick mason. He left home on Sep- tember 11, 1912, to join his brother at Antioch, Cal., arriving in October. His brother was rebuilding the Paraffine Companies, Inc., building just after their fire in 1912, and he was put at work laying brick and continued at work for eight months. He continued at his trade until the war broke out and then tendered his services to the United States government and was sent where he was most needed. His ability as a builder was soon noted and he was placed in charge in the erection of Y. M. C. A. and other buildings for the government, with fifteen men under his direction. At the close of the war he returned to Antioch from Camp Kearny.

His handiwork is seen on the Cardinalli, the Lanzafame and the Na- tional Market, in Pittsburg; the American Legion Memorial in Brent- wood, and some of the finest homes there; the Pioneer Rubber Works, and homes in Walnut Creek and Martinez. He was the first to do concrete work on the new Antioch bridge, and he erects buildings for the C. A. Hooper Company. He is an expert workman and is always busily en- gaged in work. In his home town he erected the garage which he owns at the corner of Fourth and K Streets, doing the work nights and Sun- days; and he has just completed his new home at Fifth and K Streets.

Mr. Cesa has perfected an ingenious arrangement for heating several rooms, or the entire house, from a fireplace, and has secured letters pat- ent on the device, which is known as the Cesa Fireplace Heater. This is also a ventilator as well, and is operated by a small electric motor. This motor drives or draws the heat from the fireplace through pipes into the

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rooms to be heated, and thus saves the expense of a basement furnace. In summer the rooms can be ventilated through the same pipes and in the same manner. There is a vacuum attachment that works from the same motor from the furnace. This is the first of its kind in the United States and bids fair to become a household necessity. Mr. Cesa is an expert furnace builder and worker in.cement of all kinds.

On August 22, 1921, Joe Cesa was married to Miss Lena Mattei, who was born in Boston, Mass., but grew up at Antioch. They have had one child, Ramona, now going on two years old, besides their adopted daughter, Theresa. Mr. Cesa is a member of Harding Post No. 161, American Legion, at Antioch, and belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Columbus Lodge, Sons of Italy. In all civic affairs he stands ready and willing to do his share, and is loyal to the country of his adoption. He and his wife have many friends throughout eastern Contra Costa County.

JAMES L. CLAGHORN .- James L. Claghorn has every reason to be pleased with Contra Costa County, for a proper use of its opportuni- ties has resulted in a competence for him. In partnership with Dr. H. R. Green, of Palo Alto, he owns 106 acres in the Lone Tree District of the county. For the past four years he has personally supervised the develop- ment of this ranch. Eighty acres have been planted to the Blenheim and Tilton varieties of apricots, and a considerable acreage is devoted to grow- ing cantaloupes, lettuce, spinach, etc. Mr. Claghorn was born in New York City on June 10, 1889, a son of C. R. and Margaret ( Montgomery) Claghorn. His father was a mining engineer by profession and was en- gaged along this line until his demise; the mother is still living. There are two sons in their family: James L., our subject; and D. M., an en- gineer residing in Pittsburgh, Pa.

James L. Claghorn attended the Hill School for boys in New York City, and when ready to enter college became a student at Columbia Uni- versity, taking the mining engineering course, and was graduated with the Class of 1912. After finishing school he went to Alaska, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1915, when he came to California and was in the employ of various mining companies, especially at Grass Valley, Nevada County, and in Siskiyou County. Mr. Claghorn enlisted in the aviation section during the World War and became in- structor at Ellington Field, in Houston, Texas; he served throughout the war and was commissioned first lieutenant.

James L. Claghorn was married in Houston, Texas, in 1918, to Miss -Yvonne Lloyd, born in San Francisco, a daughter of J. C. Lloyd. Mr. Claghorn became interested in the oil fields of Texas and remained there until 1923, when he removed to California. He is now serving as sec- retary of the recently-organized Lone Tree Shipping Corporation; this company takes care of all the produce raised in this vicinity and is of great benefit to the farmers and fruit growers.

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GEORGE CHRISTENSON .- An assured position among the pros- perous agriculturists and respected citizens of Contra Costa County is held by George Christenson, who, with his good wife, resides on their ten-acre home place in the Oakley Precinct. Mr. Christenson was born in Neenah, Wis., on October 5, 1856, a son of Godfrid Christenson, a native of Nor- way who came to America and settled at Neenah, where he engaged in the mercantile business. George Christenson grew up and attended the public schools in Wisconsin; and after finishing the grade schools he entered a business college in Oshkosh, the same State, became an accountant, and was associated with his father in the grocery business in Neenah.

In 1892 Mr. Christenson was married to Mrs. Mary Spaulding, wid- ow of Augustus Spaulding, a decorator of Neenah, Wis. Mrs. Christen- son's maiden name was Mary Madison. She was born in Denmark, a daughter of Mrs. Anna Madison, who afterwards became Mrs. Jensen. Mrs. Madison was the mother of three children, Mrs. Christenson being the only one now living. Mrs. Christenson grew up in her native country until thirteen and then, with her mother and two sisters, came to Wis- consin. She was first married to Mr. Spaulding in Neenah; and one daughter, Augusta, was born of this union. She is now the wife of Clyde Olney, residing in Oakley, where she and her husband own and operate a general merchandise store; they also have a store in Richmond, Cal. In 1919 Mrs. Christenson and her daughter purchased the present home ranch of ten acres, which is devoted to the raising of almonds. The orch- ard is now in full bearing and is bringing in a good income to its owners. Mr. and Mrs. Olney stand high in Masonic circles, and Mrs. Olney is a pianist of note. They are the parents of three daughters: Mary Belle, Jane Elizabeth, and Grace. Mrs. Christenson was brought up in the Lu- theran Church, but is now an attendant at the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Christenson is almost seventy years old, but retains his youthful vigor and enjoys keeping the home place in good order. By his industry and frugal- ity a comfortable competence has been assured. He and his wife came to California in 1911 to join their daughter in Oakland, later went to Rich- mond, and then settled at Oakley.

LOUIS ANTONE .- A native son of Contra Costa County, who has made a success of his chosen business at Pittsburg, Cal., is Louis Antone, the popular proprietor of the Faultless Cleaners establishment located at 319 Los Medanos Street. Mr. Antone was born at Martinez on Novem- ber 21, 1893, the son of John and Delphina Antone; the mother still re- sides in Martinez but the father is deceased.

Louis Antone is a self-made man. His success has been due to his . own efforts since he was sixteen years of age, at which time he left school to seek his own way in the world. His first employment was that of work- ing on a hay press, for which he received one dollar per day. In 1915, he started a clothes cleaning business at Martinez, but when the World War was declared his patriotic spirit would not allow him to remain at

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home and in November, 1918, he enlisted in the Aviation Service, being assigned to Squad No. 836, and entered training at Fort McDowell, Kelly Field, Waco, Texas, whence he was transferred to Garden City Camp, N. Y. In May, 1919, he sailed from New York City on the Aquitania under convoy, landing at Liverpool, England. There he re- mained two months, and then sailed from Southampton to Bordeaux, France. After seven months of service over seas he was returned to the United States and at San Diego, Cal., was honorably discharged. After- wards he worked at the shipyards in San Francisco for four months and then returned to his old home at Martinez, where he resumed the clean- ing business for six months. In May, 1921, he located at Pittsburg, formed a partnership, and entered into the cleaning business; but he soon sold his interest and left Pittsburg. After a short absence, however, he returned and again opened a cleaning business, this time establishing his shop under the name of the Faultless Cleaners; and since then he has been successful in building up a growing and profitable business. He at- tributes his success to good workmanship, courteous treatment of patrons, and close attention to details.

Fraternally, Mr. Antone is a member of the David A. Solari Post, American Legion, at Pittsburg; is Noble Grand of Pittsburg Lodge No. 436, I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the Rebekahs and the Encamp- ment at Crockett; is a Past Sachem of Minatonka Tribe No. 243, I. O. R. M., at Pittsburg, and is a member of Pocahontas. He has a wide circle of friends and is highly esteemed in both Pittsburg and Martinez.

JOSEPH CHAPOT .- With the energy characteristic of the race from which he springs, J. Chapot has hewn his way to a prominent place in the affairs of Contra Costa County, eliciting approval as the senior member of the firm leasing and operating Hotel Martinez, at Martinez. This hotel is first-class in every detail, with seventy-five steam-heated rooms with private baths and showers. The hotel is in the heart of the city, and the proprietors make every effort to please their patrons.

The youth of Joseph Chapot was spent in his native province in France, that of Basses Pyrenees, where he was born on May 22, 1891, a son of Henry and Eugene Chapot. The father is a stone-cutter by trade. which he plies at Oloron, France. Both parents are still residents of Basses Pyrenees. As a boy, J. Chapot attended the public schools of Oloron, but when only sixteen years of age, in 1907, he left home for America, and came direct to Los Angeles, Cal., where he worked in a laundry. When the World War came on, he was in the first draft and was assigned to the infantry and trained at Camp Fremont. With the 12th Infantry he was sent to Siberia and spent a year and a half in that frigid country. At the end of his service he returned to the United States and was honorably discharged at San Francisco, on January 8, 1920.

During the summer of 1920, J. Chapot leased the Glasgow Hotel in San Francisco, which he operated until 1922; then he ran the Alvarado in

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the same city. With S. Bourrague, whom he had known in France, Mr. Chapot removed to Martinez; and together they assumed management of Hotel Martinez on November 8, 1923. This venture has proven a financial success, and the satisfaction of the public has been a stimulus to these energetic soldier boys.

The marriage of J. Chapot occurred in San Francisco in 1920, when he was united with Miss Margaret Malendres, also a native of France; to them have been born two children, Raymond and Jean. Mr. Chapot is a Democrat in politics, and fraternally he belongs to the Elks and the Parfaite Union No. 17, of San Francisco.

SAVIN BOURRAGUE .- Always a believer in the adage that "A rolling stone gathers no moss," Savin Bourrague presents an example of what steady and continuous effort in one channel of endeavor will accom- plish, having devoted his time since reaching his majority to catering to the comforts of the traveling public. Mr. Bourrague, after reaching the United States, became a pastry cook at the Golden Pheasant Restaurant in San Francisco; and later he was with Christopher in Los Angeles. After his return from France in the service of the Government, he ran the Hotel Del Monte in San Francisco for three years. He gave this business his best thought and energy, and as a reward for this singleness of pur- pose and capable management was able to bring to the present partnership with Joseph Chapot, as joint manager with him of Hotel Martinez, a business sagacity that has brought success in a large degree.

Savin Bourrague was born at Villa Segure, Basses-Pyrenees Province, France, September 11, 1891. His father is a cabinet-maker, and is still engaged at his trade. As a boy Mr. Bourrague learned this trade with his father, and was thus occupied until he was twenty-one years of age, when he left his home in France and came to the United States. When the United States went into the World War, Mr. Bourrague was assigned first to the infantry; then he was transferred to the Bakery Division of the Quartermaster's Department and served for fifteen months at Camp Lewis and Camp Fremont. He was assigned to Bakery Company 340 and was sent to France, where he served for fifteen months, returning to the United States on July 12, 1919; he was honorably discharged at the Presidio, San Francisco, on July 14, 1919.

At Santa Cruz, Cal., in 1920, Mr. Bourrague was married to Miss Philomene Buros, also a native of France.

On November 8, 1923, the partnership of Chapot & Bourrague was formed and a lease was taken of Hotel Martinez. This hotel contains seventy-five rooms, steam-heated, with private baths and showers, and is first-class in every particular. The well-directed energy of these two French-American soldier boys not only has been productive of financial success, but has also set a standard of efficient and gratifying service to travelers from all parts of the world.

M. Johnson

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MARTIN JOHNSEN .- A very capable blacksmith and dealer in agricultural implements at Antioch is Martin Johnsen, owner and pro- prietor of Peterson's Plow and Agricultural Works at the corner of Third and H Streets. He handles the International Harvester line of goods and has been steadily forging to the front in his particular field. His smithy is equipped with the modern appliances, and here from morning until night Mr. Johnsen is to be found hard at work. He finds plenty to do at all seasons of the year and is seldom idle, being an expert operator on any of the various machines in his shop. He has been a familiar fig- ure in business circles in Antioch since 1914.

He was born in Denmark fifty-two years ago and began to learn the blacksmith's trade from his brother, but while still a youth he came to the United States and for a time worked in the Middle West. The lure of California was strong on him, for he knew better opportunities were awaiting him here. Upon his arrival in the State he went to Petaluma and worked at what he could find to do, but he soon secured a place in a blacksmith shop and there found his opportunity. He came to Contra Costa County in 1896 and worked at ranch work and carpentering in several places, finally coming to Antioch, where he opened a blacksmith shop. He soon demonstrated his superior workmanship, and his trade came to him, so that now he does the principal business in this entire sec- tion; and no job is too difficult for him to undertake. He believes in the precept of the Golden Rule and counts his friends by the score.

JOHN ZUBERBUHLER .- Now living practically retired from hard work, John Zuberbuhler and his good wife are enjoying the evening of their days as residents of the Knightsen district in Contra Costa County, where they have made many friends. Mr. Zuberbuhler was born in Can- ton Appenzell, Switzerland, on March 3, 1849, and there he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Bosch, who was born in Leyden, Holland, but was taken to St. Gallens, Switzerland, by her parents and there grew up in the same canton as did Mr. Zuberbuhler, and learned the trade of the dressmaker and modiste, which she followed until her marriage. They both had the advantages of the good Swiss schools, and Mr. Zuberbuhler learned the miller's trade and followed it during the time he lived in Switzerland. With his wife and two children, John and Louisa, he arrived in New York on July 23, 1879, and journeyed to Webster County, Nebr., where Mrs. Zuberbuhler had a brother living. They leased land and be- gan farming and built a sod house or dugout in which to live. Mrs. Zuberbuhler did some millinery work for neighbors and took chickens in payment, and sometimes a pig, there being no money to speak of in cir- culation among these pioneers. The land leased was owned by the B. & M. Railroad and located in Republican Valley. Mr. Zuberbuhler helped to build the B. & M. Railroad and was the second section foreman in that section, and he served five years. In 1886 the family came out to Cali- fornia and Mr. Zuberbuhler secured work with the Southern Pacific Rail-

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road as section foreman at Volcano Springs, in what is now the Imperial Valley, then simply a waste of sand. He stayed there seven months and then came north to Los Angeles, being there during the building of the Arcade Depot. He was section foreman for the section between Los Angeles and Compton. In 1890 they went back to Nebraska and he bought 480 acres of land and again farmed. In 1893 the family took in the World's Fair in Chicago; and in 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Zuberbuhler went to Switzerland for a visit and attended the Paris Exposition while there. He sold his farm in 1903.

California had such a hold upon Mr. and Mrs. Zuberbuhler that they decided they would make this their permanent home; and accordingly they came and located in Sonoma County, where Mrs. Zuberbuhler's brother, John D. Bosch, was living. They bought a vineyard near Geyserville; but this they sold out in 1907, and in 1910 they came to Knightsen. Here they own 200 acres of fine grain land, most of which is leased to tenants, Mr. Zuberbuhler retaining a small plot of ground and the home place, where they have a small chicken ranch with white Leghorn fowls. They have had four children, two of whom died in Nebraska. John married Minnie Fry, and they have three children-Clarence, Opal and Nelma -- and are farming in Nebraska. Louisa is the wife of Gottlieb Somerhalder of Knightsen and has four children living: Paul, Arthur, Erwin and Samuel. Mr. Zuberbuhler and his good wife have worked together, and whatever of success has come to them has been the result of their combined efforts. They are adherents of the Zwingli religious faith.

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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 78

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