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 80
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After attending school up to the age of seventeen, Griffith Lloyd made up his mind he would come to America and join his brother, which he did in April, 1885, when he arrived in Utica where he had an aunt. That city did not impress the young man on account of its very muddy streets but he made the best of things and found work. He also went to school a couple of winters while in New York State and says the schools did not compare with those in his native country. For three years he worked out as a farm hand, then he went to Iowa and for the next ten years farmed there during the summers, usually working in the coal mines in winter. It was about 1897 that our subject arrived in Los Angeles; to thoroughly enjoy the cli- mate he used to go to Santa Monica and lie in the sand and compare the
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eastern and western winter climates. In the spring of 1898 he came to San Francisco and felt an earthquake shock the first night. He traveled to the gravel mines and worked for eight months, then returned to San Francisco and worked as a laborer until he became connected with the Selby Smelter, where he has worked his way through the various positions until he is now a melter. He has the confidence of his superiors and of his fellow workers.
Mr. Lloyd was united in marriage on February 21, 1922, with Mrs. Annie (Roberts ) Williams, born in North Wales, who came to California when young with an uncle and aunt. Her parents had eleven children, there being among them two pairs of twins, a boy and a girl and a boy and a girl. By her first marriage she has a daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Elliott, of San Francisco. Mr. Lloyd belongs to the Masons in Crockett and the Odd Fellows in Iowa, and to the Crockett Eagles. The family are protestants. Since Mr. Lloyd has worked for the Selby Smelting Com- pany he has witnessed many changes in the methods, particularly in the handling of materials. He is public-spirited and a booster for Contra Costa County where he has made many friends.
HENRY E. NEAR .- In the business which he conducts, that of a commercial plumber, Henry E. Near has been an active factor in the up- building of Walnut Creek, to which place he came after being honorably discharged from the United States Army, in which he distinguished him- self in service during the World War, and was gradually promoted until he was Sergeant, 1st Class, in Company C of the 26th Engineers. Born on his father's farm near Hollister, Cal., April 15, 1885, he was the youngest in a family of five children born to John Henry and Alice A. (Barney) Near, the former a native of Iowa and the latter of California. Grandfather Barney was born in Illinois and came to California in 1851. He was among the first settlers of Sonoma County, where he farmed the greater part of his life. John Henry Near left home while still a young man and, coming to California, engaged in farming in Sonoma and San Benito Counties. He now makes his home at Lafayette, and is seventy-six years of age. The following children were born of this union: Edith and Pearl, deceased: Mrs. Nora Gilman, residing in Lafayette; Jesse, resid- ing in Walnut Creek; and Henry E., of this review.
Henry E. Near attended grammar school in the cities of Santa Rosa and San Francisco. When sixteen years old he began to make his own way in the world and for three and a half years worked in the New York- Grassville Consolidated Mine on the old Perrin place. Following this, for four years, he worked for the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Rail- roads. He then decided to learn the plumbing trade, and for a time there- after was a journeyman plumber; then he established a plumbing business of his own in Walnut Creek. After the outbreak of the World War, how- ever, he sold his business and on November 5, 1917, enlisted for service and was assigned to Company C of the 26th Engineers. He trained at
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Camp Dix, N. J., for five months and was then sent over seas. He was in the Meuse-Argonne offensive from October 2 to November 11, 1918, and thereafter was with the Army of Occupation in France and Germany from November 17 to December 16, 1918. He then returned to the United States and on April 18, 1919, was honorably discharged at the Presidio. Following his discharge he worked at Mare Island for the Government as a steam-fitter and plumber for twenty-two months, after which he re- turned to Walnut Creek and established another plumbing shop. Frater- nally, Mr. Near is affiliated with Richmond Lodge No. 1251, B. P. O. E. He is a member of the Lions Club, and of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In politics he is a Republican.
On September 8, 1925, Mr. Near married Mrs. Erna Gallagher, and they reside at Walnut Creek.
GAETANO E. SEENO .- An able and successful contractor and builder is Gaetano E. Seeno, of Pittsburg, Cal., who has to his credit the erection of many of the best homes and business blocks in the city and is highly respected for his sterling manhood. He was born in the province of Sicily on April 20, 1885, the son of Erasmo and Rosa Seeno. The father resides in California and is in his eighty-third year; the mother lives in Italy and is seventy-one years old. There were three boys and four girls in the family, and two boys and two of the girls are in California.
In 1900 Gaetano E. Seeno came to America, sailing from Naples, and after landing in New York came direct to Pittsburg, Cal., arriving in March. He had a brother, Frank Seeno, in this city and for three years was employed by him in building boats for the fishing trade. Being a good carpenter he decided to enter upon a career for himself, and since making that decision he has become the leading contractor of Pitts- burg. Among the more prominent buildings erected by him we mention the homes of J. J. Davi, C. Cautiello and S. Enea, the Lapori and Cardi- nelli apartments, the Continente and Liberty Hotels, the Columbia and Lincoln Grills, California Market, and Davi Financial Building. Mr. Seeno is a skilled workman and gives careful supervision to all his building operations. He keeps four men steadily employed.
On January 8, 1911, G. E. Seeno was united in marriage with Miss Rosa Di Maggio, daughter of Vincent and Rosa Di Maggio, and four children have blessed their union: Helen, Edith, Albert and Alvera. Mr. Seeno is a thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner. He holds membership in Esperenza Lodge in San Francisco, the Oakland Consistory and Aahmes Temple, also of Oakland, the Pittsburg Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows, and the Antioch Sciots. Mrs. Seeno belongs to Sterling Parlor N. D. G. W., of Pittsburg. He is interested in all progressive movements for town and county and can be counted upon for liberal support of the community's best interests.
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FRANK LA MONTAGNE .- During the sixteen years that Frank La Montagne has resided in Antioch, he has been actively identified with its growth and prosperity. He is another of California's native sons, born at Clarksburg, Yolo County, seventeen miles from the capital city, on March 9, 1874, a son of Frank and Mary (Stave) La Montagne, the former a native of Quebec, Canada. As the name indicates, Frank La Montagne is of French ancestors, but several generations ago they emi- grated to Canada. There were twelve children in this family, nine of whom are still living. The mother passed away in 1907, aged sixty-eight. and the father reached the age of eighty-three years, dying in 1919. A brother, George B. La Montagne, was mayor of Antioch when the new $60,000 City Hall was built in 1919; he is now superintendent of the Liberty Farms above Rio Vista.
Frank La Montagne grew up in Clarksburg and there attended the public schools. He became thoroughly familiar with the Delta country and as a boy was fond of fishing, swimming and boating, and thereby be- came. intimately acquainted with river life. He learned the blacksmith's trade and operated a shop in Clarksburg for several years. Then he be- came a barge-man and later worked on a dredger for his brother, George B. La Montagne. Afterwards he became a captain on the river, and for three years was captain of the Shell Oil Company's river boat. Removing to Antioch in 1909 he opened a grocery store and began to build up a good business, continuing alone until 1924, when he took in a partner, Benjamin Olson. This company keeps a well-selected stock of staple and fancy groceries and enjoys a large and growing trade in Antioch and surrounding territory.
Mr. La Montagne was married at Sacramento to Miss Anna Nelson, a native of Sweden, and they have a family of seven children : Della, Dor- othy, Myrtle, Esther, Frankie, Georgia and Grover B.
JOHN RASINO .- Representative of the enterprise and spirit of pro- gress which have distinguished the industrial life of Contra Costa County. John Rasino is entitled to the respect and consideration accorded him by the citizens of Pittsburg. He came to California from his native country of Italy in 1920 and selected Pittsburg as the place for his permanent resi- dence. Almost immediately he became connected with the Columbus Soci- ety of the Sons of Italy Lodge at Antioch, which was organized in 1909; and in 1923 he became president of this lodge. Later he served as vice- president, his term of office extending over three years; and in 1925 he was made Great Deputy, and in this capacity is doing valuable work for his fellow-countrymen who come as strangers from the foreign shores of Italy. He occupies the important and responsible position of dry-kiln operator for the Redwood Manufacturers Company at Pittsburg, in which capacity he has steadily worked for five years.
John Rasino was born in the town of Cercenasco, Province of Turin, Italy, October 8, 1890, the third son in a family of five boys born to
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Fermino and Catharina Rasino, both natives of the same country. John attended the elementary schools of his native province, and when he reached military age entered the Italian army and served for eight years; he was in the war with Turkey in 1911; and from 1915 to 1919 served in the World War at the front as telephone operator, and twice was slightly wounded. He received his honorable discharge in Italy. When he arrived in California in 1920 he immediately applied for citizenship papers ; and he is as loyal to his adopted country as he was to his native land. He is a valued employee of the company he has served for five years, showing marked aptitude for his special line of work in the dry-kiln.
Mr. Rasino has one brother still living in Italy, one in France, and two in the Argentine. With four other single Italian-Americans, Mr. Rasino occupies the second story of the building located at 850 West Street. Mr. Rasino is an accordion player of note, and his ability as a musician admits him to many social functions. Being of a genial and social disposi- tion, he occupies a prominent position among the Italian-Americans of Pittsburg.
CHESTER ZENONE .- In no branch of agriculture is a more thorough knowledge and greater business capacity needed than in that pertaining to the breeding and raising of dairy cattle; and in this industry no one has met with more deserved success than Chester Zenone, a well- known dairyman and manager of the Dairy Deliveries Ranch of 237 acres in the heart of the Byron-Bethany alfalfa section of Contra Costa County. He was born at Locarno, Switzerland, December 1, 1892, the fourth child in a family of ten children born to Frank and Antoinette (Galzonia) Zenone, both natives of the same country: At one time the father was in business at Port Costa, Cal., and after several years spent there he returned to Switzerland, where he and his wife are now living. Chester's mother comes from a distinguished Swiss family. Her father reached the advanced age of 104 years. Chester Zenone made the most of his opportunity to obtain a good education in his native country and completed the high school course in Locarno. In 1910 he came to Cal- ifornia and at once found employment upon dairy farms at La Honda, and later at Fort Ross in Sonoma County. He went to Stanislaus County and worked for four years on Cressy's dairy farm. In 1917 he came to Contra Costa County and went to work for the Balfour-Guthrie Com- pany who later rented the place to Zenone and Smith. One hundred acres of this place were planted to tomatoes in 1926 preparatory to re- seeding to alfalfa.
Mr. Zenone is a Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge at Brentwood; Scottish Rite Consistory and Aahmes Temple, in Oakland. With all his hard work, Mr. Zenone is still a diligent student and progressive to a high degree. He has a thorough knowledge of the dairy business and is a recognized authority in this branch of agriculture.
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ROLF NAAS .- A highly intelligent and successful civil engineer and surveyor of central California is Rolf Naas, city engineer of Antioch since 1923. Mr. Naas was born in Ostersand, Sweden, on April 12, 1890, the son of Magnus and Teckla (Naas) Mattsson. The father, born in 1854, is a noted civil engineer who spent his active life following his profession, most of the time in the employ of the Swedish government, running tunnels and surveying woods, railways, etc. He is now a pensioner.
Rolf Naas, who took his mother's name, grew up in his native land and was graduated from the Technical High School, Class of 1911, work- ing with his father in the meantime from the age of fourteen. He then put in one year working under his father, learning what he could and get- ting practical training in his profession. He then resolved to try his for- tunes in America, and landed in San Francisco in 1912. He immediately took up professional work as a civil engineer and was variously engaged in running tunnels, building roads, and mining engineering work in various places in this State, and in Alaska in 1915. In 1917 Mr. Naas voluteered his services for duty in the World War in the anti-aircraft artillery. After being trained he was sent to France and served from 1917 to 1919, during which time he designed the first fire control chart ever made for the United States forces in the anti-aircraft service. Returning to San Fran- cisco, he was discharged at the Presidio in March, 1919.
Taking up civilian life once more, Mr. Naas was retained as a civil engineer on large reclamation projects in Colusa and Eldorado Counties. In 1922 he came to Antioch, and the following year he was made city en- gineer. In addition to his work for the city he has a general practice and is fast building up a lucrative business. As city engineer he built the reservoir for the Antioch Water Supply, which is now assured to the city for years to come. He is also city engineer for Isleton, Sacramento County, and acts in the same capacity for other nearby towns, and is doing some very important work for private firms and individuals.
Mr. Naas was married at Oakland on July 16, 1924, to Miss Maud Rhoades, who was born in Ohio but grew up in Los Angeles, Cal. They both have a large circle of friends, and are leaders in their social set in Antioch.
EDWARD MUSETTI .- Whoever labors, whether directly or in- directly, for the welfare of the community and by his efforts materially helps to maintain the life and health of its citizens, is a public benefactor. Such is the place of the modern, sanitary baker in the up-to-date city. Edward Musetti, the proprietor of the New Naples Bakery in Pittsburg, Cal., is a native of Italy, born about forty years ago in the province of Tuscany, a representative of one of the oldest families of the province.
Early in life he was obsessed with a desire to emigrate to America, where so many of his countrymen had achieved success in business. When seventeen years of age he arrived in New York, and, having heard so many alluring reports concerning California, continued his journey until he
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reached the Golden State and located in Jackson, Amador County, where he learned the trade of a baker, and remained until he removed to Pitts- burg in 1922. Here he opened a bakery, specializing in French and Milk bread. By judicious management, courteous attention to his customers and the use of strict sanitary methods in baking, he soon built up a demand for his various kinds of bread, until today he averages about 1200 loaves each day of the week. He is doing his best to solve the bread question by mak- ing the "staff of life" of good, wholesome ingredients. As a result the New Naples Bakery is meeting with deserved success and in 1925 moved into their new quarters on West Fifth Street. Mr. Musetti employs only competent white bakers. He is an American citizen and a progressive business man.
On November 7, 1921, Edward Musetti was united in marriage with Miss Ermalinda de Mosecatelli, a native of Italy, and this union has been blessed with four children: Mary, Lena, Nancy, and Theressa. Frater- nally, Mr. Musetti is a member of Pittsburg Lodge No. 18, K. of P., and Winchesters Lodge, I. O. O. F .; and he belongs to the Pittsburg Cham- ber of Commerce.
REV. J. W. McCLORY, O. P .- The resident pastor of Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Antioch is the Rev. Father J. W. McClory. This parish, which numbers some 300 parishioners, is more than seventy years old and was founded by Rev. Father Callahan. Father McClory was born in Chicago, Ill., on November 14, 1891, and is a son of Donald and Mary (Yenish) McClory, the former born in Quebec, Canada, and identified with the lumber business for many years. The mother was born in Traverse City, Mich. The family home is in Seattle, Wash.
The eldest of four children, J. W. McClory spent his life up to the age of ten in Traverse City, Mich., and then accompanied his parents to Seattle. He attended the public and parochial schools and had one year in the high school in Seattle; then he entered the Immaculate Conception College in Washington, D. C., in 1913, and remained a student there until 1920, except one year spent at St. Joseph's Seminary in Ohio. This is a college of the Dominican Order for teachers. He was graduated from the Immaculate Conception College in May, 1920. During the World War he did a great deal of missionary work about the army camps at Washington as auxiliary chaplain.
Coming to California, Father McClory spent five years in St. Dom- inic's Monastery in San Francisco and then came to Antioch to take charge of Holy Rosary Parish. The church was erected in 1905 and 1906, and the parish house was completed in 1924. Father McClory is doing good work in this locality and is well liked by his parshioners and by the general public at large, be they Catholics or Protestants. He heartily favors better civic conditions, and works for the social and moral uplift of the people of the community.
Cestguy. amelia G. Guy
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CHARLES HENRY GUY .- Self-educated and self-reliant, Charles Henry Guy has solved the vital problem of attaining success in the face of difficulties, and is today counted among the successful business men of Concord, Contra Costa County, and one whose highest ambition is to assist in the advancement and progress of his section. His birth occurred at Nortonville, Cal., December 22, 1879, and he is one of five children born to John W. and Lavinia Tennessee (McCain) Guy. Both parents were born in the South, the father in Alabama, the mother in Tennessee.
C. H. Guy received a grammar school education in the Concord schools ; at the age of fourteen years he began to earn his own money, and for two years he worked in a drug store in Concord. About this time the wanderlust took possession of him and he traveled around a good deal for several years, and in 1900 took a trip to Honolulu. Returning to his native state, he took a position with the Utica Gold Mines at Angels Camp, where he worked for three years in their pipe line department. In 1903 he went to San Francisco and worked for a leading hardware firm; from this company he went to work in the stock room of the United Rail- ways Company. Early in 1906, the year of the great earthquake, he went to Kokomo, Ind., and was there when the news of the great disaster was given to the world. Immediately he returned to California and resumed his old position with the United Railways Company; and later he was with the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. In 1882 his father had opened a mortuary establishment in Concord, and in 1909 Mr. Guy went into partnership with him in the business. In 1911 the father passed away and L. R. Palmer and A. Ford were taken into the partnership. In 1916 a new building with all modern equipment was erected on the corner of Fernando and Mount Diablo Streets.
On April 19, 1910 Mr. Guy was married to Miss Amelia Galindo, a daughter of John C. and Marina (Amador) Galindo. Mrs. Guy is a granddaughter of Salvio Pacheco, who obtained a grant of 18,000 acres in Contra Costa County and was one of the early pioneers of this section. Mr. and Mrs. Guy are the parents of one boy, Earl John. Mr. Guy is a director in the Bank of Concord and at the present time is city treasurer. He was serving as city clerk when he resigned to take the position of postmaster of Concord, and he served in that capacity from 1914 until 1923. Since 1910 Mr. Guy has served as deputy county coronor. He is an active member of the Concord Chamber of Commerce and has served on all of the important committees. Fraternally he belongs to the Ma- sons, Elks, Native Sons, Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, I. D. E. S. and U. P. E. C. He is a member of the Lions Club recently organized in the city. Mr. Guy is a baseball enthusiast and has played some with the Concord baseball team.
WILLIAM A. SEARS, JR .- As the owner and proprietor of the Contra Costa Drug Store, at the corner of Ferry and Main Streets in Martinez, William A. Sears, Jr., is making his influence felt in business
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circles in Contra Costa County. He was interested in the opportunities offered in Martinez when he was looking for a permanent location in which to build up a business, and he purchased the drug business that had been established by Dr. Lawrence in 1850. Here he has built up a lucra- tive trade, owing to his conservative methods and his efficiency and knowl- edge of pharmacy. Since locating here, Mr. Sears has taken an intelligent interest in the development of both city and county; and he is accounted one of the public-spirited and successful men of Martinez.
William A. Sears, Jr., was born near Wright's Station, Santa Clara County, on June 17, 1890, the son of William A. and Sarah Bell (Loucks ) Sears, now residents of Portersville, Tulare County. He obtained his ed- ucation in the public schools of his native county and completed the high school course after the family located in Portersville. His ambition was to be a pharmacist, and he then entered the College of Pharmacy in San Francisco, from which he was graduated in 1911.
On September 8, 1915, in San Francisco, Mr. Sears and Miss Elsie Williams were united in marriage. They have two children: Elinore Belle and William Edgar.
HANS R. RASMUSSEN .- One of the most highly esteemed citi- zens of Clayton is Hans R. Rasmussen, the storekeeper. He is not only an able business man, but an individual who takes a keen interest in all the activities of the community. His reputation for honesty, square dealing and industry is unquestioned and the high esteem in which he is held is also shared by his loyal wife and devoted helpmeet. She is the daughter of J. G. Sargent, of Stanislaus County.
Mr. Rasmussen was born in Brown County, Wis., near Green Bay, February 28, 1880, (leap year), the son of Christensen and Annie Ras- mussen, both of whom were born in Denmark. The mother died when Hans R. was but eleven years old, but the father, a venerable gentleman of eighty-five years, is still living and the owner of a farm south of Green Bay, Wis. As a boy, Hans Rasmussen attended the public schools of the community in which he was born and later was a student in the high school of Green Bay for two years. During his school years, and for some time after, Mr. Rasmussen was employed as a clerk in a general store of Brown County. In 1899, at the age of nineteen, he came to California and located at Crockett, where he was employed as clerk in a general store for twenty years. In 1919 he purchased the general store of G. E. Lindemann in Clayton, which has since been his home. For five years Mr. Rasmussen was the postmaster of Clayton. Politically he is a Democrat and in his fraternal affiliations is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World at Crockett.
On February 22, 1901, Mr. Rasmussen was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Sargent at Knight's Ferry, Stanislaus County, of which locality she is a native. This union was blessed with three children : Albert G .; Marguerite, who married Andrew Berrendsen, a machinist at Nichols
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