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 83
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Judge Matthew Ward worked on the home farm until eighteen years old. He had decided that to succeed in life he must obtain a good and thorough education along special lines. He took a course at the Stockton Business College, conducted by Professor Ramsey, and also took up a cor- respondence course, studying by himself; and so well did he succeed that at the age of eighteen he passed the teacher's examination. From that time until he was twenty-five he was engaged in teaching, his first school being at Clayton, this county, the community in which he first saw the light of day; afterwards he became the principal of the Port Costa school.
His youthful ambition was to become a lawyer; and to accomplish this aim he saved his money made from teaching and paid his way through the law school at Stanford University, graduating in July, 1913. He immedi-
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ately took the State Bar examination and was admitted to practice in the same month. Locating at Antioch, Cal., he opened an office and was successful from the start. In November, 1922, Mr. Ward was elected to the office of justice of the peace for the eighth judicial township of Contra Costa County, and he is well and ably filling that responsible position. Judge Ward possesses an enviable reputation for sterling character and for the rendering of decrees that are strictly just and impartial. His self- reliance and persistency of purpose, coupled with a definite goal in life, have helped him to surmount difficulties that would have discouraged the faint-hearted, and to gain success and win achievements under adverse circumstances.
On April 18, 1916, Matthew Ward was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Barnes, a native of Kansas; and this union has been blessed with three children : Robert, Thomas, and Leonard. Judge Ward is a member of General Winn Parlor, N. S. G. W., at Antioch. He is a champion of all worthy movements that have as their aim the betterment of the educa- tional, moral, and civic interests of the community.
EUGENE J. VIERA .- A native of Contra Costa County, Cal., Eugene J. Viera has been one of the active men of his section of the State, one who has at all times done his share toward the upbuilding of the com- munity in which he has been reared. Every movement calculated to be of material benefit to the State or county has received his support, and today he is honored and respected by all who know him. Besides operating his sixty-acre ranch, located about two miles west of Oakley on the State Highway near Bridgehead Avenue, he is president of the Bridgehead Shipping Corporation and a large stockholder in it. This company main- tains a shipping shed with a spur track, representing an investment of $7000, from which hundreds of carloads of fruits, grapes, nuts, celery, lettuce, asparagus, etc., are shipped to Eastern markets.
Eugene J. Viera was born on July 24, 1884, near Marsh Landing on the home ranch of his parents, Manuel and Elizabeth (Whelihan) Viera, natives of the Island of Pico, and San Francisco, Cal., respectively, and now honored and respected pioneers of Contra Costa County, who are represented on another page in this history. From the time when he was old enough to work, Eugene helped his father on the home place, which was virgin land covered with live-oaks when purchased. This place was cleared and planted by the Viera family, and today is among the most highly improved and productive places in the county. Mr. Viera raises grapes, almonds and walnuts on his own ranch, and is now interplanting his grape vines with walnuts. He erected the buildings at the corner of Bridgehead Avenue and Victory Highway and was the means of establish- ing the business center there.
On January 1, 1914, Mr. Viera was married to Miss Johanna Alma Mack, born at Minster, Ohio, a daughter of Charles August and Mary (Trimke) Mack, both deceased. She came to California with her sister
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and brother-in-law in 1902 when only eight years old and grew up in Contra Costa County. Four children have been born of this union: Ed- ward, Dorothy, Donald and Betty Jean. Mr. Viera helped to organize the East Contra Costa County Chamber of Commerce; and he is also a member of the Live Oak Farm Bureau and of the board of trustees of the Antioch-Live Oak school district. He is one of the members of the organi- zation known as the Industrial Survey of Eastern Contra Costa County. Fraternally, he belongs to the Native Sons. Mrs. Viera is active in the Oakley Woman's Club, the Live Oak Farm Center and the Live Oak Par- ent-Teacher's Association.
MRS. CORA E. VAUGHAN .- A woman of remarkable business ability, and at the same time a leader in social affairs, is found in the per- son of Mrs. Cora E. Vaughan, proprietor of the Home Bakery at Anti- och and representative of a pioneer family from old American ancestry. Mrs. Vaughan is a native daughter of California, born at Upper Lake, Lake County, one of five children of Isaac and Sarah ( Bucknell ) Rice. Of these five children the following are living: Estelle, wife of Thomas Bourns, living at North Bend, Ore .; Cora E., of this review ; and Frances, wife of Ray Marks, of Eureka, Cal. Isaac Rice was born in Missouri and was a neighbor and friend of ex-Governor Lilburn Boggs, of that State. When a young man he came to California and was here united in mar- riage with Sarah Bucknell, who was born in Stockton, a daughter of George Bucknell, a California pioneer of 1851, who moved from Stock- ton to Lake County in the early days. When Cora Rice was nine years old her parents moved into Mendocino County, settling in Willits, where Isaac Rice engaged in merchandising. Here the daughter grew up and attended the public schools, and imbibed the rules of business as laid down by her father.
At Willits, on April 16, 1896, Cora E. Rice and George Vaughan were united in marriage. Mr. Vaughan was born in Sonoma County and was an only child of a pioneer family of that county. From 1896 to 1898 Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan lived in San Francisco. When the Alaska gold excitement broke out, Mr. Vaughan decided to try his fortune in the northern country and his wife decided to accompany her husband. For the following twelve years they braved the dangers of the frontier. They spent the winter of 1898-1899 at Dyea, then went over Chilcoot Pass to Atlin, B. C., and then came back to Nome and other places, experiencing a life full of interest, which, if put into print, would fill a volume. Mr. Vaughan and Mr. Lindbloom, a Nome pioneer, accomplished the first trip ever made from Cook's Inlet to Nome over mountains of ice and snow. Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan's first child was born at Nome, while they were located there during the Nome development days. They became acquainted with Jack London and Alex. Mckenzie, and also met Roald Amundsen, the Arctic explorer, who pulled up at Nome in the little schooner, Gjoa, now in Golden Gate Park Museum in San Francisco, after
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accomplishing the Northwest passage, a feat that had baffled all the Arctic explorers of the world for 300 years. A grand celebration was tendered Amundsen, Mr. Vaughan being on the entertainment committee. Coming back from Nome to California, Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan took up their residence in Oakland for a year. While there Mr. Vaughan be- came connected with the California Transportation Company and was sent to Antioch as local manager, continuing in this position until his death on May 22, 1922. Four children blessed their union; Avaloo Mary, a graduate from the Antioch High School, Class of 1925, and now in busi- ness for herself in Pittsburg with a branch of the Home Bakery; Mildred E., in Munson's secretarial school in San Francisco; and Cora Wilda and George William. After the death of Mr. Vaughan, his widow purchased the Home Bakery. She gives the business her personal attention and is rapidly building up a fine trade in Antioch and the surrounding country. She employs only the most experienced help and produces a superior product. She believes in the square deal in business ; her experiences in the North have given her a broad outlook upon life, and she believes in the principle of the Golden Rule. Besides her bakery, Mrs. Vaughan owns a thirty-five acre ranch near Antioch, and her own home in town. She is a Past Matron of the Eastern Star, having served in 1923 ; is a Past Presi- dent of the Improvement Club, which she served two years; and is prom- inent in all civic movements for the betterment of local conditions in Antioch.
LORENZO VALLI .- A successful and leading merchant in Valona, Lorenzo Valli was born in Italy on May 1, 1890. His parents were John and Rose (Cattini) Valli, the former a merchant in his native land. In 1901, the father came to America. A brother, Angelo Valli, is a carpenter in Italy; Antonio is a tailor in Crockett, and Joseph, who also lived in Crockett, was killed while serving in the Italian Army during the World War. Lorenzo went to the schools in Italy and completed his education in America. In 1907 he came to Crockett and worked at anything he could find to do that would give him an honest living until 1910, when he returned to Italy and served his required time in the Italian Army of a little more than two years. Returning to California he secured employ- ment at the sugar refinery in Crockett in 1913 and continued there until November 5, 1917.
At that time he was called for duty in the United States Army, trained at Camp Lewis and was assigned to the 161st Infantry, Forty-first Divi- sion, later being transferred to the Second Division, and was sent to the firing line with the Twenty-third Infantry, Company M. He was in the battles of the Marne and Chateau Thierry, was wounded July 1, 1918, and spent seventy-eight days in the hospital at Bordeaux, from which he was transferred to the Casualty Company and remained until he was hon- orably discharged on July 9, 1919. Returning to Crockett he resumed work in the refinery and remained until February 22, 1920. With his sav-
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ings he wanted to engage in the mercantile business and with a partner, Ambrogio Crivelli, purchased the store owned by Pete Verona, who had a gents' furnishing goods establishment, and opened the business under the firm name of Valli & Crivelli, and has since done a flourishing and lucra- tive business. Their business has increased and today they have a modern department store in Valona, with a branch in Crockett to better serve their increasing number of customers. They employ ten efficient salesmen and saleswomen.
Lorenzo Valli was married on December 16, 1920, to Miss Elena Cattini, a native of Italy, and they have a son, Joseph, born September 21, 1921. A bit of romance is connected with this marriage. During Mr. Valli's visit to Italy while on furlough he met Miss Cattini for the first time and during subsequent visits this acquaintance ripened into love and their marriage. She came to America on December 7, 1920, and they were married on December 16. They have hosts of warm friends in Valona and Crockett, who esteem them for their fine qualities of mind and heart. Mr. Valli takes an active interest in the Crockett-Valona Business Men's Association and supports all of its measures for better community interests. He belongs to the American Legion, the Foresters of America, the Ancient Order of Druids and the Elks. In his political views he favors Republican principles. He owns some valuable property in Oakland and his firm have property interests there also. The family are members of the Catholic Church in Valona.
WILLIAM HENRY WADMAN .- An eye-witness of the marvelous development of Crockett, which has taken place within the past two de- cades, has been William Henry Wadman, one of the best known citizens of that enterprising community. Although far from being aged Mr. Wad- man is one of the pioneer residents and was one of the charter members of the fire department which he helped to organize in 1908. In earlier days the hose cart had to be pulled by hand to the top of the hill through what were then often muddy roads. When he arrived in the village in 1907 the water formed a lake around the depot and Loring Avenue ran in a horse shoe bend. The development of the parks has all occurred since then, for at that time not a single tree grew on the hill just above the post office, and the first house was being constructed there.
Mr. Wadman was born in Liverpool, England, on June 13, 1882, his father being William Henry Wadman, a sea captain and native of Can- ada, who died in England in 1889. His mother, Mary McLean, was a native of Nova Scotia, Canada, both she and her husband being of Scotch parentage. The subject of this sketch had two brothers and two sisters; two sisters and a brother now residing in New York City, and one brother in British Columbia. After the death of his father, Mr. Wadman, then seven years old, was taken to Canada to live with relatives. About five or six years later he went to New York City, where he received his education in the grammar schools. He resided in the metropolis from 1894 to
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1907, being employed by the Arbuckle Sugar Refinery. In 1907, through the influence of some friends, he came to Crockett, where he has since made his home. When he first arrived he started in the evaporator and boiled sugar departments of the local refinery and has been steadily pro- moted until he is now head of the sugar boiling, with about twenty men in his department. Mr. Wadman is a studious type of man, reading many scientific books, and has an especial fondness for travel narratives. He is also a radio fan and takes much interest in everything relating to its development.
JAMES A. PURVIANCE .- The proprietors of the Den O' Sweets at 811-813 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, are James A. Purviance & Sons, all working in harmony together since the organization of their business in 1919. Beginning on a small scale they have increased the size of their establishment from time to time and now give employment to fifteen peo- ple in the various departments. Their restaurant and ice-cream parlor are of the most modern construction, and they have their own ice-making machinery, supplying some 500 pounds daily, and this takes care of their soda fountain and storage rooms and candy making departments. The plans of the building they occupy were drawn by Frank Purviance, and the building erected by Mr. Berry of Oakland. The fixtures and all equipment have been installed at great expense and the establishment, with its various departments, is a credit to Richmond.
James A. Purviance was born in Illinois on January 19, 1859, a son of Walker and Perthena (Gudgell) Purviance, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively, and farmer folk. Our subject attended the schools of Illi- nois and Iowa, whither the family moved when he was yet quite small, and he finished his education in Cedar Rapids, and spent the most of his life there until coming to California in 1906. His brothers and sisters were also reared in Iowa but are now scattered : Charles, in Iowa; Lewis, in Louisiana; Robert, in Iowa; Clark, in Nebraska; John, in Arizona ; Edward, in Iowa. One sister, Mrs. Anna Betzenheiser, is deceased.
On February 20, 1906, Mr. Purviance first came to California, located at Long Beach and worked at the carpenter trade some time, then came to Berkeley in January, 1907, and worked about the bay district during 1907-1908. Returning to Southern California he located in Orange and followed his trade of carpenter some ten years, coming to Richmond in 1918. Here he bought the business that is known as Den O' Sweets, in- stalled his boys in the place and continued his carpenter work until Febru- ary, 7, 1924, when he came into the store to assist his sons.
On December 31, 1885, James A. Purviance was united in marriage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Miss Lettie Newton, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Parker) Newton, the father a wagonmaker by trade in Maquo- keta, Iowa, where Mrs. Purviance was born. They have three children : Frank, married Miss Vena Leona Jensen and has two children, Albert and Alberta ; Glen, married Miss Mary Alice Gates ; and Harold, married
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Miss Nora L. Loveless, who now is in charge of the Richmond Health Center. The family are prominent in social circles and the father and sons take an active interest in all civic affairs and support all projects they believe will build up the city where they live and prosper.
EDWARD I. DE LAVEAGA .- A developer of the resources of Contra Costa County and a representative citizen of the Bay Cities is found in Edward I. de Laveaga, whose permanent home is at Orinda, Contra Costa County. He was born in San Francisco, on April 15, 1884, a son of Miguel A. and Marie (Le Breton) de Laveaga. His father was born at Rosario, Mexico, of Spanish parents; after locating in Cali- fornia he became one of the leading financiers in San Francisco. He also acquired considerable valuable property in Contra Costa County which is now being developed by our subject. The mother was born in San Francisco, in which city her brother, Albret Le Breton, was the first white male child born. The children of this family are: Joseph Vincent, of San Mateo, with business connections in San Francisco; Julia, who married Andrew P. Welch; and Edward I., of this review.
Edward I. de Laveaga received his education in private schools, Santa Clara College and the University of California. After he had completed his college courses, in 1907, he took charge of his father's property in San Benito County, which was known as the Quien Sabe Grant, one of the oldest and best known pieces of property in that county, and began his life work. During the World War he enlisted with the Red Cross and was awaiting orders of transportation to France when the Armistice was declared. After the war was over Mr. de Laveaga took up development work, at Orinda, on 1050 acres of the family hold- ings and began the work on a summer home place. His first work was with a subdivision to be put on sale for settlement. This was so success- ful that it encouraged him to start another subdivision and the establish- ment of a country club, the latter being situated between the two sub- divisions. There are now nearly eighty homes in these two tracts, with houses costing from $3000 to $50,000 each. This settlement is known
as Haciendas Del Orinda. He laid out a townsite, with a style of architecture to harmonize with his scheme of things, and there are now a fire house, equipped with the most modern fire-fighting apparatus, a general merchandise store, a block of four store buildings, garage and a riding academy. The club house cost $150,000, and there is a golf course of eighteen holes; also a lake a mile in circumference to supply water for domestic purposes, and to supply the golf course. Mr. de Laveaga's hobby is good riding horses and he has reserved eight acres for polo grounds and hurdling. He is a lover of flowers and birds and knows by name nearly all the various kinds found in California.
The marriage of Edward de Laveaga was celebrated on December 29, 1906, when he was united with Miss Delight Woodberry, daughter 21
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of Charles J. and Lucia (Hall) Woodberry. Mr. Woodberry is a native of Beverly, Mass., and a graduate of Amherst College, and an author of some renown. Mr. and Mrs. de Laveaga have five children: Miguel A., aged eighteen, is a student in economics at the University of Califor- nia; Lucia attends Miss Ransom's School; Edward Le Breton and Rich- ard H. attend a private school; and Juliette, the youngest, is now eighteen months old. Mr. de Laveaga is a director in the East Bay Title Insur- ance Company ; and also of the Orinda Country Club, which he organized. He occasionally appears in public as a speaker and is a contributor to newspapers on various topics. His hobby is hunting and fishing and in this way he finds recreation and relaxation from his arduous duties. It is through such energetic native sons, and men of their stamp, that the development of the present decade in California is being pushed through to completion, and to them is due a debt of gratitude for unselfish devo- tion to community affairs.
JAMES H. SHAW .- As the president of the Bank of Oakley, James H. Shaw is doing much to advance the agricultural interests of eastern Contra Costa County and other sound enterprises that naturally look to a bank for a solution of their difficulties. Mr. Shaw is a fruit grower and packer, and also packs and ships asparagus that is grown in the Delta country. He was born in Quincy, Ill., on April 5, 1883, a son of William L. and Elizabeth (Fleming) Shaw. The father was also born in Quincy and was a clothing merchant there for years, and now is living retired. The mother is deceased. There were six children in the Shaw family. Mrs. B. F. Lickey lives in San Francisco; Mrs. Elliott Shaw resides in New York City ; Mrs. Ray Fuqua lives in Quincy, Ill. ; James H., of this review, is the third child and oldest son; Joseph is a fruit shipper at Brawley, Cal .; and Francis is a wholesale clothing merchant at Quincy, Ill.
The early schooling of our subject was obtained in the schools in Quincy, Ill. At the age of seventeen he came out to Los Angeles, and soon after his arrival he engaged in the fruit business; and ever since that time he has been buying, packing and shipping fruits of various kinds. He has also made a specialty of growing fruit and asparagus. In 1912 Mr. Shaw came to Oakley as manager of the Miller & Cummings Packing House, and he was so well impressed with the conditions found here that he decided to make this his home. He moved his family here and has since devoted his time and talents to helping the community to grow. He now has fifteen packing plants of his own in Contra Costa, Alameda, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, San Benito and Colusa Counties. He handles sixty cars of asparagus annually and also 100 cars of grapes, forty cars of apricots, and fifty cars of tomatoes. This large enterprise has gradually grown from a very small beginning, but under the personal supervision of Mr. Shaw it has proved a financial success and he feels amply rewarded for the efforts he has put forth to build up his business. His home ranch consists of twenty-three acres, which he bought in 1919
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and which was then covered with live-oak trees. He cleared the timber and set out a vineyard of wine grapes, and in 1921-1922 built his house. The place is located about a half mile from Oakley on the State Highway.
Mr. Shaw is president of the Bank of Oakley, a State bank organized under the .State banking laws of 1920, with a paid-up capital of $25,000. He was one of the organizers of the bank and was its first president. The other officers are H. H. Hall, vice-president; F. C. Anderson, secretary ; and Paul Anderson, cashier.
Mr. Shaw has been married twice. His first wife, whom he married in Los Angeles in 1905, became the mother of two children : Francis, attend- ing school in New York City; and Robert M., attending the Santa Clara Union High School. His second marriage occurred in Yuma, Ariz., in 1918, when he married Miss Ida S. Teale, born at Fullerton, Cal. They have two children, Elizabeth and John H. Mr. Shaw takes a very active interest in the development of eastern Contra Costa County and supports all worthy movements that he thinks will help make this section a better place in which to live and rear a family. He is strong for cooperation and believes in the future of the county. He is a member of the East Contra Costa Chamber of Commerce.
GEORGE WASHINGTON RYAN .- The editor of a city news- paper should be a representative citizen, one who possesses an inherent devotion to the welfare of the community. His chief concern should be the directing of public thought into those channels that lead to the co- operation of the citizens with every movement that has as its aim the ad- vancement of the educational, moral, and commercial interests of the city, state and nation. The city of Richmond, Cal., is fortunate in having such a man in the person of George W. Ryan, the editor of Albany Argus, at Albany, and owner of the Terminal at Richmond, which he purchased in 1912. This paper originally was established in 1903 by Dr. Warren B. Brown, and given the name Terminal by a prominent Santa Fe Railway official because it advocated locating the Santa Fe at this point.
George W. Ryan was born at Albion, near Marshalltown, Iowa, on July 30, 1857, a son of Samuel and Maria (Thompson) Ryan, both natives of Pennsylvania. George and his sister Jennie, who is now Mrs. Prizer, of Albany, Cal., are the only living members of the Ryan family. George was educated in the splendid public schools of Iowa and after leaving the high school supplemented his education with special courses in newspaper work and printing, preparatory to entering upon his chosen profession. At the age of twenty-one he started his career as a newspaper- man and has followed this work in many different states of the union. Mr. Ryan was a member of the staff of the Denver Tribune in 1881, when the noted American poet, Eugene Field, was associated with this paper. In 1897 Mr. Ryan made his first trip to California, and for three years had charge of a syndicate newspaper at Holtville, after which he came to Oakland. In 1912 he purchased the Terminal at Richmond, and in 1916
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