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 87

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 87

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In 1897, in Omaha, Mr. Christensen was united in marriage with Miss Nettie Bayles, a native of Iowa, and they have two children: Lloyd E., a graduate of the Fairmont school and living at home; and Mote, wife of Albert Wilson. Both children were born in Nebraska.

In 1911 Mr. Christensen left his family in Omaha and came to Cal- ifornia. He came to Richmond and entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company, but became dissatisfied because he was not with his family, so he quit his job and returned to Omaha, sold his home there and with his wife and two children, and the parents and a sister of Mrs. Christen-

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sen, returned to California. Her father served in the Civil War, running away from home to join the army. After the death of his wife, in 1923, he went to Napa to live with a daughter. In 1912 the Christensen family settled at Richmond and two years later purchased their present home. The location is convenient to San Pablo Avenue and when he moved into his house there were but three other homes in the vicinity. The land had been a hay and grain field. He has since been employed in the barrel house of the refinery.

In March, 1925, Elmer Christensen was elected a member of the Stege Sanitary Board, which has about twenty-five miles of sewers under its jurisdiction. He gives the necessary time to the duties devolving on him and favors expansion, street improvement and such things as go towards making living more pleasant in his community. In 1892 he was admitted to full citizenship in Shelby County, Iowa, and has since voted the Republican ticket on national issues. In local affairs he selects the person for the office regardless of party lines. He belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters, Union Court, at El Cerrito. To fur- ther the best interests of the neighborhood he helped organize the Annex Improvement Club, which has done much towards social and civic better- ment. He believes he has never seen a more attractive place to live than this section and is satisfied that he cast in his lot with California, for he had become tired of the severe winters and hot summers in the Middle West. His recreation is found in watching clean sports, wrestling and baseball. Both Mr. and Mrs. Christensen have an ever-widening circle of friends in their chosen home locality.

JOHN EKLUND .- Among the Swedish-Americans who have made their own way from a small beginning in the city of Richmond we mention John Eklund, proprietor of the Pacific Feed & Fuel Com- pany. He was born in Sweden on November 15, 1872, the son of Andrew and Johanna (Johnson) Eklund, who had six children: Alma, Mrs. A. Enar; John; Gust, who came to America; Hilda, Mrs. Anderson; Selma and Fred. John went to the Swedish schools and, after he was confirmed, went to work as a farmer boy and con- tinued in his native land until 1889, when he landed in America. He had learned the trade of iron molder and worked at that for a short time after arriving in this country. He remained in New York only a year and then tried his luck at mining in Alaska. He was in Chicago for fifteen years, following his trade with the Forbes Malleable Iron Works and with the National Iron Works, both of Chicago. The few years he spent in Alaska gave Mr. Eklund a wide experience and when he returned to San Francisco he found employment in foundries about San Francisco Bay. He has lived in Richmond fifteen years and has been closely identi- fied with its gradual growth. He was in the grocery and feed business for a time, then devoted his time and work to build up a feed and fuel busi- ness under the name of the Pacific Feed & Fuel Company. His business

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has prospered from the beginning and he has a fine trade in Richmond and vicinity. He is continually making enlargements to accommodate his trade, and has bought and sold some property since he came here, al- ways with the idea of bettering his condition. He employs four or more people and handles the Globe Mills feed, and the celebrated Dines coal.

On August 24, 1910, in San Francisco, Mr. Eklund married Miss Johanna Varmboldt, who was born in Germany. Mrs. Eklund had some relatives in Richmond and she came here to join them. Mr. Eklund is a member of Alpha Lodge No. 431, F. & A. M., and of the Richmond Swed- ish Lodge Gustav Vasa. As a young man he enjoyed football and swim- ming. His recreation is found in camping and he likes the out-door life. He is very progressive and is identified with movements for the upbuilding of the community in which he has made his money, and in which he has great faith for its future. All who know John Eklund speak well of him.

FRITZ CARLFIELD .- A competent stationary engineer in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, Fritz Carlfield enjoys the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends in Richmond and vicinity. He was born in Sweden on September 9, 1887, a son of Anders and Johannah (Erikson) Carlfield, both born in Fagersta, Sweden, where they spent their entire lives. The father was an expert mechanic and was superin- tendent of a tool factory until his death in 1892. There were nine chil- dren in the family, none of whom ever came to America except Fritz.

Fritz attended the Swedish schools and as soon as his school days were over learned the trade of an engineer, becoming very competent. At the age of nineteen he arrived in the United States, March 15, 1907, and traveled to Denver, Colo., where he spent about eighteen months in the mines, then went to Chicago. For some time he traveled over the country looking for a suitable place to establish himself and where he could find a suitable climate. He arrived in Richmond, Cal., in 1911 and entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company as a laborer, but it was soon discovered he was an engineer and his advancement was rapid and he was given a suitable position.

On January 1, 1914, Fritz Carlfield was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor Christina Petersen, the ceremony being performed at one minute past twelve o'clock of the new year at the Lutheran Church at Fifteenth and Dolores Streets in San Francisco, by Reverend Andrews. Her parents were natives of Denmark and died when Mrs. Carlfield was small. They had settled in Marydale, Kans. Three children have come to bless their home: Bernice Eleanor, Juanita Ruth and June Thelma, the eldest attending the grammar school. At the time of his mar- riage Mr. Carlfield was living in Richmond but he moved to his present location soon afterwards, purchasing some land and erecting their home in 1915. He has served as a trustee of the grammar school in San Pablo; also as secretary of the Sanitary District of San Pablo, which has put in thirty-seven miles of sewer pipes to the benefit of the entire dis-

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trict. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Rich- mond, and is captain of the Uniform Rank K. of P .; and belongs to the Foresters. Mr. Carlfield secured his citizenship papers on December 2, 1918, in San Francisco in the Federal Court. He was disappointed when it came to answering the questions for he understood the examination would be difficult. There were two questions asked: "What does Congress consist of ?" and "What does the State Legislature consist of ?" He had prepared for a hard contest on many difficult questions but these were easy to answer. Since obtaining franchise he has worked for every civic enterprise that has been brought before the people that would be a credit to the community for he believes in progress.

CLINTON SYLVESTOR FORD .- The office of plumbing inspector for the city of Richmond is held by Clinton Sylvestor Ford, and is an ap- pointive post by the city council. He was first appointed in 1919, and each succeeding two years has been returned to the office, thus showing his dependable qualities for public service. He was born in Fulton County, Ill., on December 22, 1865, a son of John Sylvestor Ford, born in Penn- sylvania, reared in Ohio, who at an early age moved to Illinois. He mar- ried Phoebe Clark in Ohio, and their children were: Amos Henry, living at Blockton, Iowa; George W., deceased; Clinton S., of this review; Justin Orr, of Richmond; John Berton, in Omaha, Nebr .; Jennie May, wife of E. H. Streeter, in Ohio. In their younger days Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Ford moved to Missouri.

Clinton Sylvestor Ford attended the public school near their farm in Missouri and when twenty-one began farming near Blockton, Iowa, for himself and continued four and one-half years. He then went back to the home farm in Missouri and carried on agricultural pursuits for over seven years. His next venture was with the Waters-Pierce Oil Company in Oklahoma, where he continued seven years and gained considerable know- ledge of the oil game. Desiring to engage in the plumbing business he took up the trade and went into business in Ponca City, Okla., and re- mained till 1913. He then served as county clerk in Kay County, Okla., two terms of two years each, and worked at the plumbing trade for two years. On December 28, 1918, Mr. Ford and his family moved to Richmond, Cal., and here he engaged in the plumbing business for a short time, when he received the appointment of city plumbing inspector and still holds the position, filling it to the satisfaction of nearly everyone interested. His duties include building plumbing inspection, as well as all sewers, there having been considerable addition to the latter since he took office.

Mr. Ford was married at Bedford, Iowa, on September 18, 1887, to Miss Sena, daughter of Samuel and Sena Raper, of Indiana, who had the following children besides Mrs. Ford: Edward and Silas, both in Iowa; Jesse, in Nebraska ; Mrs. Amanda Sweat and Mrs. Alice Severns, both in Nebraska; Mrs. Maggie Adams, in Iowa; and Mary E., deceased. Of

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the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ford the following children have been born : Ida Floy, Mrs. Busic, of Los Angeles ; Jennie Edith, married C. E. Ramey and has three children, Addie, Edward and Barbara; George Ed- ward, in Richmond; Clyde Sylvestor, who has a son Harry Clinton, and lives in Los Angeles; Osmer Oren, married and resides in Oakland; Ella, wife of K. J. Feudner and mother of a son Carl Edward, lives in Rich- mond; Addie, married Arthur Wurck of Oakland and has a daughter, Corrine; and Claude Vernon, in school. Mr. Ford registers as a Demo- crat, but in local politics and affairs supports the candidates he deems best fitted for the office. He belongs to the Masons, Odd Fellows, and Mod- ern Woodmen of America. He is a Past Grand in the Odd Fellows lodge and served as a delegate to the Grand Lodge, and belongs to the En- campment of the I. O. O. F. and has passed through all the chairs and represented the Encampment in the Grand Encampment. He also belongs to the Eastern Star Chapter and to the Rebekahs. He has many warm friends in Richmond who appreciate his sterling citizenship.

RALPH MERRILL BEEDE .- A loyal native son of the Golden State who is wielding a strong influence in social and business circles of Antioch is Ralph Merrill Beede, son of the late Henry Fuller Beede, who is mentioned at length on another page of this history. He was born on January 14, 1879, in the city where he is now a leader in various departments of activity, and here he attended the public schools. In 1898 he was graduated from the Lowell High School in San Francisco, after which he put in one year at Stanford University, pursuing a general science course. His college course was cut short because he went to work in the office of the Antioch Lumber Company, with which concern he has since been closely identified. He was one of the incorporators of the company and became its first secretary in 1907, and has served most efficiently ever since. Mr. Beede is also interested in the Casino Theatre, his partner being F. Stamm. They started the first movie show in Antioch in 1911, and at the present writing this is the only movie show house in the city. Here all the high-grade films are shown every night in the week, it being the aim of the proprietors of this theatre to make every effort to satisfy their patrons. Their growing attendance is proof that they are accomplishing their desires.

On August 28, 1901, occurred the marriage of Ralph Merrill Beede and Miss Anna Hardy. She was born in Cheyenne, Wyo., but was brought to this State when a small girl and here grew up. She was graduated from the San Jose State Normal and taught school in Contra Costa and other California counties until her marriage. This union has been blessed with four children, three of them living. Merrill, a daughter, died at the age of two years. Ruth and Henry Fuller are attending the Antioch High School. Katherine is a pupil in the grammar school. Mrs. Beede is very active in club work in Contra Costa County, and is a Past Matron of Antioch Chapter of the Eastern Star and also prominent in civic move-

Edward a. Hoffman

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ments in Antioch. Mr. Beede is a member and a Past Master of An- tioch Lodge No. 175, F. & A. M., and belongs to Antioch Chapter No. 65, R. A. M., and to the Sciots. He is also a Past Patron of the Eastern Star Chapter in Antioch. Since 1914 he has served as treasurer of his native city, and he takes an active interest in all movements that aim to make Antioch a better place in which to live and prosper.

EDWARD A. HOFFMAN .- The city engineer and superintendent of streets of Richmond is Edward A. Hoffman, a native of San Francisco, where he was born on November 18, 1893, the son of Edward C. and Emily (Wacker) Hoffman, natives of Saxony and Wittenberg, Germany, respectively. They came to California and were married in San Francisco. There are three children in the family: Alma, wife of A. H. Campbell, superintendent of the California Cap Works; Walter, an attorney in San Francisco; and Edward A., of this review. The father is a master me- chanic who moved to Stege in 1899 and for many years was master me- chanic and superintendent of the Metropolitan Match Company at that place. The parents are now living practically retired in Richmond.

Edward A. Hoffman attended the schools of San Francisco and Rich- mond, graduating from the Richmond Union High School in 1911. He then entered the University of California and pursued a mining and civil engineering course, graduating with the B. S. degree in 1915. His first employment was with the Aurora Consolidated Mining Company at Au- rora, Nev., where he started at the bottom. Before he had been there a year he was superintendent of their mill, and he gained a thorough knowledge of every department. Meeting with an accident, however, he came home and was laid up for several months. Upon his recovery he accepted a position as draftsman with the city of Richmond, and through his ability he worked his way to the position of city engineer. His depart- ment takes care of all the construction and maintenance work done by the city, including general construction work and street and sewer improve- ments. He was designing and supervising engineer during the construction of the Richmond Natatorium, and it was he who worked out most of the engineering and construction details of the project. The plunge is one of the most modern of its kind in the State and is an ornament to the city. Mr. Hoffman came to Richmond in 1899, at the time the Santa Fe Rail- road was first prospected to this section, and he has been an eye-witness to the entire growth of the city and surrounding country. He takes an active interest in all that helps to build up the city and believes it has a great future as an industrial center.

Mr. Hoffman was united in marriage on September 15, 1921, with Miss Leonie Trautvetter, of Richmond. Her father, Andrew Trautvet- ter, is a native of San Francisco, and married Louise Janke, of one of the old pioneer families of San Mateo County. Their marriage has been blessed with one child, Enid Lou, fifteen months old. Mr. Hoffman is 25

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one of the original stockholders in the California Guarantee Mortgage and Finance Company and a director in the Sierra Gold Mining Company, both local concerns. He belongs to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Sigma Phi Sigma Fraternity, and American Legion, and is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Sciots. In 1917 he enlisted in the United States Navy and was commissioned an ensign on the U. S. S. Golden Gate. At the signing of the armistice he was honorably discharged.

In high school Mr. Hoffman was president of the student body and president of the Tennis Club, and took an active part in school athletics being their star sprinter and weight man. When he entered college he finished a five-year course in four years, and took an active part in the Mining Association. He is fond of hunting, fishing and camping, and finds his recreation in these pleasures.

EUGENE A. BYER .- The Byer family has been identified with the history and development of California since 1864, when the late honored pioneer John R. Byer, grandfather of Eugene A. Byer, crossed the plains with a covered wagon train from Illinois. Eugene A. Byer is a son of Al- lison Byer, and was born in Contra Costa County and reared on his father's ranch and attended the public school of the community. He sup- plemented this education with a course in a business college at Oakland, and with a correspondence course in architectural draftsmanship, the lat- ter profession he followed for three years in Oakland. He and his brother Virgil own 110 acres of their father's ranch, situated northeast of Byron. In addition to this ranch Eugene Byer purchased forty acres which was originally a part of the Allison Byer ranch, and he rents the remainder of the Byer ranch, which gives him practically 200 acres for farming, the larger part of which he has planted to alfalfa; the rest of the land is allotted to grain and pasture. In addition to being one of eastern Contra Costa County's leading growers of alfalfa, Mr. Byer is breeding regis- tered Holstein cattle of the strain Sir Aggie Mead, having obtained his start from prize-winning stock bought from the celebrated Toyon Farm at Los Altos, Cal.

Eugene A. Byer was united in marriage at Oakland, Cal., on October 13, 1915, with Miss Maude L. Gerrior, a daughter of the late Rev. John Gerrior, a well-known Presbyterian minister of Oakland, and for two years synodical missionary, and formerly an evangelist in the San Jose Presbytery. He died in 1920, at the age of sixty-seven years; his widow, Mrs. Sara A. (Harris) Gerrior, is making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Eugene Byer. Mr. Byer is a man of culture, a progressive and enterprising rancher who is well informed on agriculture and is a type of farmer whose presence in the community is helpful to its permanent welfare. He is a trustee of the Methodist Church at Byron, and is al- ways interested in those movements that have as their goal the advance- ment of the moral, educational, and material interests of the community.

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H. D. BUCKMANN, M. D .- Numbered among the successful mem- bers of the medical profession in Contra Costa County is H. D. Buck- mann, of Martinez. Since taking up his residence and practice here he has demonstrated his ability and skill and has built up a very successful prac- tice. His office and residence is located at 835 Escobar Street. He gives much of his time to the work at the county hospital. He was born in Bremen, Germany, on January 20, 1882, and is a son of John William and Catherine Buckmann. The family came direct from Bremen and located in Sacramento, where the parents live.

H. D. Buckmann attended the public schools in Sacramento, grad- uating from the high school there. Early in life he made up his mind he would become a physician and during vacation periods worked about the county hospital in Sacramento and thus laid a good foundation for his future work. He entered Cooper Medical College in San Francisco, affiliated with Stanford University since 1912, and was graduated there- from in 1908 with his M. D. degree. He then spent one year as intern at the Sacramento County Hospital and in 1909 opened an office and began a general practice of his profession in Sacramento, remaining until 1921. He then took charge of the medical department of the Cowell Portland Cement Company at Cowell, this county, continuing there until 1924, when he located in Martinez and since then has been building up a fine and lucrative practice.

Doctor Buckmann was united in marriage on October 18, 1905, while attending medical college in San Francisco, with Miss Barbara Parsons, a native of Ireland, and they have had five children: Shelagh, Henrietta, Jack, Fred, and Patricia May. He belongs to the Masonic lodge in San Francisco. He is a member of the County and State medical societies and the National Medical Association.

EDWARD ALLEN FRANKLIN CARSON .- A very successful contractor and builder in Richmond is E. A. F. Carson, who resides with his wife and family at No. 542 Fourth Street. He was born at Grafton, Jersey County, Ill., on February 27, 1862, a son of Allen C. and Emily (Williams) Carson, natives of Posey County, Ind., and Jersey County, Ill., respectively. At an early day the family went to Russell County, Kans., in a covered wagon. The father died in 1923 at the age of eighty- six. The mother is still living and makes her home at Salina, Kans., and at the age of eighty-two is hale and hearty. The Carson family con- sisted of Augusta, who married F. Button and lives in Berkeley; Jennie, the wife of F. Lewis, of Pittsburg, Kans .; E. A. F., of this review; Wil- liam H., in Kansas; and a boy and girl who died in childhood.

Our subject was educated in the common schools in Kansas and be- gan working at the builders trade soon after leaving school. After he had mastered the carpenter's trade he worked as a journeyman and traveled about, finally arriving in San Francisco, via Spokane and Seattle. He worked at the trade in San Francisco two years, then spent 1891-1892

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in the Hawaiian Islands doing carpenter work. Coming back to San Francisco he worked as a cabinet maker for three and one-half years and then began taking contracts to build houses. So thorough is he with his work that one job brings him another. He never asks a contract in writing, is always willing to accept verbal agreements and says he "never loses money by so doing." He contracted in the bay city from 1898 to 1917, when he came to Richmond and settled at Fifth and Nevin Streets. until moving to his present home place. He specializes in residences and apartments, gives all his contracts his personal attention and sees that his customers get value received. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Builders Exchange in Richmond.

Mr. Carson was married on March 27, 1895, in San Francisco, to Miss Ann B. Skow, daughter of John H. and Ann Skow. John H. Skow was born in Denmark and after coming to California settled in Watson- ville. The children are Chris, Emil and Ingward Skow, all living in Watsonville; Edna, Mrs. Jack Faville, also at Watsonville; and Gussie, Mrs. Charles Pardee, of San Jose. The Carson children are: Evelyn, a clerk in the office of the Southern Pacific in San Francisco; Edward, in the asphalt department of the Standard Oil refinery in Richmond; and Roy, attending the Roosevelt Junior High School. Mr. Carson's father was a soldier in the Civil War. And at the time of the Spanish-American War our subject tried to enlist but was rejected on account of his age and being a married man. He spends his spare time with his family, but enjoys a ball game.

MRS. LYDIA S. BURKHALTER .- The life which this narrative sketches began in Dampierre, Province of Doubs, in eastern France, where her parents, Pierre Louis and Emily Susan (DePuis) Cuonot, were also born and reared. Grandfather DePuis was an engineer by profession, as had been several of the ancestors before him. Both he and his good wife died at early ages.

Lydia S. Cuonot received her education in the schools of her native land and when twelve years of age was orphaned by the death of her parents. In the fall of 1886 she came to America alone and located in Philadelphia, where she secured employment as a maid in a wealthy family, with whom she traveled through Italy, France, England and Switzerland for nearly three years, thus rounding out her education by travel. She returned to the United States in 1889 and on June 5 of that year, came out to California, where she was united in marriage with Jacob Burkhalter, whom she had known in Philadelphia.

Mr. Burkhalter was born in the Province of Berne, Switzerland, on May 20, 1856. He received a good education and was employed in Switzerland as a railway clerk. He was not content to remain there, and in early manhood came to the United States and traveled from State to State for several years, always finding employment to suit his tastes. In 1890 he arrived in California, secured a position with the Southern

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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 87

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