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 90

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 90

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Irvine Skeoch was born at Bellshill, ten miles from Glasgow, Scotland, on January 28, 1884, a son of Irvine and Janet (Baird) Skeoch. When he was eight years old he accompanied his parents to Carluke, where he

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grew up and attended school. While yet a youngster he served a five- years apprenticeship as a carpenter, at the same time attending night school, where he took up drafting. When he was competent to go out in the world for himself he returned to Bellshill and took a position in the Clydesdale Iron and Steel Mills. He also put in two years at the Technical College in Glasgow. He sailed for America on May 6, 1906, and arrived in New York on May 12. Remaining in New York two years, Mr. Skeoch followed construction work during that time, and then came to San Francisco by way of New Orleans. He followed construc- tion work in the bay metropolis for various companies several years, after which he went into the South San Francisco Steel Rolling Mill and worked four years .. Prior to this, however, he was foreman of the trim in the building of the Oakland Auditorium in 1915, and also was con- struction foreman on the steel bridge built at Watsonville in 1915-1916. The name-plate on the structure fittingly commemorates our subject. In 1918, when the Steel Corporation in Pittsburg, Cal., decided to enlarge and rebuild their open-hearth furnaces, Mr. Skeoch was called there as construction engineer to take charge of the work. When the work had been successfully accomplished he was retained in the position of con- struction engineer on the rolling mill, and in 1923 to build the sheet mill, wire mill and nail mill. These were constructed after the plans of N. A. Becker. After the completion of these jobs Mr. Skeoch was re- tained as superintendent of the wire and nail mills, and has carried on the work to the entire satisfaction of his superiors.

Mr. Skeoch was married in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1905, to Miss Flora Jane Mclachlan; and they have two children: Irvine, eighteen years old; and Thomas, sixteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Skeoch were reared in the United Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and a Sciot. He became a citizen of the United States in the Federal Court in San Francisco, and supports the best in- terests of the people at elections.

JOHN U. DIETHELM .- A resident of the Oakley precinct, Contra Costa County, since 1900, when the family came here to reside, Mr. Diet- helm has improved his time and is now the owner of as fine a ranch as can be found in this section of the county. He is a self-made man, for ever since reaching man's estate he has made his own way in the world, and has accumulated a comfortable competency. He was born at St. Gal- len, Switzerland, on September 19, 1863, a son of Jean Diethelm, who owned and operated a mill, a bakery, and a farm in and near St. Gallen.

John U. Diethelm was taught to work from the time he was old enough; and meantime he received a good common school education in his native city. He came to America in 1883, and that same year set- tled in San Francisco, where he found work of various kinds. Being of a thrifty nature, he saved his money and bought a hotel, which he op- erated for fifteen years. When Mr. Diethelm came to the Oakley pre-

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cinct he found work on various ranches and in the meantime was looking for a place to buy. He first purchased 150 acres in 1893. This he knew to be extra good land and adapted to the raising of grapes and fruits. Mr. Diethelm cleared it from oak trees and planted sixty acres to al- monds. In 1900 he began planting grapes and fruit. A portion of the place has been twice planted, changing from almonds to grapes. The fact that this ranch extends up to the water front makes it peculiarly adapted to the successful growing of nut trees, grapes and fruits. Mr. Diethelm did more perhaps than any other person to help establish the Antioch- Sherman Island Ferry, for he gave the use of land for approaches and roadways to the ferry. He is a stockholder in the American Toll Bridge Corporation, which promoted the Antioch-Sherman Island bridge; and he is also a stockholder, promoter and director in the Bridgehead Ship- ping Corporation, which has packing sheds on the Santa Fe Railway nearby and handles hundreds of carloads of green fruits, table grapes, asparagus, celery, etc., each year. Mr. Diethelm is content with only the best of everything, and his beautiful home and productive ranch are testimonials to this fact.

At San Francisco, Cal., on May 6, 1888, Mr. Diethelm was married to Miss Vinzentia Gamma, also a native of Switzerland; and they have had seven children, six of whom are now living, all doing well and a credit to their parents and community. They are : Ulrich; Emil, married and now at home; August F .; Emma, Mrs. Charles Ratto, of San Fran- cisco; Charles; and Olga. Bertha died at the age of twenty-two, in Oc- tober, 1924. All were born in San Francisco except the two youngest, who were born on the ranch, where the family settled in 1900. Mr. Diet- helm is progressive and public-spirited, and cooperates with all projects for the upbuilding of the county.

WILLIAM B. SCHEFFER .- A self-made man, and one well quali- fied to fill the responsible position of superintendent of the National Chemical Company's plant at Pittsburg, is William B. Scheffer, who was born at Harrisburg, Pa., on October 15, 1895, the sixth and youngest son of Louis Kassouth Scheffer. The father was a printer by trade and owned a printing office in Harrisburg. He died in 1908. The mother was left a widow with six living children, but with the help of the older children she managed to keep the little family together until they were old enough to do for themselves. For seven generations the Scheffers have been leaders in philosophy and science in the Eastern States.

William B. Scheffer attended the public schools and since the age of thirteen has been practically self-supporting. He was graduated from the Harrisburg Technical High School, Class of 1915, helping to pay his way by carrying newspapers nights and mornings. He matriculated at the Gettysburg College in September, 1915, and was attending that in- stitution when the World War broke out. He enlisted and entered the officers' training camp at Fort Niagara, N. Y., and commissioned

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second lieutenant in the 79th Division when he was twenty-one; seven months later he was promoted to first lieutenant, embarked at Phila- delphia with the 304th French Mortar Battery (Artillery Company), and landed at Liverpool, England. The battery remained on English soil two weeks, and then was sent to France. There they concluded their training, and were on the train en route to the front when the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Mr. Scheffer obtained permission from the proper military authorities to enter the University of Grenoble, France, and remained as a student of chemistry and French history from March 1 to July 1, 1919, when he received a certificate. He returned to New York City and was honorably discharged at Camp Dix on August 6, 1919, having served his country twenty-seven months. Re-entering Gettysburg College in September, 1919, he continued his studies in chemistry and was graduated in June, 1920. Two months prior to his graduation, however, he accepted a position in the chemical department of the Sherwin-Williams Company at Bound Brook, N. J. After con- tinuing with that company one year, he became connected with the Stand- ard Chemical Works at Reading, Pa., remaining there two years as chemist. The next year was spent as assistant superintendent of the Nitrate Agencies Company works at Bayonne, N. J. It was through the recommendation of Howard W. Ambruster, consulting engineer of New York City, under whom he had served in New York, that Mr. Scheffer came to the National Chemical Company in Pittsburg, on October 15, 1924; and he has acceptably filled the position of superintendent of their plant ever since. This plant employs some thirty-six men in the manu- facture of its products, consisting of arsenical compounds, insecticides and weed killers of many varieties, and produced in large quantities.

The marriage of Mr. Scheffer and Miss Ida M. Krumboine, daughter of an acrobat of herculean strength and a leading performer in P. T. Barnum's circus, was solemnized at Womalsdorf, Pa., on September 28, 1923, and they have one child, a son born July 19, 1926. The family home is located at 640 East Street, Pittsburg, where they are surrounded by a large circle of friends. Mr. Scheffer was made a Mason at Bound Brook, N. J., and is a member of the Sciots at Antioch.

WILLIAM C. PURCHASE .- A member of the firm of Purchase & Biglow, grocers, of Antioch, William C. Purchase has been engaged in the grocery trade for nearly forty years and is one of the best-known men in Antioch, as also one of the most public-spirited. He was born in Herkimer County, New York, the son of James and Violetta (Belshaw) Purchase. The father is deceased, but the mother is now living in Jordanville, Herkimer County, N. Y. When a young man Mr. Purchase came to Antioch and began clerking, and from that time until the present he has been associated with the retail trade, either as a clerk or as proprietor of a business. From 1906 to February, 1920, he was back in Herkimer County, N. Y. He returned to California with his mother to settle the

John N Künstlich

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estate of the late Charles M. Belshaw, his cousin, his mother being the only heir of Mr. Belshaw, who met his death, with his wife, in an automo- bile accident in November of 1919. Mr. Purchase is popular with all who know him and has made and retained many friends in Contra Costa County. He belongs to the Lodge and Chapter of the Masons in Herkimer County, N. Y., and to the Odd Fellows in Antioch.

JOHN N. KRISTICH .- A prominent engineering contractor of cen- tral and northern California is John N. Kristich, who has two plants for the manufacture of cement pipe, one at King City and the other at Knight- sen. He began on a very small scale in 1915 and has gradually enlarged the scope of his operations until he covers territory from King City, in Monterey County, to the Sacramento Valley. He has made an especial study of irrigation problems, manufactures all kinds of cement pipes, and does all kinds of cement work along lines of irrigation. His cement ir- rigating pipe is sold in all parts of California. Among the large orders he has filled we mention 250,000 feet of pipe for the California Orchard Company; 155,000 feet for the State Land Development Association at Delhi; some $170,000 worth of pipe for the Knightsen Irrigation District; and $25,000 worth for the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District. He makes pipe of all sizes by machines manufactured especially for that use, and no irrigation or reclamation job is too big for him to handle, as he has ample equipment for anything in the cement line.

John N. Kristich was born in Austria on May 21, 1891, and came to the United States when he was sixteen years old, landing in Los Angeles. There he secured work as a laborer with the Arthur S. Bent Construction Company and continued for about six years, during which time he worked in every department, from a pick-and-shovel man to foreman, learning all about cement work and contracting. He supplemented his early schooling by night study after arriving in Los Angeles, and has become a well-educated man, especially along technical lines. Desiring to begin work for himself, he went to King City, Monterey County, and began making pipe from concrete and cement and taking small contracts. From this small beginning he has developed one of the largest businesses of the kind in the State, and he has handled some of the largest contracts for irrigating and reclamation projects. He has a thorough knowledge of his work and gives his contract work his personal supervision, in consequence of which he is a very busy man. He located in Knightsen in 1920 and has been very active in the reclamation of the lands in eastern Contra Costa County, where he is well and favorably known. He is public-spirited and lends a helping hand to forward all upbuilding projects. He belongs to the Odd Fellows in King City.

ARNO FISCHER .- A resident of California for many years and a successful business man of Richmond since 1912, Arno Fischer has helped to build up the resources of this section of the State to the best of his

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ability. He was born in Germany on December 29, 1868, a son of William and Henrietta (Brauer) Fischer. There were seven in the Fischer family, three of the children having been born in America, and five are still living, viz .: Gus, living in San Jose; Alvin, makes his home in Richmond; Lou, is in Nevada County; Mrs. Annie Johnson, lives in Downieville; and Arno, of this review.

Arno Fischer attended the German schools and then came to America with his parents and his first employment was in the grocery business. He then tried mining in Arizona for a time, also spent some time in the mines in Tuolumne County, 1890 to 1892. Then he drifted back to the grocery business and in 1912 located a business in Richmond. He began on a small scale at No. 335 Macdonald Avenue; in 1918 he opened a branch at No. 724 Macdonald Avenue; and in 1923 another at No. 634 Macdonald Avenue. He carries a full line of staple and fancy groceries and not only aims to please his customers, but actually anticipates their wishes and keeps supplied with the best goods obtainable.

Mr. Fischer was married on June 3, 1902, to Miss Annie E. Black, born in Sierra City, the daughter of John F. and Annie (Curley) Black, and they have had three children : Anna, Mrs. Clyde M. Emery, is a grad- uate of the high school; Irene, a student in the University of California; and Francis, attending the high school. The family home is in Berkeley, but Mr. Fischer gives his personal attention to his business in Richmond and is preparing to consolidate his three places into one for the convenience of his growing patronage. He is satisfied with the progress made in the past years and predicts a bright future for Richmond and vicinity. He is public spirited and supports all projects for the upbuilding of Richmond and the Bay district.

FRED P. NEVIUS, M. D .- During the years of his practice in medicine and surgery Fred P. Nevius, M. D., has ably demonstrated his ability and skill in diagnosis and operating and has built up a lucrative practice in eastern Contra Costa County, where he holds an assured position. His work in surgery takes him to Martinez, Stockton and other places, where his operations have attracted wide attention. As a surgeon during the World War he has an interesting history.

Fred P. Nevius was born at Benzonia, Benzie County, Mich., on November 22, 1883. His father, Lot Nevius, is an attorney-at-law in Frankfort, Mich., and served two years in the Michigan State Senate at Lansing; he is a veteran of the Civil War who has reached the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who in maidenhood was Henrietta Shat- tuck, died in 1898. Fred P. Nevius completed the high school course and before entering college read medicine under Dr. McBain, of Port Huron. Graduating from the Frankfort High School, Class of 1897, he then took a course in pharmacy at Big Rapids in the W. N. Ferris School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1899. He then became a student at the Michigan College of Medicine and Surgery at Detroit and passed

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the regular courses, graduating with the M. D. degree in 1906. This college was merged with the Detroit College of Medicine in 1907. With this preparation Dr. Nevius became an intern in the Emergency Hospi- tal in Detroit, serving one year. He then began the practice of his pro- fession at Port Sanilac, Mich., soon going to the northern peninsula, where he remained till 1908. Going then to Paris, France, Dr. Nevius did postgraduate work during 1908 and 1909, specializing in abdominal surgery. He then opened an office in Detroit, and practiced at Grace hospital until 1916.

After the breaking out of the World War, Dr. Nevius enlisted as a French. Army surgeon in 1916, went to France and served from April, 1916, until 1917, when he returned to the United States. Again en- listing, he entered the United States Army as a surgeon and served from July, 1917, to May, 1920. He was taken with the flu and was gassed severely. He saw active service at the front in the hospitals and on the firing line all during his time of active duty. After returning to the United States he spent some time traveling in search of health. In 1921 he arrived in California and became a surgeon at the San Joaquin County Hospital at French Camp, where he was also resident surgeon till 1922. Going then to New York he took a postgraduate course in the New York Post Graduate College of Medicine and afterwards returned to French Camp and worked as an assistant to Dr. Friedburger, the head phys- ician. It was about this time that Dr. Nevius was severely injured in an auto accident and taken to the Stockton Hospital, where he remained from December, 1922, to March, 1923. As soon as he was able to be about he secured a berth as ship surgeon on the United States vessel then in the Coast and Geodetic Survey in Alaskan waters, and from this trip he came back to San Francisco practically a well man. On Decem- ber 29, 1924, he located at Antioch, where he has since lived and where he is the leading physician and surgeon for eastern Contra Costa County.

Dr. Nevius was married in October, 1924, to Miss Blanche Cargile, a graduate nurse from San Francisco. She is proving of great assistance to him in his work in this community, being a woman of culture, refine- ment and sympathetic nature. He is the surgeon for the Paraffine Com- panies, Inc., at Antioch, and for the Santa Fe Railroad. Fraternally, Dr. Nevius is a Mason, having been elevated at Alpena, Mich., and he be- longs to the Consistory in Detroit.

ANDRES MORENO .- A business man of Pittsburg, Cal. Andres Moreno is the proprietor of the National Pool Hall, the Mexican Hotel · and the Golden Gate Restaurant, at 105 Black Diamond Street. He is also the Pittsburg agent for the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco. During the three years that he has lived in Pittsburg he has made his influence felt in social and business circles. He was born in Purepero, Micho, Mexico, on November 30, 1893, at the Hacienda Plan de las Rincones, his father's estate, and he was educated in private schools un-

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til he was able to make his own way. He has a command of the Mexican language and a speaking knowledge of Spanish and Italian, and learned to speak English after coming to the United States, when he landed in El Paso, Texas in 1918. After spending three years in El Paso he came to California and located at Sacramento, remaining there until he located in Pittsburg, Cal.

Prior to leaving Old Mexico Mr. Moreno conducted a clothing store, but when the Mexican revolution broke out it ruined his business and he was obliged to flee the country. During the sixteen years he was in business in his native country he failed twice; the second time was due to the depreciation of Mexican currency. He had sold two carloads of merchandise and took his pay, 52,000 pesos, in paper money and this decreased so much in value overnight that he found himself insolvent. Mr. Moreno is popular with the Latin contingent of Pittsburg and is rapidly building up his fortunes again. When General Obregon came to San Francisco Mr. Moreno was a member of the reception committee that greeted him.

Mr. Moreno was united in marriage at Martinez, in 1920, with Rosa Barreda, a native of Mexico, and they have three children; Lillian, Maria and Jose.

HARRY DE PIAZZA .- As the proprietor of the California Bak- ery, on Railroad Avenue, Pittsburg, Harry De Piazza is showing what perseverance and good business management can accomplish. His many years of work at his chosen trade has made him a good workman and a good business manager. He was born on December 23, 1887, at Valtellino, province of Sonotrio, Lombardy, Italy, the only child of Fidele and Jueditta De Piazza, the latter now making her home with her son in Pittsburg. Harry attended public and private schools until he was fourteen, then left home and began to make his own way. He went to London, England and served two years as an apprentice to learn the bakers trade, working from four a. m. until eleven p. m. for his room and board, his parents agreeing to furnish his clothes. The next two years he worked at the trade in Clifton, England, and here he attended night school to add to his education and learn English.

Young De Piazza had heard a great deal about California and he made up his mind to come here. He made a visit back to see his folks in Italy, then embarked from Havre, France on the S. S. Grossotto for New York City, arriving early in 1906. Upon his arrival in California he went to San Jose and found work at the New York Bakery for five years; then he had a bakery of his own at Watsonville and built up a fine trade and sold the business for $6000. He then invested in a bakery in San Francisco and operated it until 1917. When the call came for volunteers he enlisted for service for the World War and was assigned to the 56th Engineers, was transferred to the Searchlight Outfit and saw service over seas at St. Mihiel, the Argonne and at Verdun. He

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was wounded by a shell dropped from an airplane but did not go to a regular hospital. After the signing of the armistice he was returned to Newport News, Va., then sent to San Francisco, where he was honorably discharged at the presidio on December 3, 1919. He again took up the bakery business in San Francisco with Mrs. Briscoe for two years. In 1920 he came to Pittsburg, bought out a bakery and established his present business and is making it a great success by his thorough under- standing of the trade in all its branches. He is courteous and obliging and tries to please his customers in every way. They believe in him, and his goods are the very best that can be manufactured, for he uses only the most wholesome ingredients.

On June 20, 1890, Harry De Piazza was married in San Francisco to Miss Rosa Quilici, also a native of Italy, but residing in San Fran- cisco at the time of her marriage. They have a son, Fay Harry. Mr. De Piazza is a member of the Odd Fellows and is a Deputy Grand Master of the order; he also is a member of the Eagles, Moose, Druids, and active in David A. Solari Post of the American Legion in Pittsburg. He believes Pittsburg is one of the best business cities on the coast for its size and also that it has a great future and he is content to invest his money here.

WALTER AUSTIN ROGERS .- Although not a native of Califor- nia, the earliest recollections of Walter Austin Rogers are associated with scenes of this then frontier region. Mr. Rogers was born at Ottumwa, Iowa, on December 10, 1851. His father, William Bolton Rogers, was born in Ohio; he married Miss Elizabeth Schaffer, and the year following the birth of our subject moved his family to California, crossing the plains and settling at Alamo, where he engaged in farming. This pursuit how- ever did not hold him long for he went to Dry Town and Camp Seco and mined with fair success. The family then removed to San Francisco, where the father engaged in the draying and house moving business ; he was also a member of the San Francisco police force at one time. He remained in business until 1878 when he located in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, and there built a hotel, which he and his son Charles W. Rogers operated until 1890. There were four children born of the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers : Walter Austin, our subject; Charles W .; Mary; and Nora. The mother passed away in 1867, while the father lived to be seventy-nine years old ere he died.

Walter Austin Rogers received his education at the old Lincoln Gram- mar School in San Francisco and in 1880 purchased his brother's interest in the hotel at Walnut Creek, and ten years later bought his father's interest and since that time conducted the business alone until leasing it.

At Walnut Creek, on April 2, 1902, Mr. Rogers was married to Miss Anna Buck, a native of Kansas, but reared in Montana. She is the daughter of Augustus Buck, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers had one son, Walter A. Rogers. Mr. Rogers is a Republican.

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PETER CLARY .- To be connected with an important industry as an employee at the Columbia Steel works in Pittsburg, and to have been advanced from an humble position to one of great responsibility, has been the lot of Peter Clary, assistant, under Superintendent Otto Kresse, as melter in the open hearth department of the plant. "Pete" Clary, as he is commonly known, is a native of Genoa, Italy, born on November 2, 1885, the son of Joseph Clary, who was for years in the employ of the Government on the railroad. The father is still living in Italy. The mother, Margaret Clary, died when Pete was a child of four years. As he was going through school he made a re- solve to become a mechanic, and began working when he was nine years old as a mechanic's helper in a machine shop in his native town; but in accordance with the Italian law that age was too young for a mechanic, and so he went to learn the shoemaker's trade when he was fifteen. He continued at that trade until 1911, when he decided he would come to the New World; and he landed in New York on May 27 of that year.

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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 90

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