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 94
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
After leaving school, in 1906, John J. Davi went to work for the Contra Costa Bank as office boy; and later he established a newspaper agency in Pittsburg, while working for the Redwood Manufacturers Company, where he also began as office boy. He worked on the Black Diamond Argus as reporter for a time, and then sold his newspaper agency to Jack Fisher. He then went back to the Contra Costa Bank for six months. In 1911 he went into the real estate business for him- self, and one year later established in connection with it his insurance, investment and loan business. He took his brother Bernard George Davi as a partner in 1915. In April, 1921, they moved from the Continente Building, where the business was first located, to the Costanza Building; and again needing larger quarters, on January 3, 1925, the firm moved to its present place of business, on the ground floor of the Davi Finance Building, built in 1924 and owned by S. T. Davi. On the opening day 1017 people visited the new establishment, which had been brought to its present success by growing with the growth of the city, and was a concrete example of the prosperity and progress of Pittsburg and sur- rounding territory. The firm is one of the largest and most widely known insurance organizations in Contra Costa County, writing all forms of insurance-property, life, health, accident, fire, automobile, liability, grain and live stock-in fact, everything that can be legitimately insured. Enjoying the prestige founded on the confidence and loyalty
926
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
of the people in the county, the firm handles much of the insurance written in Pittsburg and environs. In case of loss, adjustments are made promptly, a policy made possible by the confidential relations existing between the firm and the big companies. The real estate de- , partment is handled under the direction of B. G. Davi and is important and far-reaching in its work. Thoroughly informed through practical experience in regard to lands, locations and values in this district, in- cluding business properties, Mr. Davi places his knowledge at the service of the public, and the firm has a selected list of properties for sale, including industrial sites for large or small plants, desirable business properties, locations for homes, or land for any purpose. They also have improved properties, store buildings, warehouses, and homes, and several country estates adaptable for subdivision. One now being put on the market is known as West Pittsburg Park. Visitors are always welcome at the establishment, and are treated by Mr. Davi and his corps of assistants in the courteous manner that has had so much to do with establishing the splendid prestige enjoyed by the house of John J. Davi & Brother. This company represent the Western Loan and Build- ing Company of Salt Lake City, act as agent for several steamship lines, and are headquarters of the touring bureau in connection with the National Automobile Club. John J. Davi is a deputy inspector for the State Motor Vehicle Department. He acts as advisor for the Italian people of this vicinity and is intrusted with much of their busi- ness; his judgment has proven sound and his position as their leader is easily recognized.
The marriage of John J. Davi, occurring in San Francisco, June 3, 1917, united him with Miss Lena Margaret Costanza, of Martinez. One child has been born to them, Rita. Always active in civic affairs, in 1912 Mr. Davi served as the first truant officer for the Pittsburg schools. He is an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce; president of the Industrial Finance Company; a director in the Rich- mond-Martinez Abstract and Title Company, the Contra Costa County Insurance Agents' Association, and the Contra Costa Realty Board; and president of the Eastern Contra Costa Agents' Association. In
1924 he served as secretary of the Coolidge-Dawes Club in Pittsburg. Fraternally, he belongs to Pittsburg Lodge No. 1474, B. P. O. E., and to Diamond Parlor No. 246, N. S. G. W., and served as financial secre- tary and trustee of the latter for some time. He is interested in local athletics, and acted as manager of the Sunset Ball Club of Pittsburg during 1912-1913.
In the establishment of his firm in Pittsburg, and in the personal endeavor he has put forth to help his community, Mr. Davi has been of signal service in aiding the growth and expansion of his native city, and he is known throughout the bay district as a man of unusually keen mind and foresight, both of which attributes have always been at the service of Pittsburg and Contra Costa County.
927
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
GEORGE MORRISON ROLPH .- Endowed by nature with those sterling traits of character that win the regard and esteem of mankind, George Morrison Rolph stands high in the estimation of the citizens of California, especially in the Bay section, where he has made a name and place for himself as the able and efficient president of the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining Corporation, whose plant is located at Crockett, Contra Costa County. Mr. Rolph is a native son, born in San Francisco on February 6, 1873. His parents were James Rolph, Sr., and Margaret (Nicol) Rolph. The father came from Scotch ancestry, and was born on March 19, 1839. He came from London, England, to California in 1858, settled in the Mission district in San Francisco, and during all of his business life was associated with the Bank of California. He married Margaret Nicol on June 26, 1868, and they had the following children: James Rolph, Jr., mayor of San Fran- cisco; William, connected with Griffith, Durney & Company, importers and exporters, in San Francisco; Ronald T., assistant manager of Alex- ander & Baldwin, Ltd., in San Francisco; Thomas, a member of the firm of Rolph, Mills & Company, exporters and importers, of San Francisco; George M., of this review; and Miss Elizabeth Rolph and Mrs. J. A. Moore, both of San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. James Rolph, Sr., passed to their reward after having rounded out years filled with good deeds toward their fellow-men. .
George M. Rolph attended the public schools in San Francisco. In order to earn money he peddled papers, in time working up a route of some 600 subscribers, who usually received their morning papers before breakfast. Young Rolph saved his money and enrolled at Stanford University, pursuing an elective course. He was a classmate of Herbert Hoover. Upon leaving college Mr. Rolph secured work in the Risdon Iron Works in San Francisco, and later went to Sanger, in Fresno County, and worked in a lumber mill. He continued at the hardest kinds of work in this connection for several years; in fact there was nothing connected with the lumber industry in the woods or mill that he was afraid to tackle, and he did the work with his accustomed efficiency. He always maintained his good nature and was liked by his superiors and fellow workmen.
In 1903 an opportunity came his way to go to the Hawaiian Islands to learn the fundamentals of the raising of sugar cane and the making of raw sugar. He did with enthusiasm the work set for him to do, and his energy attracted the attention of his employers, who soon advanced him to other duties and greater responsibilities. In 1904 the Sugar Factors Company, Ltd., was organized in the islands by a number of cane growers for the purpose of erecting a refinery in California to manufacture cane sugar, and the old beet sugar mill at Crockett was bought for the purpose. This old mill was formerly one of the earliest flour mills in the State, the Starr Flour Mill. The following year Mr. Rolph returned to California to manage the new venture. He has spent
928
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
several millions of dollars in remodeling the plant and installing modern machinery and warehouses for refining and handling cane sugar. In 1906 the plant, owned by thirty-two of the largest cane growers in the islands, opened for business under the name of the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company. Mr. Rolph has had wonderful success during the twenty years that he has been connected with this plant, and has kept abreast of the times in modernizing every department.
There have never been any labor troubles in this establishment. Mr. Rolph is humane, and looks upon the employees as human beings with feelings the same as his own. He keeps in close touch with their com- munity life and their personal desires, and tries to be helpful to them in everything they do. In 1914 the company reduced the working hours from ten and twelve hours to eight hours a day, and with no reduction in pay. At the end of the first year the books showed that the unit of cost of refining sugar had not increased. This was because all the em- ployees in the plant, from the general manager down, were "on their toes" all the time ; no overtime was permitted unless absolutely necessary. Each employee had more time for recreation and for community and home life, and was therefore better qualified to put more energy into his work during the eight hours. After this experiment of Mr. Rolph's had shown such satisfactory results, the stockholders continued to ex- pand these humane policies in other matters that have vital importance to their business, as well as to the health and the social and moral wel- fare of their workers.
One of the first progressive plans for the comfort of employees was the erection of a hotel with a view to renting rooms as reasonably as possible to the workers. There were deficiencies in the operating ex- penses of the hotel, and the company paid them. Then Mr. Rolph began to encourage the workers to build homes for their families. The com- pany owned the land, upon which attractive residence subdivisions were graded and laid out, complete with streets, sidewalks and sewers, and with water, light and gas facilities. The local banks cooperated by taking sixty per cent of the mortgage, the company assuming thirty per cent of the second mortgage, while the employee who bought the home paid down ten per cent. The place was then paid for on the monthly installment plan. This plan has proved beneficial and has been fostered by the company ever since its inception. Many of the men with fam- ilies own their own homes and have an active personal interest in the community in which their working day is spent.
A large men's clubhouse was built for the comfort of the men. It has a large gymnasium, billiard room, reading room, swimming pool and other conveniences, and is furnished in modern style. Later, a large athletic field was laid out by the company. This move prompted Wallace M. Alexander, an ex-president of the company, to donate two "tennis courts de-luxe," which are located in Alexander Park. The park also contains a large community auditorium which was built by the company
929
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
for the use of the people of the community. The auditorium is equipped with a splendid floor for dancing, moving picture room, and banquet hall with full complement of utensils for the kitchen and dining room, as well as restrooms, locker rooms and shower rooms. There are two large out-of-door children's playgrounds in Crockett, fully equipped with apparatus, and two large parks, all with well-qualified attendants fur- nished by the company.
All of these humanizing ideas have emanated from the fertile brain of George M. Rolph, who feels that the future workers in the refinery are being trained in their own home town. The best of schools are maintained in Crockett, and all the buildings are kept adequate for the needs of the growing community. Night schools, part-time schools, and schools for the Americanization of the foreigner are conducted. From the kindergarten to the union high school there is developed a spirit of helpfulness. Mr. Rolph's faith in the employees of his company has never faltered, and Crockett is a typical community town. The com- pany pays a very large percentage of the taxes, yet it insists upon the best obtainable, no matter for what purpose it is intended.
Crockett is thirty miles from San Francisco. The city has direct rail connections with the Southern Pacific, has deep water facilities, connects with the Western Pacific and the Santa Fe Railroads by ship- ping to their terminals by boat, and is a port of call for all ships that ply the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers, thus providing transporta- tion facilities unsurpassed anywhere.
The Crockett refinery is the largest refinery in the world, and is also the cleanest. The interiors of the buildings are painted a battleship gray and white. The main buildings occupy a water frontage of nearly 3000 feet, erected on concrete piers and concrete piles set to bed rock. There are the melt and char houses, packinghouse, powerhouse and ware- houses. The office fronts the main business street of the town and has a covered runway over the railroad tracks to the plant buildings. The capacity of the plant is 750,000 tons annually. The first year of opera- tion only 67,000 tons of sugar was refined. In 1925, 640,000 tons were produced. In each of the 108 char filters in the plant 100,000 pounds of bone char is used. The entire plant is equipped with first-class fire protection, with a plant fire chief always on duty and a volunteer depart- ment among the employees to cooperate when needed. Both the com- pany and the city take great pride in their fire departments and equipment.
Jared Smith writes: "Crockett is an unincorporated city built en- tirely on land owned by the company, and 'is the only municipality of its kind in California, if not in the United States', said Mr. Rolph, 'which has concrete streets and all the best and latest utilities to serve all residents, irrespective of their employment'. The community has a voice in its own affairs, but the company pays the taxes and foots the bills. Thereby Crockett escapes the waste and the loose disorganization which are so characteristic of American practical politics as exemplified
930
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
in most town and cities. It is social cooperation, withal eminently pleas- ing to the workers who are so fortunate as to be citizens of this informal municipality."
The president and all his subordinates are always ready to cooperate with all progressive movements, and their social duties are many and exacting. Mr. Rolph is a member of the Pacific Union, the Bohemian and the Commercial Clubs in San Francisco. During the World War he was a Dollar-a-Year Man, serving on the Sugar Equalization Board under appointment by Herbert Hoover. Politically, Mr. Rolph is a Republican.
George M. Rolph was united in marriage on June 9, 1897, with Miss Lillian Ashton, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (O'Mara) Ashton and a native of San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Rolph have two daughters, Mrs. Donald McKee and Mrs. George A. Stevenson.
CAPT. HANS P. LAURITZEN .- No history of Contra Costa County would be complete without a mention of the Richmond Naviga- tion and Improvement Company, of Richmond, and its founder, Capt. H. P. Lauritzen. He was born in Denmark on February 14, 1870, and is the third son and fourth child of the late Hans P. and Adelhyte (Lor- entzen) Lauritzen, pioneers of Wood's Island in the Sacramento River, and both now deceased.
The childhood and youth of H. P. Lauritzen, our subject, was any- thing but happy, for he had to help to clear the home farm of 250 acres, working in the malaria-infested country until he was compelled to take to his bed about four months each year. When he was eighteen he was six feet and one inch in height and weighed less than 100 pounds, and he realized that in order to live he would have to get away from that part of the country. Going to San Francisco, he shipped as a sailor before the mast on a schooner getting ready for a sealing expedition in the Behring and other northern seas. It was a rough life filled with hard work, but it was the means of working the malaria out of his system and the gain- ing of health. After an eight-months voyage he returned to San Fran- cisco weighing 175 pounds and in perfect health. The following season he went out on another sealing expedition on the Helen Blum, and for two years he followed that business. He became so expert in the use of the rifle that he had the distinction of being the best shot on the Pacific Coast. In January of 1890 he was made captain of the Ivanhoe, a schooner owned by a stock company, he being interested in the vessel, which was purchased for $7000. After a six-months hunt in the North Pacific the vessel returned to San Francisco with $84,000 worth of furs. He was also one year on the C. G. White, and he made his last voyage as captain of this vessel, which hunted seals as far as the Japanese coast. He was caught in three typhoons, and had it not been for his dexterous seamanship, would have undoubtedly shared the fate of other wrecked American schooners he passed. At times the wind reached a velocity of
931
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
150 miles an hour. In one of these storms the C. G. White lost its rud- der, some 1500 miles from Yokohama, the nearest shipyard. Captain Lauritzen sailed his vessel 1500 miles through the North Pacific to secure repairs, and the fact of its being rudderless is another proof of his sea- manship. About this time difficulties arose and the United States govern- ment put a stop to further operations of vessels engaged in seal hunting. Captain Lauritzen still has damage suits pending amounting to $58,000 in the United States Court of Claims. After spending five years in seal hunting, and as a sailor and ship captain, our subject returned to Califor- nia waters on December 25, 1893. It seemed that he was saved from harm by a veritable guardian angel, for the Ivanhoe was lost on the very next voyage after Captain Lauritzen transferred to another boat; the Helen Blum went down with all on board off the Semmoski Islands; and the C. G. White met a like fate. After being transferred to the C. G. Walker, the river boat belonging to the California Navigation & Im- provement Company, he was made captain of her for a while and then went to the Mary Garrett. Two weeks later the Walker's steam drum exploded, killing the captain, the chief engineer and his wife, and two passengers.
On August 31, 1892, in San Francisco, Captain Lauritzen was united in marriage with Miss Maggie S. Cromwell, who was born in Canada but grew up in Solano County, where her parents had settled when she was a baby. The captain and his wife became the parents of two children : George B., who married Miss Ethel Eichbaum and has two children: George B., Jr., and Charles Philbrook; and Marguerite, who became the wife of Norbert B. Bush, a partner in the Richmond Navigation & Im- provement Company. Throughout the various activities in which Cap- tain Lauritzen has been interested he has had the hearty cooperation of his wife, and it was largely through her influence that Cutting Boulevard was transformed from a muddy road to one of the leading paved thor- oughfares of Richmond.
After quitting the sea Captain Lauritzen entered the employ of the California Transportation Company as a pilot and captain on river boats for two years. Then for three years he was employed by the California Navigation & Improvement Company as captain of the fast steamer C. H. Cochran, making the round trip from Stockton to San Francisco each twenty-four hours. He was next employed by the Santa Fe Railroad Company, and as captain of their ferryboat, the Ocean Wave, operated the ferry service from Point Richmond to San Francisco, making the first trip on July 1, 1900, and carrying the first passengers landed at the wharf from the first passenger train entering Point Richmond. He continued with this work for ten years, and then established the Richmond Naviga- tion & Improvement Company. From a humble beginning this concern has gradually expanded until it is among the important enterprises of Richmond. A general freight business is carried on, and also an express business. Gasoline launches, tug boats, and barges, as well as a fleet of
932
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
express trucks, run on regular schedules. The company consists of H. P. Lauritzen, its founder; George B. Lauritzen, his son; and his son-in-law, N. B. Bush. They own thirteen and one-half acres on the inner harbor, which they have improved with modern concrete bunkers, warehouses and offices, for the conduct of their business; and they are prospering accord- ingly, in spite of keen competition. The company deals in sand, gravel, brick, lime, cement and crushed rock, and with their fleet of ten Fageol trucks for land distribution, and their fleet of barges, etc., serve their patrons with dispatch. Their freight and express business is a large item and is relied upon by many for quick delivery of various commodities.
Captain Lauritzen is a member of Occidental Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican. Both Captain and Mrs. Lauritzen are among the valued citizens of Richmond and always are to be found among those who work for progress along all lines. They have faith in the future of Richmond, as is shown by their investments; and with their family they hold an assured place in the esteem of the people.
MRS. ELLEN SLATE .- For almost a quarter of a century a resi- dent of Rodeo, Mrs. Ellen Slate has, during that time, been a part of the social life of the community, and both she and her husband, the late James Edward Slate, have been prominent in its upbuilding. A native of Manchester, England, Mrs. Slate is the daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann Johnson, both of whom lived and died in Manchester, where the father was a brickmaker. Ellen Johnson came to California as a young lady, and married Mr. Slate in San Francisco, on June 30, 1889. James Edward Slate, or "Johnny," as he was more familiarly called, was born in Manchester, England, on June 11, 1869, a son of John and Ellen Slate. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Slate lived for four years in San Francisco, then Mr. Slate was employed with the Selby Smelting Works, near Crockett, Contra Costa County, and for the next twenty- three years remained continuously in the employ of that firm, fifteen years of which he was their foreman.
During all these years the family resided in Rodeo, and their home, erected by Mr. Slate in 1911, has always been one where love and good cheer abide, the shelter of a devoted and filial family. They became the parents of six children : Alice, employed in San Francisco; William, a car- penter and builder, residing in Seattle; Ellen, now Mrs. Leo D. Laneving, and residing in Honolulu; Harold, living at home and employed in the laboratory of the Union Oil Company at Oleum; Dorothy, and LeRoy, attending school. Always a true wife and helpmate, Mrs. Slate was of great help to her husband, no little of his success in life being due to her efforts. His death, occurring February 6, 1922, was a decided loss to the community, for he was a man of sterling worth, holding a responsible position, and one of the substantial men of his town. Mrs. Slate is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Rodeo.
933
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
FLORIDO BALDINI .- The proprietor of the Antioch Dairy, Florido Baldini, was born in Portsmouth, N. H., on February 8, 1885, the son of F. and Clarice Baldini, who were both born in Italy and are now deceased. He has four sisters who are still residents of the East. Our subject grew up in New Hampshire and there received his schooling and learned the dairy business; and there he was married to Miss Jose- phine Farnacca. She was also born in New Hampshire, and is the daughter of Matteo and Cornea Farnacca, both residing at Antioch.
It was in 1919 that Mr. and Mrs. Baldini came to California and in August secured a lease on the Bonstell dairy ranch of eighty acres on Wilbur Avenue, where they run a dairy of twenty selected Holstein cows. These they have bred to registered Holstein bulls, and have thus developed a high-grade lot of stock. The dairy is clean and their prod- uct stands the high test necessary for their trade. Mr. Baldini delivers milk with a Ford delivery truck and makes a specialty of the finest product possible to obtain. With the assistance of his wife, he is doing a thriving and lucrative business.
Mrs. Baldini has an only brother, John Farnacca, who was educated at Dartmouth College. Though born in New Hampshire, he went to Italy and married and settled down at Florence, where he is the agent for the American Exchange. He has a son John.
Mr. and Mrs. Baldini are well-educated people and are leaders in their social circle.
CARL FREDERICK RUFF .- A very successful merchant and rancher is Carl Frederick Ruff, a highly esteemed citizen of Pinole. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, on February 19, 1872, the son of Kon- rad and Barbara (Pruegel) Ruff, who came to America in 1898, from their native Germany. Their family consisted of seven children, four of them sons, and our subject is the youngest. One brother and two sis- ters reside at San Jose.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.