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 96

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 96

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in Chicago and Denver, making his way gradually towards the Pacific Coast country. He and two others built the railroad station at Gunni- son, Colo., and a very creditable structure it was. Mr. Cipollina also worked at mining in the Black Rock Mine and others in Butte, Mont.

Mr. Cipollina made his next important move when he came to Cali- fornia and to Pittsburg, where he arrived the week before Christmas in 1917. He immediately found work as a riveter on the dredger, Neptune, then being built for the Olympia Dredging Company. This job com- pleted, Mr. Cipollina took up his regular trade, and the plastering on many of the best buildings in the city show his handiwork. Among them we mention the Contra Costa Bank Building and the Los Medanos Garage. His opportunity came when he became the proprietor of the old Union Hotel in 1921. As he prospered, he looked about for expan- sion and secured the Tivoli Hotel, and in 1922 took in for a partner Theodoro Ferre. Together they worked and prospered, and on July 1, 1925, closed the hotel and divided their interests, Mr. Ferre leasing the Italian Hotel. Mr. Cipollina developed into a first-class chef, and fol- lows his old trade of cement worker also.

On November 24, 1921, Mr. Cipollina and Miss Louisa Barasso were married at Martinez. Mrs. Cipollina was born in Italy and has proven a worthy helpmate to her husband. They have one child, Joseph Mission Cipollina, born on Admission Day in 1922. Much of the suc- cess to which our subject has attained he credits to the cooperation of his good wife.

MANUEL LEWIS FORTADO .- A native of Contra Costa County who takes an active interest in all projects for the advancement of the county in general and of the Crockett section in particular is Manuel L. Fortado. He was born at Concord on June 8, 1886, a son of Lorain E. and Gillimina (Ignacia) Fortado. His father came from the Azores Islands when he was eighteen, and coming to California he worked as a laborer. He became a citizen of the United States at the earliest time possible. The lady whom he married left her home in the Azores when she was eighteen and came to California and they were married in the Catholic Church at Concord, Mr. Fortado being twenty-three, and his bride eighteen. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in May, 1926. Mrs. L. E. Fortado had two sisters come here at a later date; and seven boys and one girl were left in the Azores, of whom four boys have died. Of this marriage these children were born: Frank, in Berkeley; Anthony, in San Francisco; Lucy, Mrs. L. J. Arrighi, in Con- cord; and Manuel, in Crockett.

Manuel L. attended the public schools and during vacations worked in the fruit orchards. At the age of fifteen he went into the Selby smelter and did a man's work at the blast furnace for about a year, then went back to Concord and worked in H. Ivey's livery stable two years. At the age of eighteen, on October 19, 1904, he was married to Miss Gladys Pauline

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Jones, niece of Robert Jones, a former assistant county surveyor, and a grand-daughter of Nathaniel Jones, one of the early pioneers of the Wal- nut Creek section. Her father was Wallace Lee Jones and her mother was Barbara Crow Jones, both died when Mrs. Fortado was a small child and she was reared in the home of her grandfather and grandmother Jones ; the latter died in Crockett in 1908 at the age of eighty-three, and claimed to be the first white woman to cross the Carquinez Straits. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fortado there is a son, Richard, who fin- ished grammar school and is now working in the sheet metal department of the refinery. He married Helen Suchowaski and they have one child, Richard L., Jr.

For a time Mr. Fortado worked in a mercantile store in Walnut Creek; and also was in business for himself for about a year, and was employed by the California Wine Association for a time. Coming to Selby he worked in the cartridge factory from 1906 to 1911 and became inspector. He entered the sugar refinery as tallyman, then was pro- moted to be weigher.

Mr. Fortado was married the second time on October 19, 1921, at Crockett, when he was united with Miss Pauline Myra Suchowaski, born in Pueblo, Colo., but at the time of her marriage was living at Rodeo with her parents, Stephen and Anna (Orynicz) Suchowaski, borth born in Galacia. Her father was a watchman at the Selby smelter. Mr. For- tado is a member of the Eagles and the Red Men. He has been an active member of the volunteer fire department and for ten years was interested in baseball as an umpire. He is a strong advocate of all healthy and clean out door sports, believes in getting close to nature by going camping, fishing and hunting. Few know the various parts of the mountains of northern California better than does Mr. and Mrs. Fortado, who always spend their vacations in different localities.

GIOVANNI CONTINENTE .- Among the successful men of Pitts- burg we find the name of Giovanni Continente, who for nearly twenty years has lived in this place, from the time when it was called Black Diamond, and has seen the many changes since that time. He was born on May 12, 1881, in Naples, Italy, a son of Antonio and Rose Contin- ente, and he attended the schools of his native land. When he was twenty-five years old he made up his mind he would come to America ; and after landing in Brooklyn, N. Y., he worked for two years and saved money enough to bring him to California. Arriving in 1908, he came at once to Black Diamond and made a permanent location, and since that year he has been actively engaged in business and has invested in real estate, thus helping to build up the present city. He is a very quiet and reserved man, but does what he can for the good of the town when called upon, and has many friends here.

On June 20, 1909, Mr. Continente was married to Miss Rosa Billeci, who was born in the Province of Sicily, Italy. She is a splendid business

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woman and gives her whole attention to looking after their many inter- ests. To her good management Mr. Continente attributes much of their present financial success. Mr. and Mrs. Continente conduct the Contin- ente Hotel, erected in 1924, a modern building, built of brick, three stories high with fifty-one guest rooms. These rooms are nicely fur- nished with up-to-date steel furniture; and there is hot and cold water in each room. The building is steam-heated throughout and has tub and shower baths and every convenience for the traveler. It is advertised as "A good place to stop when in Pittsburg," and the name and slogan tell the story of this modern hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Continente give their guests every attention, endeavoring to make them comfortable; and as a result they have a good patronage, including both tourists and traveling salesmen. Besides the hotel, the proprietors conduct the Continente Market on the ground floor of their building, where they handle a full line of staple and fancy groceries, vegetables and fruits. A meat market is operated by John and Joe Buffo in connection with the grocery. Mrs. Continente manages both the hotel and market and is a good business woman. Besides this building they also own other real estate in Pitts- burg, and have shown their faith in its future by investing heavily in property here. They are both well liked and have many friends in the community.

OWEN O'CONNOR .- Although not a native of California, Owen O'Connor has made his home here for so many years that he is intimately acquainted with the State's progress and devoted to its development. Mr. O'Connor is an intelligent and hardworking citizen and owns a beautiful twenty-acre ranch home on the State Highway about one mile west of the town of Oakley. This ranch is set to almonds, grapes and apricots, and his trim acres and fine residence testify to his energy and industry.

Owen O'Connor was born in Ottawa, Canada, June 26, 1858, a son of John and Bridget O'Connor. John O'Connor was a shoemaker by trade. Owen was brought up to work, and learned the tinner's and sheet metal worker's trade in his home city. He then went to Manitoba and there followed his trade, but the climate was so severe that within a year he returned to Ottawa. In 1886 he left Ottawa and came to California. He homesteaded land near Coalinga, in Fresno County, and also had a tree- claim, on both of which he proved up, but the land turned out to be of little value. He removed then to Hanford and there worked at his trade until coming to this locality about a quarter of a century ago. On remov- ing to Contra Costa County, he purchased his present home place of twenty acres, where he has since resided. He put up all the buildings and set out the orchard on the ranch, and is prospering in his operations.

At Fresno, on January 20, 1900, Mr. O'Connor was married to Miss Josephine Pirhensil, a native of Illinois, who came to California while a young lady. In politics Mr. O'Connor is a consistent Republican. '

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JOSEPH FRAY .- An honest, industrious and hard-working citi- zen of Richmond is Joseph Fray, who has tried his hand at many things in his eventful life. He was born in San Pablo, on August 10, 1880, a son of Frank Fray, a farmer and native of Portugal. His mother, Mary Gloria (Ferria) Fray, was one of the oldest women in Contra Costa county, residing in San Pablo, at the corner of Alvarado and Twenty- third Streets, until she passed away on June 16, 1926.

Mr. Fray was educated in the San Pablo public schools, after which he was employed by Maloney Brothers, San Pablo butchers, for a period of four years. For a time he worked on a hay press, and then he became an employee of the Giant Powder Works at the time Mr. Roller was su- perintendent and Mr. Level was foreman. When the Standard Oil Com- pany entered this territory he was one of their first employees, remaining with them for a considerable time. Later he became associated with the Whale Oil plant, but returned to the Standard, where he was employed in the pipe line department for six years. After his marriage to Miss Katie Moitoza, his first wife, he became an employee of the Peoples Water Company at their pumping station. His wife became ill and it was necessary to send her to the mountains. Later her condition became so serious that he was forced to resign his position in order to give her the needed attention. Three months after she returned home she died, their only child, a son of three years, preceding her to the grave.

Mr. Fray was for a time an employee of the saloon at Stege, known as the Hunters' Horn, and drove a beer wagon for Tony Rigalio. Later he again entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company in a pumping station. In 1924 he became an employee of the Santa Fe Railroad, start- ing as a laborer. Because of his knowledge of Spanish he was soon pro- moted to a position as foreman over about twenty-five Mexicans. He was a hotel-keeper in San Pablo for a time, and an employee of the porcelain works, and he is now car inspector and repairer for the Union Tank Line. In addition to the activities mentioned, Mr. Fray has been a prize- fighter and fought with the well-known boxer Joe Moitoza, and others. He is found of hunting and fishing and has played amateur baseball with the San Pablo team.

Mr. Fray's second marriage occurred on September 2, 1915, when he was united with Mrs. Nancy (Ming) Matteri, of Swiss-German parentage. Her father, Julius Ming, opened the Pullman Hotel; and her mother was Mary (Tresch) Ming. The family numbered nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Fray are the parents of four children, two of whom are deceased. The two living are Lorine Gloria, born July 10, 1920, and Albert Joseph, born August 3, 1923.

EMIL GUSTAV GEBAUER .- A resident of Crockett since 1898, with the exception of two years spent in Colorado, Emil G. Gebauer is recognized as a man of honesty of purpose and high moral character. He was born in Dresden, Germany, in 1876, and educated in the schools

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of that country, and in 1893 came to America to better his financial con- dition. He landed in Chicago, where he remained for a year, and then came West to the State of Washington and spent four years there, work- ing at whatever he could find to do that would bring him an honest living. In 1898 he arrived in Crockett to take up employment in the sugar refin- ery. In 1904 he went to Colorado for two years, returning then to Crockett to resume his former employment.

Mr. Gebauer was united in marriage at Crockett, on May 5, 1912, with Miss Mary Frances Glancy, daughter of John Charles Glancy, a sketch of whose life will be found in this history. She was born in Crockett on January 3, 1884, and is credited with being the first girl baby born here; while the first boy born in Crockett was Louis Berg, born in November, 1883. She attended the Crockett schools in pursuit of an education. The children born of this marriage are: Clement E., Mary Dolores, Leo Anthony, Ruth Bernadette and Catherine Bertha. Mrs. Gebauer is a member of the Young Ladies' Institute and of the Native Daughters, in which she is a Past President. Mr. Gebauer belongs to the Woodmen of the World. They are essentially home folks, but deeply interested in all that pertains to the civic and social advancement of Contra Costa County. They attend the Catholic Church, of which Mr. Gebauer was organist at one time.

CASPER T. CAUTIELLO .- A very progressive and enterprising citizen of Pittsburg, Cal., who possesses sound judgment and keen busi- ness ability, is Casper T. Cautiello, the proprietor of the oldest hard- ware store in the city. During his lifetime he has faced business re- verses and seemingly insurmountable difficulties, but with a courageous and indomitable spirit has overcome all obstacles and by persisting in a straight-forward course of dealing in all of his business transactions has eventually gained a gratifying degree of success and prosperity. In 1906 he was engaged in the hardware business in San Francisco. This was the year of the great catastrophe in that city, and he lost the entire contents of his store in the fire that followed the earthquake; unfor- tunately he had no fire insurance. Undaunted by the loss of his earnings of fourteen years, however, he soon entered business again. He visited Pittsburg, Cal., where he purchased the oldest hardware store in the city, then owned by G. Viscuso. He also bought a store in San Fran- cisco, which he operated successfully for one year, after which he decided to remove to Pittsburg and manage his store there. He has since con- centrated his best efforts on this enterprise, which he has developed into a large and growing business.

Casper T. Cautiello was born in Singapore, Straits Settlements, Malay Peninsula, India, on May 10, 1883, the son of Louis and Amelia Cautiello, natives of Italy. The parents were operating a hotel in Singapore when their son was born. Afterwards they returned to Italy, but soon sailed to Sydney, Australia. In 1889 they removed to San Francisco, Cal., where they engaged in the hotel business. Both par-

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ents are now deceased. The migratory life of the parents brought their young son in contact with people of many lands and languages; and thus he learned, in a limited way, of their language and customs. This has been very helpful to him since he became a business man, as he can speak in French, Italian, Spanish or Chinese. The hardware business seemed to appeal to Mr. Cautiello at an unusually early age, as he was but eight years old when he first began clerking in the store of Isadore Merle, in San Francisco. For fourteen years he continued to work for Mr. Merle; and then, when twenty-two years of age, in February, 1906, he opened business for himself in San Francisco, where, as stated above, he lost all during the great fire of that year.

On May 1, 1904, Casper T. Cautiello was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Viscuso, daughter of G. and Aquilina Viscuso, early set- tlers of Contra Costa County. This union has been blessed with three children : Amelia, Angelina and Eleanor. Fraternally, Mr. Cautiello is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. He is deeply interested in the advancement of the city's interests, and is an active member of the Pitts- burg Chamber of Commerce.

CHARLES ALBERT STAEHLE .- A resident of California since early childhood, Charles Albert Staehle has seen the development of a wonderful region in the past forty years. He was born in New York City on January 4, 1872, the son of Charles A. and Ida (Wesley) Staehle, natives of Germany and New York, respectively. The father came from Germany to New York at an early age, married there, and in 1874 arrived in San Francisco. He died in 1878, in Oakland, where he was in the hotel business. Besides our subject, there are four brothers and three sisters still living in the family, one sister being in Crockett.

Our subject attended the public schools in Oakland and Crockett, completing his schooling in the building that stood on the hill in the southern part of town. At the age of sixteen he commenced working in the grain warehouses along the water front, and he continued at this work for four years. Preferring to become a producer, he accordingly went to the Sacramento Valley and began ranching, and also bought grain for Dave Levy until the breaking out of the Spanish-American War, when he enlisted for service and was assigned to the Eighth Regi- ment under Colonel Henshaw. He spent six months in the army and then was discharged. His services were in California, and he liked the experience. Returning to his ranching and grain-buying operations, Mr. Staehle continued until 1900, when he came to Crockett and secured work in the warehouses of the refinery until the plant closed. When it reopened he entered the employ of the company as a millwright, and he is still in this position.

Mr. Staehle was united in marriage on March 31, 1899, with Miss May Gertrude Reister, born at Williams, Colusa County, the daughter of Casper and Margaret (Martin) Reister. They have one daughter, Miss Melba Margaret Staehle. She is a graduate of the high school, the

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State Teachers' College at San Francisco, and the San Francisco Institute of Music, with a special diploma, having specialized on stringed instru- ments. Having a natural talent for music, at the age of twelve she directed the first orchestra ever organized in the Crockett Grammar School. Her great-grandfather, George Martin, was a great musician and played in concerts throughout Europe. While attending the State Teachers' College she organized the first orchestra in the institution, and directed it while attending the school. At Concord, Miss Staehle organ- ized the first orchestra in the town. She specializes in concert work for the benefit of poor children, and in buying instruments to be used in school orchestras. She teaches violin as a specialty, although she is competent on other stringed instruments. She wrote an operetta en- titled Mothergoose Land, all music original; it is the story of the Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and it will be used by the C. & H. for their 1927 Christmas Festival at Crockett.

Mr. Staehle belongs to the Masons, the Red Men, and the Knights of Pythias, and has been chosen the representative of the Red Men and the Knights of Pythias at county and State meets. He has some very in- teresting stories to tell of the early days along the water front, one of them being of the night the McNear Warehouses at the straits were burn- ing, when a figurehead from one of the vessels was seen floating in the water. He, with other young men, ran along with it and finally captured it as it came towards the shore, brought it to the Grangers' Warehouse, and set it up; and there it remained until about two years ago, when it was taken to Hollywood-where it likely has found a resting place in some movie studio.

WILLIAM WHITAKER .- A man endowed with a large amount of vim and energy, William Whitaker of Richmond has won for him- self a notable position in the industrial world. Born in Florida, Febru- ary 13, 1882, he is the son of Hamlin V. and Ella (Drew) Whitaker, the former a native of Florida and the latter of Alabama. The father is an enterprising farmer and fruit grower in Florida. There are three children in this family : Mary at home with her parents; William, of this review; and Charles B.

William Whitaker came to California in 1901 and spent one year as street car conductor in San Francisco; then he went to San Bernardino as a fireman for the Santa Fe Railroad Company; he was promoted to the position of engineer in 1909 and was running on the Los Angeles division; later in 1911 he was transferred to the Valley division, and in 1917 removed with his family to Richmond where they have since resided.

Mr. Whitaker's first marriage occurred on June 20, 1905, when he was united with Miss Alberta Rousseau of San Bernardino. This mar- riage resulted in the birth of two children: Flora Alberta and Frances Edith. On July 1, 1914, Mr. Whitaker was married the second time, Miss Edith Leslie Creason of Los Gatos, a daughter of William Jeffer-

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son and Gertrude Leslie (Walker) Creason, becoming his wife. Mrs. Whitaker is one of the three living children in a family of eight, born to Mr. and Mrs. Creason. A. F. lives in Richmond; and Fred and Frank reside in King City. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker are the parents of one daughter, Gertrude Christine. Mr. Whitaker belongs to the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers of Richmond and with his family is a member of the Christian Church.

CHARLES COPLE .- As a highly intelligent and prosperous farmer of Contra Costa County, residing in Byron Precinct No. 1, Charles Cople is well-known in this vicinity, where he and his wife are held in high es- teem as people of worth and integrity. A son of the late George Cople, an honored pioneer of this section of the county, he was born on February 17, 1871. George Cople was a successful agriculturist, and was a man of sterling worth to the community where he lived for many years; he passed away on October 27, 1923, at the age of eighty-seven years.

Charles Cople attended the Excelsior district school, and then took a business course at the San Jose Business College. After completing his studies he returned to the home place, where he became engrossed in agricultural and horticultural pursuits which have given him a competence well worth the time and labor spent.

The Byron-Bethany Irrigation District was largely established through an experiment made by Mr. Cople in 1909, when he put in a pump to raise the water from Kellogg Creek up onto the higher land, where he had planted fifteen acres to alfalfa. He knew that if water could be put on the high lands at a minimum of expense, it would induce the planting of hundreds of acres of alfalfa. Mr. Cople cut four crops from his acreage; and then others, who had laughed at him for trying the experiment, put in pumping plants along the creek until there was no more water to be used. This was the nucleus of what is now the present system, and Mr. Cople has served as a member of the board of directors ever since the organization.

On December 27, 1899, Mr. Cople was married to Miss Elsie John- ston, daughter of John and Mary Johnston of San Mateo County, where they were pioneers in farming and extensive landowners. Her father died in 1893, the mother surviving until 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Cople have a son, Kenneth D., born on August 2, 1901. Kenneth D. Cople married Miss Eva Champion. He is at the head of the commercial department and is also instructor in shorthand and typewriting in the Lodi Academy, conducted by the Seventh Day Adventists at Lodi, Cal.

Charles Cople is a member of Byron Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West. Mr. and Mrs. Cople stand for temperance in all things and are strongly in favor of the Eighteenth Amendment. Mrs. Cople is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Byron.

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GEORGE W. CRINKLAW, D. C .- Numbered among the most representative members of the chiropractic profession in Contra Costa County are Dr. George W. Crinklaw and his wife, who are co-partners in the practice of their chosen profession at Pittsburg under the firm name of Crinklaw and Crinklaw. Both are held in high esteem in the community and are making many friends for their profession by their careful and sympathetic application of the latest methods of chiropractic science and the helpful spirit in which they minister to the suffering. Al- most every new fact or theory advanced, whether in science, religion, or new methods of therapeutics, meets with opposition at first, especially from the older and long-established cults and creeds. Chiropractic has been no exception, although today it is licensed and recognized as a help- ful therapeutic agency for suffering humanity.

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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 96

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