USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino and Lake counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading, men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 96
USA > California > Lake County > History of Mendocino and Lake counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading, men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 96
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Theresa, wife of H. W. VanDerpeer, a farmer, lives at Oakland; Laurence is in the fruit business in Santa Clara county; Kate is the widow of James Hemphill, who had a fruit ranch, and lives in the Santa Clara valley; Lou is the widow of Joseph Hemphill, a fruit grower, residing at San Jose. The parents died near San Jose.
Will W. Gruwell was born in Santa Clara county, near San Jose, March 23, 1860, and passed all his early life in the Santa Clara valley. His education was obtained in the public schools near home and at the Garden City com- mercial college in San Jose. From boyhood he has been familiar with the work of general farming, stock raising and fruit growing as carried on in this region, and he has adapted himself successfully to the many changes which have revolutionized this branch of industry during his generation, his work showing modern methods and system throughout. When he first came to Lake county, in 1882, it was as a guest at Adams Springs, and he returned to settle there in 1884, becoming a resident of Scotts valley, where he has since made his home. On December 17th of that year he married Miss Frances Burriss, daughter of Lewis C. Burriss, and they are among the most esteemed and public-spirited members of their community, both showing an interest in the general welfare which has gained them the friendship and high regard of a large circle of neighbors and other acquaintances. Mrs. Gruwell has served as one of the trustees of their school district, discharging her duties with due appreciation for their responsibilities and giving excellent satisfaction. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South at Lakeport and supports its work faithfully. Mrs. Gruwell was less than three years old when she came to Lake county with her parents, but she remembers some incidents of the trip made by wagon from Sonoma county, cattle and sheep as well as household goods being brought to establish the home as comfortably as possible. She received an excellent education, attending the Pleasant Grove public school, Kelley's Institute and the grammar school at Lakeport, and before her marriage taught school in Lake county for a year and a half. Mr. and Mrs. Gruwell have had one child, Louis Earl, now engaged in ranching in Scotts valley on the thirty acres adjoining his father's property. He was born August 25, 1887, obtained his early education in the home neighborhood and attended the Lowell high school in San Francisco, from which he was graduated, later becoming a student at Leland Stanford University for two and a half years. On November 18, 1912, he married Miss Sadie Zook, daughter of L. Zook, of Ontario, Cal., and they have one child. Louis E. Gruwell is a member of the I. O. O. F., and his wife belongs to the Rebekahs.
Lewis C. Burriss, who settled in Scotts valley in the year 1865, was a member of an old South Carolina family which has had many representatives of note. Governor Burriss was his uncle, and others of the name were also prominent in government circles and statesmen of ability and high reputa- tion. Of what nationality the progenitors of the family in America were is not now known. Lewis C. Burriss was born January 15, 1820, in South Caro- lina, and his parents lived and died in that state, where he spent his carly life. When a young man he made his way to Missouri, and in 1849, in com- pany with others from that state, crossed the plains to California. For a few years he found work in the mines, but he soon realized that where such a
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high market value was set on all the necessaries of life employment in other lines was just as profitable, and he recognized a business opportunity in the demand for cattle. In 1851 he went back to Missouri, across the plains, and the next year brought out a large drove of stock cattle, of which he disposed easily. Some time later he again went overland to Missouri, where he was married on the 11th of May, 1856, to Miss Sarah A. Johnson, daughter of Richard Johnson, of Lafayette county, Mo. She was born in Tennessee, and was but seven years old when her parents brought her to Missouri. A day or two after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burriss set out overland for California, and in the fall of 1856 arrived in the Napa valley, where they lived for about a year. Then they moved to the Sonoma valley, where they remained until their emigration to Lake county, in the year 1865. Mr. Burriss had previously visited the county, and he was one of the first to realize that Scotts valley had highly productive soil, a judgment which he never had occasion to regret. When he settled there the valley was very heavily timbered, oak trees three to six feet in diameter being common. He took up a government claim, and subsequently bought land as he prospered, acquiring four hundred and forty acres in all, though he did not live many years afterward, his death occurring September 18, 1871. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and a con- sistent Christian in all his relations with his fellow men. His wife survived him forty years, dying November 17, 1911, when eighty-one years old. Their family consisted of seven children: Albert died when nineteen years old; William died in boyhood: Elizabeth died when three months old; Frances was born in Sonoma county and is now the wife of Will W. Gruwell; Bryan, born in Sonoma county, now living on a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres in Scotts valley, which he owns, married Mattie Mitchell, of Scotts valley, and they have four living children; Josephine is the wife of Chester White, a ranchman in Scotts valley, and has four children; Laura died in infancy.
JOEL WILSHIRE RUSHING .- Some one has very tersely said that "If home is the daughter of Heaven, a good hotel must be at least a first cousin," and it is much the same feeling that greets the traveler when he enters Hotel Windsor at Ft. Bragg, the fortunes of which were presided over by Joel Wilshire Rushing until the time of his death in 1908, and which has since been conducted by Mrs. Rushing, who was his partner and close busi- ness associate during the entire period of her husband's career as a hotel man. The life work of Mr. Rushing, however, had lain in different lines, and it was only during the closing years of his life that he engaged in the hotel business. Previous to that time he had been largely interested in the lumber business, which he knew thoroughly in every detail. But whether a hotel proprietor or a lumber dealer, Mr. Rushing was a man of sterling worth and high ideals, and wherever he engaged in business he was well liked by his fellow employes and admired and trusted by his employers and business associates.
Mr. Rushing was a native of Pinckneyville, Perry county, Ill., where he was born November 6, 1862. His father, Thomas S. Rushing, was also a native of the same state and county, and was closely associated with the history of Illinois. He was a prominent merchant, and later served for two terms as circuit clerk of Perry county. Following this he was appointed as deputy sheriff of the county, and on the expiration of this appointment was
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elected as sheriff. He was married in 1861 to Miss Clara Jackson, who was a native of Mercer county, Ohio.
Although the son, Joel Rushing, was a native of Illinois, his early recol- lections are all of California, and his boyhood associations all center about Mendocino county, his parents removing to California in 1876, when he was still a lad. They located on Navarro Ridge, where the father engaged in farming until the time of his death in 1900. There were six children born of this union: Joel Wilshire, deceased; Fannie, now living at Ft. Bragg; John, now chief engineer of the steamer San Pedro; Mary, deceased; Kate, now Mrs. Brubeck, of Ft. Bragg; and Zoe, the youngest, who is at home with her aged mother. They reside in Ft. Bragg, which has been the scene of the family life for many years.
The early education of Mr. Rushing was received in the Navarro gram- mar school, after finishing which he went to San Francisco and completed a course in Heald's Business College, where he was graduated with honors. Following this he entered the employ of the L. E. White Lumber Company at Whitesboro, Cal., as a clerk. His ability soon was recognized, however, and he rose to foreman. He gave his services to this company for more than seventeen years, and for the greater part of the time served as foreman, hav- ing general supervision of much business and with many men constantly under his charge. He was married to Miss Esther Joyce, at Whitesboro, in July, 1892, his bride being a native of the province of Ontario, Canada, and born near Toronto. She was the daughter of James A. and Elizabeth (Erwin) Joyce, who resided on a large farm, which the father managed and tilled. He removed with his family to California to accept a position with the L. E. White Lumber Company, at Whitesboro, as builder of roads and bridges, and is now in charge of the Caspar Lumber Company's railroad. The mother of Mrs. Rushing died at her home in Whitesboro several years ago.
After his marriage, Mr. Rushing continued in the employ of the L. E. White Lumber Company until 1900, when he resigned and moved with his family to Cloverdale. He engaged there in clerking for a period of six months, then removing to Boonville and opening a general merchandise store. His business prospered and he remained in Boonville for two years, when failing health again forced him to make a change of scene and climate. This time he chose Albion and for two years he conducted the South Side Hotel. For a number of years Mrs. Rushing had been urging her husband to engage in the hotel business and to allow her to assume some of the burden of re- sponsibility. Even though his health continued to fail, he steadily refused to consider such a plan until 1905, when with Mrs. Rushing, he came to Ft. Bragg and bought the lease of Hotel Windsor from Mr. Jackson. Immedi- ately the kindly nature and the genial, pleasant manner of the new proprietors gave added cheer to the hostelry, and it grew in favor with the traveling public. Many improvements were made and every change effected added more to the general air of comfort and good cheer which prevailed. Mr. Rushing, aside from his duties as manager-proprietor of the Windsor, soon became prominently identified with local civic affairs, and was appointed deputy county assessor, serving for several years, as did his father before him. Fraternal matters also proved a magnet for his activities and he became identified with several of the prominent local orders. He was a member of the Mendocino lodge F. & A. M., of Mendocino Chapter, R. A. M., of Ukiah Commandery, K. T., and of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he was a
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Democrat, but his love of the right was stronger than his party affiliation, and in local affairs he was always on the side of the best man for the place.
Following the death of her husband in 1908, Mrs. Rushing assumed the entire management of Hotel Windsor, and has since conducted it in a most satisfactory manner, both from a point of service to the public, and of financial remuneration to herself. During all the years of her married life, she was in every sense of the word an able helpmeet and companion to her husband, and was his active partner. in the hotel venture. She has made additional changes in the building, adding a wing here, and doing over an interior there, until she has the largest hotel in Mendocino county, and one of the most modern in every respect. Gifted by nature with rare business ability, quick- ness of decision and good judgment, she is building on a sound financial basis and it is not to be wondered that she is successful. Like her husband she is a Democrat in politics, and is intelligently informed on all topics of the day, forming her own opinions from the conditions as they exist, and being in every sense of the word a thoroughly praiseworthy citizen. She is the mother of three children, two charming daughters and one son. Of these the first born, Joyce Nadine, is a graduate of the Ft. Bragg high school, class of 1914, and now attending Heald's Business College at San Francisco. The younger members of the family are Joel Thomas and Gertrude Helen. The entire family are communicants in the Methodist Episcopal church.
SETH ALEX AND ERICK SIVERT PYHALUOTO .-- Natives of the sturdy little principality of Finland, and residents of California but com paratively a short time, Seth A. Pyhaluoto and his younger brother, Erick Si- vert, are nevertheless today two of the most prosperous and worthy citizens of Fort Bragg, honored and respected by their fellow townsmen, and meeting with deserved success in their business undertakings. They, together with Waino Maijala, are proprietors of the Pioneer Livery Stable, the largest of its kind in Fort Bragg, and the best equipped. The brothers first engaged in the livery business in Fort Bragg in February, 1911, although for some years previous they had been employed in the lumbering business of this community. They bought out Isaac Maki at that time, and have since then continued to conduct this business, enlarging and increasing their plant and equipment until they have now a splendid line of equipages, and some of the best horses in the region.
Seth A. Pyhaluoto, the elder brother, was born in Salo county, Oulunlaani, Finland, June 19, 1880, the son of Matti and Wilhelmina (Martikkala) Pyhaluoto. The father was a farmer and the boyhood days of young Seth A. were passed on the farm. He received his education in the public schools, and when he was twenty years of age lie determined to come to America, where the opportunities would be greater than in his native Finland. He came to Fort Bragg in 1900, and for a time followed the various lines of the lumbering business, first for the Glen Blair Lumber Company, and later for different companies along the coast.
It was in 1911 that Mr. Pyhaluoto first engaged, in partnership with his brother, in the livery business in Fort Bragg, where he has since made his home. He was married in Fort Bragg March 9. 1907, to Anna Anllila. a native of Sweden. She died here in 1910, leaving one son, Carl Alexander.
Mr. Pyhaluoto, aside from his business enterprise and his sterling quali- ties as a business man, is a member of Kalevala Brotherhood, also of the Knights of Kalevala and of the Finnish Temperance Society. In politics he is
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a Republican, but has not been actively associated with the movements of his party, although he is well informed and an independent thinker. He is the first president of the Mendocino County Fire Insurance Company of Fort Bragg, being one of its organizers.
Erick Sivert Pyhaluoto, like his elder brother, is a native of Salo county, Oulunlaani, Finland, having been born November 4, 1883, the son of Matti and Wilhelmina (Martikkala) Pyhaluoto. His boyhood days were spent 011 his father's farm and his education received in the public schools of his dis- trict. He remained at home with his parents until the spring of 1903, when he determined to join his brother, Seth A., in California. Accordingly, he came to Fort Bragg and engaged in the lumbering business, being with various companies, and finally with the Union Lumber Company, with which he remained until 1911, when in partnership with his brother he engaged in the livery business in Fort Bragg.
The younger Mr. Pyhaluoto is also well and favorably known in Fort Bragg, and is a member of the Kalevala Brotherhood, the Knights of Kalevala and of the Finnish Temperance Society. Like his brother, he is a Republican. but has never been actively engaged in politics, although a progressive and well informed citizen.
The Pioneer Livery Stable, of which these enterprising young men are the owners and proprietors, has been developed from a comparatively small beginning. They first purchased the interests of Isaac Maki, and in January. 1914, they took in a partner and purchased the livery business of Howard & Bell. This makes them the largest concern of the kind in Fort Bragg. They were at first known as the Pyhaluoto Brothers, but since they took in Waino Maijala as a partner in 1914 the business has been conducted under the name of the Pioneer Livery Stable. They conduct a livery and feed business, and also have a splendid auto livery in connection, thus meeting all the require- ments of the traveling and pleasuring-seeking public in this line.
CHARLES PEDRETTI .- A man who has been associated with Ft. Bragg almost from the time it was started is Charles Pedretti, who was born in Sesto Calende, Milano, Italy, June 3, 1863. His father, Peter Pedretti, was a farmer and Charles from a youth was trained to work on the home place, at the same time receiving a good education in the local schools.
Determining to try his fortune in California, about which he had heard and read of good opportunities for young men, he came to San Francisco, March 20, 1887, and from there came immediately to Ft. Bragg, then a burg just starting. A few dollars formed the extent of his resources, so he imme- diately sought work and found employment in the woods at Westport, where he spent three years at logging and two years at tie making. He then re- turned to Ft. Bragg, where he was in the employ of the Union Lumber Co., having charge of the block saw in the shingle mill for several years. He next spent a year with the Glen Blair Lumber Company as a carpenter and builder. In 1904 he started the Milano Hotel, having purchased property at the corner of McPherson and Oak streets upon which he built the hotel, and has been a very successful hotel man. Aside from property interests in Bakersfield he also owns business property in East Richmond.
In 1894 Mr. Pedretti made a trip back to his old home in Italy and while there he was married to Celesta Cossia, also a native of Galasecca, Milano, 43
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Italy. To them have been born three children: Angel, Marie and Peter. Mr. Pedretti is a Republican in politics and is a very enterprising and pro- gressive man, always willing to help worthy enterprises. Fraternally he is an active member of the Druids. Red Men and Royal Arch.
LORENZO ALBONICO .- The dairy interests of Round valley have been greatly enhanced through the location here of several experienced dairymen, and among them is Lorenzo Albonico, who was born in Gravedona, Italy, July 25, 1884. From a boy he learned farming and dairying and received his education in the public schools of Gravedona. Under his father he learned butter and cheese making, but desiring a larger field and better opportunities than his home afforded, at the age of seventeen he determined to come to America. so in 1901 we find him in Eureka, Humboldt county, Cal. Being without means, he immediately sought employment in the line of work to which he was accustomed and found employment in a dairy. He continued to work at dairying in the vicinity of Eureka until 1907 and then followed the same work at Loleta until September, 1912, when he came to Round val- ley, Mendocino county, and in partnership with Clemente Cittoni rented a two hundred acre ranch and stocked it with a dairy herd, also engaging in farming. Land has been sown to alfalfa and they are raising large quantities of hay. The milk cows have been well selected and they now have the largest dairy in the valley and are demonstrating the great possibilities in the dairy industry for Round valley.
In Loleta occurred the marriage of Lorenzo Albonico and Anita Iustoni, a native of Buenos Ayres, South America. That was her home until she was fourteen years of age, when she went to Italy and afterwards came to Cali- fornia. They have two children: Catherine and Joseph. Mr. Albonico is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Loleta and politically he is a stanch Republican.
JOHN FREDERICK GUMMERUS .- A resident of Mendocino county since 1891 John Frederick Gummerus is a native of Nivala, Oulunlaani. Fin- land, born March 24, 1872. After completing his education he came to the United States in the spring of 1891 and for four months was employed on a farm at Ashtabula, Ohio. A desire to see the Pacific coast led him to come to California and in August, 1891, we find him in Albion, Mendocino county. He was employed in the saw mill for the Albion Lumber Co. and became second carriage man, but in 1895, he came to Ft. Bragg and took up the same line of work with the Union Lumber Company. His close application to duties and faithful services were rewarded by his promotion to sawyer in June, 1899, a position he has filled satisfactorily ever since. He has built a comfortable residence on Corry street, where he resides with his family.
In Whitesboro, this county, January 28, 1893, occurred the marriage of Mr. Gummerus and Lena Hendrickson, a native of Jurva, Vasalau, Finland, who had migrated to Mendocino county in 1892. To them were born six children, as follows: Hannah, Lena, Effie, John, Fred and Ainu. Fraternally Mr. Gummerus is a member of the Kalevala Brotherhood and the Knights of the Maccabees. With his wife he is a member of the Lutheran church in Ft. Bragg and both are liberal and public spirited, always ready to give of their time and means to build up the city of their adoption, as well as aiding all projects that have for their aim the betterment of the moral and social conditions of the people of the community.
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MANUEL GASPAR .- The business interests of Ft. Bragg have a val- uable acquisition in the person of Manuel Gaspar, a native of the Island of Pico, the Azores, born October 21, 1869. His father, Capt. Joseph Gaspar, was master of a sailing vessel plying between the islands until his demise in 1882. Up to this time Manuel had been attending public school. but after his father's death he was obliged to quit in order to earn his own living. He followed the sea and when fifteen years old came to Boston, Mass., and after making two short fishing trips he came to Sausalito, Cal., where for about four months he worked on a dairy ranch. Later with a brother, Joseph, he rented a ranch and engaged in the dairy business near Benicia, Solano county, where the brothers continued for eight years, but the business did not prove a success. Manuel then spent two years in Nevada, after which he came to San Francisco as an employe in a glue factory.
In 1895 Manuel Gaspar came to Ft. Bragg, Mendocino county, and en- tered the employ of the Union Lumber Co. and in time became a foreman, filling the position creditably until 1908, when he quit to engage in general merchandising on Main street, and where he still continues business. In 1913, with Joe Louis, he started the Ft. Bragg Creamery. Buying property on the corner of McPherson and Laurel streets, they built a new creamery building, the first creamery established in Ft. Bragg, and equipped it with the latest and most modern machinery and engaged in the manufacture of high class creamery butter. By means of an auto truck they gather the cream from along the coast north and south of Ft. Bragg, besides which they have the cream shipped in by rail, and they already have a large business established. Mr. Gaspar is also a stockholder in the Ft. Bragg Garage and Machine Com- pany.
In Ft. Bragg occurred the marriage of Mr. Gaspar with Miss Louisa Mendel, who was born at Caspar, this county, and they have three children : Rose, Laurence and Edward. Fraternally Mr. Gaspar is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the 1. O. O. F., U. P. C. E. and I. D. E. S. and is secretary of the two last named societies.
AMADEO DEL GROSSO .- Amadeo Del Grosso was born at Santa Croce, Province of Sandrio, Lombardia, Italy, March 10, 1871, his childhood being spent on the farm and his education obtained in the common schools. From reports of countrymen returning from California, telling of greater op- portunities for young men than were possible in his native land, he deter- mined to cast his fortunes and lot on the Pacific coast. When seventeen years of age, in 1888, he came to Salmon Creek, Mendocino county, where for a time he was employed at making ties, afterwards following the same work at Greenwood. For a while he was employed in a dairy at Point Arena. after which he was a tie contractor at Albion for six years. In 1897 he came to Cleone, where he was both a tie contractor and farmer until July, 1910. when he became proprietor of the Pacific Hotel on Main street, Ft. Bragg. Such was his success that in January, 1913, he purchased the hotel property and is still continuing the business.
In Napa, Cal., occurred the marriage of Mr. Del Grosso and Marie Del Re. also born in Santa Groce, Italy, and to them have been born five children, as follows: Victor, Helena, John, Aldo and Leo. Fraternally Mr. Del Grosso is past president of the Druids and he is also a member of the Eagles and Royal Arch. Politically he is a Republican and universally supports men of that party.
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