History of Sacramento 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, 1923, Part 111

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

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horn, of Sacramento; Frederick, of Spokane; and Mrs. Grace King, of Sacramento.

Jennie Still attended school in San Francisco and at Roseville. She was married in 1877, when John D. Gould became her husband. He was born near Lansing, Mich., coming to California with his par- ents when he was four years of age. He was a son of Josiah and Catherine Gould, who were pioncer farmers near Antelope, Sacramento County, until they passed on.

John D. Gould's early education was received in the local public schools, after which he supplemented his preparation with a course at a business college in San Francisco. After his marriage, Mr. Gould lo- cated on 160 acres of the old home, of which he had become the owner, and added to this until he had 320 acres, where he engaged in farming and horticul- ture, setting out an orchard of peaches, apricots and almonds, and also a vineyard. Here he was actively engaged until 1907, when he rented the ranch and retired to Sacramento, where he owned a comfortable residence. There he resided until his death, in Octo- ber, 1913, passing away at the age of sixty-four years, mourned by his family and friends, a man estecmed for his enterprise, uprightness, and high ideals. Five children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gould. Raymond and Arthur are partners in farm- ing near Antelope; Ernest was for some years an as- sistant in the State Purchasing Department, and is now farming near Antelope; Harvey is farming the home ranch; and Ora Grace is the wife of P. E. An- derson, of Sacramento.

Since her lamented husband's death, Mrs. Gould continues to reside in Sacramento, looking after her affairs. Besides her other interests, she is a stock- holder in the California Life Insurance Company. Mrs. Gould is a member of Grace Methodist Epis- copal Church, and contributes generously to its benevolences. She is a charter member of the Daughters of America, having served as financial secretary of the organization for many years. Her political affiliations are with the Republican party.

A. W. CLIFTON .- The progressive, rapidly grow- ing and attractive Oak Park section of Sacramento is- well represented in its commercial life by the Oak Park Furniture Company, whose proprietor, A. W. Clifton, being a native son from Amador County, is naturally in touch and sympathy with Californian en- terprise. He was born at Ione, on September 4, 1877, the son of Joseph Thomas and Alice Nevada (Sim- mons) Clifton, and his father came from Springfield, Ohio, and was a great friend of Mr. Smith, who was a survivor of the Shepherd party so terribly massacred by Indians in Utah, during the Mountain Meadow Massacre. Mr. Clifton was a farmer, and a substan- tial, extensive one at that, and was for twenty years superintendent of the Ione Coal & Grant Company; and he served as supervisor, in Township No. 2. When, therefore, he passed away in 1812, he was mourned as one who had been well-esteemed. Mrs. Clifton is living on the home-ranch with her son. Arthur, who is now supervisor of his township.

A. W. Clifton went to the public schools of Amador County, and then continued such courses as gave him a commercial training, and after that he worked for his father, until he was twenty-one. In 1902, he came

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

to Sacramento and joined the John Brower Company, with whom he remained four years; and then he was with the Home Furniture Company, for two years, and he after that had charge of their branch for six months. Then he bought out the branch business in 1910, which at that time was in a small shack. When the present modern building was erected some eight years ago, about 6,500 square feet of floor-space were available, and were soon well-stocked with up-to-date furniture, for the Oak Park Furniture Company makes it a boast that it carries everything necessary and de- sirable to properly furnish the house. Not only does Mr. Clifton wisely give his personal attention to every detail of the business, and gladly respond to any request on the part of a patron who may wish this or that not immediately obtainable and requiring some effort to procure, but he prides himself on antici- pating, as it were, the wants of a community he now rather intimately knows.

Mr. Clifton married June 1, 1907, Miss Jennie S. Solomonson, of Amador County, at Ione, Amador County, by whom he has had two sons, Henry and Morris. He has recently had constructed as a dwell- ing for their own use a handsome brick residence on Stockton Boulevard at No. 4300. Independent in politics, Mr. Clifton is able to exert a good influence for the upbuilding of the community.

TRUMAN LEWIS FASSETT .- Not every one of the various commercial establishments in Sacra- mento recognized as valuable to the growth of the community can present such a record of service and usefulness, in the great work of attracting would-be residents to the capital city, as Fassett's Emporium, popular as the headquarters for so much of what is best, and what is constantly in demand. Truman Lewis Fassett, the founder and proprietor of the Emporium, is a native son, and was born on a farm in Sacramento County, on February 26, 1873, the son of L. H. Fassett, long a well-known figure here. He attended the rural schools, and then went into Hale Bros.' store in Sacramento as an errand boy, remaining with that establishment until 1907, when he had become department manager and buyer. Then he went to Berkeley and took charge of H. C. Capwell & Company's, and in 1908 he returned to Sacramento. He started his store in Oak Park in 1908 with the modest sum of $900 invested in stock, and his first day's business amounted to $7.50; and eight years ago, he removed to the present location of the Emporium. He is the oldest in number of years in continuous business, and his place is the oldest under the same management in this district, and he has been phenomenally successful, employing five or more people, according to the season. Much of this success is undoubtedly due to the personal attention given by Mrs. Fassett to every detail of the trade, and to even the most insignificant wish of the customer: and this readiness of the Emporium to cater to all classes, and to trouble itself to try to procure just what is wanted, has undoubtedly con- tributed to its increasing popularity. Mr. Fassett belongs to the Business Men's Club of Oak Park, and was one of its founders and has served as its vice-president.

In Sacramento, Mr. Fassett was married to Miss Mande Spurgeon, of Sacramento, and together they have added to their wide circle of friends. Frater- nally, Mr. Fassett is a Knight of Pythias.

JOSEPH THOMAS .- The subject of this sketch is a progressive and enterprising native son of Cali- fornia who for the past eight years has been serving as superintendent of the Pratt-Lowe plant at Ryde. Joseph Thomas was born in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, Cal., December 31, 1882, a son of Ignasius and Mary (Perry) Thomas, both natives of the Azores Islands. Ignasius Thomas came to Cali- fornia at the age of twenty years and followed the trade of blacksmith in Santa Clara until his demise in 1920, at the age of sixty years. The mother died at the age of fifty-eight years. Twelve children were born to them, of whom Joseph is the fourth.

Joseph Thomas received his education in the con- vent at Santa Clara. His first job after finishing school was with the Pratt-Lowe Company at Santa Clara, where he began at the bottom and learned the cannery business thoroughly; and in 1915, when the Pratt-Lowe Company established their plant at Ryde, Mr. Thomas was put in charge. This plant runs for three months each year, and during the past season 90,000 cases of asparagus were packed.

On December 22, 1913, in Santa Clara, Mr. Thom- as was married to Miss Isabelle Santos, born in Santa Clara, a daughter of Frank Santos. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Walter and Lillian. Mr. Thomas is a Republican in politics. Fraternally he is a member of the Forest- ers of America and the U. P. E. C Lodge of Santa Clara. He is progressive and enterprising, and gives of his time and means, as far as he is able, to for- ward worthy objects that have for their aim the upbuilding of the county.

ERNEST A. THEILE .- The important brokerage in real estate and insurance is well represented in Sacramento by Ernest A. Theile, of the Ochsner Building, widely known for both his experience and dependability, and his willingness to serve. He was born at Roseville, in Placer County, Cal., on June 9, 1881, the son of Robert and Anor (Dndiey) Theile, the father having been a settler of 1872, while the mother is a native daughter and member of an old pioneer family that settled in Placer County in the very early days, the Dudley family being among those early settlers who took refuge at Fort Sutter. There they married, and Mr. Theile farmed for a while, and during his latter years was a realtor. Both of these worthy folks are now deceased, the golden sands of their lives having run their course. They were esteemed in their time, and mourned in their demise.

Ernest A. Theile attended the public schools, and then helped his father on the home farm; and in 1896 he came into Sacramento. At first, he engaged in building, as a contractor, but later gave all of his time to real estate transactions, so that he has now been in the real estate game in connection with build- ing for twenty years. He has a wide knowledge of conditions pertaining to Sacramento City and County, and has built up an enviably profitable patronage through a reputation for placing his experience and information at the service of all clients, without favoritism.

In 191] Mr. Theile was married to Miss Freda Boething, of Sacramento, a native daughter now the mother of a native son, Robert Dudley by name. Mr. Theile is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, and also a Shriner.

Joseph Homas

767

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

ELBERT F. ALDERSON .- A widely-experienced, energetic and far-seeing agriculturist and able execu- tive known beyond the confines of Sacramento Coun- ty, is Elbert F. Alderson, the general superintendent of the farms owned by Messrs. C. and L. Moreing, of Natomas Reclamation District No. 1000, the most extensive wheat-growers in the world, operating about twelve miles north of Sacramento. He was born at Hinton, W. Va., on December 18, 1889, the third in the order of birth of five children of J. W. and Mary V. (George) Alderson, of English and Scotch ances- try. J. W. Alderson was a merchant, a lumberman and a legislator of West Virginia, and he died on Feb- ruary 1, 1919, after a very active life, having won the heartfelt esteem of many as a real benefactor to his day and generation.

Elbert Alderson graduated from the Randolph- Macon Military Academy in 1905, and then entered the lumber camps of his father in Summers County, West Virginia, where for three years he acted as superintendent, thereby adding materially to his ex- perience, particularly with human nature, and gaining a thoroughly practical knowledge of handling men, especially laborers, on a large scale.

In 1913, he came to San Francisco, and soon after on to Sacramento, and entered the employ of the Moreing Bros. as purchaser of supplies, and did for them all the buying necessary of implements and pro- visions for eight farm-camps and the cultivation of from 15,000 to 27,000 acres of the land in Natomas District No. 1000. In 1918, Mr. Alderson was made general superintendent, a fine tribute to his standing with both employers and fellow-workers. The More- ings carry on wheat-growing on what is probably the most extensive scale. in the world, and Mr. Alderson may modestly, but properly, claim a share in the suc- cessful attainments by these famous ranchers, con- tributing no small part of the foresight, enterprise and experience necessary to meet all emergencies and har- vest all crops. He makes a particular effort to get and to hold the most desirable men, numbering from forty to 100, according to the season, for the various camps, of which he has full charge.

Democratic in the extreme, Mr. Alderson holds the respect of everyone, and the good-will in particular of those who work for and with him. During the World War Mr. Alderson offered his service to the defense of his native land, enlisting in Sacramento, but be- cause of failing to come up to the physical require- ments was rejected. He is a favorite member of Lodge No. 6, of the B. P. O. Elks, of Sacramento.

ERWIN A. CORUM .- An efficient and popular superintendent of construction, who has done much to help develop the resources and wealth of Sacramento County, is Erwin A. Corum, of the J. C. Carly Com- pany, who resides at 2533 Portola Way in Sacra- mento. He was born on a farm in Minnesota, on April 12, 1886, the son of William Franklin and Mary (Rosemurgy) Corum, who came out to California and Sacramento in 1911, eleven years before Mr. Corum died. Mrs. Corum, devoted wife and affectionate mother, is still living in Sacramento, and around her group many faithful friends.

Erwin A. Corum went to the public schools, in Minnesota, and then helped on the home farm until he was about thirteen years old. Mr. Corum had moved on to Colorado where he lived for seven years, and then to Tonopah, Nev., for six years. After that

he came to California, where he served an apprentice- ship as a carpenter and joiner, completing work suc- cessfully begun when he was fifteen years old, in Colorado and Nevada. In Sacramento, he worked for six months as a journeyman, and then he became su- perintendent for E. A. Pierce, carrying out various contracts in construction for five years or more. After that, he established himself in business, as a builder, and was the owner of the Cutter Mill, and ran it for one and one-half years; and on selling out, he engaged with his present employers.

Mr. Corum has built many homes in Sacramento, including the Casita Addition for the J. C. Carly Com- pany. He also drew the plans and built the houses for the Boxler tract; and he had charge of, and built the first house in West Curtis Oaks, and the South Curtis Oaks addition was also under his super- vision. His work has been distinguished for its prac- tical features and dependable artistic design, and he has helped the interests he represented.

On June 20, 1911, Mr. Corum was married to Miss Arelene Purcell of Tonopah, Nev., and they have one child, Raymond Clarence. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees; and in politics, he is an Independent. He built and owns a very attractive bungalow residence at 2533 Portola Way, and has re- cently been made a Master Mason.

ARTHUR WILLIS ELLIOTT .- An enterprising, successful business firm of Sacramento, whose opera- tions, varied and extensive, have helped to keep the fame of Sacramento as a business center before a wide-spread public, is that of Messrs. Elliott & Hus- ton, of 1010 Eighth Street, Sacramento, Cal., whose senior member is Arthur Willis Elliott, a native of Alameda County. He was born on June 18, 1881, the son of Andrew and Annie (Jones) Elliott, energetic Australians, who came from Sydney, in 1867, and settled, as farmer-folk, in the Livermore Valley. They removed to Sacramento in 1885, and since that time, in 1912, Mr. Elliott has passed away, meriting and receiving the esteem of all who knew him.

Arthur Willis Elliott attended the grammar and then the high schools of Sacramento, and later pur- sued successfully the excellent commercial courses at Heald's and Howe's Business Colleges in the capi- tal city. He was then a bookkeeper for a year with Henderson Brown Produce Company, and later book- keeper at the California Winery, for two years. After that, in 1901, he engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business, for a year with the Carmichael Com- pany, and then he was with Frank Hickman in the same field for eight years. He next joined W. L. Reed, in conducting a real estate and insurance busi- ness, and next he became the junior partner in the firm of Reed & Elliott, of 1015 Fourth Street, con- tinuing in that relation from September 1, 1907, to July 1, 1916, when he bought out Mr. Reed's inter- est, and the business was carried on under the old name.

Early in 1918, Mr. Elliott enlisted for service in behalf of his country in the World War, and he was in the executive department of the Red Cross society, and was in Winchester, England, during the war period. After the signing of the armistice was an- nounced, he remained abroad, busy liquidating for the United States government in England, France, Bel- gium and Scotland; and in January, 1920, he returned to Sacramento. Then, on March 1, 1920, Mr. Elliott

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

took into partnership E. P. Huston, and the firm since that date has been Elliott & Huston. While in the government service-when his business was successfully and faithfully conducted by trusted em- ployces, in his absence-Mr. Elliott was commissioned captain.

On April 17, 1907, and at Sacramento, Mr. Elliott was married to Miss Rita Ward, who was born near Roseville, a daughter of Robert and May Ward, who crossed the great plains by oxen in 1849, locating on the old Auburn road, four miles south of Roseville. Mrs. Ward is still living, the center of a circle of devoted friends; but Mr. Ward is dead, having in his time more than made good as a sturdy pioneer. Mr. Elliott belongs to the Sacramento Parlor of the Na- tive Sons of the Golden West, and to the Elks. In politics he is a Republican.

FRANK Z. AHL .- A very enterprising industrial establishment which has helped to extend the fame of Sacramento is that of Frank Z. Ahl, known as the Sacramento Cornice Works. Mr. Ahl, who was born in Sweden in 1879, came to Sacramento in 1903, the son of A. and G. Ahl. He had been educated in Sweden, and had learned his trade there; and when only twenty-one he came to the United States.

On reaching Sacramento, Frank Z. Ahl labored as a sheet-metal worker for seven years. Then he be- came a partner in the firm of Ahl and McLoughlin, with headquarters on J Strect. In 1916 this partner- ship was dissolved, and Mr. Ahl reestablished the business in his own name, in his own two-story build- ing, on Twenty-first, between P and Q Streets. He has been successful from the start, and employs nine men the year around; and among the fine jobs exe- cuted by him may be mentioned the sheet-metal work on the Y. M. C. A. building and the city jail and Weimar Hospital. The list of fine residences and imposing business structures put up in part by Mr. Ahl would be indeed an extended one.

In 1905, Mr. Ahl was married to Miss Anna Zack- rison, of Sacramento, a talented lady having many admiring friends; and one daughter, Elva, has been born of this fortunate union. Mr. Ahl is a thirty- second-degree Scottish Rite Mason, and he also be- longs to the Knight Templars and the Shriners. He is affiliated with the Odd Fellows Encampment. He is fond of outdoor life and especially fishing.

MARCO LUCICH .- A leader among those to whom Sacramento owes much for its excellent cater- ing is Marco Lucich, the genial and popular proprietor of the Young American Restaurant, at 1026 Fourth Street, Sacramento. He was born in Jugo-Slavia, on September 8, 1878, and in 1894, or at the age of six- teen, he came to America. He could not speak a word of English when he reached Denver, Colo., and the first work he was able to secure was the washing of dishes in a restaurant. He then became a waiter, and finally a cook.

In 1906, he came to Sacramento, remaining for a short time, and then he went to San Francisco after the big fire. In the autumn of the same year he opened a restaurant at the corner of Second and Townsend Streets. He sold out, and in 1908 came back to Sacramento. On June 15 of that year he opened the Young American Restaurant, and on the

15th of June, 1923, he celebrated his fifteenth busi- ness anniversary here.

While in Colorado, in 1902, Mr. Lucich was married to Miss Katie German, a native of Austria, by whom he has had a family of five children, bearing the names of Vincent, Mary, Lucile, Marco, Jr., and Paul. Mr. Lucich has always been public-spirited and ever ready to help along movements of benefit to the commun- ity. Starting with a very small capital, he not only owns his own home, but valuable real estate in Sacra- mento, including an apartment house on O Street; he has great faith in the future of the capital city, as is evidenced by the fact that he has invested his earnings right here.

WILLIAM ALBERT HOSKING .- Among the well-known and popular business men of Sacra- mento is William. Albert Hosking, the owner and general manager of the Peerless Ice Company, among the foremost establishments in this line in the capital city. He is one of California's native sons, born at Whiterock, Eldorado County, May 13, 1882, a son of John Griffith and Anna J. (Hopkins) Hosking. John Griffith Hosking came West and settled in the state of Nevada in an early day. Anna J. Hopkins was born in Iowa, and was married to John Griffith Hosking at Virginia City, Nev. In 1891 John G. Hosking located in Sacramento, and there engaged in the wholesale and retail fish busi- ness at the corner of Ninth and P Streets. The father is deceased, but the mother is still living in Sacramento.

William Albert Hosking began his education in the public schools of Sacramento, and finished with a business course at Heald's Business College in San Francisco. After finishing school, he entered his father's store, Ninth and P Streets, in the city of Sacramento, where he remained until he decided to try railroading, and entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. After six years with this company he took a trip to Alaska and was engaged in mining for seven years. Thrifty and industrious, he had now acquired the means to embark in business for himself, which he believed would yield him greater financial returns, and in 1909 he established the Peerless Ice Cream Com- pany at 921 K Street. In 1919 he started to build his new ice cream plant, located at 1115 G Street, which was finished the following year. He now has twenty-five delivery trucks and employs thirty-seven people to care for the steadily increasing business. His product goes south to Lodi and Calaveras County, west to Calistoga, and north as far as Weed.

The marriage of Mr. Hosking united him with Miss Teckla Marie Erickson, a native daughter of Ophir. Cal., and they are the parents of one son, John Griffith. Being of a social and genial naturc, Mr. Hosking is popular with people in all walks of life: and he is highly respected and esteemed for his high qualities of character which are manifest in his social and business relations. He is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Native Sons of the Golden West; and he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and the Del Paso Country Club, being one of the organizers and a life member of the latter organization. Dur- ing the World War, Mr. Hosking was active in all the drives of his community.

Maus Mus William aller Hocking 4 ,andson, being the Boy in the Auch .A. deasking Deey M.a. Forskning Genil Migr

Leon T. Miller Blanche R. Miller.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

EUGENE HOUGH FRYE .- A very enterprising citizen who is a native son of California is Eugene Hough Frye, who was born on the old William H. Frye ranch south of Franklin January 1, 1861. His iather, William H. Frye, was a native of Kentucky, born near Frankfort, whose parents had emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky in early days and after- wards moved to Louisiana, Mo., when William H. Frye was twelve years of age; and there he grew up and resided until he learned of the discovery of gold in California. He immediately joined the band of argonauts and in 1849 crossed the plains in an ox- team train. The first two years he followed mining at Salmon Falls on the American River; and in 1852. having bought a squatters' title, he located on a farm just south of Franklin, engaged in farming, and later purchased more land and had 640 acres in a body. He did general farming, raising fruits, grain, horses and cattle. After a very long, active and useful life he passed away January 2, 1906, aged nearly ninety-three years. The mother of our subject was Sarah (San- ford) Frye, born in New York State. She crossed the plains in 1852 with her first husband, Charles Hough, who died soon after their arrival in Sacra- mento, without issue. By her union with Mr. Frye she had five children, four of whom grew up. James died in infancy. Edward is a rancher four miles north of Franklin. Charles T. is with the Pure Milk Dis- tributors in Sacramento. Eugene is the subject of this review, and J. Henry is associated with Eugene in their farming enterprise.

Eugene Frye received a good education in the pub- lic schools. From a boy he assisted his father on the ranch and early in life learned to handle the ten-horse teams used in the grain fields, driving the header and later the combined harvester and thresher, using twenty-six horses for motive power. His father divided his holdings between his sons and Eugene came into possession of 240 acres, a part of the home ranch, which is devoted to vineyard, alfalfa and grain. He and his brother, J. Henry, operate their ranches in partnership, the places being well improved with pumping plants and the latest machinery, using both tractors and horses for motive power. The latter was born on the home place September 28, 1863, where he has spent his entire life, during which time he has been a partner of his brother. He gave the right of way to the Western Pacific Railroad.

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History of Sacramento 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, 1923, Part 111

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026