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 126

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

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CHARLES J. JOHANSON .- Among the men who, by their own effort and energy, have risen to a place of prominence and influence in the field of ranching endeavor, must be numbered Charles J. Johanson, who was born at Arvik, Vermland, Swe- den, on February 21, 1873. His father was a mill- wright and miller, who built and owned his own mill, run by water-power and grinding with the old burr process, and who became well-to-do and influential in his community. He retired at the age of fifty years, and passed on when fifty-six years old, being survived by his widow, who is now seventy years of age. Their union was blessed with ten children, five boys and five girls, but only four of them are now living, Charles J. and Gustav, who are associated to- gether in farming, being the only two in California.

Charles J. Johanson received a good education in the excellent schools for which Sweden is famous; and while he grew up he assisted his father in and about the mill, thus acquiring habits of industry and economy. At the age of sixteen years he de- cided to cast in his lot with California, and so came hither in 1889, finding employment on large grain ranches in the Franklin district. He was adept, and soon learned the methods of successful farming in the Sacramento Valley. Choosing ranching for his life occupation, he began farming on his own account in 1903, leasing lands and raising grain and beans, his operations being centered in the locality of Franklin. In time he purchased a farm and sold it, and later bought a second farm, which he also sold, each time realizing a profit.

In Sacramento, on August 20, 1904, Mr. Johanson was married to Miss Ethel Orean Stephenson, born in Sacramento, a daughter of John F. and Lillian A. (Watson) Stephenson, born in Sacramento County and Coloma, Cal., respectively, their parents having crossed the plains in pioneer days. Of their five children, Mrs. Johanson is the oldest. She was reared and educated at Franklin; and she is the owner of a part of the old John F. Stephenson ranch near Franklin; and there Mr. and Mrs. Johanson now re- side. Associated with his brother, Mr Johanson is leasing 1,500 acres of land, 250 acres being devoted to raising beans and the balance to the raising of grain. The work is done with the most modern equipment, including Holt tractors for motive power and a com- bined harvester, propelled by tractor, for gathering the grain and beans. During the war they farmed 5,000 acres, doing all they could to increase the pro- duction of breadstuffs. They also have a dairy, and are members of the Northern California Milk Pro- ducers' Association.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Johanson has been blessed with five children: Alma M. and Carl S., at- tending the Elk Grove high school; and Thelma E., Fred O., and Jack R. Mrs. Johanson is a cultured and refined woman, and presides gracefully over her husband's home. She is possessed of much native business ability, and is keenly interested in her hus- band's success, aiding him in every way to gain his ambition. Mr. Johanson is a protectionist and na- turally a strong Republican. In religious faith, he is a Lutheran. Fraternally, he was made a Mason in Elk Grove Lodge No. 173, F. & A. M .; and he is also a member of Sacramento Chapter, R. A. M., and also a thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite Mason, being a member of all the bodies of the Consistory in Sac- ramento.

Chus & Johanson Ethel O Johanson.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

CHARLES G. GROSCH .- Highly esteemed as one of the progressive and representative citizens of Sacramento County, Charles G. Grosch enjoys ex- ceptional popularity and influence among the business element in the community. He was born June 27. 1877, in Indianapolis, Ind., the son of Samuel F. and Alice (Sayers) Grosch.

Charles G. Grosch was educated in the public schools of Topeka, Kans. He learned the printing trade and also followed the coffee roasting business, in which he has become an expert. Mr. Grosch is the owner of one of the best-equipped coffee-roast- ing plants in northern California, which he purchased in May, 1922. He employs seven people and handles wholesale business only. He was united in marriage with Ella Darby. They are the parents of two chil- dren, Sam and Phoebe, and are associated with the Christian Church, of which he is an active member. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and has a wide acquaintance among the well-known citizens of the community. He is a wide-awake ac- tive man, interested in all the local affairs, and re- spected by all who know him.

JOSEPH KUENY. - Extensively interested in viticulture, Joseph Kueny is also one of the owners of the Twin City Garage at Twin City Corners, which has proved a profitable investment. A native of Shasta County, Cal., he was born at Pittville, March 23, 1884, the son of Michael and Barbara Kueny. The father, who was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, came to Missouri when a young man and in 1870 came to California and was for a short time at Sacramento. Later he went to Pittville, Shasta County, where he engaged in farming and in the butcher business. He lived to be seventy-three years old and his widow now makes her home at Sacramento. They were the parents of six children: Frank, Mary, Joseph, Emma, Richard and James.

Joseph Kucny attended the school at Pittville until he was twelve years old, and then, in 1896, he left home to make his own way. He worked at Mer- rill, Ore., for two years and then for a year at Fall River, that state. He then engaged in sheep raising in Lake and Harney Counties until 1906, when he disposed of his bands and came to Sacramento, where he engaged in the manufacture of cigars for the wholesale and retail trade until 1915, when he sold out this business and went to ranching, leasing 700 acres on Dry Creek, east of Galt, raising grain and stock. He also operated the ranch of his father-in- law, C. M. West. In 1920 Mr. Kueny embarked in the cultivation of grapes and with a partner purchased a forty-acre ranch, about half of it being in vineyard. He sold his interest in this place in 1921 and pur- chased twenty-four acres on the extension of Chero- kee Lane north of Dry Creek. This acreage is in Mission and Zinfandel grapes and has two irrigation plants. In 1922 Mr. Kneny built a garage at Twin City Corners and here he has as a partner, C. D. Van Heusen, an expert mechanic, who operates the garage, where general repair work is done and acces- sories are sold. Mr. Kneny continues to devote his time to his vineyard interests. He and Mr. Van Heusen also own five acres where the garage stands.

At Sacramento, Cal., January 22, 1910, Mr. Kueny was married to Miss Winifred West, who was born near Galt on the West ranch, her parents being C. M. and America (Baker) West, the father being a pio-

neer of Sacramento County. He has passed away, but Mrs. West still resides at Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. Kueny are the parents of two daughters, Jean and Merle, and the family have a large circle of friends in this vicinity.

WILLIAM J. GARDELL .- An enterprising mer- chant whose success in his chosen field would lead one to believe that he might also succeed well in other channels of trade, and equally well point the way for other merchants to follow, is William J. Gardell, the popular manager of the prosperous Gardell Candy Company at 319 J Street, Sacramento. He was born at St. Louis on May 10, 1874, the son of John and Madeline (Castine) Gardell; and although he has been called upon to lay to rest his beloved father, he finds it a privilege still to minister to his mother, who is living at Denver.

William Gardell attended the grammar and the high schools of Denver, and while still in his teens learned the candy-making trade, first at Denver, then worked in Spokane and Portland, and finally at Oakland. On October 1, 1914, he came to Sacramento and engaged for his services with the Sutter Candy Company, and within a single year he was able to establish the Gar- dell Candy Company, according to his own ideals and under his own personal direction. He has done well, and in the busy season he employs twenty people. He is grateful to Sacramento, and is an enthusiastic mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce. He specializes on Gardell's Chocolates, which he ships everywhere.

Mrs. Gardell was Miss Letha Cathcart before her marriage, and she brought with her to California some of the extolled virtues of the housewives of Kansas, her native state. One daughter, Violet, now Mrs. Cecil Oats, has blessed this union. Mr. Gardell be- longs to the Elks, and to the Lions Club. He is fond of hunting and fishing. In politics, he is above narrow partisanship and on the lookout for the best men and the best measures.

WALTER W. CASE .- Among the prominent and well-known business men of Sacramento is Walter W. Case, the president and owner of the Richardson- Case Paper Co., whose business has steadily grown in extent and importance through the passing years until he is one of the successful and influential citi- zens of the capital city. His birth occurred in Jack- son, Mich., May 28, 1882, and he is the son of How- ard H. and Anna (Nichols) Case. Howard H. Case brought his family to California when their son Walter WV. was a small child; both parents are living and re- side in Alameda, Cal., where Howard H. Case is em- ployed by the A. Schilling Company.

Walter W. Case received his education in the public schools. He was brought up to keep busy; so his spare hours out of school were spent in selling news- papers. After finishing high school, he returned to his native state and entered a printing office in Detroit, where he worked for the following six years. In 1902 he returned to California and took a position with the Bonestell-Richardson Paper Company, remaining with them for five years. Then he was put in charge of a department with the Blake, Moffitt & Towne Paper Company, which he efficiently managed three years. In 1910, in partnership with Charles A. Rich- ardson, his former employer, he organized the present company known as the Richardson-Case Paper Co .; since the death of Mr. Richardson in 1918, Mr. Case

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

hias purchased his interest and is now sole owner of the business.

Mr. Case's marriage united him with Miss Grace Matthews, born in Salinas, Cal .; and they have one daughter, Carmelita. Mr. Case's fraternal relations are with the B. P. O. Elks, and he belongs to the Sutter and Del Paso Country Clubs. He is a Re- publican in politics.

HAROLD HUGH ROBINSON .- Already cmi- nent in the financial world of northern California. Harold Hugh Robinson, the well-known and popular cashier of the Merchants National Bank of Sacra- mento, exerts an enviable influence for sane develop- ment and steady progress. He was born in Stockton, on December 10, 1890, and his father was Hugh W. Robinson, a business man of Sacramento, in which city the family had settled twenty-six years ago. He married Miss Adelheid Hill, the devoted mother of our subject, who favored his grammar and high school training, and inspired him to study law, first having him become a law stenographer. Finance and not legal lore, however, was destined to attract him. He began with the Fort Sutter National Bank as a col- lector, and gradually advanced through the various departments, until he was made first assistant cashier. J. H. Stephens was vice-president of the Fort Sutter National Bank, and on January 3, 1921, they organ- ized this later institution, opening it formally on that day. On November 28, 1921, they commenced their own bank building, and now they have one of the handsomest bank-homes in the city.

At Sacramento, on June 16, 1915, Mr. Robinson and Miss Grace Green became man and wife; and now Harold H. Robinson, Jr., makes the third mem- ber of the happy family circle. Mr. Robinson belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, and he participates in the life of the community through many other or- ganized channels, and is a stanch Republican. He is also a Knight Templar and a Shriner.

CARLETON LEONARD KATZENSTEIN .- Prominent among the most representative business firms of Sacramento, Messrs. C. L. Katzenstein & Company, insurance brokers, with offices at 6181/2 J Street, enjoy an influence always exerted in favor of progress, and well directed through the experienced senior member, Carleton Leonard Katzenstein, a na- tive of Sacramento, he having been born here on Sep- tember 12, 1890. His father was George B. Katzen- stein, who had come to Sacramento as early as 1866, having married Miss Ida M. Richards. Now she is enjoying the fruits of long years of ardnous labor, but Mr. Katzenstein passed away in 1909.

Carleton Katzenstein attended the Sacramento grammar and high schools, and then matriculated at the University of California; but owing to impaired health, he was forced to abandon his studies there. At the end of a year and one-half, having recuperated, he joined F. S. Peck, as his collector. He afterwards solicited insurance Ior Mr. Peck, and a year later the business of the F. S. Peck Insurance Agency was in- corporated, and he acted as its secretary until January 1, 1921, when the incorporation was dissolved, and the co-partnership of C. L. Katzenstein & Company was formed. He was secretary of the Progressive Busi- ness Club of Sacramento, now the Exchange Club of America.

In October, 1911, Mr. Katzenstein was married to Miss Ethel Mampel, of Orangevale, who shares with

her husband the pleasure of his work as secretary of the Sutter Fort Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West. He has also been a member for many years of the McNeill Club, a men's chorus. He is fond of baseball, and alive to all the other opportuni- ties in Sacramento County for outdoor sport, and neglects no opportunity to foster health-giving pas- times for the public generally.

HERBERT KING .- Sacramento County boasts of some of the most successful of California's vineyard- ists, prominent among whom is Herbert King, of the Don Ray Colony, to the southeast of Dillard Station. He is a native of the Dominion of Canada, and was born at Quebec, on November 21, 1854, the son of Samuel and Hannah King. His father was a chemist, and lived to be sixty-seven years of age; while his mother, who passed away at Quebec in 1920, was 107 years old at the time of her death. Both were highly esteemed by a wide circle of acquaintances, and each of their five children have reflected credit upon them. Ainsworth is the oldest; then come Henry, Emily and Alice; and our subject is the youngest.

Herbert King attended school in Canada, and at the age of sixteen commenced to teach in a Canadian grammar school, continuing in pedagogical work until he was of age, and abandoning that interesting field of activity only when his health began to fail. As a result of this set-back, he went to work in the timber- lands in Canada, including Manitoba, and also in Michigan and Wisconsin, where he put in some of the hardest of labor. At Manitoba, on June 29, 1878, he was married to Miss Adeline Rousseau, a native of Quebec, and the daughter of John and Emerentiene Rousseau, of French-Canadian descent. Her father was a farmer, and provided for his eight children in the comfortable style of the farmer-folk of that country and period. These children were John, Philiomene, Joseph, Batiste, Sarah, Francis, Adeline (now Mrs. King), and Soloman. Adeline Rousseau was educated in Quebec and grew up to be a gifted, attractive woman. Mr. and Mrs. King lived in Manitoba, where Mr. King worked hard at farming and lumbering, until his good wife died, in 1898; then, feeling that he could not longer endure life amid an environment constantly reminding him of the happy days he and his faithful companion had spent there together, he turned the ranch over to his sons, and came to the United States.

On coming to this country, Mr. King first went to St. Paul, Minn., and afterwards resided for a few months in Carbon County, Mont. He spent about one year at Seattle, Wash., and after that settled in California, landing there the day the American troops returned to San Francisco from their service in the Spanish-American War. He worked in the War De- partment of the United States Government at San Francisco for a year, and then went to Merced, where he spent the following winter. Returning to San Francisco, he remained there for a few months, and then came to his present place of abode in 1903. He purchased ten acres of land in the Don Ray Colony, devoted to Mission grapes, and here he has been busy ever since.

At Sacramento, in 1908, Mr. King took out his citizenship papers, and he has since exercised the franchise independently, and in the interest of the general welfare. He is doing good work as secretary of the Farm Bureau of his vicinity, and is president of the Don Ray Colony Central Improvement Club.

Herbert Bing

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

He is custodian of the Branch Library, and has been a director of the County Farm Bureau since 1920. He and his faithful wife were blessed with nine chil- dren. Harold is on the old home ranch in Canada; Clara, Edith, Mabel, Bessie and Alfred are next in order of birth; while Percy and Lilly are the youngest. Hector, the seventh-born, was mortally wounded in the Battle of Vimy Hill, France, while he was fighting with the Canadian troops; he had the distinction of being in the first contingent sent into the World War. There are fifteen grandchildren in the family circle.

CAPT. BERNARD JOSEPH DOLAN .- As one of the men who have followed the fortunes of river transportation we find none better known or more efficient than Captain Bernard Joseph Dolan, a native son born in Colusa County, July 24, 1889. His par- ents were Peter F. and Nellie (Sullivan) Dolan, the former an early settler of the seventies in that county, and it was there 'the wife and mother died. Later the father moved to Butte City and there he passed his last days.

Our subject attended the local public schools and when he was eighteen years of age he became an apprentice pilot on the river steamer Red Bluff, Cap- tain T. A. Ryan. master. After three years in this service he was made a pilot, operating between Sac- ramento and Red Bluff. After a year as a pilot, he successfully passed the examination and received his papers as master; since then he has been on the run to San Francisco from the capital city. In all the years he has seen service he has been in the employ of the Sacramento Transportation Company, now having few older in point of service ahead of him.

On November 16, 1913, at Sacramento, Captain Dolan was united in marriage with Miss Rita Mc- Isaac, born in this county. He is a member of the Sacramento Lodge of Elks and of Sacramento Parlor No. 3, N. S. G. W., and of the Masters' Association, Harbor No. 40, in San Francisco. Captain Dolan has an ever widening circle of friends and he is ready to assist all projects for the good of his home city.

REGINALD GEORGE CLIFFORD .- A well- trained engineer, whose experience has developed in him to a high degree an invaluable executive ability, is Reginald George Clifford, the chief engineer of the Natomas Company at Sacramento. He is a native of England, but is also an enthusiastic American, willing to assume all of his share of obligation, as well as to enjoy the advantages incidental to American citizen- ship. He first saw the light at London on March 25, 1882, the son of George F. and Josephine (Gilmore) Clifford, and came with his family to the United States in 1886. His parents were of the sturdy, pro- gressive sort, and when his father passed away, he was lamented by all who knew him. The devoted mother now resides at San Francisco.

Reginald George Clifford went to both the grammar and the high schools, and then entered the Univer- sity of California for further preparation, graduating in 1905, when he received the B. S. degree. He spent six years with the Western Pacific Railroad, starting in on first location parties, and remained with them until the Feather River course was completed. Then he was a year with the Great Western Power Com- pany, making investigations for power plants, near Lake Almanor. After that, he was for three years with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, where he

designed, and as engineer supervised the Spaulding Dam; and in 1914 he joined the Natomas Company, and he has been its engineer ever since. He belongs to the Sutter Club and also to the Exchange Club.

Mr. Clifford has made a specialty of irrigation prob- lems, and is therefore deeply interested in the de- velopment of Sacramento County. He organized and served as president of the Valley Construction Com- pany, and has been very active as a consulting en- gineer for large irrigation promoters in the Sutter Basin, and also in District 2047, and the Colusa Basin. He is now the engineer for the Association of Recla- mation Districts, and has been instrumental, with those in the same undertaking, in keeping down the rates for the farmer as low as possible.

At San Rafael, in 1907, Mr. Clifford was married to Miss Edna E. Sides, a native daughter of San Fran- cisco; and they have three children, Elizabeth, George and Frederick. Mr. Clifford is a Mason.

CLIFFORD ALBERT RUSSELL .- A rising and promising attorney of northern California in whom the people of Sacramento County in particular feel a natural pride, is Clifford Albert Russell, with offices in the Capital National Bank Building. He was born in Sacramento, on October 2, 1891, the son of William B. and Mary (Donahue) Russell. He attended the public schools of his locality, and was then graduated from St. Mary's College at Oakland, and in 1914 he finished successfully the excellent courses of the University of California with the LL. B. degree. He had passed a year to great advantage in the metropolis of the Pacific, and in the year of his graduation from the University, he returned to Sacramento.

He was for years a Democrat, and in February, 1917, he was appointed to the office of deputy district attorney, which he so satisfactorily filled until Jann- ary, 1923, when he opened his private practice. Being public-spirited, he naturally contributes in every way possible to the advancement of both the city and county of Sacramento. He is a member of the Na- tive Sons of the Golden West, and the Eagles; and he was properly active on all the bond drives during the war.

At Oakland, on April 3, 1916, Mr. Russell was mar- ried to Miss Frieda Jerichan, like himself a Roman Catholic. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, in which he has taken the fourth degree, and to the Young Men's Institute, in which he is a past grand president of the Pacific jurisdiction, and he is also an Elk. Two children brighten the home life of Mr. and Mrs. Russell, and they bear the names, Elizabeth Anne and Clifford A., Jr.

STERLING P. FORREST, JR .- The security and future growth of any community depend in a large measure upon the quality of its business institutions, the character of the men who control them and the nature of the policies under which they are managed. An important business concern of Sacramento is owned and operated by Sterling P. Forrest, Jr., dealer in automobiles, whose place of business is lo- cated at 1212-14 K Street. The name of Sterling P. Forrest, Jr., is a familiar one in business circles where he is well known and esteemed. His birth occurred in Oakland, Cal., December 4, 1886, his parents being Sterling P. and May Belle (Ferguson) Forrest. The father of our subject came to California in 1880 and was here married to Miss Ferguson. The education

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

of Mr. Forrest was obtained in the grammar and high schools of Oakland and at the age of sixteen he became an office boy for the Waterhouse & Lester Company of San Francisco, where he was steadily advanced until he held the position of secretary and treasurer for the company. In September, 1917, he removed to Sacramento and in partnership with Leslie 1`. Rice, formed a partnership for the handling of the Hupmobile for Sacramento County and the agency for the Velie for Sacramento, Eldorado and Placer Counties; this partnership continued until June, 1921, when Mr. Forrest succeeded to the business, and now he handles the Hupmobile and the Packard for Sacra- mento County. In 1923 a building was erected for the exclusive use of Mr. Forrest, which is modern in every respect, consisting of fine display rooms, offices, service department and painting and repair shop.

During the World War, Mr. Forrest was active in all war-work drives. He gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Knights Templar and Shrine of Sacramento; he is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and Lions, Sutter and Del Paso Coun- try clubs. In February, 1921, he married Miss Mattye M. Hippeli, born in Solano County. He is a man of progressive public spirit, interested in the welfare of the city and anxious to do his part in promoting it.

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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 126

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