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 131

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

USA > California > Sacramento County > 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 131

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He married Miss Frances Coughlin, in April, 1914, who first saw the light at Grass Valley, and with her he did his part in Red Cross support and the war drives. They have one daughter, Barbara Jane. He is a Republican, but also a good, non-partisan booster for many things local. He is a thirty-second- degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner, and is also a member of the Sutter Club.

C. T. BLAKE .- For the past thirty-two years, C. T. Blake has resided in California and through his progressive business methods has directly influenced the general development of the locality in which he has made his home. His birth occurred in Iowa, July 28, 1863, and he is a son of James and Jane (Talbert) Blake. The education of C. T. Blake was obtained in the public schools and the practical school of expe- rience. He removed to California in 1891 and for four years was an engineer with the Southern Pacific Rail- road Company, after which he was harbor-master, having charge of the city wharf at Sacramento for two years. In 1917 he established the company known as the Independent Milk Company. He has built a modern plant and equipped it with the most up-to-date machinery; he specializes in a chicken feed

of his own discovery and there is such a demand for it that his plant is constantly busy. Mr. Blake also makes a health drink, known as Lacto, which is being widely sold throughout the state of California. Mr. Blake disposed of his business to his son, Irva James Blake, because he wished to devote all his time to prospecting for oil in the Napa Valley. He was the original finder of the location which the Napa Oil and Gas Company are developing. He is a director in this company.

Mr. Blake's marriage united him with Miss Anna Walser and they have four children, Arthur, Irva, J. E. and C. T., Jr. Fraternally Mr. Blake is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows, and in politics votes the Republican ticket.

PITT B. RACKLIFFE .- Sacramento need never fcar that it will cease to be one of the most desirable of all residential towns in California, so long as such enterprising and accommodating merchants as Pitt B. Rackliffe, the popular grocer of 3001 Franklin Boule- vard, have charge of the catering to domestic wants. He knows the many ins and outs of his line of trade; and he works upon the theory that if he places his experience at the disposal of his patrons, they will be so well satisfied that their patronage will steadily in- crease.

A native of the state of Maine from which so many valued citizens have come, Pitt Rackliffe was born on a farm on July 28, 1876, the son of Benjamin and Laura Rackliffe, who came out to Sacramento County, lived lives of comparative comfort, and passed away, rounding out a record for usefulness and the esteem of mankind. Pitt Rackliffe attended the local public grammar school, and then went to Hampden Acad- emy at Hampden, Maine, and by 1894 he had come to Sacramento. For a while, he worked in a retail gro- cery, and then he busied himself as a commercial traveler for several years. He increased his knowl- edge of trade, added much to his geographical range, and in 1911 he engaged in business for himself at his present location. He erected his fine building, and since then has been more than successful. Carrying a large line of the very best commodities obtainable, and being satisfied to handle these at always a reason- able profit, Mr. Rackliffe has won where others have lost, because of his personal and real interest in his patrons, and because of his willingness and his desire, at all times, to serve.

When Mr. Rackliffe bought his property in Curtis Oaks subdivision there were only a few houses be- tween his place and the river. He put up the first business block, which was then outside of the city limits, later erected a garage, drug store, barber shop and meat market and sought renters for these estab- lishments who would render service to people who settled in the locality. He met with many discourage- ments and had an up-hill pull for several years, but he is now reaping the reward for his foresight and pioneer work. He is now situated in the center of one of the best residential districts in the city and he has put in over $2,600 in street improvement alone about his own property. In all his business dealings he has sought to satisfy his large and growing trade.

In 1905, Mr. Rackliffe was married to Miss Laura Pippin, an accomplished Eastern lady, who enjoys with him the social life in Masonic circles, he being a Mason. He is fond of out-door sports, and has a fine hunting lodge in Eldorado County. He belongs to the

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Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants' Association and the Lions Club. In politics, he is Republican.

ELKEN J. PLATO .- An efficient official of the well-governed municipality of Sacramento who secms to enjoy exceptional popularity, doubtless dne in part to his agreeable relations with many people of vari- ous stations and occupations in life, is Elken J. Plato, the city purchasing agent, who is a native son, and has always been in such close touch with things Cali- fornian that he thoroughly understands the ideals and the spirit of the Golden State. He was born at San Francisco, on February 9, 1890, the son of Joseph Frank and Mildred ( Isaacs) Plato, the latter also a native of the bay city. His father was born at Buf- falo, N. Y., and came to California first about 1865, and he and Miss Isaacs were married at San Fran- cisco, where both are now comfortably living.

Elken J. Plato included the courses of the high school in the public school curricula he enjoyed, and then worked as a clerk in the Anglo-California Bank, now the Anglo London & Paris Bank. After four years' service there, in which he won recognition for both ability and fidelity. in 1911 he joined the Nato- mas Company of California, and remained with them until 1922, starting as first assistant to the time-keeper. and working his way up through various positions until, in 1914, he was in the purchasing agent's de- partment, where he spent two years. Then he joined the United States Army, was assigned to the 85th Aero Squadron, and saw several months of service in the actual war zones, in England and France. On June 12, 1922, he was appointed to the position of responsibility which he now fills with such ability and satisfaction to all concerned.

Mr. Plato was married, in 1920, to Miss Helen K. Briggs, the daughter of C. M. Briggs, who long had charge of the Western Pacific Railroad shops at Stockton. They have two children, a son named Roy Templar, and a daughter named Joan. Mr. Plato is a member of Sunset Parlor, N. S. G. W., and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. In politics, he is an independent.

WILLIAM LAURANCE SWANNELL .- In a business where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability, William Laurance Swan- nell has made rapid and continuous progress, being today one of the most successful restaurateurs in the city of Sacramento, and the proprietor of Swannell's Cafeteria, which enjoys a large patronage. His birth occurred at Kankakee, Ill., on May 9, 1891, a son of Arthur and Florence (Meisner) Swannell. The father of our subject was, for many years, engaged in the dry goods business, but is now living retired, and the mother is also living.

William Laurance Swannell obtained his elementary education in the grammar school at Kankakee, then entered high school and from there went to the Uni- versity of Illinois, where he matriculated in the en- gincering course. For two years after his graduation he worked as a gas engineer, and in 1915 removed to Los Angeles, Cal., but remained only a short time: then he came to Sacramento and in partnership with his father-in-law, F. A Parker, formed the Quaker Cafeteria, which was incorporated in October, 1915. Some time later, on February 16, 1916, the company

erected their own building and formed the present company with Mr. Swannell as president. At the be- ginning of the World War, Mr. Swannell enlisted in the radio service and was sent to Corvallis, Ore., where he was one of the instructors in the radio school; then he was sent to an officers' training school, but unfortunately was discharged just three weeks prior to receiving a commission. While in the service the cafeteria was conducted by his partners, and upon his return to civilian life he purchased Mr. Parker's interest and the name of the company was changed to the Swannell Cafeteria.

Mr. Swannell's marriage united him with Miss Grace Parker, a daughter of F. A. Parker. Mrs. Swannell was born in New York, but most of her life has been spent in California. Her father passed away November 9, 1918. Three daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swannell, Betty Jane, Edith Grace, and Alice Mae. Mr. Swannell supports the Repub- lican party's policies. Fraternally, he is a thirty-sec- ond-degree Scottish Rite Mason, and also belongs to the B. P. O. Elks of Sacramento. He is an active member of the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Com- merce and the Sutter Lawn Tennis Club.

GEORGE DEMING HUDNUTT .- Prominent among the most experienced, progressive and success- ful builders in Sacramento County is George Deming Hudnutt, of Sacramento, who resides at 2031 T Street, and maintains his offices and business headquarters at 211 California Fruit Building. He was born at Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Mich., on July 17, 1879, the son of Calvin G. and Lois Ann (Deming) Hudnutt, both of whom are now deceased, estimable people of colonial and pre-revolutionary stock of the old school who believed in so living that the world would be the better for their having been in it. They favored edu- cation, and so George Hudnutt was encouraged to finish the grammar school work and after that to go through the high school. This taste of intellectual activity and growth led him next to go to the Univer- sity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was duly graduated with the class of '01, when he received the B. S. degree for proficiency in mechanical en- gineering; and after that he was one of the valued men, with a thorough technical knowledge, in the em- ploy of the Studebakers at South Bend, Ind., and the equally celebrated Otis Elevator Company, at Yon- kers-on-the-Hudson, Chicago and New York City; builders, it will be recalled, of the inclining elevators running on the groove of the Eiffel Tower, at the Paris Exposition, when other noted elevator-makers throughout the world had declared that it could not be done. After that, Mr. Hudnutt engaged in build- ing with the Ransome-Smith Company of New York, and for the first time, in 1907, came out to California.

Mr. Hudnutt established himself in San Francisco and Oakland with the Ransome Concrete Company, and in 1911 moved inland to Sacramento, to enter the service of the same company. In December, 1914, he decided to set up in business for himself, and with the Ransome Concrete Company, he built the California Fruit Building and other structures, which include the following: the Physicians Building at Tenth and K Streets; the Capital Van and Storage warehouse at Twenty-first and R Streets; the W. I. Elliott Com- pany building at Sixteenth and J Streets; the Green- wald building on Eighth Street between I and J Streets; the Remick-Haley building, on the corner of

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Twelfth and K Streets; and the Isadore F. Morris building on K Street between Ninth and Tenth Streets. He also built the "Fresno Bee" building at Fresno, Cal. Mr. Hudnutt specializes in the construc- tion of commercial buildings.

Upon the request of the board of education of the city of Sacramento, an architectural and engineering commission was duly incorporated for the purpose of building the necessary buildings for the elementary schools for the city of Sacramento. In consequence of this incorporation, the following members were se- lected to act in the commission: E. C. Hemmings and J. C. Peterson as architects, and George D. Hudnutt as engineer. Twelve buildings were constructed, as follows: the Elmhurst, El Dorado, Fremont, Newton Booth, Donner, Jefferson, David Lubin, Sierra, Bret Harte, Mckinley, Marshall, and Leland Stanford school buildings. The said twelve school buildings were all built under the $2,300,000 bond issue of 1918.

At Roanoke, Va., on June 28, 1905, Mr. Hudnutt was married, to Miss Madge L. Duerson, a native of Vir- ginia, and the daughter of Dr. H. O. and Adelaide (Coleman) Duerson; and their fortunate union has been blessed with a daughter, Marcia, and a son, George, Jr. When in college Mr. Hudnutt joined the Sigma Chi; and on coming to Sacramento, he became a member of the Sutter and the Country Clubs, as he is fond of golf. He joined the Chamber of Commerce and came to serve as one of its directors; and while demonstrating his public spirit in many ways, he took an active part in all of the war drives He believes in the platforms of the Republican party.

HENRY WILLIAM BARTELL .- An enterpris- ing orchardist and vineyardist, whose valuable experi- ence has been a means of his rendering a real service to the cause of California agriculture, thus helping others besides himself, is Henry William Bartell, of Perkins, a native of the state of Kansas, from which have come so many men prominent in the nation. He was born on a farm, on May 4, 1888, and his par- ents were Augustus and Julian (Loux) Bartell, who came out to Oregon in 1889, and settled at Portland. Mr. Bartell has already closed his earthly career, leav- ing an excellent record; but Mrs. Bartell is still living, the center of a group of appreciative friends.

Henry William Bartell made his way with credit through both the grammar and the high schools, from which he was graduated in 1907, and then he went to the University of Oregon, was alive to his advantages there, and in due time received from that representa- tive institution of higher learning the coveted E. E. degree, representing also postgraduate work. In 1912, he joined the California Highway Commission, and was with it till 1920. Now, Mr. Bartell has 230 acres of the old R. D. Stephens ranch to take care of, and he employs fifty people in the busy season. He does his own packing, and ships in his own cars. He belongs to the American Association of Engineers, and his professional experience assists him in his ranch- work, to which he is devoted. In 1918 Mr. Bartell enlisted in the World War ranks and was assigned to the officers' training camp, at Camp A. A. Humph- reys in Virginia, and he spent three months with the engineering corps before the armistice was signed.

On April 28, 1917, Mr. Bartell and Miss Estill Stephens were married, the lady being a daughter of R. D. Stephens; and they have two children, Stephen

Day and Marian Kathryn, In fraternal affairs, Mr. Bartell is a Mason of the third degree; in the matter of recreation, he is a devotee of athletics.

ERNEST CARITHERS,-An excellent example of how the right kind of a man may always hope to succeed in the capital city, is afforded by Ernest Carithers, proprietor of the popular Carithers Sign Company, whose headquarters at 707 California Strect are busy from morning till night. Born at Perrys- ville. Ind., on December 18, 1890, he is the son of Wil- liam and Agnes (Jones) Carithers, both of whom, highly esteemed for their years of pioneering, arc still living to enjoy the wonderful developments in the Golden State.

Ernest Carithers passed all the requirements of the grammar and high schools of his native district, and then matriculated at the state normal school at Terre Haute, Ind. Next he learned the sign painter's trade; and that technical line he has since followed. He specializes in commercial signs, and with such success that he is able to keep five men busy the year round, and many more in the busiest season, his orders com- ing from the entire northern section of the county.

Mr. Carithers came to Sacramento in 1914, the year memorable as the beginning of the World War; and for a while he was superintendent for W. H. Funk; but on July 1, 1921, he bought out the com- mercial department of his business; and knowing just what the public wants, and how to meet the demands, he has been very successful. He belongs to the Sac- ramento Chamber of Commerce and to the Rotary Club.

Mr. Carithers' marriage took place at Woodland, Cal., in 1916, when he and Miss Evlyn Patterson of Los Angeles were made man and wife. He is a thirty- second-degree Scottish Rite Mason.

JOSEPH F. MILLER .- For the past thirty years Joseph F. Miller has conducted large general farming interests near Ryde, in the Sacramento Valley. He was born on the island of Pico, Azores, a son of An- tone and Isabelle Miller, both natives of the same country. Antone Miller was a farmer by occupation and lived and died on the Isle of Pico At fifteen years of age Joseph F. Miller left his native country and came to California, settling at San Pablo, where he worked for wages; in 1886 he located in the delta country on the Sacramento River and leased ranches in the vicinity of Ryde and Walnut Grove. Thirty years ago he purchased 120 acres of land at Rydc. which he improved with a house, and set out an or- chard; subsequently he added to his original purchase until he now owns 165 acres which is devoted to fruit, asparagus and general farming.

At Sacramento, in 1890, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Ella Cordoza, a native of the capital city and a daughter of John and Ellen H. English. Her father was a pioneer of Sacramento County, but died when Ella was two years old, and subsequently her mother was married again to Domingo Cordoza, and Ella English took the name of Cordoza and was reared on the Cordoza ranch south of Ryde. She now owns the old Cordoza ranch of forty-five acres, which is de- voted to general farming. Mr. Cordoza dicd here in 1900 and the mother died here in 1910. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller: Joseph; Ada- line, Mrs. Polk McAdam: Mamie; Tony; Laura; and George, Mr. Miller is a member of the I. D. E. S. of

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Rio Vista and serves as a trustee of the Beaver union grammar school district. In politics he is a Repub- lican. In 1917 Mr. Miller built a twenty-four-room hotel in Ryde, which he leases.

WILLIAM E. BRISTOL .- Among the young business men of promise who are helping to build up a permanent prosperity for Sacramento, none are held in higher esteem, nor have any brighter prospects, than William E. Bristol, secretary-manager of the Carly-Bristol Company, at 823 J Street, real estate and insurance brokers. His birth occurred in West Webster, N. Y., March 12, 1891, a son of Irving B. and Etta (Robinson) Bristol. The family came to California in 1907 and located in Santa Cruz, where Irving B. Bristol is pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church and where the parents of our sub- ject reside.

William E. Bristol received a grammar and high school education and his first venture in the business world was as an electrical plater in Fresno, in 1907, where he received three dollars per week for his ser- vices; on his twenty-first birthday he received $500 from his father, which he invested in a grocery busi- ness in San Francisco, under the name of the United Pure Food Company, of which he was vice-president. From a small beginning this business expanded until they owned and operated eleven stores throughout the city; then reverses came and everything was lost. Mr. Bristol then went into the insurance business, which he followed from 1912 to 1917, in San Fran- cisco, when he became identified with the J. C. Carly Company of Sacramento, as assistant in the insurance department; after six months' service he was made manager of the insurance department, a position he occupied for two years, when he became a director in the company and office manager; in 1921 he purchased stock in the company and was elected to the position of secretary. Since August 1, 1922, Mr Bristol has been operating under the name of Carly-Bristol Com- pany, specializing in insurance, real estate loans, and rentals and leasing.

The marriage of Mr. Bristol united him with Miss Mary Edith Hanner, a native of Iowa, and they have one son, William Irving, and a daughter, Barbara Eleanor. Mr. Bristol is a Republican in politics and fraternally is a thirty-second-degree Mason and also a member of the Shrine and the Sciots of Sacramento; and he is chairman of the program and attendance committee of the Exchange Club.

ELIC L. CLARK .- A contractor who thoroughly knows the various details of the cement trade, is Elic L. Clark, a native Oregonian, who was born on a farm on February 23, 1870, the son of John Calvin and Pauline (Dillon) Clark, worthy folks who did their part, when pioneers, to help develop the great North- west. Mr. Clark died when our subject was a babe; and one result was that the boy did not have as much leisure when young, but had to start early to make his way in the world. He was able to attend only the rural schools, and had to content himself with com- pleting his education in the great and exacting school of experience.

Turning to the opportunity nearest him, Elic L. Clark went into the timber and helped get out lumber materials and wood; and he also took up farming. In 1904, he came down to Sacramento and commenced twelve years of contracting; and after that he put in four years on his ranch. Whatever he did, he did

thoroughly; and when he had finished one period of his activity, he was ready for the next. He was espe- cially alive to the study of Californian conditions; and part of his success may be attributed to his under- standing of the problems he has to contend with, and to his being able to foresee difficulties, and to avoid them. His evident desire to give satisfaction to patrons has contributed to his getting more and more to do.

In 1922, Mr. Clark reengaged in contracting, making cement work his specialty; and he is so equipped by experience and apparatus, that he is able to undertake anything required in the cement line. He employs not fewer than three men, and his yearly accomplish- ment makes a very fair showing. He cooperates with the Builders' Exchange.

Mr. Clark was married to Miss Helga Carlson, on December 6, 1917, and they have raised two children by a former marriage, Thomas and Clarence. By the marriage of Clarence, one grandchild, T. E. Clark, has come to gladden the family circle.

RUSSELL R. SOBEY .- The grandson of one of California's pioneer residents, Russell R. Sobey is well established in his native state as the proprietor of the Midway Garage and authorized Ford agent at Galt. He was born at Byron, Contra Costa County, October 22, 1894, the son of John H. and Lillian J. (Plumley) Sobey, the father also being a native of Contra Costa County, born near Byron, February 10, 1874. His parents, John H. and Mary Sobey, were natives of Cornwall, England, and they came to California in 1871; here Grandfather Sobey farmed until he met a premature death through an accident when only thirty-eight years old. Mrs. Mary Sobey is still living at Berkeley and was the mother of three sons: Arthur L. is a dentist at Berkeley; Herbert was drowned the same year his father was killed; John H. is the father of our subject.

John H. Sobey had but little opportunity for an education, getting most of it through his own efforts. When eighteen years old he started out for him- self, going to Turlock, where he became agent for the Southern Pacific; and in 1901 he came to Galt, and has since been local agent for the railroad com- pany. At Byron he was married to Miss Lillian J. Plumley, a native of Byron and one of twelve chil- dren born to Alonzo and Julia Plumley. Her father was one of the first settlers at Byron, where, he was an extensive rancher and stockman. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Sobey have two children: Russell R. of this sketch, and Darrell H. Mr. Sobey is the owner of a small ranch near Galt and is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.

Russell R. Sobey first attended the grammar school at Byron and at Galt, and for two years went to the Lodi high school, finishing his course at the new union high school at Galt. With a natural bent to- ward mechanics, he took up automobile repair work in 1913 in garages at Galt, and in 1915 he became proprietor of the Midway Garage, where he is en- gaged in general auto repair work and in the sale of auto accessories and tires. He is meeting with splen- did success and is a leader among the young business men of Galt. He belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West and Knights of Pythias, and is a Demo- crat in politics.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

OSCAR H. MILLER .- Prominently connected with important business interests in Sacramento, Oscar H. Miller, as manager and part owner of the Knox Lumber Company, has long been identified with the upbuilding and progress of the capital city of California. Laudable ambition, well directed en- ergy and perseverance have brought to him a sub- stantial measure of prosperity. Oscar H. Miller is a native son of California, born in Sacramento July 14, 1868, a son of P. A. and Johannah (Johnson) Miller. The parents were married in Galesburg, 111., and came to the Golden State in 1862 and 1865 res- pectively. P. A. Miller was a building and street contractor and is now deceased, while the mother is still living in Sacramento. Oscar H. Miller attended grammar and high school and then took a course in a business college of his native city. At the age of eighteen he became connected with the Knox Lumber Company and was steadily advanced until he became manager; in 1918 he purchased an interest in the business and the volume of business is steadily in- creasing under his efficient management.

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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 131

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