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 140

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

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in San Francisco; and he bought Mr. Dolan's Sacra- mento business in 1922. He specializes in new build- ing materials, and under his efficient management, the business is proving a decided success. He has recent- ly moved into his new building, which he himself built in 1923, on the Twelfth Street Road in Sacramento

At San Francisco, on September 3, 1919, James Jo- seph O'Connor was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Fuller, of San Francisco, a native daughter of the Golden State. They are the parents of one child. Elenore. Mr. O'Connor prefers the platform of the Republican party, and is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and the B. P. O. Elks of Sacra- mento Lodge No. 6. While Mr. O'Connor established a good business, it was not his success alone that won for him the respect and friendship of his fellow-men. but his high character and his exemplification of hon- orable principles. He is deeply interested in Sacra- mento County, and is an enthusiastic supporter of all the endeavors of his community.

JOY F. WANAMAKER .- Among Sacramento County's progressive young business men is num- bered Joy F. Wanamaker, who as secretary of the North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce has done much to aid in the development of this new and thriv- ing town. Mr. Wanamaker was born near Fort Scott. Kans., on April 28, 1896, the son of Newton P. and Alice E. (Finnicum) Wanamaker. The father passed away in 1898, and in 1909 Joy Wanamaker and his mother came to California, arriving in Sacramento in November of that year. Mrs. Wanamaker purchased a home, and continued to live there until 1918, when she bought a residence in North Sacramento, which she occupied until her death on March 30, 1920.

After his graduation from the grammar schools of Sacramento, in 1912, Joy F. Wanamaker entered the employ of the Natomas Company as junior clerk in the auditing department and was with them until 1914. when he accepted a position with the Wells Fargo Express Company at the Southern Pacific station at Sacramento, continuing there for two and a half years. During the World War he was in training at Reno, Nev., with the S. A. T. C. Previous to going to Reno he had taken the civil service examination, and he en- tered the employ of the post-office at Sacramento, where he remained until 1921. Seeing the opportunity presented in the newly subdivided tract of land, now North Sacramento, Mr. Wanamaker decided to locate there, and disposing of the residence which he and his mother had purchased there, he bought a lot in a splendid location on the main business thoroughfare. Here he has built a new home and erected and equipped a modern service station, opening his place of business on September 21, 1921, it being the first in this line of business in the new town.

On April 28, 1917, Mr Wanamaker was married to Miss Janet M. Gibson, the daughter of William H. Gibson of Sacramento, who is an old settler of the county and a prominent business man, being the pro- prietor of Gibson's Sheet Metal Works. Mr. Wana- maker is a Mason, and a member in the Westminster Presbyterian Church at Sacramento, where he at- tended while a resident there, being a leader in the young people's societies. A young man of exemplary principles, Mr. Wanamaker was a stanch worker for prohibition and is ever found working for every con- structive movement that will be of benefit to the com- munity.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

MAURICE K. SMITH .- A distinguished musical leader, who is famous for his success in imparting in- struction in music to others, is Maurice K. Smith, the popular director of the Sacramento Pipe Organ School, at 1609 K Street. Ile was born at Newport, Ohio, on March 31, 1884, the son of John T. and Sarah C. (Saddler) Smith, the latter a musician, and prominent in Ohio and Kansas musical circles. Both are now deceased, and the memory of their interesting and helpful lives is a heritage to all who knew them.

Maurice started out in life with the advantage of the excellent Kansas schools, and then, beginning with his thirteenth year, played the cornet for two seasons in a circus. After that, he joined a dramatic stock company, and for five years assisted in giving road shows; and during that time, he traveled most of the country. He played and directed vaudeville, and was in moving pictures, and was for some time a musical «lirector in Los Angeles.

In 1917, at San Francisco, he took up the study of the organ under C. Sharpe Minor, one of America's foremost masters of the organ in movie work. In 1918 the city of Sacramento, which as the capital city had begun to draw the most representative talent, nat- urally attracted Mr. Smith, who was thereupon given a two years' engagement as organist at the T and D Theater. In 1920 he played an engagement at the Royal Theater in San Francisco. Returning to Sacra- miento, he was engaged as organist at the State Thea- ter for the next two years, and he continued to fill en- gagements as organist in the leading theaters in Sacra- mento. On August 15, 1922, he established his studio, where he specializes with students ambitious of play- ing accompaniments to moving pictures, and of ren- diering other artistic performances in the kinemato- graph theaters. He uses the Robert Morton organ, and always has a good class undergoing development. When he breaks away from the confining and too absorbing work of the studio, he likes to get out into the open, and generally finds that a turn at the wheel of a car for several hours is a splendid relaxation.

1n 1907, Professor Smith was married to Miss Lil- lian Middleton, of Illinois; she is an indispensable helpmeet, assisting our subject in his music school.

HARVEY RASMUSSEN .- A thoroughly experi- enced hotel keeper familiar with California conditions, who conducts his establishment as a modern, up-to- clate hostelry, affording strictly first-class service, is Harvey Rasmussen, the wide-awake proprietor of the popular Anchor Hotel. He was born in Denmark, on March 1. 1882, the son of Jens and Annie Rasmussen, and enjoyed the educational advantages of the excel- lent Danish schools. Crossing the Atlantic to the United States in 1899, when he was seventeen years of age, he came West as far as Iowa, and there spent three years in agricultural pursuits. Moving on to San Francisco, he entered the employ of the United States government, and for some years was in the transport service. In 1906, he came to Sacramento, which so well satisfied him as both a place of residence and activity, that he was in business here for thirteen years.

In 1919, Mr. Rasmussen built the Anchor Hotel, a modern. fire-proof building with 147 rooms, and a large store-room beneath the structure, at 308 J Street, becoming proprietor of one of the most attractive edifices of its kind at the California capital. His aim has always been to render an unexcelled service, and having attained this ambition, it is natural that the

highly-progressive community of Sacramento should show its appreciation, and pay him the highest re- spect. Mr. Rasmussen is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and he never foregoes an opportunity to do what he can to "boost" Sacramento City and County. He is a Republican in national politics.

Mr Rasmussen was married at Sacramento, in 1907, to Miss Ellen Gold, a native daughter, and they have one daughter, Lucile. He belongs to the Eagles, and the Dania Society, and liberally supports the Y. M. C. A. and its excellent programs; and like most of his fellow-countrymen, he is fond of fishing and out-of- door life.

WALTER OGLESBY FILES .- A business man of enterprise and qualifications that place him among the leading citizens of Sacramento is Walter Oglesby Files, who is one of the more recent accessions to the business circles of his community. He was born on August 7, 1888, at Bone Gap. Ill., the son of Ches- terfield and Emaline (Wilson) Files. His father, who was a well-known physician and surgeon of Illinois, is deceased. He and his widowed mother came to California in 1908. She passed away at Stockton.

Walter Oglesby Files was educated in the public schools and for two years he was employed in a drug store in Detroit, Mich. When he came to California he was employed by the government at Mare Island, as a progress man, where he worked for four years. In 1919 he went to South America on a pleasure trip and on his return he obtained a position with the Western Loan and Building Company, whose head office is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. This pro- gressive concern has eight branch offices, one of which is operated by Mr. Files, at 411 J Street, in Sacra- mento.

At San Francisco, in 1922, Walter Oglesby Files married Ida Yarnold, a native daughter of the Golden State. Mr. Files is the father of one son, Edward W., by a former union, and one son, Walter C., by his present wife. Mr. Files is very fond of outdoor sports and fraternally he is a Mason.

JOHN M. BIRD .- In the prime of life and general usefulness, John M. Bird is one of the highly re- spected employes of the Central California Traction Company, where he has served since 1911 as a motor- man. He was born in Kenton County, Ky., March 27, 1868, a son of F. P. and Elizabeth (Williams) Bird, of Scotch descent, born in Kentucky. Both parents are living and reside in their native state. John M. Bird began his education in the grammar school; then en- tered high school, where he remained until seventeen years of age, when he went to work in the harvest field; later he worked in his father's saw and grist mill where he remained several years. At twenty-one years of age he became a fireman on the Louisville & Nash- ville Railroad, where he remained until 1892, when he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and for seventcen years was a motorman with the C. M. & L. Trac- tion Company. In 1908 Mr. Bird removed to Cali- fornia and located at Fresno, where he remained for three years, when he removed to Sacramento and pur- chased a home in Colonial Heights.

Mr. Bird was married to Miss Rose Armstrong, a daughter of John L. and Sallie (Gray) Armstrong. both parents of Scotch descent. Mrs. Bird has three brothers in California. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bird. Ralph Lee enlisted in the Na-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

tional Guard in 1912 and served in the ranks for three years; in 1914 he went to the Mexican border in Com- pany E, 2nd Army Corps. He was discharged at Camp Lewis, August 8, 1916, and reenlisted and was again discharged October 22, 1917. He was married in San Francisco to Miss Beryl L. Hooper; they re- side in Colonial Heights, and he is engaged as a dealer in used automobiles at 1206 I Street. He be- longs to the B. P. O. Elks, Lodge No. 6. Arnold Bird enlisted in June, 1917, as a member of the A. E. F. 160th Ambulance Corps and saw active service in France; he was discharged August 2. 1919. Alfred Bird also served in the army during the World War. Mr. Bird is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Odd Fellows of Cincinnati since 1894.

WILLIAM D. BESSEY .- For many years Will- iam D. Bessey was recognized as a progressive and successful business man of Sacramento, but since 1908 he has been engaged in fruit-raising on his ranch of thirty acres located in the Fair Oaks colony of Sacramento County. He was born near Bloomfield, Sonoma County, Cal., July 7, 1867, a son of William R. and Caroline (Coote) Bessey, both natives of England. The maternal ancestors were British naval officers of high rank, one receiving the honor of be- ing laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. William R. Bessey was twelve years of age when he left Eng- land and came to the United States, and his early life was spent in the East and South. In 1850 he crossed the plains with an ox team to California and after his arrival lived for a time near San Leandro, where he engaged in vegetable gardening and fruit-raising, marketing his produce in San Francisco. Returning East, he was married in New Orleans, and in 1861 the young couple came via Panama, to California. Early in 1861 they arrived in Sacramento and located on a ranch near Courtland. In 1862 occurred the memor- able flood that wrecked so many homes, and it was with difficulty that Mr. and Mrs. Bessey escaped. Leaving Courtland, they then removed to Sonoma County. William R. Bessey was a butcher by trade, but preferred ranching, and while residing in Sonoma County he became a prosperous furit-grower; but later he removed to Salinas and there worked at his trade as butcher for the Buel Range Company, resid- ing there for ten years. On account of failing health, Mr. Bessey removed to Sacramento, and in 1891 he passed away, aged seventy years. He was survived by his widow and two children: William D., of this sketch; and Mrs. Nola N. Peck, who resides in Sac- ramento. Mrs. Bessey continued to reside on the ranch in Fair Oaks colony until her death on Febru- ary 23, 1913.

William D. Bessey received a good education in the public schools of California. Iu 1881 he became a clerk in the country order department of Wein- stock, Lubin & Company in Sacramento, and was later promoted to an important position with this company. Not being satisfied, however, to spend his life working for others, he learned the trades of the plumber and tinner, being associated with the firm of Guthrie Brothers. In April, 1898, he enlisted in Com- pany F. 6th Infantry of California, as sergeant, having had ten years' service in the National Guard of California. Company F did important work, and while associated with the company Mr. Bessey was promoted to second lieutenant. On December 15, 59

1898, he was honorably discharged from the service. Returning to Sacramento, Mr. Bessey became the partner of J. J. Sinclair and for twelve years was a successful business man. In 1910 he sold his interest in the business and retired to his ranch in the Fair Oaks colony, where he has made a decided success of fruit-raising. On February 21, 1921, the beautiful residence on the ranch was destroyed by fire, but the following year it was replaced by a new one, equally as fine. Fraternally, Mr. Bessey is affiliated with the Odd Fellows Lodge. He owns stock in the Wyan- dotte-South Feather River Land & Water Company. whose holding will be later colonized.

JOHN HOLLENBECK .- The ever interesting story of the toil, sacrifice and accomplishments of the builders of the Golden State is recalled in the life of John Hollenbeck, who was born August 21, 1834, near Cairo, Greene County, N. Y., the son of John and Elizabeth (Bennett) Hollenbeck. John Hollen- beck, Sr., was a native of New York. In 1843 he moved to Walworth County, Wis., locating near East Troy, and engaged in farming until he retired, resid- ing on his ranch until he passed away in 1895, at the ripe old age of 105 years. Mrs. Hollenbeck died in Wisconsin when she was fifty-five years old. They were the parents of three children: Justice, who died in Grundy County, Ill .; Daniel, who died in Wiscon- sin; and John, of this review. The grandfather, David Bennett, served in the Revolutionary War.

When John Hollenbeck was ten years old, he moved with his parents to the locality of East Troy. Walworth County, Wis. He lived in a bur-oak log cabin that stood for many years on their place, and there he became familiar with farming and was edu- cated in the school of experience, having very little opportunity to go to school. In those days the only pen used was a quill pen. On April 10, 1854, he set out for the Pacific Coast. The journey by ox team from Wisconsin to California took six months and was very interesting, though dangerous. They had several narrow escapes from the Indians, and were saved each time by a second train which usually pulled up in sight just as the Indians were about to attack. These two trains moved pretty close to cach other all the way across the plains. A halt was made at Council Bluffs, then only a small trading post. They arrived in Salt Lake City, July 23, 1854. After leaving there they ran out of provisions, and were obliged to subsist on boiled wheat, which they ate three times a day until they finally arrived at the pres- ent site of Courtland, in California, on October 6, 1854. Mr. Hollenbeck located in the Delta country and worked for four months for A. J. Peck on Sutter Island. He then worked for wages for the Barbers, of Courtland, for a year and a half, after which he returned to the A. J. Peck place and worked from 1857 to 1859. All the land where Courtland now stands was sold for $1,400; the land on which Paint- ersville is located, for $1,000; and the Smith ranch, just north of Paintersville, for $3,000. 1858, Mr. Hollenbeck purchased ten colonies of bees and paid $100 a swarm for them. Three weeks later he was offered $135 a swarm, but he preferred to keep them for the honey, which sold for one dollar per pound in the comb. He soon became an experienced bee- keeper, and in two years' time increased his number of colonies to fifty. In 1862, at the time of the great

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

flood, the apiary, which was on the Sacramento River, was swept away, with great loss to its owner. For two years thereafter Mr. Hollenbeck worked at Rio Vista, and in 1864 he settled on Steamboat Slough and acquired some state land. He has resided on his ranch for about sixty years. It is located on Rver Island, which comprises about 11,000 acres of land. His farm consists of approximately 180 acres, with a frontage of two miles on Steamboat Slough opposite Howard's landing. In the early days only a narrow strip along the levee was in shape to farm; the rest was all swamp and tule land. It is one of the original tracts in Reclamation District No. 501, and has been leveed by dredge. After years of hard labor, the land was cleared and improved, and today it is one of the most fertile ranches in the Delta region. His first crop was a yield of onions from two acres that netted him $2,000, and to this start he gives credit for his splendid success. He still raises onions, vegetables, fruits, alfalfa, grain and hay. There is also a fine section of land reserved as range for the horses and cattle. In 1872 John Hollenbeck helped to organize the Ryer Island Reclamation District No. 501. Dr. Ryer had previously started clearing the banks of the slough to prepare for the levee-building, but it is only since recently that they have had the strong dredger levee.

Mr. Hollenbeck's first marriage occurred on No- vember 20, 1864, at Sacramento, and united him with Miss Mary Mechan, a native of Ireland. She was reared in Boston, Mass., and came to Sacramento, where she stayed with her relatives until her mar- riage. Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck were the parents of seven children: John and Daniel, both deceased; William, farming in the Holland district: Mary Eliza- beth, the wife of Calvin Hampton, of Ryer Island; George J., of Sacramento; John, and Daniel F., both farmers on the island. Mrs. Mary Hollenbeck died on September 17, 1878. On July 20, 1880, Mr. Hol- lenbeck was married a second time in San Francisco, being united with Miss Mary Bird, a native of Bos- ton, Mass. They were the parents of four children: Lizzie K., wife of Frank Kelley, of Ryer Island; and Gertrude, Albert H., and Ethel. Albert H. married Marie Gwerder and assists on the home place. Ger- trude and Ethel are also with their mother, whom they aid in presiding over the home. Mr. Hollenbeck is hale and hearty at the age of eighty-nine, and is alert both physically and mentally, doing the active work of an average man thirty years his junior. Politically, Mr. Hollenbeck is a Republican. For thirty years he has held the position of clerk of the school board of Ryer district. his long retention it office proving his efficiency as a business man and his sympathetic attitude toward things educational.

GIOVANNI SQUAGLIA .- Possessing the quali- ties which insure success, Giovanni Squaglia has be- come independent through hard work and careful planning and today owns one of the most productive orchards in the fruit section of Sacramento County. He was born in Lucca, Italy, April 14, 1866, and there grew to young manhood on his father's farm. 1n 1884 he left the parental roof and came to the United States. Arriving in New York, he immedi- ately left for the West and began work clearing tim- ber and setting ont vineyard for an uncle at New- castle, Cal. He only worked for three months, when

he removed to Sacramento, where he engaged in marketing garden produce; he saved his money and in 1905 purchased ten acres of land at Brighton, which he has developed into a productive orchard of peaches, cherries, plums and grapes.

In 1890, Mr. Squaglia was married to Miss Amelia Parenti, also a native of Lucca, Italy, and they are the parents of three children. Amerigo is a graduate of the public schools of Sacramento and is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West and is a stockholder in the Native Sons of the Golden West Building, Inc., in Sacramento; he is also a director of the Fruitridge Berry Growers' Association, recently organized; he is married and has one daughter. Elvira Squaglia is the wife of John E. Velardi and they have one daughter and reside in Sacramento. Linda is the wife of Amato Parenti and resides in Sacramento. Mr. Squaglia received his United States citizenship in Sacramento in 1890 and is a Republican in politics. For twenty years he has been an active member of the Lodge of Bersaglieri in Sacramento.

JOHN E. WESTOBY .- The life of John E. West- oby has been largely associated with the West, which has benefited by contact with his broad and progres- sive ideas and unfailing devotion to the best good of the community. He was born in Leeds, England, July 6, 1879, a son of Thomas and Martha Westoby, who were also natives of England. Uncle Richard W. Westoby left England for California via Cape Horn and arrived at Benicia, Cal., in 1849, and became the owner of much of the land where the townsite of Benicia is now located. Thomas Westoby was a carpenter and contractor by trade and spent five years in Benicia working at his trade; then he removed to Sydney, Australia, where the family spent eleven years.

John E. Westoby is the third of five children and he received his education in the public schools of Sydney. In 1897 the family returned to San Fran- cisco and Thomas Westoby became superintendent of construction of the dry docks in San Francisco. He passed away in Oakland at an advanced age. The mother of our subject now resides in Napa Valley, Cal. In December, 1899, John E. Westoby enlisted in the 2nd Mounted Volunteer Infantry, New South Wales, and in March, 1900, was sent to South Africa and saw active service in the Boer War. After his honorable discharge, he returned to the United States and located in San Francisco in 1902; after the fire of 1906, in which he lost everything, he removed to Oakland, where he followed his trade until 1909. In the fall of 1909 he located in Sacramento and has since devoted his time and attention to contracting and building, in Sacramento and throughout the county. He superintended the building of the Physi- cians Building, and Hotel Land, the warehouse at Twenty-first and R Streets, and many garages and residences throughout the city and county.

The marriage of Mr. Westoby united him with Mrs. Abbie Mcclendon and they are the parents of two children, John E., Jr., and Verna. Mr. Westoby located on his five-acre orchard home in 1914 and has spent much time in the development of the commu- nity; he is a member of the Del Paso and Robla Center farm bureau. Fraternally, he is associated with the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Westoby is active in school and club work in Del Paso.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

WESLEY E. MARTEN .- A well-trained attorney enviably known for his exceptional knowledge of certain branches of law, is Wesley E. Marten, the efficient and popular assistant inheritance tax attor- ney, who was born at Kingsburg, in Fresno County, on January 15, 1891, the son of John and Augusta (Peterson) Marten, both of whom are living com- fortably at Kingsburg. Mr. Marten was a rancher, of good old Swedish-French stock, operating for years extensively in and around Los Angeles, where he settled in 1882; while Mrs. Marten came of excel- lent Swedish ancestry.

Wesley E. Marten went to school at Kingsburg, taking first the usual grammar school courses, and afterward going into the high school; and then he pursued law-course studies, first at the University of California, and then coming south again to the University of Southern California where he was graduated with the class of 1916. For two years he was resident counsel for the "Examiner." and then he was in partnership with A. P. M. Narlian, of Los Angeles.

Mr. Marten's next move brought him into the in- heritance tax department, in Los Angeles, where he remained a year; and in March, 1919, he was trans- ferred to Sacramento. Since coming here, he has done much to straighten out the kinks in the new legal chain, and to make the public better acquainted and more satisfied with the inheritance tax and re- lated laws: for he likes his work, and is never better satisfied than when confronting plenty to do. He is a Republican, and a broad-minded and liberal citizen as well.

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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 140

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