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 142

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

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

and attractions of his community. Diligence and de- termination have shaped his career, and in winning success he has also held the respect and good-will of his fellow-citizens.

OROZIO CECCHETTINI .- As his surname in- dicates, Orozio Cecchettini is of Italian birth and his parents were natives of the same country. Twenty- three years ago, he came to Sacramento and pur- chased five acres in the Fruitridge section of the county; later he bought eleven acres. This was un- improved property in 1900 and Mr. Cecchettini has developed it to a productive property, growing vege- tables, fruit, berrics and grapes. He was born in Lucca, Italy, December 6, 1867, the youngest of three children born to Thomas and Maria Bartolani Cec- chettini, natives of Italy and farmers in the vicinity of Lucca. Both parents are deceased. The sister of our subject, Mrs. Maria Morelli, resides on the old home place in Lucca, Italy. Orozio Cecchettini left his home in 1887, and was nine days in reaching New York. He left immediately for California, arriving in Sacramento May 11, 1887. He soon found steady work on a ranch near Sacramento, where he worked for ten years; then with seven partners he conducted a large vegetable ranch on the Davis tract, marketing their produce in San Francisco and Sacramento. In 1898, Mr. Cecchettini sold his interest and returned to Italy for an extended visit to his parents.

On June 24, 1894, Mr. Cecchettini was married to Miss Flora Caselli, youngest daughter of Vincenzo Caselli, who is represented in this work. Three sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cecchettini. Thomas married Miss Marguerite Mussachia, a native of Sac- ramento, a daughter of Frank and Virginia Mussachia and the youngest of eight children; and now they are the parents of one son, Thomas, Jr. Thomas Cec- chettini served with the 363rd Field Artillery of the 91st Division and left home September 21, 1917; later he was transferred to the 7th Army Corps Field Artillery and saw active service in France; he left France for America in February, 1919, and received his honorable discharge at the Presidio, San Fran- cisco, June 19, 1919. Ernest served with the 8th Division, Regular Army, and trained at Camp Fre- mont. At the time the armistice was signed he was en route to France, but returned to the United States and received his discharge at the Presidio, San Fran- cisco, February 15, 1919. Victorio is the third son. Mr. Cecchettini became a United States citizen in 1895 and has since voted the Republican ticket. He is a charter member of the Bersaglieri Lodge of Sacramento and his son Thomas is a member of the 1. O. O. F. Lodge No. 5 at Oak Park.

ALVIN L. HEIM .- The standing of any com- munity largely depends upon the character of those who represent it in official capacities, and as assessor and collector of the Fair Oaks Irrigation District Alvin L. Heim is making a highly commendable rec- ord, proving a most capable incumbent of the office. He was born in Warrick County, Ind., March 4, 1864, a son of Adolph W. and Letitia (Lockyear) Heim, and was reared upon the home farm. He at- tended the country schools of that vicinity and com- pleted his education in the high school at Evansville.

In 1909 Mr. Heim started for the West, and two years later located in Fair Oaks, where he has since resided. In 1912 he bought ten acres of the Lami-

man estate. He now has a fine mixed orchard upon his land, utilizing the most modern and progressive methods in the operation of his ranch, which is a well-developed property. In 1917 his fellow-citizens honored him with election to the office of assessor and collector of the Fair Oaks Irrigation District for a term of two years, and indorsement of his first term's service came in his re-election in February, 1919, and again in 1923. He is systematic, efficient and trustworthy, and his services are thoroughly appreciated.

By his first marriage Mr. Heim has five daughters, all of whom are residing in Indiana. For his second wife he chose Miss Vena Bishop, whom he married in 1915. She is a daughter of E. W. and M. M. Bishop, of State Center, lowa, and was formerly an instructor in the public schools of lowa and of Mont- rose, Colo .; she holds a life certificate as a teacher in Iowa. She is now the mother of three children: Adolph, Alvin and Thalia.

Mr. Heim is well-informed on questions of public moment, and has made numerous contributions to the press of Indiana. He is probably the hest-read Socialist worker in this state, and his views of life are similar to those entertained by Upton Sinclair. the well-known author. Mr. Heim has twice been a candidate for the state legislatures of California and Indiana on the platform of the Socialist party. He has also been a candidate for the position of state superintendent of public instruction, and was once the nominee of his party for Congress. He has never been an idle sentimentalist, but rather a worker; and while he holds to high ideals, he utilizes practical methods in their adoption. Thoroughness and devo- tion to duty are his outstanding characteristics, and Fair Oaks numbers him among its foremost citizens.

JOHN O. MURPHY .- Few understand both their line of business and all the related conditions in local commercial and social life, as well as John O. Mur- phy, the far-seeing and enterprising proprietor of the well-equipped store on Del Paso Boulevard, North Sacramento, where he is engaged in the sale of electric supplies and gas appliances. He was born at Molino, Fla., on July 30, 1882, but was reared in Mobile, Ala., where he attended the public school, and at the age of seventeen he started out to make his own way in the world, serving his apprenticeship as a mill-worker in a sash and door factory at Mobile, and in time becoming a full-fledged journeyman. Then, in July, 1905, he came West, but just in time to be a loser by the great earthquake and fire at San Francisco, in April, 1906. He was able, however, to return to Mobile, and in that city was married, in 1906, to Miss Cornelia F. Byrne, a native of Mobile and a lady of accomplishments, whose sister and brother later came to North Sacramento, where they now reside. Two children blessed this fortunate union: John B., a member of the class of 1924 ot the Sacramento High School, and Lucile, who is a member of the class of 1927 at the same institution.

In 1909, Mr. Murphy and his family came to Cali- fornia and located at Los Altos, in Santa Clara Coun- ty, where he was occupied for the following four years as a contractor in plumbing, having had previ- ous experience in that line from 1906 to 1908 at Mobile. In May, 1913, he came to Sacramento Coun- ty, to take charge of the installation work of the North Sacramento Water Company, in what was

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

then a new subdivision, and he did so well here that he continued to remain. Having seen the water com- pany's plant in successful operation, he turned to the development of his own business, in which from the beginning he has prospered. In connection with his work for the water company, Mr. Murphy was in- strumental in making a map of the entire North Sacramento system; and this map, accepted as offi- cial and authentic, is the one in use today. He has become one of the men best-posted regarding North Sacramento and its wonderful development from a few scattered homes and a couple of stores, to the thriving industrial and trading center that it is today. He is an active member of the Chamber of Com- merce, and also of the Builders' Exchange of Sacra- mento and the Northern California Electrical Asso- ciation; and he evidences by his own investments his faith in the section these organizations are endeavor- ing to serve and develop, personally owning desirable business and residential property, including his own store-building.

VINCENZO CASELLI .- Among the prominent and interesting pioneers of California is Vincenzo Caselli, who came to California in 1854 when San Francisco was a city of tents. He was born in Lucca, Italy, August 16, 1835, the eldest of five children born of Pasquale and Marguerite (Giovannoni) Caselli, both natives of Lucca and both now deceased, the former in 1888, aged eighty-seven years, and the lat- ter in 1887, aged seventy-eight. The opportunities for an education were limited to a few months, but Vin- cenzo Caselli improved his time as best he could, and he was obliged to make what he could by tying bundles of twigs together and selling them for two cents a bundle. Leaving his home, he went to France, where he sold plaster of Paris images for eight months, when he started for America with a party of his countrymen. They were en route from Liverpool forty-six days, arriving in New York in the fall of 1853. He began making and selling the images and did very well in the business. The first five dollars he made he sent to his mother in Italy. In July, 1854, Mr. Caselli started with five of his countrymen for California, the journey taking twenty-four days and they arrived in San Francisco, August 14, 1854. After a year spent in Tuolumne County, he returned to San Francisco and worked as a market gardener for some time. In 1856, Mr. Caselli removed to Sacramento and was in the same business; and after a year was able to rent twenty acres of land on which he raised garden truck; five years later he had saved sufficient money to purchase land of his own

In 1861, Mr. Caselli was married to Miss Mary Nevis, a native of Portugal, and eight children were born to them: Alfred and Idelle died in infancy; Al- fred is married and has two children; Margarita is the widow of F. Guisti and has three children; Albert is married and has two children and is a watchman at the courthouse in Sacramento; Manuel is manager of the home place and on November 21, 1894, married Miss Kate Calligori and they have one son, Vincent; Isabelle died in 1905, survived by two children; Flora is Mrs. O. Cecchettini and has three sons. In 1862 Mr. Caselli purchased a ranch of seventy-two acres where he farmed for ten years when he sold his prop- erty. In 1873, accompanied by his family of four children, he made an extended trip to Italy, returning to California the following year. He farmed on a

ranch below Sutterville for two years; then purchased his present ranch of sixty acres in 1876. The house built on the ranch in early days is still standing, but Mr. Caselli has built a modern house in which he re- sides. Mrs. Caselli passed away September 20, 1877. On July 21, 1871, Mr. Caselli received his final U. S. citizenship papers and has since been a stanch Re- publican. Mr. Caselli has made four trips to Italy, the last being taken in 1911, when he visited the old Caselli home place of his boyhood. Mr. Caselli has four grandsons who served during the World War, and he did his part in subscribing to Red Cross, Lib- erty Loans and other war activities.

MANUEL JOSEPH MACHADO .- Mannel Jo- seph Machado is a native son born at Freeport, Sacra- mento County, January 14, 1882. His father, Frank Joseph Machado, was an early settler of this county, having come hither from his native Island of Pico in the Azores group, and in California he was married to Marian Azevedo, also a native of Pico. They re- sided here until 1888 when they returned to Pico with their four children, 'Frank, Manuel, Marie and Joseph, and in his native land he followed farming. While there the son Joseph died. They continued to reside in Pico until 1901, during which time five more chil- dren were born: Marian, Rosie, John, Anthony and Joseph. In 1901 the elder Machado brought his fam- ily, the wife and seven children back to Sacramento County, the subject of this review, Manuel J., having preceded him in 1898. Here the parents followed farming until they returned to Sacramento, the wife and mother passing away in 1918, while the father is still living.

Manuel J. spent the first six years of his life at Freeport and during the last year attended public school, when he went with his parents to Pico Island where he grew up on the farm and attended the local school until he was sixteen years of age. He always had a longing to return to his native place, so in 1898 he came back to Sacramento and immediately went to work to paddle his own canoe, his parents not join- ing him until later. For two years he followed fish- ing, saving his money, and as soon as he had earned enough he returned the money he had borrowed to pay his way back to the land of sunshine and flowers, after which he continued to save more money to send back to his parents so they could join him. Next he went to work on mail boats running between San Francisco and Sacramento, continuing for a period of four years. When he had accumulated sufficient capi- tal, he leased a ranch in Yolo County, across the river from Freeport, and engaged in the raising of grain. Starting, also, with a small dairy, he prospered and in time purchased the ranch of 287 acres and began the improvements that have brought it to a high state of cultivation. With others, he started to build levees which were finally finished with power dredges in Reclamation District No. 900. Building up his dairy and sowing the whole ranch to alfalfa, he has been very successful. About 1908 Mr. Machado rented the ranch and located in Sacramento, when he built a commodious residence on X Street and since then he has also built eight flats on the corner of X and Twelfth Streets and in 1920 he completed the large, beautiful residence on X Street where he now resides with his family. Mr. Machado also owns a 200-acre ranch on Natomas No. 1000, five miles from Sacra- mento, which is devoted to raising beans and alfalfa,

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

besides leasing 700 acres adjoining, where he is en- gaged in raising grain.

Mr. Machado was married in Sacramento to Miss Marie Cory, who was born in Pico, and who came to California with her mother when she was eighteen years of age, her father having passed away in their native land. The mother is now also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Machado have six children: Manuel and Hilda are graduates of Sacramento high school; and there are Mildred, Martha, Marling and Beatrice. Fraternally Mr. Machado is a member of the U. P. E. C., and politically he is a Republican.

ADOLPH SKOOG .- An industrious and enter- prising farmer is Adolph Skoog, who was born in Arvik, Sweden, September 26, 1873. He was reared on his father's farm and educated in the excellent schools of that country. In the spring of 1898 he emi- grated to the United States, coming direct to Sacra- mento, Cal. For two years he was busily employed on a ranch on Staten Island, after which with a part- ner he leased a ranch in the Lisbon district where he raised alfalfa and grain for a period of eight years, when the partnership was dissolved. Mean- while, he was married in Sacramento in 1899, being united with Miss Bessie Nelson, also a native of Sweden. For some years Mr. Skoog operated a farm and vineyard at Franklin with industry and suc- cess. In 1911 he leased the Mckuen ranch on the Cosumnes, and there on the 1,150 acres he has since made his home, engaging in dairying and general farming and making a specialty of raising alfalfa and beans. His dairy comprises a herd of one hundred Holstein milk cows. He is being assisted by his son Arthur, and they are applying themselves closely and industriously and are meeting with deserved success.

Mr. and Mrs. Skoog's union has been blessed with four children: Annie. Arthur, Walter and Davida. Mr. Skoog appreciates the favorable conditions of climate and soil in the Sacramento Valley and is content that he had the good fortune to cast in his lot with the great and growing Golden State. A firm believer in protection as the fundamental principle for the success of America and American institutions, he is a stanch Republican in his political preference.

ARNOLD SANER .- A man who, by energy and industry, has made a decided success of the dairy business is Arnold Saner, a native of Canton Solo- thurn, Switzerland, born August 16, 1861. His father, Jacob Saner, was a farmer and stockman and mar- ried Maria Strahl and both are now deceased. Of the eight children born to this worthy couple two are living, Arnold being the only one in America. He had two brothers that came to California before him. Joseph came in 1883 and Robert came in 1885 and both are now dead.

Arnold Saner, who was the fifth child in the order of birth, was educated in the national schools of Swit- zerland and from a boy learned dairying. He re- mained at home, assisting his parents, until 1887, when he spent one year in Canton Bazel and then came to California. He made his way to his brother Joseph Saner's ranch near Galt and began working for him both as milker and cheese maker. continuing for a period of nine years. His wages were thirty-five dol- lars a month and out of this he managed to save some money, so that he was able to purchase an out- fit and he leased 750 acres of land from Mrs. Dalton at

Slough House and made improvements on the place for dairying. He put in a pumping plant and raised alfalfa and cows. He began with fifty head of cows and has increased his herd to 250 head. After operat- ing the place for eighteen years he gave it up and pur- chased the old Moore place of 918 acres, where he made substantial improvements by building horse barns, graincry, and cheese house, and enlarging the cow barn. He raises large quantities of alfalfa and his place is irrigated with a pumping plant driven by a twenty-horse-power engine. He also purchased the Wilcox ranch of 400 acres adjoining his place, making it a very valuable stock farm. He has been manufac- turing the Poppy Brand of California cheese up till 1920, but now he has a separator and sells the cream.

Mr. Saner's marriage occurred in Sacramento on November 3, 1902, when he was united with Miss Mary Mitchell, who was born in Canton Oberwalden, Switzerland, and their union has been blessed with the birth of nine children: Marie, Arnold, Jr., Clara, Ma- tilda, Godfrey, Agnes, Herman, Carl, and John. Mr. Saner fraternally is a member of the Sweitzer Verein in Sacramento.

JAMES W. COX .- Prominent among the ener- getic men of affairs whose past record for usefulness to their day and generation invariably entitles them to the good will of their fellows, in later years, and the best wishes of everybody for their ultimate pros- perity and comfort, may well be placed James W. Cox, now retired and residing at 1810 E Street, Sac- ramento, in which city he was born, on November 9, 1857. His father, J. C. Cox, came from Ohio in 1848, settled at Sacramento, and was among the first who made for the mines when gold was discovered. Later, he ran a pack train from Sacramento to Vir- ginia City; and after that he had an auctioneering stable on Seventh Streeet. Then he went to Lake Valley, and built a saw-mill; and the frame of the mill is still standing there. There Mrs. Cox, who was Miss Lurinda Crumb before her marriage, breathed her last, mourned by those who had been privileged to know her; and then Mr. Cox went to Idaho for a number of years, but returned to Cali- fornia, and settled in Mendocino, where he died in 1889, also highly esteemed.

James W. Cox received his education in the pub- lic schools, and then lived with his grandparents, while his father was in Idaho; and he went north to Oregon, and to Spokane, Wash., when there were only three houses there. He then went to Colfax and took up some land; but after twelve years on it, he came back to California and Sacramento, and tried teaming, which he continued for forty years; and at one time he did all the teaming for the build- ings going up in Sacramento. He employed a large force of help, worked hard, did well by others, and made some money; and he was able, in 1920, to retire.

Mr. Cox married first Miss Lydia C. Deel, of Ore- gon, and they have had several children to gladden their domestic life. Maud is Mrs. H. Bishop; Myrtle has become Mrs. Elmer Cox; and Maggie is Mrs. A. W. Norris. There are also six grandchildren. Mr. Cox has lived in the same location since 1888. The second Mrs. Cox was also born here, and in the same year as her husband, in 1857. Her parents came over the plains; and her mother was a sturdy pioneer who had ridden a horse across the prairies, and car- ried her baby at the same time. Her father, William

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

B. Denison, who had married Miss Cynthia Bruener in Illinois, and who had the first pottery in Sacra- mento, left the Prairie State with his wife, four chil- dren, and oxen, and she was given a horse by the family she had worked for, and this was the steed she rode over the plains. They settled on Thirtieth Street. in Sacramento, and there he built the first pottery shop. Then, in 1859, he moved to Sonoma, and died there, in 1896, at the age of seventy-six. Iler brother, E. H. Denison, who came with his par- ents, passed away in Stockton in 1921. Mr. Cox has been an Odd Fellow for twenty-seven years, and belongs to the El Dorado Lodge and the Occidental Encampment and Canton No. 1.

NORBERT G. MOSHER .- A progressive ranch- er, vitally interested in his county, is Norbert G. Mosher, born June 21, 1888, on Andrus Island, Sac- ramento County, Cal. His father, William Mosher, was born in 1859 in Minnesota, and came to Cali- fornia in 1877. Here he married Catherine Glenn, a native of Iowa, and they settled down on a ranch at Andrus by the Sacramento River. Here he put in many years of hard labor, acquiring 280 acres and following the life of a farmer until his death. He passed away when he was but forty-eight years of age. His faithful wife is now residing at her ranch north of Hood, Cal. They were the parents of seven children: Norbert G., Frances, Gretta, William, Myrtle, Carmel, and a child Vernie, who died at four years.

Norbert G. Mosher attended the Jefferson gram- mar school in Yolo County and the Brothers' Col- lege at Sacramento, where he was graduated in 1905. On December 9, 1914, in Sacramento, he married Matilda Fisher, born at Walsh Station, Sacramento County, the daughter of H. S. and Charlotte Fisher. Her father was a farmer, owning a thrity-acre ranch in District No. 744. Matilda Fisher received her education in the Sacramento High School. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Mosher moved to their Tyler Island ranch of eighty-four acres, owned by his mother, which is devoted to the raising of fruit and asparagus, and the responsibility for the manage- ment of this ranch rests upon Mr. Mosher. He and his wife are the parents of one daughter, Carmel Rose. Politically, Norbert G. Mosher is a Republi- can. Fraternally, he is a member of Sacramento Lodge No. 6. B. P. O. E., and the Modern Woodmen of America, at Franklin.

CHARLES HENRY FASSETT .- A contracting p'umber whose ability to undertake extensive work, and to finish what he may undertake, to the letter. has added very much to his wide reputation for qual- ity of workmanship and dependability of materials employed, is Charles Henry Fassett, who was born in Florin, Cal., on March 18, 1867, the son of L. H. and Helen (Alzeda) Fassett. They will long be remembered by those who knew them as worthy pio- neers who made straighter and easier the paths they were traveling for all those who were destined to come after.

Charles Henry Fassett went to the public schools, and then topped off his studies with the fine com- mercial courses at Howe's Business College; and after that, he took up farming and for three years raised fruit in Florin. Attracted to Sacramento by a chance to enter the Southern Pacific shops, he came

here in 1893, and for fourteen years gave himself to railroad work. He then took up plumbing, bought out a firm already established, and studied sanitary engineering; and since that time he has been more than busy, installing the finest of plants in flats and other dwellings. His thorough acquaintance with the latest and most approved methods, and his ambi- tion to render only the most reliable service, together with his desire to please, putting himself in the place of the customer, and realizing that, after all, the patron is entitled to what he wants and is willing to pay for, all these qualities have contributed toward his success. His reward has been, in addition to the steady growth of trade, the consciousness that he has helped materia'ly the growth of one of the fairest and most promising cities in all California. In poli- tics, he is a Republican.

In July, 1890, Mr. Fassett was married to Miss Ida Longabaugh, a favorite native daughter of Sac- ramento, who died in 1906, the mother of one child, Fay V., now Mrs. Alden J. Nugent; and on August 12, 1911, he married Miss Rose Geraldine Grubbs, a gifted and charming lady, now the mother of three children, Lawrence Keith, Nina Ann, and Jess. Mr. Fassett belongs to the Maccabees; and he is fond of outdoor sports, and is well-known as a successful duck-hunter.

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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 142

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