USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 108
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Marion Cox received his education at the local grammar and high schools of Los Alamos and Santa Ynez. For several years he was a "cow-puncher," and when seventeen years old started to dress tools in the Kern river field. At the end of four months, however, he suffered serious injury caused by distillate poison, and was compelled to lay off. When he resumed work, he engaged with the Eastern Consolidated, on a wild-cat well below Point Con- cepcion, on the Santa Anita ranch, where he remained fourteen months. Then he went to Gallagher Bros., above Los Alamos, and worked on another wild- cat well. After that he joined the forces of the Union Oil Co., with whom he remained for five years, laboring as a roustabout and tool-dresser in the Lom- poc field. After an apprenticeship of seven years, he was promoted to the position of driller. In that capacity, he first served the New Pacific, this side of Edna in San Luis Obispo County ; and then he went back to Midway for five years more of work as a driller. He drilled for the Muscatine Oil Co. at Maricopa ; then for the North American; after that for the Santa Fe; next for the Associated ; and then for the Honolulu, near Taft, for the M. J. M. & M., near Maricopa, and for the Miocene, near the same place. Then he returned to the Santa Maria fields and worked in the Palmer Annex, and for B. F. Brooks in the Cat cañon; and since September, 1916, he has been employed by the P. A. P. I. Corporation.
Some years ago, in the picturesque and historic old Mission town of San Luis Obispo, Marion Cox led to the altar Miss Ellen Burns, of Lompoc ; and with her he has lived in marital bliss ever since, at present residing on the oil company's lease.
CECIL H. FOWLER .- Just such a young man as everybody likes- never afraid of hard work, always ready to give a lift and to do anyone a good turn, and certain some day, and probably before very long, to make his mark- is Cecil Haynes Fowler, the assistant storekeeper for the Pan-American Petro- leum Investment Corporation, and probably one of the youngest men holding a high position of trust for that responsible concern. His father was the late Albert Fowler, well-known as a California pioneer, and as a ranchman, stock- man and farmer who, at the time of his death in 1903, in his sixtieth year, owned six hundred acres or more of land. His mother, still living at Oceano, was Miss Sarah Ann Henry before her marriage, which took place in the old Mission town of San Luis Obispo. She was born in Clinton county, Ia., went with her parents to Nova Scotia when she was only nine years of age, and came seven years later, by way of Panama, to California, stopping for a while in Lake county and then coming to San Luis Obispo. Four children were born to this pioneer couple: Albert Henry, a justice of the peace at Corcoran and an employe of the sugar company ; Harold Melville, a rancher in the Imperial Valley ; Adella May, wife of James Rutherford, of Sacramento ; and Cecil Haynes.
The subject of our sketch was born near Arroyo Grande, September 5, 1890. He attended the public schools of that progressive town, and later took the commercial and business course at the Arroyo high school, from which he graduated in 1914. His first experience in actual work after leaving school was on a farm in the Imperial Valley, where he worked by the month, remain- ing two-thirds of a year. He then returned home, and for five months was in the employ of the Pinal-Dome Refining Co. In October. 1916, he entered on his present engho, ment, putting in a month in the company's office, and after that becoming the corporation's assistant storekeeper.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
Tall and well-built and mentally alert, in these respect - a typical California boy, Cecil Fowler makes numerous friends, through his agreeable persinoility whose confidence he wins and holds.
NICOLA STORNI .- A prominent retired rancher and progressive citi zen now living in San Luis Obispo, where he is well and favorably known. Nicola Storni was born on January 21, 1847, in canton Ticino, Swillerlind His father was a Swiss and his mother an Italian. He was educated in the common schools and learned the trade of painter, which he followed for fifteen years in Germany, where he had gone when thirteen years old, to join an uncle. He worked at his trade during the day and attended night school, in this way .obtaining the greater part of his schooling. Afterwards he spent five years in Holland as a painter. Mr. Storni understands and can converse in five languages, is an interesting companion, and has been a great traveler. He came to the United States and stopped for a time in New York : and then, with a party of friends, he journeyed by rail to San Francisco, arriving there July 3, 1876, after a twelve-day trip.
He remained there two months, and then came to Cayucos. San Luis Obispo County, and here he abandoned painting and went to work on a dairy ranch. He later became a partner with his brother in-law, Ercole Biaggini, in the butcher business at Cayucos, and for twenty years this partnership con tinued. They built up a fine trade during the intervening years and held the respect of their associates throughout the county. Having bought five hundred twenty-three acres of land, Mr. Storni moved to the ranch and engaged, for fifteen years, in dairying in Green Valley. He was also occupied in raising and selling stock.
As he succeeded in the dairy and stock business, he bought land from time to time, and is now owner of one thousand acres on Cotontil creek and of seven hundred twenty-five acres, formerly the Logan place, between Cayucos and Cambria. These ranches are devoted to the stock business and dairying, and have brought to their owner splendid returns. He gave his per sonal supervision to the operation of his ranches until his retirement to San Luis Obispo on September 21. 1915, where he is now living free from active pursuits and in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. In 1910, with some of bis relatives, he spent four months in his old home in Switzerland.
Mr. Storni was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Biagini, a forthe of Switzerland, and they have seven children. Mrs. Josh Losanimal resides at Orcutt ; Mrs. Dina Dickie is in Cambria ; Mrs. Livia Matheld, of San Luis Obispo, is the mother of one child: Mario Is in chor se of the home ranch . Mrs. Diva Donati lives at Cayucos and is the mother Cohe symr. Armandois in charge of the ranch near Cavacos, and Nicholas is with his brother at Green Valley. Mr. Storni has given his children the advantages of goed's bed and they have taken their places in the business world and society
In all matters that have come before him having as their object the un building of the county and the welfare of the people, Ar Storch's go on his hearty support. He has been a friend of ducation, and das sought to bring the schools to a high standard of efficiency. When there was tik of organizing a bank at Cambria, he was one of the men who worked hard to accomplish the task; and he is now one of its director He is truly el made man, for his success has been the result of his own well directed efforts
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MICHAEL TONINI .- A worthy pioneer of 1873 in San Luis Obispo County is Michael Tonini, who was born in canton Ticino, Switzerland, Sep- tember 1, 1850, and who brought with him to this country those sturdy traits of character that have meant much towards the development of the resources of San Luis Obispo County. As a boy he attended a Swiss school a short time, meanwhile herding the family sheep and goats.
At the age of twenty, in 1870, he came to the United States, and the same year arrived at his goal, California, with but five cents in his pocket, and unable to speak the English language. However, he was blessed with a courage and determination to succeed, and a willingness to work at any honest labor that would yield a living ; and going to Marin county, he went to work for a brother on a dairy ranch, where he remained three years. Dur- ing this time he had become familiar with the methods of doing business in this country. He could speak some English, and he had saved some money, so that he was able to start out for himself.
He came to San Luis Obispo County in 1873, leased land and bought some stock, and engaged in dairying near Chorro. Later he purchased land, and for the following fifteen years had a hard struggle to gain a foothold in his new home. He gave his entire time and attention to his affairs, and was finally successful, and is now independent. Ile is a self-made man in every sense of the word.
In 1889 Mr. Tonini bought his present ranch of six hundred and thirty- seven acres on the Los Osos plains, which he has developed into one of the finest dairy ranches in the county. His specialty is raising Durham cattle, which he considers superior for the dairy business ; and he has given some attention in later years to raising beans. In November, 1916, he bought a home on Pismo street for himself and wife.
Mr Tonini was united in marriage, November 20, 1876, with Eliza Schieffarly, a native daughter of San Luis Obispo County, who was born here on November 2, 1857, and they have had eleven children, eight of whom are living. These are Mrs. Annie Zanetti of Santa Maria; Mrs. Mary Wil- liamis and Mrs. Rachel Rosenthim, both in Bakersfield; Mrs. Lizza Pinana, living on the home ranch ; Frank, at Orcutt ; Michael, Jr. ; John ; and Henry. Tilda (Mrs. Gianolini), Josie, and Ella are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Tonini have eleven grandchildren. The family are all members of the Catholic Church.
PETER F. MAGORIA .- A large number of the most successful citizens of San Luis Obispo County have come from Switzerland, and here in the land of opportunity they have worked with a will and have accumulated a com- petency. Among these men is Peter F. Magoria of Cambria. He was born in the town of Locarno, canton Ticino, October 28, 1881. His father, Joseph Magoria, was born in that same locality and succeeded his father in the hotel business there. In an early day the grandfather Joseph had purchased a convent building there and remodeled it, making of it a modern hotel for that time and place. He called it the Swiss Hotel, and it was favorably known throughout a wide area.
After his father retired from the conduct of this hotel, Joseph assumed charge and carried on the business until 1900, when he, too, retired to private life. He is now living quietly and highly respected in his home locality. His wife was Olympia Chicherio-Scalabrini, who was born in Giubiasco, canton
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Ticino. Her father was a colonel in the Swiss infantry, and her brother, Richard Chicherio-Scalabrini, was judge of the supreme court of that canton.
Peter F. Magoria received his education in the public schools and at- tended the Collegio Ponteficio d' Ascona, the Istituto Elvetico at Locarno, and the Real Schule, Sarnen. After completing his college course, he went to work in a hotel and served in some of the best hostelries, among them the Grand Hotel de Berges and Grand Hotel Isotta in Geneva, the Central Hotel at Milan, and Bertolini's Palace Hotel in Naples. While in his own country Mr. Magoria entered on military training, and while in that service he was an officer in the sharpshooters battalion No. 8.
With this varied experience, when twenty-five years of age he left Switz- erland and sailed for this country, coming direct to California, where he had a college chum living in Sonoma county. Fifteen days after arriving in Cali- fornia, he secured a position as bookkeeper in the Italian-American Bank of San Francisco, and there he remained four years, resigning his position to en- gage in business for himself.
In 1910 he came to Cambria with the intention of embarking in the gen- eral merchandise trade, as he was told there was a good opening ; but instead, he purchased the Hotel Cambria and began to develop a good trade. He built an addition, remodeled the place, added new fixtures and was successfully engaged in the line of business for which his inheritance and years of training had best fitted him; but in 1916 he leased out the place and is devoting his time to looking after his other interests.
On December 6, 1912, he was united in marriage with Miss Rose Filippini, a native of Sonoma county, and a daughter of the late Charles Filippini, a pioneer there and a prominent banker in Petaluma. Mrs. Magoria was educated in Petaluma and Santa Rosa. She is the mother of three chil- dren, Olympia, Carlo and Anita. Mr. Magoria is a Republican on national issues. He is an enterprising, progressive citizen, and he and his wife are well and favorably known in the community where they live, and have a wide circle of friends.
MANUEL P. ROLITA .- Among the leading business men of San Luis Obispo mention may well be made of Manuel P. Rolita, owner and proprietor of the monument works at 348 Higuera street. Ile was born on December 2, 1880, in Sao Braz d' Alportel, Faro county, state of Algarve, Portugal, a son of AAntonio P. and Mary (Mandes) Rolita, both born and reared in the same Portuguese state. At the age of twelve years Manuel P'. started in to learn the trade of stone mason, and after an apprenticeship of several years he mastered it and at the age of seventeen worked in Portugal. Then he went to Spain, and in 1903 helped to build three stone decks at Cabraltar.
Three years later he left there, bound for Rio de Janeiro, and arriving there, he worked on a stone breakwater then being constructed in the harbor. Hle next came to New York, entering that harbor on February 20, 1900. After a trip to Fall River and to Boston, he took a steamer bound from the latter place to Savannah, Ga. Here he worked for a few months in the swans, cutting trees and getting out hunber.
After a while, he determined to come to the Coast, and took a train from Savannah for San Francisco, arriving in the fall of 1900: an I his first employ ment was in helping to tear down some of the ruins made by the fire and earthquake of that year. He later drove a milk wagen in Oakland for se me
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months, and then went to Reno, Nev., and was employed on the Western Pacific Railroad in construction work.
Mr. Rolita arrived in San Luis Obispo in 1908. He worked three years at his trade here, and then took a trip to the Hawaiian Islands, where he was engaged in street building. While there he went to Hilo and followed the same work. In Hawaii he married Miss Adelaide Ropozo, who was born in Hilo. In 1912, with his wife, he returned to San Luis Obispo, where he has since resided. He has built up a successful business and owns his own home and plant.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rolita: George J., born July 30, 1913 ; Manuel P., Jr., born February 26, 1915; and Edward, born in March, 1916. Mr. Rolita is a member and past president of the San Luis Obispo Council, No. 25, I. D. E. S. He is also a member of the U. P. E. C. Society and of the A. O. U. D., Mission Grove No. 87, as well as of the Knights of Columbus and the Woodmen of the World. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word, and through his extended travels he has become unusually well informed on general topics.
SAMUEL MARTIN TOGNAZZINI .- A native of Australia, Samuel Martin Tognazzini was born at Eganstown, on January 15, 1876, a son of Noe Tognazzini, who was born in Someo, canton Ticino, Switzerland, on February 18, 1841, and went to Australia at the age of fourteen years. There he worked in the mines. Eventually coming to this country, he settled at Point Sal, Santa Barbara county, and successfully engaged in ranching till he retired to Guadalupe, where he died.
Samuel Tognazzini went to school until he was thirteen years old. He was reared on the farm and became used to the hard work necessary to successful ranching. He went to work for wages at an early age, and was employed in several places; and with his savings he started in for himself. He operated a hay press for a time, and later was engaged in drilling wells; and in 1900 he went into the Santa Maria valley, baling hay and boring wells, and followed that work for five or six years. In 1906 he started in the liquor business, which he is carrying on at the present time in Guadalupe.
Mr. Tognazzini is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Eagles, and of the U. A. O. D., having passed all the chairs of the local order and having served for seven years as a delegate to the state lodge. He was first married in 1905 to Annie Bontadelli, who was born in Guadalupe and who died in San Francisco, March 29, 1915. He was married the second time in Salinas, October 20. 1915, to Mrs. Mercedes (Gaxiola) Nesper, who was born in San Luis Obispo, and was a daughter of Vincent J. Gaxiola, a pioneer of this county. Mr. Tognazzini is a progressive citizen and believes in progress in every branch of industry.
MANUEL SARMENTO .- Many of the valued citizens of this county have come from foreign shores, and it is safe to say that no one has the respect of a wider circle of friends and business associates than Manuel Sar- mento. He was born in the Azores Islands, November 27, 1852, and when a little child was taken to Fial island and there reared, educated and taught the carpenter's trade. When he was nineteen years old, he concluded he would strike out for himself; and having heard a great deal about the won- derful state of California on the far western coast, he determined to avail himself of its opportunities. He landed in Boston harbor on Washington's
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Birthday, 1873, and came on to San Francisco, arriving with but twenty five cents in his pocket. He was willing to work, and any honest employ ment that offered a living was looked for and accepted. He worked for wages for two years, in the northern part of the state, and reached San Luis Obispo County, December 8, 1875, when he went to work tor William Sandercock. He saved his money until he had enough to open up a livery stable. 1le started on a small scale, and gradually built up a fine and paying business, keeping only the best stock and buggies. His courteous treatment brought him many patrons, and for nineteen years he prospered. He invested his money in ranch property at Center Hill and for six years followed farming. In order to better educate his children, he moved to San Luis Obispo, where he has since resided.
Mr. Sarmento was married to Virginia A. Pino, a native of the island of Fial, and they have had eleven children, of whom eight are living: Mrs. Leonora Hallaway, Manuel Enos, Julia, Frank E., Peter E., John F., George, and Thomas. They were all born in this county, and have been educated in the public schools of San Luis Obispo. Mr. Sarmento was one of the founders of the Portuguese Lodge, I. D. E. S., and served as president, vice- president, and treasurer ; and he is now one of the directors. He is the leading citizen of his nationality in the county, and is highly respected by all with whom he has social or business relations. What he owns has been made by honest work and personal attention to duty. Ile is a progressive man who supports all public movements that help to build up the county.
GIOACHINO LANINI .- A prominent Swiss American citizen of Santa Barbara county in the vicinity of Guadalupe, where he has been a resident for the past twenty years, G. Lanini was born in Frasco, canton Ticino, Switzerland, July 20, 1864. Ile attended the public schools until he was four- teen and then worked with his father on the farm until 1883, when he left his native country. On December 15 of that year he arrived in the United States.
Having some brothers in California, young Lanini naturally made this state his objective point, and his first stop was at San Simeon. From there he went to Cayucos, where he began work on a dairy ranch for Mr. Murphy. One year later he found employment with J. and B. Martella and remained with them four years. Hle then came to Guadalupe and was employed by Joe Tognazzi: and there he stayed until he had saved up enough money tostart in for himself.
His first independent venture was with a partner. Ben Lanin, in leasing land in the Los Alamos section, where, for three years, they ran about 1.300 acres to dairying and general farming. Their lease expiring, they need to another ranch and continued together, farming five years, when the partnership was dissolved. In the meantime, they had merees I then lestil ings to 2,000 acres and had about one hundred twenty -five con
After selling out his interests, Mr. Lanini moved into Guadalupe, leased land there and devoted it to raising beans and hav. Again he branched out on a larger scale, when he bought the equipment of the Pour Firm plod. ran a dairy of two hundred cows and had 0.000 acres of th Le Roy Antud Fourteen successful years were spent on that place, whe! Vy Luft . Il out in 1915. In 1911, he had bought his present home place of hundreil sixty acres, and he had been improving it from time to time, and m 191
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moved onto it with his family, although they still ran the large ranch until. selling out.
Mr. Lanini is a member of the Swiss Society and is interested in the oil business. He has been very successful with ranching from the start and is well liked by all who know him. He married Regina Lanini, born April 20, 1858, in the same town as himself, the marriage being celebrated in San Luis Obispo on September 20, 1891 ; and they have three children-Mary, Mrs. W. O. Wolf, of Guadalupe; Silvio and Henry Lanini-all reared and educated in the schools of the county, where their parents are well and favorably known.
ERNEST J. PEZZONI .- Practical and altogether useful qualities are disclosed in the results achieved by Ernest J. Pezzoni, a well-known Swiss- American rancher of the vicinity of Guadalupe, who is the manager of the estate of his father, consisting of about 3,000 acres, and who is actively engaged in dairying. Mr. Pezzoni has exhibited untiring zeal in the upbuild- ing of his section of Santa Barbara county, and is following in the footsteps of his worthy sire, Battista Pezzoni, who was born on a farm in Someo, canton of Ticino, Switzerland.
Battista Pezzoni was reared in his native country until 1856, when he came to the United States, settling in Marin county as soon as he got to California. From there he came to San Luis Obispo County, leased land on San Simeon creek and began the dairy business, carrying it on with success until 1876, when he came to the vicinity of Guadalupe, Santa Barbara county. In part- nership with G. Muscio and A. Tognazzini, in 1880, he bought some 8.000 acres near Los Alamos. He purchased what was known as the home place near Guadalupe, of 1,500 acres, improved it, and there ran a dairy. The part- nership with his countrymen was dissolved in 1896, when Mr. Pezzoni became owner of 1,200 acres, and this he also devoted to dairying and to stock-raising. He was connected with the Commercial Bank of San Luis Obispo and was a director from its organization until his death, in 1913. His wife, formerly Emily Kent, whom he married in San Simeon, was born in California, and they were the parents of seven children.
The second child in his father's household, Ernest J. Pezzoni, was born on the home ranch on June 10, 1878, attended the grammar school in the Laguna distriet, and for three years the high school ; after which, in 1895-96, he took up bookkeeping. He then went into the Bank of Santa Maria at the opening of that institution, and for three years was employed there. Then he spent two years in Guadalupe in the service of the bank.
In 1902 he took charge of the ranch when his father gave up active work, and has since carried on a successful enterprise on the whole estate, raising beans and engaging in general farming and dairying. Like his father, he has identified himself with all progressive movements, and has supported them liberally, and has given of his time to help build up the business interests of the valley.
In November, 1911, Mr. Pezzoni was united in marriage with Miss Lillian (. Skabean, who was born in Grass Valley, Nevada county, Cal. Mrs. Pezzoni is an e timable lady. She was principal of the Santa Maria school, and taught f several years prior to her marriage.
Mr. 1 zzoni is a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter in Masonry, being a charter member of the Fidelity Chapter, Santa Maria, and belongs
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to the Knights of Pythias. In 1912 he became a director in the Bank of Santa Maria upon the retirement of his father, and he holds that position at this time. He is conservative in judgment and his voice on the board lends weight to its councils. Ile has a host of friends wherever he is known, and is strictly in favor of a square deal for everybody.
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