USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 116
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In 1881 he came to San Luis Obispo County and located near Cayucos. He leased a ranch of five hundred acres, bought a herd of dairy cows, and engaged in dairying. At first he panned and skimmed the milk, and churned by hand, but later on got a horse-power churn. He ran this dairy for ten years, and then bought his present place of four hundred twenty acres on Old creek, about four miles from Cayncos. On this property Mr. Storni made the improvements, building residence, barns and dairy houses, which last are now equipped with the De Lavel power separator. He has from fifty to fifty- five cows in the dairy. The place is well watered by Old creek and numerous springs, and has ample water for the stock in the different pastures.
On December 5, 1882, Mr. Storni was married to Miss Chelestina Scaroni. who was born in Gordola, canton Ticino; and they have seven children, as follows: Achille, who is farming near Cayneos : Charles, who runs the home dairy : Clelia, Mrs. (. Ghezzi, who resides in Cayneos; Fnio, still at home ; Irene, clerking in Cayucos: Daria, Mrs. A. V. Ramonitti of Cambria; and Flora, at home.
Mr. Storni made his first trip back to Switzerland in 1882; and in 1910 he took the trip again, with his wife and his daughter Irene. He has served as school trustee of Central district for several years. In politics, he is a Republican.
MANUEL NUNEZ .- A worthy representative of a fine Portuguese fam ily on the island of Pico, where he was born on January 3, 1862. Manuel Nunez has held the respect and good will of all who know him. He grew to young manhood in his native island, attending the common schools and work- ing on a farm until he was nineteen, and then came to the United States. and at Fall River, Mass., was employed in a brick yard for two years. With the money he had saved he came to Califorma in 1883, and for sixteen months worked on the wharf at San Pedro. His next move was to Morro, where he found work on the Cantona ranch, remaining one year ; then he rented some land and has since been engaged in farming for himself, and has miet with success.
In 1911 Mr. Nunez moved to the Suey ranch in Santa Barbara county. where he leases six hundred acres of land, and farms to erath, be DI- og In 1916 he raised 1.447 sacks of barley. 844 sacks of hems, and 429 tons of hay ; and in this enterprise he is becoming independent W ph los -ham lin Frank Gonzalves, he owns one hundred eight nul and light acres of Ind. Six miles east of Santa Maria on the Garey road, where Vr Gonzal (created a bungalow, barn and other necessary buildings, costing about Sito, and now makes his home.
Mr. Nunez married Miss Rita Levi, da born i irland they have nine children. Mary Gloria married Bruk Gamles. R -t Lec is the wife of George Freitas of San La haw. Vatan is Harp me wit In father ; Lena I. has become the wife of Manuel Silvery Of Ontari- Wohnen home: Emma married Anton Vargas of Santa Cru and Daubner, Ritt act Minnie are all at home. The family are members of St Mary Cumplir Church in Santa Maria ; and Mr. Nunez is t member of the 1 D. F. Sy chili two of his sons belong to the U. P. F. C. lodge 53
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Manuel Nunez, as he is known by all his friends, dropped his last name for convenience ; but on all legal documents he signs his full name, Manuel Nunez Brinkino. His father, Frank Nunez Brinkino, died in 1900, aged eighty- five years, and after his death his widow came to the United States and now makes her home in Santa Maria, still hale and hearty at the age of eighty-six. Mr. Nunez is a hard-working man, progressive and successful.
ESTANISLAO N. RUIZ .- General farming and stock-raising were the principal industries followed in the Santa Maria valley for many years, until these were succeeded by more intensive farming, such as that of beets and beans. With the changing of the productions, time has worked changes with the people also. A representative of a proud Castilian family, and a respected citizen of the vicinity of Sisquoc, E. N. Ruiz was born on May 7, 1879, on the Ruiz ranch. He attended the Garey and Suey public schools. He has worked on the home place ever since he was old enough to drive a team, and is now running the J. B. Ruiz ranch of one hundred sixty acres, together with the Mrs. Lindsay ranch. On December 4, 1916, E. N. Ruiz married Miss Inez Foxen of Los Alamos, daughter of Fred and Louisa Foxen.
The Ruiz family are numerous in the valley, and are among the prominent families of Spanish descent that settled in California in an early period. They at one time had extensive holdings in what is now Orange county. After the family had settled in Santa Barbara county, they became actively interested in its upbuilding. The grandfather, Nicholas, and the father, John Baptiste Ruiz, were prominent characters in the early days. The latter died, on October 25, 1914, at the age of seventy-seven. His widow, Mrs. Rita Onti- veros Ruiz, lives on the home place and also owns three hundred twenty acres up the Santa Maria river.
The Ruiz estate has never been divided, and all the members of the family work in harmony for their best interests. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. E. N. Ruiz is a member of Santa Maria Aerie, No. 1745, F. (). E. He is a trustee of the Garey school district, and is also serving as road master of the Garey road district. Politically, he is a Republican.
LOUIS G. PEDRAITA .- A resident of Cayucos for thirty-four years, Louis G. Pedraita was born in Giubiasco, canton Ticino, Switzerland, April 27, 1864. His father, Charles Pedraita, came around Cape Horn to California in 1849, when a young man, landing at San Francisco. For a time he fol- lowed mining, but later took up farming in the vicinity of San Francisco and San Jose. After spending twenty-four years in the Golden State, he returned to Switzerland, where he married Angelena Tomenelli, who was born in his native place. They were the parents of six children, of whom two are living, Louis being the youngest of the family. Charles Pedraita was the proprietor of a hotel; and he also owned a mill, run by water power, where he manufactured flour.
Louis G. Pedraita was educated in the public schools. In his youth he Warned the miller's trade, and also worked at the carpenter's trade. In December, 1882 he left home and started for California, arriving in Cayucos m January. 1883. For seven years he was employed on different dairy farms, and then made a trip back to his old home, where he remained for two years. Returning to Cayucos, he leased a building and opened the American Hotel on Main street, continuing in business there until 1895, when the property was destroyed by fire. He then bought the lot and built a new hotel on the same
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site, which he named the New Swiss Hotel. Here he met with success until a second fire, in 1898, again destroyed the building, causing a total loss. Hle next put up a store building, which he rented until he sold the lot, when he removed the building to the present site of the Cottage Hotel and remodeled it. Here his wife is now engaged in the hotel business; and the Cottage Ilotel is the leading and finest hotel in Cayucos, Mr. Pedraita has resumed the carpenter's trade, and is engaged in contracting, building, and jobbing.
In 1882, in Cayucos, Mr. Pedraita was married to Anita Porocini, born in Novara, Italy, the daughter of Donato and Josephine Porocini, who re- moved with their family to Cadenazo, canton Ticino, Switzerland. Mrs. Pe- draita was educated in Italy and, after removing to Ticino, met and became acquainted with Louis Pedraita. She came to Cayucos the year of her mar- riage. Here she devotes all of her time to the hotel, and her ability in the culinary art is attested by the splendid meals served at her place. Mr. and Mrs. Pedraita have four children. Henry runs the truck for the Harmony Valley Creamery : Lillie, Mrs. Arrigoni, resides in San Francisco; Peter is in the employ of the James Cass Co. ; and Elma lives at home.
Mr. Pedraita is a member and past officer of the Druids Lodge at Cayu- cos. In national politics he is an ardent Republican.
LUIS PAOLINI .- On the Muscio ranch, about two miles north of Cayucos, Luis Paolini is making a success of dairying. He was born in Ravecchia, canton Ticino, Switzerland, April 21, 1892, and is the son of Antonio and Virginia ( Bassi) Paolini, farmers there. He was reared on the farm and learned dairving as it is carried on in Ticino. He was educated in the public schools. After completing the grammar school, he entered the high school in Bellinzona, where he pursued his studies for two years.
Having four uncles in California, three of them in San Luis Obispo County, he had heard of the opportunities offered here to a young man of energy, and willingness to work ; and so he decided to come to California. Ac- cordingly, he quit school and set out for the New World. On October 12. 1909, he arrived in San Luis Obispo. For about two years, he worked for his uncle, Alex Bassi, in Harmony valley, and then entered the employ of the Harmony Valley Creamery, where he remained for six months wards he was engaged at different dairies until 1 le, when he leased the Muscio ranch of 1,153 acres and began in the dairy business on his own account. It is a fine dairy ranch, and he usually milks about one hundred twenty five cows. The milk is separated by power, and milk and cream are shipped to Cayneos and to San Luis Obispo. He raises gran and hay on the ranch, for his stock.
Mr. Paolini is a member of Cavacos Lodge, No. 10. of the Druids, of which he is an officer. In national politics he is a believer in the principle of the Republican party.
ELIGIO ROTANZI .- A resident of the vicinity of tavues for the list twenty six years, Eligio Rotenzi was born in Recent, canton hot Swapper land, March 9, 1871. the son of Gaetano and Isabelle Rotanos, farmers der The father had made a trip to California i 1871, and followed i. running out Watsonville for five years, when he returned to Ins haine In the bomils af three children. Eligio Roguti is the second oldest The oldest of the family. Rev. Albert Rotanzi, is a priest ; the youngest, Fred, is a madrid conductor
Eligio Rotanzi was educated in the public stheds of his native califen. and worked on the farm until he come to Calformy When nineteen years
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of age he started for the Pacific Coast, leaving home on October 28, 1890, and arriving in San Luis Obispo on November 17 of the same year. He was em- ployed in a dairy at Los Osos for about one year, and then for six months in the Chorro valley, when he went to San Jose and followed dairying from May, 1892, till November, 1894. Returning then to San Luis Obispo County, he came to Cambria, where he was employed in various dairies. He then worked for three years on Old creek, when he became foreman of the Antone Tognazzini ranch on Cayucos creek. After continuing in this position for seven years, he bought the cows and leased the place of 1046 acres, and since 1900 has conducted the dairy on his own account. Here he milks about one hundred twenty cows, separating the milk with a De Lavel power sep- arator. Formerly, the milk was panned, and skimmed by hand; and the cream was churned for butter by horse power. He raises grain and hay on the place, for which he uses two six-horse teams.
In 1914, Mr. Rotanzi bought a ranch of five hundred twelve acres on the Cambria road, which he devotes to stock-raising and dairying.
In Cayucos, occurred the marriage of Eligio Rotanzi to Miss Carolina Giovanetti, who was born in canton Ticino, Switzerland. They have five children : Guido, Alice, Delia, Albert, and Norinan.
Mr. Rotanzi is a member of the Lodge of Druids, in which he has passed the chairs, and is also a member of the Foresters of America in Cayucos, of which he is trustee. He is a supporter of the Republican party in national politics, deeming the principles of that party best suited for the prosperity of the country.
JOSE J. CALDERON .- A native of Santa Barbara county, and a repre- sentative of those early families who were leaders of affairs in the days of the Spanish and Mexican periods in this great western commonwealth, Jose J. Calderon was born November 2. 1856, a son of Ballentyne and Salvadora (Cordero) Calderon. The father was born near San Diego, and had a brother named Jose J., who lived in Santa Barbara, and for whom our subject was named. The parents are both dead, the mother having passed away in 1862, and the father at the age of seventy. Several generations of the family have been residents of California, and represent the early Spanish families here. Ballentyne and Salvadora Calderon had a family of five children: Longarda, wife of Jose Pico, of Los Alamos ; Jose J., the subject of this sketch ; Juan S., of Santa Barbara: Francisco, deceased; and Mrs. Maria McGuire, of Santa Barbara.
Jose J. never had a chance to attend school. He worked out on ranches as a cowboy, and in 1876 came north to this county, where he was employed as a laborer until 1883. He was then able to buy a small place of five and one half acres, where his home now stands. For thirty years, Mr. Calderon worked on threshing machines in this county, saving his money, which he mvested in land from time to time, until he now has forty-five acres that he calls his own, all made by hard work and good management.
In 1879, Jose J. Calderon married Maria .A. Ruiz, daughter of Juan de la Crois Ruiz. Seven children have blessed this union. Juan died at the age of twenty nine years. Olympia became Mrs. Frank Goodchild, and is now docased. Those living are: Valentine: Jose, of Garey, of whom mention i- made elsewhere in this work; Lisandro, who married Dolores Rivers, and is agent for the Pacific Coast Railway at Sisquoc; Ida, who married Tony Wesum reland, of Sisquoc: and Romaldo, who lives at home.
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MRS. MARY GUERRA .- Of the women who have entered into the arena of business affairs, mention is due Mrs. Mary Guerra, proprietor of the Swiss American Hotel at Cambria. She was born in Palognedra, Cento- valle, canton Ticino, Switzerland, February 9, 1854, a daughter of James Guerra. a farmer there, who married Mary Maggetti, a native of the same canton. They both died in the old home. Of their nine children, she was the seventh in order of birth.
Mary Guerra had the advantages of the public schools in her native place. and it was there that she was united in marriage with James Guerra, on June 3. 1877. He was raised to manhood's estate in canton Ticino, on his father's farm, and served his time in the Swiss army. They resided in Switzerland until 1891, when they decided that California held better opportunities for them.
On arriving in this state, they settled in Cambria and soon afterwards engaged in the hotel business, their hotel being the oldest hotel in Cambria or on this part of the coast. Here Mr. Guerra passed away, on July 10. 1912. at the age of fifty-six years. He was a member of the Foresters of America and of the Druids. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Guerra six children were born: Paul; Rosie, the wife of Joseph Barlogio, of the vicinity of Morro ; Emilio, deceased ; Irene and Lily, twin girls ; and Birdie.
Mrs. Guerra deserves great credit for what she has accomplished: for by her energy and close application to business, she has made a success of her hotel. She is genial and kind-hearted, and is held in the highest esteem by the whole community. She is public-spirited and does her part towards supporting public movements for the benefit of the town. She advocates the principles of the Republican party.
PETER SILACCI .- A resident of California since 1884, and of San Luis Obispo since 1885, Peter Silacci was born in Intragna, canton Ticino, Switzerland, March 26, 1868, the son of Dominiens Silacci, and a brother of Paul and Antone Silacei, whose sketches also appear in this work.
Peter Silacci was educated in the public school, and in the gymnasium in Locarno, where he attended for two years. When sixteen years of age. he decided to come to California. In Switzerland he was in the employ ot Joseph Magona, in the Swiss Hotel Locarno, as a waiter. Ilis idea had been. to go to London and study English, and then to Vienna to learn Ger- man as spoken there, and so become a successful waiter; but his father in duced him to give up the idea and come to California instead, where two brothers already were located, who wrote back encouraging reports con cerning the country and its opportunities. He left Locarno on October 29, 1884, and arrived in San Francisco in November, 1884, where he was employed as a waiter in a restaurant.
In the spring of 1885, Mr. Silacei came to Cambria where he worked for some time on a dairy ranch. In 1888 he was employed in the Cosmopol itan Hotel in Cayucos. Here he remained for two years, and then might the hotel, of which he was proprietor during the year fille wie He the sold out, and again engaged in dairying. Leasthe the bones Musen rape on Cambria road, he stocked it with a dairy herd, no for myliteen ver ran a dairy of about ninety cows, raising stock in the meantime When the place was sold, he had to dispose of his cattle He then leased the 1km Taylor ranch, on the coast at Cambria, and operated a fairy et fils com. After three years, he sold out and bought his present place of seven hundred
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acres on Santa Rosa creek, the old D. F. Wittenberg ranch, but could not take possession until the two-year lease expired. He moved to Cambria, therefore, and ran a small dairy until October, 1915, when he moved on his place and began to make improvements, rebuilding where this was necessary, and stocking the ranch with cattle. He now milks about fifty cows and keeps a large number of stock cattle.
Mr. Silacci's place is composed of two ranches. There is a considerable acreage of plow land, devoted to the raising of grain, hay, and beans. It is fine bean land; and usually sixty acres is planted to beans. Before buying here, Mr. Silacci traveled in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, but selected this locality as the best. The ranch is well watered by creeks and springs. Water is piped to the residence, and to the dairy house and other farm buildings ; and there is an ample supply for the irrigation of the alfalfa fields.
Peter Silacci was married in San Luis Obispo 10 Angelina Rusca, who was born in Giubiasco. Her father, Joseph Rusca, is a farmer in Los Osos. Mr. and Mrs. Silacci have six sons: Henry, Angelo, William, Peter, Jr., Albert, and Elmer.
Mr. Silacci is a member of the Cayucos Lodge. I. O. O. F. He has been school trustee in Someo school district. Politically, he indorses the prin- ciples of the Republican party.
HENRY ANDREW GNESA .- Among the younger generation of dairy- men of the coast section of San Luis Obispo County, Henry A. Gnesa is operat- ing a ranch of five hundred sixty acres on Morro creek. He was born in Green valley, near Cambria, June 18, 1890, a son of James and Sophia (Georgi) Gnesa, both natives of Switzerland, who came to this country and were married in California. James Gnesa has been engaged in the dairy business in this county over thirty years, and is now a resident of the Los Osos sec- tion. There were six children in the family, of whom Henry A. is the second eldest.
Ile was brought up in Green valley, and attended the Green valley and Excelsior schools. From a lad he helped on the farm, and at the age of nine began milking cows. When he was twenty-one years old, he commenced to work for wages, spending the first year with his father. He then leased the Morro creek ranch and began dairying for himself, and has since been thus engaged. His dairy cows now number about fifty, and he raises enough hay and grain for his stock. Water is piped from a spring to the dairy house. It has a fall of one hundred feet, furnishing power for the separator and for other purposes.
Mr. Gnesa is a member of Court Queen of the Sea, No. 29, F. of .1. Politically, he is a Republican.
MANUEL S. GULARTE .- A resident of San Luis Obispo County since 1875, who has been engaged in stock-raising and farming, Manuel Gularte was born in St. George, of the Azores group, in 1855. His father, Silva Gularte, was a farmer ; so Manuel from a lad worked on the home place and learned the stock-raising industry as it was followed in the Azores. Having heard good reports of wages awaiting anyone willing to work in the United States, he determined to try his fortune in the land of the Stars and Stripes. Accordingly, when eighteen years of age, he left his native land and kindred and embarked for the New World, arriving in Providence, R. I., where he was employed for two years. He then came to the Pacific Coast.
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Arriving in San Luis Obispo County in 1875, Mr. Gularte obtained a place at herding sheep in the Paso Robles district, and later on the Carissa Plains and at Simmler. After some years of steady employment and saving his money, he decided to go into sheep-raising on his own account, and pur- chased a flock of about five hundred ewes, which he ran on the range in the vicinity of Simmler. The flock increased, and he was successful, becoming the owner of two flocks of sheep of about 2,000 cach.
During this time he pre-empted and also homesteaded land. He had a ranch of three hundred twenty acres, which he improved, and operated with good success.
Fortune having smiled on him, Mr. Gularte sought a wife ; and in the old Mission town of San Luis Obispo he was united in marriage with Marianna Azevedo, also a native of St. George. Of this union have been born seven children, as follows: Amelia, Mrs. Silva, who lives on a farm near her parents ; Manuel, who assists his father on the ranch : Mary, Mrs. Silvera, of Sisquoc ; and Marian, Rose, Anthony, and John, who are at home.
Mr. Gularte purchased a ranch of two hundred fifty acres four and a half miles north of San Luis Obispo, where he has a dairy ; and he also owns a farm of one hundred sixty acres two miles south of his ranch. This he rents to others, giving his time and attention to farming the place on which he resides.
He is a member of the board of trustees of the Cuesta school district : and fraternally he is a member of the U. P. R. C. and I. D. F. S. Ile and his family are communicants of the Mission Catholic Church in San Luis Obispo. In national politics he is a Republican.
AUGUST C. PIMENTEL .- If ever you should wish to know about the Oso Flaco and the richness of its wonderful soil, and how men have done well there and even made fortunes when elsewhere the earth reinsel teryich so generously to their hard and patient toil, you would do wisely to call upon A. C. Pimentel, a successful rancher who lives four miles south of Guadalupe. Like so many other thrifty Portuguese who have been wel- comed to California, Mr. Pimentel is a native of the island of Pico, among the balmy Azores, where he was born on March 12, 1883. When twenty vers old he sailed from the beautiful port known as the Ponta del Garda. S. Miguel, and after an eight-day voyage reached Boston on August 3, 190,5 Soon he came west, and stopped at Fresno for three ih 0ths, and there to. began his first work in America, the herding of shop.
Now it happened that Mr. Pimentel had sogne cousins m Calitoria. a brother, Joe C. Pimentel (a sketch of wheec hte the reader will end d'se where in this volume). Joe, coming up to Fresne, induced the von wer ton turn with him to Guadalupe : and here in this vicinity he has beenfor what For a year he worked for his brother, and for anothing Scar be vo medio service of the Union Sugar Co. He then removed to Caso Diago, BitBeicair ing that his advent in that vicinity meant more in the way of fottide to Mu than the mere learning of where he might find the vielget well it worked by the day for a while for M. D. Martin, and then nhdetteok to help Nunez. During the year that he was with the killer, Le courrier F& cady daughter, Mary Nunez, by whom he had one child. Pha This young fin itos thirteen months after their marriage. On setting up last korong for found he rented a ranch in Oso Flaco, where he continued to jotun for the sun
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1913, he leased the Salisbury ranch, and the next year came to his present place. Although not so prosperous as when he was on the Oso Flaco, Mr. Pimentel, like the good farmer that he is, has continued to be successful ; and in 1916. from a hundred ninety acres planted to beans, he gathered fifteen hundred eighteen sacks.
January 19, 1910, witnessed the second marriage of Mr. Pimentel. his bride being Miss Mary Silva, a native of the island of Pico, and the daughter of Jacinto and Isabel (Nunez) Silva. When only eleven years old, she came to America with her parents, both of whom are still living, at Harris Station, Santa Barbara county. Two children, Isabel and August, have blessed this happy union.
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