History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 78

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070

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FRITZ CLAUSEN .- One of the enterprising business men of Temple- ton. San Luis Obispo County, and one who favors the development of the county's resources and gives his liberal support to all such enterprises, is I ritz Clausen, a native of Denmark, where he was born at Nakskov, Laaland, .August 14, 1865, a son of Sir Clausen, a native of that place who served in the Danish Navy in 1863-64, in the war between Germany and Denmark, and who died in 1911 at the age of eighty six years. His wife, Christine Jor- gensen. also born there, died two days after her husband and both were buried in one grave. They had six children, five of whom are living, Fritz being the fourth in order of birth and the only one in the United States.

lle was educated in the public schools and brought up on the farm owned ml operated by his parents, although he also worked for wages on the farms in his locality. When he was twenty-one he came to America and, in 1886, Wanted in South Dakota, near Vermilion, Clay county, where his uncle, Thig Jorgensen, was living: and there he remained with him for two Wir, when he went to Seattle, worked at logging and took contracts for Willing logs, In 1891 he came to California, located in Watsonville and motel in growing potatoes for the San Francisco markets, carrying on that It of work until 1895, when he went to Santa Maria and raised sugar Iot- For two years.

In 1807. Mr. Clausen settled in Templeton, farming until 1900, when he w 1864 ih the mercantile business. The town had burned ; and he bought 150 000. with a partner, erected a building and started a general store. DET Wat Ar. Clausen bought out his partner's interest and since then lo fer somly pol the business under the name of F. Clausen. In 1903-04 he Lauge I link wod having moved his wooden store back facing on Fourth 00 0 pilons Tifses it for a warehouse, erected a new two-story brick store. 75000 cal, sadly plines store-rooms, each twenty five feet in size. The second

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floor is adapted for a hotel and hall, and the structure is known as the Clausen Building. He also has a ranch of two hundred twenty acres seven miles from town, leased for grain-raising. Since 1900 the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.'s central office has been in his store, and he is the local manager.

Mr. Clausen was married, in 1900, to Miss Lulu Johnson, who was born in Watsonville; and they have three children-Lester, Harold and Thelma. Mr. Clausen is a member of the Lutheran Church, and of the Fraternal Brotherhood. He is agent for several fire insurance companies.

CHARLES M. CAREAGA. Residing on the northwest oil lease of the great, historie Careaga rancho at Bicknell, to superintend the important oil and gas interests of the family estate, Charles M. Careaga is well known as one of the most progressive representatives of one of the oldest and most notable of California families, and as one of the most aggressive citizens in one of the newest and most flourishing parts of the state. Ilis earliest forefather, of whom he has definite knowledge, was a titled Spaniard who came to the New World as the loyal devotee of the King of Spain, and did valiant service as a soldier, particularly in Mexico. An equally valiant Careaga of a later date was the subject's grandfather, Colonel Satornino Careaga, one of Captain Munoz's staff, who left Mexico to do duty as a soldier at Monterey, and saved the Mission at San Jose, albeit it nearly cost him his life to do so.

Ramon F. Careaga, Charles' father, was a son of the colonel, and though too late in the century to participate personally and prominently in the great events marking the height and passing of Spanish dominion here, he never- theless was the custodian of much intensely interesting reminiscence and tradition. This pioneer, who died in 1914, was in many respects a remarkable man. He showed his business ability when, with a brother, Juan B. Careaga, and a friend, Daniel Harris, he bought some eighteen thousand acres of the old De la Guerra ranch, eventually retaining for himself six thousand nine hundred seventy acres-property that became the center of the Santa Maria valley oil fields, having been leased by the Western Union people when the first commercial well of importance was sunk there.

Seven sons blessed the marriage celebrated with true Spanish elegance and California hospitality-of Ramon Carcaga to Señorita Maria Antonia Bonevantur, daughter of a Frenchman who had come to Monterey and had there wedded another charming lady of Castilian descent. Luis has set tled at Santa Barbara : Ramon is at San Jose : his partner, John F., is with him in the same city; Bernardo lives on the Careaga ranch ; Antonio F. resides with his mother: James F. is a stockman near Los Alamos; and Charles M., the youngest of the boys, has assumed the trust referred to above. There are also four girls: Eleanor has become Mrs. John Carr, a resident on a part of the Careaga ranch ; Rita J. attends the Notre Dame school at San Jose ; and Evangeline and Angeline are with their mother.

Some years ago, Charles M. Careaga married Miss Myrtle June Hawkins. a favorite daughter of Santa Barbara, who is still famous in the district in which she lives, both for her personality and charms, and for her qualities as a good neighbor and a genial hostess.

Owing to the large commercial interests involved in the yield of the Careaga ranches, much responsibility is imposed on Charles Careaga, who nevertheless forges ahead, meeting each day's problems and labor, and bearing

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modestly the honors coming his way. Oil and gas, discovered by the merest accident, through the outeropping of asphalt, are a continual source of in- come ; and from lands leased to tenants come handsome returns through the sale of cattle and other stock, and of farm products, especially beans. All in all. there is much to be looked after on the Careaga ranch, and Charles is just the man needed to see that nothing is neglected and all is well done.

P. F. VANDERPOOL .- With what marvelous magnetic force the spell of California has operated again and again in the history of the pioneer to bring him back to her golden shores after he has foresworn his allegiance, is demonstrated in the simple but inspiring story of Harding Vanderpool, father of P. F. Vanderpool, of Paso Robles. He was a native of Hacken- sack, N. J., and a carpenter who, in 1849, when he was about twenty-four years of age, went south to Galveston and from there across the plains to California by the old Santa Fe trail. On his way up the Coast, from Los Angeles county to San Francisco Bay, he camped over night near the old mission of San Miguel, and then went to the mines. He spent a month or more as a carpenter in San Francisco, and later mined in Yreka. One winter was spent at Astoria, Ore., in building a sawmill.

In 1853, he returned to New Jersey by way of Panama, later coming as far west as Newton, Jaspar county, lowa, where he hung out his sign as a carpenter and also farmed. There he married Miss Sarah Hammack, a native of Tennessee. In 1873, yearning again for the Pacific, he crossed the continent to Amador county and located as a rancher at Plymouth. In this state he spent his last days, dying at the home of his son, P. F. Vander- pool. in Paso Robles in April, 1916, more than ninety-one years of age. llis wife had died on the 29th of the previous month in the same place, at the age of seventy-eight. The well-mated couple had enjoyed sixty years or more of married life.

Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harding Vanderpool. four are living ; and of these P. F. Vanderpool is the eldest. He was born in Newton, lowa, Where he first saw the light on December 4, 1857. Until he was fifteen, there- Tot he lived upon an lowa farm, meanwhile attending the public schools, md In the early seventies came with his parents to California, where in time le rugaged in ranching. In 1896, he took up mining in Little Indian Creek, Ice avut his father having first secured a ranch there adapted to alfalfa and Bypassing, which happened to have within its confines a fairly good placer inn The dairy business next engrossed him, and at one time he had as may a- twenty-five cows. In that district he remained for thirty-seven Mari donite which time, for thirteen years, he was school trustee.

The tego be bad sold his ranch and located at Paso Robles, buying there i to se lokk pare of twenty acres known as the Ysabel Terrace, where he pres pode en his family in a handsome residence. Ile improved the prop- w: 465309 05d. and installing a pumping plant, and laid out a fine garden- De was married on April 30, 1897, at San Jose, to Miss Cynthia 20, 16x 45s born at Shelrock, now Glenville, Freeborn county. Minn. alw dochter of Willard Marvin, a Vermonter, who married Huldah a redire of New York. They were pioneers in Minnesota, where the mer Col The mother died at Paso Robles, aged eighty-four years. Vanderveer was one of the five children, the youngest of three who

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Eugenio Bianchini

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are living. She came to Alameda, Cal., in June, 1889, and later lived at San Jose until she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderpool have an adopted son, James, who bears their name ; and in the kindness of their hearts they are also raising another orphaned child, Clara.

Mr. Vanderpool is a member of the Methodist Church, and a teacher of the Sunday school Bible class. As a Republican he seeks to discharge his duties in civil and civic affairs.

EUGENIO BIANCHINI .- This state has been the Mecca for people of all nationalities, for they nearly all find here a wide field of opportunity where they may put forth their best efforts and win success for themselves, at the same time that they are developing industries that mean much for the future prosperity of the state. Of this class of men, Eugenio Bianchini is deserving of mention. He was born in Gordevio, canton Ticino, Switzerland, July 20, 1861, and attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age. He was then apprenticed to the stonecutter's trade, and for the first three years received one dollar a month and lived at home with his parents. The trade did not particularly appeal to him, and he looked about for other opportunities. In speaking with an old gentleman in his old home town of possibilities for young men, the veteran asked, "How are you going to find the ring, if nobody lost one?" and young Bianchini saw the point that, in order to reap success, he must go where the opportunity was ripe.

In 1878, therefore, having decided to make a change, he sailed for the United States and arrived in Cambria on February 17. He was not familiar with the English language and had but very little money when he reached his destination, but he found employment at once, and for the next four years milked cows on various ranches in that vicinity. He saved his money and, in 1882, leased land from Ed. Shaw in Green Valley, and in the following few years succeeded in laying a foundation for his future success. He sold out his stock and, in 1886, opened a butcher shop in Cayucos, and for six years carried on a good business. His next move was to engage, for twelve months, in min- ing for quicksilver at Oceanic, and then he returned to the butcher business, opening a shop in Cambria and running it one year.

He then leased five hundred acres on Santa Rosa creek and began dairying. In 1902 he purchased the ranch, and continued at dairying, with fifty cows, besides raising stock. The ranch is located on the county road eight miles from Cambria. Water from a spring is piped to the residence and dairy house, where he has installed a water turbine which furnishes power to run the separator. He continued dairying until 1914, when he rented the home place, intending to retire from active pursuits and enjoy the fruits of his years of arduous labors, and purchased the residence where the family now reside in Cambria. However, the demand for quicksilver occasioned by the present European war decided him to take up mining once more ; and in partnership with A. Luchessa and William Bagby, he purchased the Klau mine and was given the management. Ile is now engaged in operating the mine and retorting quicksilver, meeting with success and averaging a flask a day. The mine is equipped with track and cars for hauling the ore from the mine to the furnace, which is a sixty-ton Scott. The history of the Klau mine is full of interest.

A young Spaniard named Felipe Vallegas came to California when twenty-one years of age, was engaged in various occupations, and finally in

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raising sheep and goats. AAfter his marriage with Helena Rochas, he lived on a branch of Huero creek. There his wife died, leaving a son, Felipe, Jr., whom the father was rearing at his camp. On coming home one day he found the little lad had strayed away from home ; so he at once started to look for him in the different canons, and it was while climbing over the hills that he discovered a cinnabar ledge. He located the mine, opened it up, put up a retort and engaged in mining and retorting quicksilver.

The mine was first called the Santa Cruz, later the Sunderland, then the Dubost and now the Klau. Mr. Bianchini, with his two partners, organized the Klau Mining Company, and they are now mining and retorting quicksilver with success. New ledges are being opened up and operations extended. Felipe Vallegas lived in these parts until his death at the age of seventy, and the lad Felipe, Jr., is now foreman of the Klau mine, originally discov- ered and operated by his father.

In San Luis Obispo, September 17. 1899, occurred the marriage of E. Bianchini with Louisa Bezzini, born in Avigno, Switzerland, and who came to California in 1897. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living : Henry, William, James, Walter, Elvira, Palmira and Tillie. Mr. Bianchini has won recognition and distinction at barbecuing meats, and from 1902 until the present time he has had charge of the barbecues of importance in the county, and has always been much sought after for that purpose. Of late he has initiated his son William into the mysteries of the art and has handed the palm over to him.

In politics, Mr. Bianchini supports the men and measures of the Repub- lican party. He served as road master of district number one on Santa Rosa creek for a number of years, and for eight years was trustee of Mammoth school district.

MIGUEL D. SANCHEZ .- A justifiable pride of birth is one of the cherished legacies left to Miguel D. Sanchez of San Luis Obispo County. Ile was born in Ventura county, near El Rio, on September 28, 1856, and comes of a distinguished Castilian family. His father, Pacifico Sanchez, was a cattleman, born in Ventura county, a son of Juan Sanchez, who came to California from Spain. He was the owner of Punta de la Loma ( Point of the Hill) ranch, where he raised sheep and cattle on a large scale until he sold off most of the land to Sciappa Pietra, keeping only a small tract for members of his family. Ile was the owner of valuable property in Ventura. Pacifico Sanchez became a well-to do stockman, and married Concepcion Villa, a tative of Los Angeles. She had five children and died at her home.

The third child in the family, Miguel D. Sanchez was reared in Ventura comiffy until thirteen, when he went to Santa Ynez, where he attended the Sig. Ynez College, in charge of the Christian Brothers, and afterwards o Whenit's College in Los Angeles. ITis college course completed, Mr. Solos engaged in farming near Ventura, where he had a seventy-acre vine- Nort de - Id nt and learned the trade of barber in a shop in Hueneme 1000000 r Fe wosin, Lonis 1 .. Carnes. Later he went to Guadalupe and ran a bstore -lp until 1902, when he located in San Miguel and established his 000 104 0 ;- Pri. I establishment. He also is owner of a ranch in Vineyard rocco, hogy county, ten miles northeast of San Miguel, called the Hace police Kan 1, which contains five hundred twenty acres and is operated 2 00 . 00 rent- a grain and cattle ranch. With A. Thrall, II. Twisselman

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and John Work, he erected the Mission Warehouse with a capacity of 1500 tons; and he is a director of the company. Mr. Sanchez is a prominent man in his town and has made a success of his life work. He is generous, affable and popular.

His first marriage in 1880, in Ventura, united him with Annie Bronty, who died leaving three children : Fred, in Idaho ; and Annie, Mrs. Ward, and Jessie, Mrs. Waite, both in Los Angeles. The second marriage, on April 8, 1895, united him with Miss Maime Valdez, daughter of Jose M. and Victoria Price, the latter having been a daughter of John Price, whose interesting sketch will be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez have five children: Alfred, John, Garner, Kenneth and Leola. Mrs. Sanchez is a member and past president of San Miguel Parlor, No. 94, N. D. G. W., and of the Woman's Club ; while Mr. Sanchez is past president of San Miguel Parlor, No. 150, N. S. G. W., and a member of the Eagles in San Luis Obispo, and of the I. D. E. S. in San Miguel, and president of the local parlor, and a member of the Druids in Guadalupe. He is a Republican.

JENKIN REESE .- One of the old homesteaders in the vicinity of Union and now living retired in Paso Robles is Jenkin Reese. He was born in Aberdair, Wales, March 30, 1847, a son of David J. and Jane (Llewellyn) Reese, natives of that country, where the father was following mining. In 1851, when Jenkin Reese was but four years old, his father came to America and with his family settled in Salt Lake City. He crossed the plains with ox teams, remained in Salt Lake that winter, and then pushed on to the Carson valley, Nevada, where he stopped for one year to engage in mining. The next year he arrived in Solano county, California, located in American cañon, three miles west of Cordelia, purchased seven hundred acres of land, and engaged in grain- and stock-raising, as well as in running a dairy. He con- tinued this line of industry until he retired and moved to Vallejo, where both he and his wife passed away, the father at the age of sixty-nine and the mother fourteen years later, when she was almost eighty years old. Of their nine children, seven grew up and four are now living.

Jenkin Reese is the only member of the family in San Luis Obispo County. He was reared on the farm in Solano county and went to the pub- lic schools, and from a lad helped with the work about the ranch and became familiar with stock and dairying, as well as with grain-raising, remaining there with his parents until he was twenty-eight years old. He was married in Suisun City, February 10, 1877, to Miss Emma Wilson, who was born in Springfield, Windsor county, Vt. She was the daughter of Luther and Susan (Aldrich) Wilson, born in Crowns Point, N. Y., and Springfield, Vt., respec- tively. Iler maternal grandparents were of an oldl New England family. Luther Wilson was a farmer in Vermont, and both parents died there. Mrs. Reese was educated in the public schools and at Springfield Academy. She came to California in 1873 via Panama and landed in San Francisco. In August, 1885, Mr. Reese made a trip by boat from San Francisco to Port Har- ford, and then took stage to Paso Robles, looking for a location. He selected a homestead of one hundred sixty acres on Dry creek, and returned to Cordelia for his wife ; and they took up their residence at the homestead in November. 1885, bringing implements, horses and sixteen head of cattle. Here he raised stock until he broke the land for grain raising. He erected a frame house and other buildings. Theirs was the first frame house built in that section,

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the lumber being hauled from San Luis Obispo. He had to haul water one and one-half miles from Penman springs, until he sunk his well the following spring and put up a windmill-the first in the neighborhood. Mr. Reese pre- empted one hundred sixty acres adjoining his homestead and later bought three hundred twenty acres additional, which he farmed for eight years and then sold, keeping his first three hundred twenty acres, which he still owns and leases. He was progressive and successful in his farming opera- tions, took an active interest in seeing that everything was kept in repair and modern machinery installed as it was needed, and at the same time was interested in the affairs of his neighborhood. He was one of the organizers of the Union school district, a member of the board of trustees and clerk of the first board. He hauled lumber from Port San Luis for the schoolhouse, and with others helped erect the building, with no charge to the district.

Mr. Reese and his wife are parents of three children: Juanita, wife of Charles Reynolds, who is farming on Huntington ranch : Jessie, wife of Al. Birmingham, farming at the home place; and David J., in business in Santa Barbara. Mr. and Mrs. Reese are members of the Methodist Church, and in politics he is a strong Republican. In the fall of 1915, wishing to retire to private life, Mr. Reese bought a lot in Paso Robles, on Vine street, and erected a modern bungalow, and in 1916 leased out his ranch and moved to town to occupy their new home. He is well and favorably known in this part of the county, and has been a liberal supporter of all public movements for the welfare of the general public and the advancement of the county.

CARL LARSON .- An artisan of no mean ability and a man who has made his own way in the world since attaining young manhood is Carl Larson, who was born in Karlskoga Bergslag. Orebrolan, Sweden, January 28. 1851. His father. Lars Larson, went to sea when a boy and sailed for many years, although he learned and followed the trade of shoemaker at various times when on land. Carl Larson was reared and educated in the common schools until he was seventeen, then went into the rolling mill and worked for four years. At the age of twenty-one he began the stone-mason's trade and took up the study of architecture, and to perfect himself in his chosen work he went to Stockholm and entered the Sloyd technique school, where he com- pleted a course in architecture. He then worked two years at his trade in the capital city, after which he began contracting and building with Stockholm as his headquarters, erecting large business buildings and residences. He also built seven fire-clay furnaces where they manufactured pig iron, and the furnaces in Egeland's Iron Works in Norway in 1874-5, next spending a year in Denmark as a contractor. He decided to cast in his lot with the United States and arrived in Minneapolis in June, 1884. He was not able to talk Inglish, so he took a place in the lumber yard of a sawmill until his boss learned he was a brick mason and set him at work putting in a boiler in the This he did, laying the foundations and sides from plans furnished After the work was completed he had all of that kind of work he child lo. and his services were in great demand.

In 1888 he came to California, locating in Templeton, where he erected lowthing for his residence. At the same time he purchased fifty-four acres od land and improved it, although he lived in town until 1894, when he moved onto his ranch, where he raised grain, fruit, stock and poultry. Mr. Larson has done considerable work in building in Paso Robles, and worked

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on the Paso Robles Hot Springs hotel, and the high school, besides many schools in the country. Ile drew the plans and built the Swedish Lutheran Church in Templeton, as well as several stores and residences.

Carl and Mathilda Larson were married in Minneapolis, Minn., in August, 1886, she being also a native of Sweden. The good woman passed away on February 4, 1913, lamented by many. In October, 1914, Mr. Larson sold the farm and moved into Templeton, where he now lives, retired. In politics he supports the Republican party, and he is a Lutheran in his religious belief. He is deservedly proud of his success, and the people of his community appre- ciate and esteem him for his general good qualities and worth, while young men of today, preparing themselves for their life work, would do well to emulate his example.

JOSIAH FREEMAN .- Texas has produced many men who have be- come prominent besides the "Texas Rangers," although those pioneer patriots did for Texas what the Vigilance Committee did for California-made it a better place to live in. \ prosperous farmer in the vicinity of Paso Robles who was born near Graham, Young county, in the Lone Star State, on Sep- tember 22, 1886, Joe Freeman, as he is familiarly known, is a worthy son of T. F. Freeman, who first saw the light in Georgia, moved to Texas when a young man and became a prominent cattleman in Young county. lle mar- ried Miss Susan Brown, also a native of Georgia, who has shared his trials and successes from then until now. In 1905 T. F. Freeman came with his family from Texas to California, first settling at Bradley, and three years later he arrived at Paso Robles, where he bought a ranch of two hundred acres four miles east of the town, which his sons now operate while he is living retired in town.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 78

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837- Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1070

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070