History of Santa Clara 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, Part 104

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

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MAJOR WILLIAM A. COULTER .- A dis- tinguished representative of the Union forces in the Civil War, Major William A Coulter, of 15 South Thirteenth Street, San Jose, has lived to occupy a position of especial honor in a period when a younger generation has also exhibited in such a mas- terful way the same shining characteristics. He was born at Harrisburg, Pa., on October 8, 1839, the son of James Ramsey Coulter, who was born at Wil- liamsport, Pa., and became a newspaper man, mas- tering the details of the business from the work of the reporter, through the editorial sanctum, and to the counting room of the publisher. As a young writer, James Ramsey Coulter was affiliated with Alexander Cummins, the owner of the Evening Her- ald of Philadelphia, and some years later with the staff of the New York World. It was in the years just prior to the Civil War when James Ramsey Coulter and his brother William became prominent as newspaper men in Pennsylvania, and for nearly twenty years they pulled together as partners. The Coulter ancestry reaches back to Scotch-Irish settlers who came out to America during the Colonial period.

James R. Coulter married Miss Lucy R. Balsley, who was the daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Harris) Balsley. Sarah Harris' cousin, John Harris, granted to the state of Pennsylvania the ground on which the capitol of Pennsylvania is built, as well as the beau- tiful capitol grounds surrounding this site, which he deeded to the state for use so long as the capitol shall remain in that place. The city takes its name from the Harris family.

William A Coulter attended the public schools at Harrisburg, and in 1859, he entered the Ohio Wes- lyan University in Delaware, Ohio. He became a member of the "Lenapee Grays," a military company, and had military training for a year before the Civil War broke out. On October 4. 1861, he enlisted in the Eighteenth United States Infantry, in the new army authorized by Congress, and "bunked" with Gen. William H. Bisbee, now retired. H. B. Car- rington, adjutant-general of Ohio, was put in com- mand of the newly-formed regiment. Mr. Coulter was captain and assistant adjutant-general of a divi- sion of cavalry in the battle of Nashville, Tenn. After this he was adjutant-general of a division of cavalry commanded by Gen. Joseph F. Knipe, and

D. P. Cody

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

took part in the campaign against Mobile, Ala., when General Canby had command; after this he was assigned to duty as assistant adjutant-general to Gen. J. M. Brannan, chief of the artillery to Gen. George H. Thomas, commanding the armies of the West. Later still, Mr. Coulter was made assistant- adjutant to Gen. A. M. Brannan, commanding the district of Savannah with headquarters at Savannah until 1866, and then he served as assistant adjutant- general to Gen. W. H. Emery at his headquarters in Washington, D. C. In 1866 he was commissioned major by the president and Secretary of War, for faithful service during the war. The Freedmen's Report was prepared by Major Coulter during these two years and sent to General Howard, who was in command of the Freedmen's Bureau for the United States. He sent it to Congress with the recom- mendation that the Freedmen's Bureau be extended another year and a bill was passed by Congress to that effect. Then the Major was assigned to duty at Richmond, Va., in Gen. E. R. S. Canby's head- quarters; the officer who was prominent in quelling the uprising of the Modoe Indians. In November, 1870, Major Coulter resigned from the army, on which occasion General Canby wrote him a letter complimenting him on his service and regretted he was leaving the service. While in Richmond, and before his resignation, he appeared before three judges at Richmond, passed the required examina- tions, and was admitted to the practice of law. After his resignation he established his residence in Washi- ington, vacating the mansion at Richmond that had been used, until the close of the war, by Jefferson Davis, and for nearly fifteen years he followed his profession in Washington, becoming there a well- known attorney, and fostering the rapid and sane development in house-erecting in that live city, com- pleting forty residences which he afterwards sold. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States.

Preceded by his wife's family, Major and Mrs. Coulter came out to the Pacific Coast in 1892, the couple having been united in matrimony at Wash- ington in 1890. Mrs. Coulter was Mrs. Augusta (Smith) Oakley before her marriage, and was born in Montgomery County, Md., of an old Maryland family. Her grandfather, Reverend Smith, was an eminent divine in the Methodist Church, and her uncle, Gen. Augustus Smith, was a brigadier-general in the Civil War from Illinois. Mrs. Coulter, by her first marriage, had one child, Roy Oakley, who re- sides at St. Paul. Major and Mrs. Coulter first located at San Francisco; there he practised law and was admitted to practice in the Superior Court of California, but later removed to Santa Clara County, where they invested in fifty acres which they devel- oped into a fine prune orchard. Still maintaining the interest awakened at Washington in worthy architec- ture, Major Coulter has done what he could to improve architectural standards in San Jose, and he has been very successful in beautifying a portion of the city. He now owns the Cosmos Apartments at the corner of East Santa Clara and Thirteenth streets, as well as the fine Coulter residence at 15 South Thirteenth Street, both of which he erected. Since 1910 he has leased his ranch.

During 1911-12 Major Coulter served as com- mander of the Union Veteran Legion, San Jose

Chapter, but in 1915 this chapter was disbanded, owing to the decrease in membership through deaths. He is a member of the California Com- mandery of the military order of the Loyal Legion, and in 1917 was senior vice-commander of the com- mandery. He has also served as patriotic instructor of the Col. A. G. Bennett Post No. 129, G. A. R., of San Jose, and was recently elected a delegate to the California and Nevada Departmental Encampment held at Stockton in May, 1921. Major Coulter has a large acquaintance with military and public men of the Fast. He knew many of the Presidents and cabinet men in the various administrations, viz .: Grant, Logan, Miles, Custer, President Johnson, Hayes. Garfield, Harrison, Arthur, Mckinley, Roose- velt, Cleveland, Taft and James G. Blaine, Henry Cabot Lodge, Senators Quay, Penrose, Philander C. Knox, etc. He is well informed and has a very inter- esting way of narrating events. A gifted speaker, he has often been called upon to participate in notable public gatherings, patriotic meetings and similar oc- casions. He is a Republican and a Knights Templar and Scottish Rite Mason, as well as a Shriner. Major Coulter served as war correspondent for the Harris- burg Telegraph and the New York Army and Navy Journal while on detached service for the Union Army, and he wrote many articles for publication after the war. The late Col. Harry Egbert, who died at the Battle of Manila, was his intimate friend, and while living in Ohio was a delegate and attended the congressional convention which met at Marion, Ohio, when President Harding was a young newspaper man.

ARTHUR F. CASTLE .- A man of enterprise and ability, Arthur F. Castle occupies an assured position among the citizens of San Jose. Born in San Jose, Cal .. October 8, 1879, the eldest son of Isaac Nelson and California (Reel) Castle, a sketch of their lives appearing elsewhere in this work. His father was a native of New York, migrating to California in 1852, coming by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He was an extensive landowner and spent many years in the cattle business and was well known throughout the state. He passed away at the family home in San Jose, January 21, 1911. Mrs. Castle has the distinc- tion of being the first white child born in George- town, Eldorado County. For many years she has been associated with her two sons in stockraising.

Arthur F. Castle attended the public schools of San Jose, supplementing with a course at Thomp- son's Business College at Hollister; he is also a graduate of Heald's Business College at San Jose. From the time he was eight years old he was in the saddle, inheriting much of his father's ability as a stockman, so with his mother and brother he leased the San Luis Ranch of 50,000 acres, part of which is located in Santa Clara County and part in Merced County. He proved very successful in this line of work and in 1918 they purchased a large tract of land in the Napa Valley; this was in partnership with his brother. Roy N. Castle, and his mother. They became well known as the most extensive cat- tlemen and stockmen in the Valley and were known throughout the whole state of California. This part- nership was dissolved in 1920, having disposed of their holdings, and Mr. Castle became the owner of the Castle Hair Store, located at 70 South First Street, San Jose. In 1921 he and his brother again

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

engaged in stockraising on a large tract of about 4,000 acres lying near Gilroy.

In early manhood Mr. Castle married Miss Clara E. Matthews, who is a native of Calaveras County, Cal., and the daughter of W. W. and Rachael Mat- thews. They are the parents of two accomplished children, Lorrine, a student of the San Jose high school, and Yvonne, also attending the schools of San Jose. Politically, Mr. Castle is a Republican. and in fraternal circles is popular in the ranks of the Masons and Elks. A deep lover of music, he is also a gifted violinist, and his talent in this direction is the source of much pleasure to his many friends.

AUSTIN N. LOSSE .- With the development of the fruit industry in California the name of Losse is inseparably associated, and Austin N. Losse, a leading horticulturist of Santa Clara County, is ably carrying forward the work instituted by his father, who was a pioneer in the dried fruit industry in this state. Austin N. Losse, subject of this review, was born in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1881, a son of H. E. and Carrie (Keogh) Losse, both of whom are now deceased, the former passing away in 1918, at the age of sixty-five, while the latter's demise occurred in April, 1921. when she had reached the sixty- seventh milestone. The father came to the Golden State in 1887, arriving here at about the same time as A. C. Kuhn. now deceased. He settled in Santa Clara County, where he purchased land, on which he engaged in the raising of fruit, which he dried and packed. He became a pioneer in the dried fruit in- dustry, being one of the pioneer firms engaged in that business in Northern California. His initiative spirit and constructive effort enabled him to build up an enterprise of extensive proportions, the ca- pacity of his plant approximating 25,000,000 pounds of dried fruit a year. The superiority of the output gained for it a wide sale and the products of the plant were shipped to all parts of the globe, the business being conducted as H. E. Losse & Company. Mr. Losse was also interested in financial affairs, be- ing president of the Santa Clara Valley Bank, of Santa Clara, and he was preeminently a business man whose record was written in terms of success, for he possessed the ability to think in large terms and whatever he undertook he carried forward to a suc- cessful termination. He was a member of the St. Claire Club and was recognized as one of the fore- most citizens, not only of Santa Clara County, but of the state.

In the acquirement of an education Austin N. Losse attended the grammar and high schools of San Jose and the University of California, from which he was graduated with the class of 1905. After completing his studies he became his father's asso- ciate in the dried fruit industry, with which he was connected until 1917. when the business was sold to the Rosenberg Brothers Fruit Company of San Fran- cisco, by whom it is still conducted. Since 1917 Mr. Losse has been interested in business with his brother. Weir C. Losse, and his sister, Mrs. James C. Blair. They operate some of the choicest fruit land in Santa Clara County, being the owners of a valuable fruit ranch of 340 acres, devoted mainly to the raising of apricots, but a considerable acreage is also given over to the production of pears, plums and prunes. Upon the place are two wells, which furnish an abundant supply of water for irrigation

purposes, and owing to the superior quality of the fruit it commands a ready sale. Mr. Losse is thor- oughly conversant with the details connected with the production of fruit, carries on his labors scien- tifically, and keeps well informed on all modern de- velopments relating to his line of work. For a num- ber of years he had the controlling interest in the Vendome Hotel, of which he was manager in 1918.

In San Jose, on August 12, 1909, was solemnized the marriage of Austin N. Losse and Miss Louise P. McGraw, a native of Mankato, Minn., and a daughter of Dr. D. F. and Emma McGraw. The father was for many years a prominent dentist and highly respected citizen of San Jose, building up an extensive practice. Mrs. Losse attended the gram- mar and high schools of San Jose and completed her education at the Marlborough School of Los An- geles, Cal. Two children were born of that union, Beatrice Jessie and Henry Edward. The wife and mother passed away on December 3, 1918, a victim of the influenza epidemic, and in that year Mr. Losse also lost his father. He is a prominent member of the St. Claire Club and is a man of high principles and substantial qualities, progressive and reliable in business, loyal in citizenship and at all times display- ing devotion to the duties that devolve upon him.

FORREST D. SANDERS .- A thoroughly enter- prising and successful business man of Saratoga, who considers it an honor to have been born in this beautiful county, is Forrest D. Sanders, who first saw the light in Los Gatos, March 13, 1878. He is the son of C. W. and Hannah (Showers) Sanders, who came to Los Gatos about 1874. The father is a New Yorker by birth and the mother a native of Missouri. In the pioneer days, the father was an assayer at Virginia City, Nev., and has followed the occupation of mining ever since coming to California and is still in the mines near Angels Camp. The mother is deceased. The eldest of three children, Forrest attended school in Los Gatos until the family removed to St. Louis, Mo., when he was nine years old, when he went to school there. His career was varied by different occupations, first as a newsboy, then as elevator boy at Nugent's Dry Goods Store in St. Louis, and then he embarked in business for himself, owning a second hand store and a wood and coal yard in St. Louis. He was eighteen years old when he returned to Los Gatos in 1896, and for a time worked in a cannery, then for two years he worked in the mines. Not being satisfied with min- ing as a permanent occupation, he assumed the management of the orchard owned by Rev. E. S. Williams; later he purchased a small ranch of his own and in the meantime took up contracting and carpentry and thus went into the lumber business. Owing to the great demand, he first began the manu- facture of fruit trays, but gradually enlarged his business and was so progressive and aggressive that he very soon absorbed the Adams Lumber Com- pany, thus practically controlling the lumber business in the vicinity of Saratoga.

On March 15, 1899, Mr. Sanders was united in marriage with Miss Alice Maud Gardner, of Sara- toga, a daughter of a worthy pioneer family, her father being Daniel F. Gardner, a pioneer horticul- turist who came to California across the plains in 1850, while her mother, Sarah (Kenyon) Gardner. crossed the plains in 1849 with her father, James Kenyon, the pioneer of Homestead Road. They are

Gustin n. Lasse

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

the parents of two children. David F., who is associ- ated with his father in the lumber business, and John F. Mr. Sanders has been a life-long stand-pat Republican, and for six years he has served as school trustee. Mr. Sanders united with the Cen- tenary Methodist Church in St. Louis in 1894, and soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sanders be- came members of the Congregational Church in Saratoga in which they have taken an active part, contributing liberally to its benevolences, Mrs. San- ders taking an active part in the ladies' societies of the church. Since the Christian Church federated with the Congregational, they are now members of the Federated Church and continue their activity. Mr. Sanders has been active as president of the Christian Endeavor. Mrs. Sanders is a cultured woman and as such exerts her influence for good in the community. She is prominent in civic and social circles, being a member of the Foothill Study Club and the Parent-Teachers' Association. Mr. Sanders is a man of pleasing personality which, coupled with much native business ability, speaks for his success. He has the interests of the com- mutity much at heart and is active in all movements that have for their aim the improvement of the town and betterment of the people. He is a member of the Commercial Club and the Men's Club and it was this latter organization that made the local Boy Scouts a possibility and success. He joined the True Fellowship Lodge, I. O. O. F., Santa Clara, and later demitting, became a charter member of Sara- toga Lodge No. 428, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand. He is also a member of Encampment No. 77, San Jose, and with his wife is a member of Saratoga Rebekah Lodge No. 337, in which Mrs. Sanders served two terms as noble grand. Mr. San- ders is also a member of the Foresters of America and the Modern Woodmen. He has been an active member of the Saratoga Improvement Association since its organization in 1900 and since 1921 has been the president of the Association.

JAMES CASLEY .- Noteworthy among the most thriving, able and progressive business men of San Jose, is James Casley, general cement and sewer con- tractor. Inheriting his industrious and energetic spirit and the sterling virtues of a long line of sturdy English ancestry, he has met with success in his active career, and has won the confidence and good- will of the community in which he resides. A native of England, he was born October 17, 1860, in Corn- wall, parish of St. Just, which was also the birthplace of his father and mother, James and Elizabeth (Thomas) Casley. The father, James Casley, fol- lowed the occupation of farming during his entire lifetime. While he did not aspire to holding a public office, he was progressive and public spirited and always interested in the welfare of the community in which he resided. He retained his interest in public affairs to the day of his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-three.

During his early boyhood, James, Jr., attended school in his native parish, receiving instruction from his father in farming and agriculture, which served him well in future years. The youth of Mr. Casley was not singled out for special favors on the part of good fortune, and he is essentially a self-made man, depending always upon the natural and ac- quired gifts which aided his ambition. He was reared to habits of extreme thrift by his parents, and

when he arrived at the age of twenty-two, with an inborn determination to succeed, he embarked for America, and landed in Quebec, Canada, on July 6, 1882. His first job was that of farmhand at the meager wage of twenty dollars per month. This served to tide him over for a time, but not satisfied with this, four months later he went to Michigan, where he obtained employment in the iron and cop- per mines. During the next year, he went to La Salle County, Ill., again taking up the work for which he was best fitted, that of farming. He leased land near Marseilles, Ill., paying as high as four dollars per acre rent, and was successful in his ven- ture, his chief crop being corn. Still he was not satisfied with farming as a vocation, and leaving the scene of his success, he came to California in No- vember, 1891, locating at San Jose. His early les- sons in thrift had caused him to accumulate some funds, and he very soon invested in property in the Montgomery and Rea subdivisions, later erecting a residence on North Seventeenth Street.

Before leaving Illinois, Mr. Casley was married to Miss Salina Price in Marseilles on December 9, 1885. Mrs. Casley was also a native of England, being born in Halsoen, September 16, 1855, and she came to America in 1880, locating in Illinois. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Casley: Albert. deceased; William, deceased; Lizzie, deceased; Mary married Walter H. Ratz, and they have one child, Gertrude, a graduate of high school, resides with her parents; Alice, a graduate of the State Normal School, is teaching in the public schools of San Jose. Mrs. Casley passed away in October, 1915, and is buried in the beautiful cemetery at Oak Hill, where the children who are deceased are buried.

Soon after coming here, Mr. Casley chose his loca- tion for his business, and with his usual energy, he has established himself as a general cement and sewer contractor, making for himself an enviable reputation. His one ambition, throughout his busi- ness career, has been to excel in the quality of his work, and keeping this in mind at all times, he has succeeded in establishing himself as the leading con- tractor in his line of Santa Clara County. He has laid miles and miles of sewer and his cement work has always been first class. Mr. Casley used a ditch- ing machine in his work and was the first man to own one in Santa Clara County. This is a great labor-saving device, since before operating this ma- chine, he regularly employed twenty-five men, and now the same amount of work can be accomplished with the help of four men. Mr. Casley has built many of the beautiful bridges, which are the pride of Santa Clara County, and he has been successful, far beyond his expectations, in his chosen work.

Mr. Casley has taken an active interest in Republi- can politics ever since coming to the West, serving as a delegate to the county convention on the Re- publican ticket in 1910. Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and an Odd Fellow. He is a stockholder in the Don Jose Investment Company of San Jose and has extensive real estate interests in that city. He is public spirited and en- terprising, and his example of industry and sobriety may well be followed by the seekers of success. Mr. Casley received his citizenship papers while a resi- dent of La Salle, Ill., during the year of 1888, from the Superior Court, presided over by Judge Snyder.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

REV. A. W. NOEL PORTER, Ph. D .- A schol- arly representative of the Episcopal clergy in Cali- fornia, the Rev. Dr. A. W. Noel Porter, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, San Jose, enjoys a status and exerts an influence socially, intellectually, and religiously such as anyone might envy who was de- sirous of leading the world onward and upward to better things. He was born at Bellary, India, on December 18, 1885, the son of John and Martha (Starling) Porter. John Porter was born in Devon- shire, England, educated in the public schools, and graduated from a military academy, after which he received a college degree. He was then sent to India, where he was promoted to be Regimental Inspector and was put in charge of military schools. He mar- ried in Barbados, of the West Indies, Miss Martha Starling, who was born there, and had been educated in a French academy at Paris; but as her parents were extensive landowners in the West Indies and the Isle of Barbados, she made her home there. They resided for a time in England then in Ireland and then once in India, where the father died in 1888, survived by his wife and children, our subject and his sister, Mrs. Albert Leehome of Santa Barbara. The mother died in England in 1900.

Mr. Porter attended the Grosvenor House School in England, which was located at Walthamstow, and from there he was able to effect his entrance, by examination, to the University of Southern California. Coming out to Los Angeles in 1902. in 1904 entered the university. He acted as secretary and treasurer of the S. D. Sturgis & Bro. Company, while study- ing, and enjoyed a varied business experience which gave him a keen insight into practical busi- ness methods. He had already been fortunate in the matter of inheritance; for his paternal ancestors, from whom sprang men prominent in India and Aus- tralia, were widely experienced in military and naval affairs, and his forebears on his mother's side were prominent as churchmen and plantation owners. One branch of the Porter family were early settlers of Virginia, members of which took part in the Colonial and Revolutionary struggles. In 1908 Mr. Porter received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California, and six years later he was given the Bachelor of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1911 he had been ordained a deacon and priest by Bishop Johnson and became rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, and in 1915 he received his Master's degree from his Alma Mater. In 1916 the degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred upon him by the College of the State of Iowa.

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History of Santa Clara 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, Part 104

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846- Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1928

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928