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 106

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

USA > California > Santa Clara County > 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 106

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Mr. Helwig was born in Nevada County, Cal., on February 2, 1880, and was the son of John H. and Emma (Bishop) Helwig. The mother is a native daughter of a '49er, her father Alexander Keith Bishop and wife having crossed the plains twice with ox team and once by the way of Cape Horn, while her husband, John H. Helwig, also crossed the plains at the age of nineteen, arriving in California in the year 1849. After mining for a while, he engaged in the wholesale meat busniess in North Bloomfield, Ne- vada County, the town that contained the largest hydraulic mine in the world. The father passed away in 1909 but Mrs. Helwig, who was born at Chinese Camp in 1855 is still living and makes her home in San Jose. This worthy couple had six children, five of whom are living, our subject being the fourth child of the family. He was reared in Nevada County and attended school there until he reached the age of seventeen, at which time he came to San Jose, where he graduated from the Santa Clara High School in 1900. He then attended Stanford University for three years after which he took a course in Falkenaw Mining School, San Fran- cisco, for a year and then worked in the mines in Nevada and Sierra County in different positions. He worked as an assayer in Searchlight, Nevada, and was superintendent of the cyanide plant of the Search- light Milling & Mining Company for three years. He also spent one year as superintendent of the Pine Grove Mining Company in Amador County. He held the position of U. S. storekeeper in the em- ploy of the government off and on for a period of ten years and then took charge of the Internal Reve- nue Office for another three years at a plant in Wash- ington where ethyl alcohol was manufactured from sawdust. On coming back to California, he resigned from the Internal Revenue Service and accepted the charge of the San Diego office of the Commercial Fisheries Department of the California State Fish and Game Commission.

In 1919 the present partnership with P. G. Sheehy was formed as chartered accountants and income tax consultants, as Mr. Helwig had been associated with Mr. Sheehy as a deputy collector in the San Jose In- ternal Revenue Office during the income tax work in 1917 and 1918 when the excess profit law was first passed. During this time he took another course in business training and higher accountancy and so is thoroughly trained both in income tax and accoun-

tancy work. In 1919 he received the degree of char- tered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the State of California.

Mr. Helwig's marriage in Nevada City united him with Miss Ethel Landsburg, born in Nevada County, the daughter of James S. Landsburg, one of the pioneers of Nevada County, and they are the parents of two children, Naida and Barbara. He is a Knights Templar Mason and also a member of Islam Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco and of the 100 Per Cent and Commercial clubs of San Jose.

VICTOR DORNBERGER .- One of Santa Clara County's prominent residents well known through his educational activities, is Victor Dornberger, a native son of Santa Clara County, born September 4, 1865. His father, Lambert Dornberger, was a native of France, born in Alsace, France, April 3, 1828, and was for a few years employed in the dairy- ing business in his native land. On June 9th, 1850, he left his native country and journeyed to the United States and by way of the Isthmus of Panama arrived in San Francisco in the year 1854; in 1856 he moved into Santa Clara County, settled on a ranch at the head of Stevens Creek, back of Los Altos; in 1869 he moved the family to Mayfield, Santa Clara County. His marriage, in 1861, had united him with Miss Anna Kleinclaus, also a native of Alsace, and seven children were born to them, six sons, all living, and one daughter, Mrs. Julia Ross, now deceased. The father passed away in 1910 and the mother in 1900.

Victor Dornberger received his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools of Mayfield, later supple- menting it with a full course at the State Normal at San Jose, graduating with the class of 1885. His first teaching experience was for seven years at Mayfield, the family home town; then in December, 1894, he went to Wadsworth, Nev., where he re- mained as principal for four years; then to Lovelock, Nev., for five years; then returned to Mayfield, Cal., where he taught for seven years. In the year of 1911 he took charge of the Lincoln School, San Jose, where he is still instructor, and to his efforts are due much of the great progress and development which have characterized the public schools of this city.

His first marriage united him with Miss Susie M. Beeson, who passed away in 1917; one child, Victrine Suzette, was born to them. His second marriage was to Miss Mary F. Corkery, daughter of an old pioneer family. While principal of the school at Mayfield, Mr. Dornberger served on the town board and for one year was chairman of the board. Dur- ing the recent war, gave active assistance in all the drives; assisted the physicians with the physical and mental examinations of the soldiers and sailors. He has rendered valuable assistance in maintaining the standard of excellence in educational affairs in his vicinity, and he may be relied upon at all times to support measures which have for their object the betterment and progress of mankind. He is a con- sistent member of the Catholic Church and is a mem- ber of the California Teachers' Association and the National Educational Association, and he has taken lecture courses at the Teachers' College as well as in Nevada, while a resident there. Of the original ranch purchased by Lambert Dornberger, consisting of 1,300 acres, 800 of it is now owned by Victor and his twin brother, Albert L. Dornberger, and known as the Dornberger Ranch.

Mrs & It. Con

G.S. Cox.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

GEORGE W. COX .- Foremost among the pio- neer ranchers and farmers in Santa Clara County is George W. Cox, a native son of Santa Clara County, who has contributed his share in the up- building and in the growth and progress in the neighborhood of Saratoga. He was born at the old Cox homestead, November 23, 1861, the son of Wil- liam and Dicey (Baggs) Cox, both natives of Ohio, and pioneers of Santa Clara County, whose interest- ing biography is found on another page in this his- tory. George W. Cox was educated in the Moreland public school, where he gained a good education. From the time he was a small boy he assisted his father on the farm, and while still quite young made a hand driving the big teams in the grain fields. fn 1884 he began working at the carpenter's trade, and followed it off and on from 1884 till 1892, except the time he spent (in 1885-'86) attending the Garden City Business College, then held over the Farmers' Union Store in San Jose, in charge of Prof. H. B. Worcester. After he was graduated from this insti- tution he again resumed his trade. In 1887 he as- sisted his father when he began setting out his ranch to orchards, as well as helping to set out other early orchards in this section. In 1892 he gave his time to the care of the home orchards, and in 1895 he married Miss Emma Walter, who was born near Mountain View, a daughter of Mathias and Carrie (Krause) Walter and a sister of H. C. Walter.

"After his marriage Mr. Cox located on his present place and built a pleasant home, and in 1900 he built the present commodions residence. His home place comprises twenty acres on Cox Avenue, set to orchard as early as 1891, and he also owns a fifteen- acre orchard on Saratoga Avenue, all devoted to the culture of prunes. In 1913 he bored a deep well and obtained a good flow of water, having an electric pumping plant with a capacity of 750 gallons per minute, sufficient not only for irrigating his own orchards but several of his neighbors. He has given much thought to his orchards and they are culti- vated in a scientific and intelligent manner.

Mr. Cox was bereaved of his faithful wife, who passed away January 7, 1916, leaving a son, Ivan, who is ably assisting his father in his ranching en- terprise. He married Miss Florence Plaskett and they are the proud parents of two children, Robley and Alode Elizabeth. George W. Cox's second mar- riage occurred March 29, 1920, when he was united with Mrs. Margaret (Faletti) Morello, the widow of Frank Morello and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Faletti. By her first marriage Mrs. Cox be- came the mother of four children: Theresa, Charles, Joseph and Frank. Mr. Cox is a believer in co- operation as the best method of marketing the fruit, and is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Growers' Association.

LORENZO V. SLAVICH .- A resident for many years of Santa Clara County, who has demonstrated his admiration for his adopted country, by fostering and promoting every movement for the advancement of the community in which he makes his home, is Lorenzo V. Slavich, who was born on October 30, 1857, in Dalmatia, Jugo-Slavia, Austria, on the Isle of Brazza, town of Mirce, a son of John and Katherine (Nizetich) Slavich, well-to-do farmers, and manu- facturers of olive oil and wine. The father and mother of Lorenzo V. Slavich were members of the Catholic Church, and the father served his local

community as town trustee; he lived to be eighty- one years of age and passed away in his native land, honored and respected by all. The mother also lived to be eighty-one years old.

Lorenzo V. Slavich attended the public schools of Mirce until he had reached the age of fifteen, when he sailed for America. His uncle, the late George Slavich, proprietor of the Union Restaurant, the oldest business of the kind in San Jose, had written for him to come to California, but was taken seri- ously ill, and just before the arrival of Lorenzo, had moved away, and the restaurant was disposed of. and it was three years before he saw his uncle. When Lorenzo arrived the only thing left for him to do was to seek employment elsewhere, and he found a position that paid ten dollars per month. Within three months he accepted another position at a wage of twenty-five dollars per month. Thrilled with the stories of the wealth to be found in mining, he went to Amador County, where he entered the employ of the Plymonth Consolidated Mining Com- pany, working in their mill; later he removed to Eldorado County, where a large flume was in the course of construction for carrying water for placer mining. He worked there for some time, but on account of the closing of the California National Bank of San Francisco, the company was forced to quit and Mr. Slavich obtained only a small part of the money for which he had labored so hard. He be- came an American citizen while residing in Eldorado County. He was now twenty-one years old. and concluded to return to San Jose. He conducted a billiard parlor for a time during 1882, but sold out and invested the proceeds in a restaurant in Gilroy, which proved to be a wise move, and which netted him liberal profits during his five years there. How- ever, he disposed of this business and returned to San Jose and became manager of a restaurant, where he remained ten years.

In May, 1897, Mr. Slavich purchased a restaurant business on West San Fernando Street, and after spending about $7,000 on improvements, the res- taurant was opened for business on June 25, 1897. Friends came from all parts of the state to enjoy the special program, and to bestow good wishes for success and prosperity on the enterprise. His ven- ture proved a profitable one, and for many years his establishment has yielded a handsome income, and was known throughout the northern part of the state as a place where one was sure to procure an excellent meal. Very recently, on account of failing health, Mr. Slavich has been forced to relinquish his activity, and has turned over the business to his son-in-law, John V. Slavich, who served as manager of the restaurant for twenty-one years.

The first marriage of Mr. Slavich united him with Miss Annie Winegarden, a daughter of one of Santa Clara County's pioneer families, born and reared in San Jose, in a house which formerly stood, and where now stands the Federal building, on the cor- ner of Market and San Fernando streets. Her father, William Winegarden, was a merchant in the early days. He married Miss Marie Messa, who was born in Sausalito, a daughter of a very old Spanish family of Northern California. Mr. and Mrs. Slavich had three children: John died when two and a half years old; Katherine married John V. Slavich of San Jose and she died September 5, 1921, leaving a daugh- ter, Gwenny; and Celestina Olga. the wife of Gus

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Wendt, a well known merchant of San Jose. Mr. Slavich has been prominent in all movements for the upbuildings of his adopted city, and gives unstint- ingly of his time and means to every activity. He was one of the number of progressive citizens who organized and named the Slavonic-American Benefit Society of San Jose in 1894. with a charter mem- bership of thirty-eight, and he was president for eleven consecutive years. He was the recipient of two medals presented by the society in appreciation of his untiring energy and efforts in behalf of the work. He is also an active member of the Italian Benevolent Society of San Jose, also a member and president for about twelve years of the Austrian Benevolent Society of San Jose, and was a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat, and has served on the local election board as judge for the past twenty- five years. Since the founding of the San Jose branch of the Bank of Italy, Mr. Slavich has been a member of the board of directors.

Mr. Slavich's life was saddened by the death of his wife on May 26, 1911, a woman of culture and education, a graduate of Notre Dame, speaking flu- ently both Spanish and English. She was mourned by a host of loving friends besides the members of her immediate family. During the year 1893, Mr. Slavich made a tour through France, Germany, Austria, and Italy, spending four months visiting his parents, and renewing the acquaintances of boyhood. After his return to California the residence located at 221 West St. James Street was built, and has since been the center of many happy gatherings.

The second marriage of Mr. Slavich occurred December 6, 1914, uniting him with Miss Marica Gligo, also a native of Jugo-Slavia, and a resident of San Jose since 1914. They are the parents of one daughter, Draga. Mrs. Slavich has two brothers, who are merchants in San Pedro, Cal.

The part which Mr. Slavich has borne in the development of this county is one which every patri- otic and public-spirited citizen feels it an honor to bear, and when appealed to for practical aid in promoting the well being of his community he gives freely of his time and means.

SIVERT HJERLIED SHELLEY, C. E .- A suc- cessful civil engineer whose long years of arduous, progressive service have led to a comfortable retire- ment, is Sivert Hjerlied Shelley, who was born at Dovre, Norway, on December 8, 1835, the son of Ola and Marit Hjerlied, under whose wise and skilful guidance the lad grew to boyhood. Travelers of one kind or another who stopped at the village of Dovre had a wonderful influence in stimulating the imagina- tion and ambition of Sivert Hjerlied, and it was with a good deal of joyful excitement, as well as some sadness, that at the age of thirteen, he bade his parents goodbye and made off for Christiania, the capital of Norway. There he served an apprentice- ship of four and one-half years to a civil engineer and then he attended the government's navy yard school, earning his own way.

After leaving school he went to Sweden where he was draftsman in the office of a large plant, rolling mill, ship building, bridge work, etc., and after he had demonstrated his ability he was made the super- intendent of the boiler plant. This was located on the canal between Gottenberg and Stockholm. In 1862 he went to England, located near Middles-

brough on the River Tees, became a draftsman and one year after his arrival there he was called upon to take charge of the construction for a firm of ship- owners at Trondjheim, Norway, of a ship at Hull, England. He had never seen any member of this firm, but his reputation had preceded him. After completing this vessel he built two others, these were constructed at the same yard as the liner Lusitania.

Mr. Shelley later was made manager and liad entire charge of the engineering department of a large plant of four units and thus established a name for himself as one of the leading construction en- gineers of England. He made the plans and super- intended the construction of a large bridge over the River Tees, near Saltburn, England; and while the great Brooklyn Bridge was under way in New York, he was drawing plans for a prospective bridge over the Firth of Forth, but this never was completed. Mr. Shelley left the construction business and em- barked in the manufacturing and refining of sugar and a product of his plant was a special colored pow- dered sugar; making all of his own machinery used in his plant and superintending the work himself. This returned him handsome profits, when he sold out in 1888. His dyes were pure vegetable and were imported from France. Mr. Shelley invented and had patented several inventions, among them a smoke consumer, an appliance attached to the boiler. The last year of his residence in England our subject, through court procedure, added Shelley to his name.

Mr. Shelley was married at Middlesbrough, Eng- land, September 12, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Sharp, daughter of Isaac Sharp a well known missionary and inspector of missions. It was while he was traveling about the world on a religious visit in 1891 that he visited the Santa Clara Valley and stopped a short time with his daughter. He died in 1897, past ninety years of age, at his home at Stratford-on- Avon. Seven children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Shelley, five of them now living:

Harold II. is a rancher in this county; Elsie H. is the wife of Professor H. Heath, Ph. D., of Stanford University, and they live at Palo Alto; Ida H. main- tains a music studio and is a well known teacher of music in Sacramento; Helen H. is a doctor of os- teopathy in San Jose; and Oswald H. is a civil engi- neer, now living in San Francisco. There are also six grandchildren.

Mr. Shelley had made up his mind to come to the United States and in 1887 his wife and some mem- bers of the family left England to join their eldest son, who had come to the Santa Clara Valley in 1886. As soon as Mr. Shelley could conclude his business engagements he, too, came to join his fam- ily. He had invested in ten acres of land here before he made the journey, and after he came he made further investments in various ranch enterprises in the Santa Clara Valley, at the same time that he had enlisted his sons in the ventures and undertak- ings. At the age of eighty-six, he is still hale and hearty in body and mind -- a good student, a deep reader, a profound thinker. His public-spiritedness, as well as his experience of life in various countries have prompted him, very naturally, to favor educa- tional advancement in the Santa Clara Valley, and he has thus been able to do much toward that kind of permanent broad-minded development which must mean so much for the future. At present Mr. and Mrs. Shelley make their home at 137 North Thir- teenth Street, San Jose.

Etta J. Cox.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

At San Jose, Mr. Shelley received his paper certi- fying to his citizenship in the United States, and since that time he has done what he could to stimu- late American patriotism. He votes with the Repub- Cicans, is a live wire in the local Chamber of Com- merce, and belongs to and supports the programs of the State Grange of California.

LA FAYETTE COX .- Long years of active and successful ranching in Santa Clara County, have won for LaFayette Cox the reputation of being a scientific horticulturist and an up-to-date farmer and he ar- dently champions all measures having for their aim the betterment of horticultural interests in Santa Clara Valley. He was born on his father's old home- stead near Saratoga. September 29, 1869, the son of William and Dicey (Baggs) Cox, pioneers of Santa Clara County represented elsewhere in this history.

La Fayette Cox is the youngest of a family of nine children and enjoyed the privileges of the pub- lic schools in the Moreland district and has always lived in Santa Clara Valley. After completing the grammar school he took a course in the Garden City Commercial College of which H. B. Worcester was the proprietor, the school being located over the Farmers Union on the corner of San Pedro and Santa Clara streets. There he was graduated on May 10, 1886. Budd Cox, as he is familiarly known by his many friends-a name that has clung to him since his childhood-was carly set to work on the farm aiding his father and learned habits of indus- try and thrift as well as close application to his tasks. Thus as a boy he learned to drive the big teams in the grain fields. His father began setting out or- chards in 1886 so it fell to the lot of Budd to assist setting out all these orchards on the old William Cox ranch, the one on his present place being set out in 1891. They raised the nursery stock to set out the orchards and from the time Mr. Cox was eight years of age he learned to bud and graft and to care for the trees. He is intensely interested in his work and has made a close study of the science of horticulture and is an authority in this line of endeavor. He now owns forty-three acres a part of his father's old ranch which was originally purchased in the early fifties. and is devoted to prunes and apricots.

In Campbell, August 4, 1900, Mr. Cox was married to Miss Etta Trailor, who was born at Kelseyville, Lake County, in 1880 a daughter of Eli and Nancy (Marvin) Trailor, both natives of Illinois who mi- grated to California in 1870 and located in Lake County, where they resided until their death, the father passing away at the age of sixty-eight and the mother at sixty-six years. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children six of whom are living as follows: Mrs. Laura Lukens of Oakland; Henry, Joshua M. and Clifford A., all of Lake County; Mrs. Rose Bulen of San Leandro; Mrs. Etta Cox, the youngest, received her education in the schools of Kelseyville and Vacaville, California, until her par- ents moved to Campbell, Santa Clara County, and it was here she met La Fayette Cox, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage.

By close application to his work and the use of mod- ern machinery and up to date methods Mr. Cox keeps his orchards in the finest shape thus insuring good crops of high class fruit. He has always had the as- sistance of his capable wife to whom he gives no small amount of credit for his success and the

achievement of his ambition. He lives by the Golden Rule and is highly esteemed and appreciated by all who know him.

He enjoys hunting and has a number of fine ant- lers, trophies of many pleasant hunting trips to the mountains, a sport he thoroughly enjoys. In nation- al politics Mr. Cox is a Democrat. An enterprising and progressive rancher, he holds an enviable po- sition among his fellow-citizens as an unusually suc- cessful farmer and horticulturist.

EDWARD M. WEAVER .-- A resident of Santa Clara County since 1875, Edward M. Weaver, who has been very active in all that tends to promote the general welfare of his adopted county and particu- larly of the city of San Jose. His birth occurred on a farm near Willimantic, Windham County, Conn., on September 21, 1842, his parents being Joseph E. and Almina (Dunham) Weaver, both natives of Connecticut. The father was a millwright by occu- pation, who migrated to the Pacific Coast in 1874, where he followed his trade at the Lick Mills at Alviso, and at Saratoga, also at Guadalupe mine. The paternal antecedents were prominently identified with the settling of Connecticut. Their family con- sisted of six children, the mother passing away carly in life. Edward was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the public schools of his native county until he was twelve, and after that attended only through the winter months and assisted his father during the summer. On September 15, 1861, he enlisted at Hartford in Company D. Eighth Con- necticut Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Ward. The company went to Long Island, later going to Annapolis, at which place they entered Burnside's Expedition. Many skirmishes and battles were fought, among them being Roanoke Island, Battle of Newbern, Fort Mason, South Mountain, Antietam, Walthall Junction, Swift Creek, Drury Bluff, Cold Harbor, Petersburg. Fort Harrison and Richmond. During the battle of Antietam Mr. Weaver received severe wounds, one ball passing through his side, another entering his arm at the elbow and coming out near the wrist, another one hitting the little finger of the left hand. After he was wounded he was in danger of capture, but being a good runner. escaped, though many of his com- rades were sent to Libby Prison. On account of his term of enlistment having expired he was discharged December 23, 1863, but veteraned and reenlisted in the same company, receiving his second discharge December 12, 1865, reaching his home in Connecticut after serving four years and three months.

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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 106

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