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 114

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 114

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The youth of Mr. Navlet 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 acquired gifts which have aided his ambition. A native son of San Francisco, he was born in the year 1867, a son of Victor Navlet, a native of France. When but a small boy, Victor Navlet had heard of the wonderful country across the waters, and when young manhood was reached he determined to seek his fortune in America and California, and embarked for the long and perilous journey around the Horn to San Francisco. This voyage always stood out with strange vividness in his memory, for it was attended with many dangers, owing to terrific storms which they encountered, but they finally turned toward the promised land, and arrived in San Francisco in the early part of 1848. Mr. Navlet's mother was Miss Eu Frazee, a native of Paris, France, who came to America as early as 1850. The senior Navlet was a man of great resourcefulness, and he very soon established his own business in San Francisco, that of manufacturing reed baskets, the first factory of this kind in the West. His bnsi- ness prospered and when he passed away in 1883 he had become a prominent figure in the commercial circles of the Bay City. He was survived by four sons, two of whom died in early manhood. Mrs. Navlet passed away in 1910. The subject of this historical review is the older of the two surviving sons, the other son residing in Oakland, Cal.

Charles C. Navlet's schooling was obtained in San Francisco, but the lessons of practical experience proved invaluable to him. At the age of eleven he began working in floral shops in San Francisco, among others he secured employment with H. Pottet, who was one of the first florists in San Francisco. and worked for him three years, and when he was sixteen he was in business for himself at Stockton and O'Farrell streets. Later he decided to learn the harness maker's trade, and worked at it for one year. However, he was not satisfied with this trade, and his thought turned again to the floral business.

In 1885 he removed to San Jose and rented a space eight by fifteen feet, a fine location for his business. One year later, at the age of nineteen, he opened the first real florist shop in San Jose. His equipment was limited and at the close of the first year. he found himself several hundred dollars in debt. It was about this time that the Pampas grass plumes were very much in favor and the large, feathery plumes found ready sale in the East, and by supplying the Eastern nurseries with the coveted plumes, he got a substantial foothold and success crowned his efforts from that time forward. During the years of 1889 and 1890 he acquired the appela- tion of the "Lilac King," because he had established a market for these fragrant blossoms in San Fran- cisco and was enabled to supply the great demand for them. His business grew steadily and he branched ont as a nurseryman and a bulb importer. Outgrowing the quarters where his first store was established, in 1903 he erected a two-story building of his own, operating a three-fold business, a floral art display, retail seed and plant department and the mail order department. His success made it possible to open branch stores in Oakland and San Francisco. He leases a 20-acre tract on the Story road, where he has his nursery; he also has two and one-half acres in San Jose on Prevost Street which he uses for a sales yard, and he owns an orchard of twelve acres at Mt. Pleasant. He has invested his surplus capital in a number of residence properties in San Jose, among them being the fine home of one and a half acres in The Willows.

His mail order business has assumed large propor- tions. His first catalogne was issued in 1903, and now thousands of people all over the country await the announcement that the catalogue is ready for distri- bution. Mr. Navlet sustained a severe loss on account of the earthquake of 1906, but while feeling the loss keenly, it was an incentive to a greater store and a more extensive patronage.

The marriage of Charles C. Navlet united him with Miss Marie Indart, who was born in Tres Pinos, San Benito County, a daughter of Juan Indart, a pioneer of California, who came from the Basses- Pyrenees section of France, attracted by the glowing tales of the wealth to be obtained in the mines. He became a prominent stockman of San Benito County and Nevada, and when he passed away, his sons con- tinued the business. Mrs. Navlet's mother still resides at Tres Pinos, on the old Indart homestead, and has reached the ripe age of eighty-four years. Frater- nally Mr. Navlet is a charter member of the Elks and Native Sons, also a member of the Garden City Lodge, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican.

The floral business requires a working force of forty-five people, so great is the demand which Mr. Navlet has established for his products. By his

J. 6. Mars

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

initiative and firm determination to succeed, he has educated the people to love flowers and plants to such an extent that it is with difficulty that he can produce sufficient stock to meet the demand of his patronage. He can always be depended upon to further with time and money any worthy enter- prise, and takes great pride in the advancement of California in general and Santa Clara County and San Jose in particular. The standard established by Mr. Navlet is being improved upon each year, and his name will be forever associated with this great and valuable resource of the West.

JOHN C. THORP .- Arriving in California in 1889 with assets consisting chiefly of a strong con- stitution, reliable character and a determination to succeed. John C. Thorp has made his own way and and is now among the leading contractors of the San Francisco bay region. He was born in Brad- ford, Yorkshire, England, January 15, 1866, and was the son of George and Eliza (Iredale) Thorp, who were natives of the same shire. They immigrated many years ago to Toronto, Canada, where the father was a contractor for many years, though he now makes his home in Buffalo, N. Y., his wife hav- ing passed away some years ago. The oldest of their children, John C. Thorp, was educated in the schools of England and it was also in his native land that he apprenticed to and learned the carpen- ter's trade under his father, who was interested in the firm of Thorp, Terry & Scofield (all cousins) owners of the Prospect saw mills in Bradford, Eng- land. It was there that John Thorp became an all- round mill man as well as a carpenter and builder. In 1881 he came to Toronto, Canada, where he was employed with John Fletcher & Sons in their planing mill until 1885, when he came west to Saskatchewan. Soon after this he came to the Pacific Coast and in 1889, to San Jose. He followed his trade for the first two years, and then began general con- tracting and building, entering upon a career in which he has become very successful.

Among some of the numerous buildings he has erected are the Imperial hotel, Russ hotel, Bank of Italy building, Market Street fire station and some of the finest residences in this city, among them the Harris home, Dr. Flemming's residence, the Leon home, Roca home and the Leet residence, all of which are very beautiful, artistically and architec- turally. He also built the large cannery for the Bayside Canning Company at Mayfield, the Alviso cannery and the one at Isleton, Sacramento County. Aside from the Santa Clara Valley he has had contracts for buildings all over California, having built dehydrators all over the state, after a method which he has patented.

Mr. Thorp's marriage occurred in Toronto, Canada, where he was united with Miss Janet McIntosh, who was born in London, England, of Scotch parents, who brought her to Toronto when she was four years of age. Her parents spent their last days in San Jose. Mrs. Thorp is a cultured, refined wom- an, who presides gracefully over her home that has been blessed with two children; George, who served in the U. S. Navy during the World War, learned carpentry and building under his father, and is now a foreman for him; Lilly, a charming young lady. graduate of San Jose high school, assists her mother in presiding over the household. Mr. Thorp

is popular both in social and business circles, being a member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, the Maccabees and Uniform rank of the Knights of the Maccabees, and the San Jose Lodge of Elks; in politics he is a Republican. Mr. Thorp is now the second oldest contractor and builder in San Jose; when he began business here at the age of twenty-six years he was the youngest builder here, but his hard work, close application and well-directed energy have placed him in the front rank among the most enterprising and progressive men in California. He gives no small degree of his success to his estimable wife, who has always aided him and encouraged him in his ambition, thus doing all she could to assist him in establishing such an enviable position among leading Californians. A man of pleasing personality and kindliness of heart, living strictly to the Golden Rule, he is public spirited to a high degree and is at all times, for all things for the good of the Santa Clara Valley.

FIACRO JULIAN FISHER .- The Fisher fam- ily have been identified with the Santa Clara Val- ley since early pioneer days, and Fiacro Julian Fisher was born October 4, 1891, in the beautiful modern residence his father had erected on the exact loca- tion of the adobe house which his grandfather put up in the pioneer days of the state. The father, Fiacro C. Fisher, was born upon the farm in Burnett township, Santa Clara County, August 30, 1850, the youngest son of William and Liberata (Cesena) Fisher, early settlers of California. The paternal grandfather was of English birth and a seafaring man by occupation. He came to the United States in young manhood, and in 1830 left his first location in Massachusetts for California, making the voyage as mate of a vessel. He located at San Jose, in Lower California, and owned a vessel which he navigated upon the Gulf of California. In April, 1842, he came to this state and bought the ranch known then as the Laguna Seca Grant, and four years later brought his family to Monterey. Upon this property he engaged in cattle and stockraising until his death, which occurred in 1850, at the age of forty years. The maternal grandmother, Liberata Cesena, was a native of Mexico and survived her husband many years. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters: Thomas N. and Cypriano, twins; William, deceased; Fiacro, Mary, the wife of Murphy Columbet, and Eulogia.

Fiacro C. Fisher received his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools of Santa Clara County, after which he entered and attended Santa Clara College for two years, as well as the high school of San Jose for awhile. He left school quite early to take up his chosen occupation, and that to which he had early been trained, being foreman for Dan Murphy until 1872. He then engaged in ranching for himself on the old homestead, giving consider- able attention to stockraising. In 1877 he went to Nevada to take charge of the ranches of Mr. Murphy and Mr. Hill, remaining in their employ as general manager until 1894. Since that time he turned his entire attention to the cultivation and improvement of his own property, which consisted of 300 acres located on the Monterey and Coyote roads, and 1,000 acres in valley land. In 1872, in San Jose, Mr. Fisher was married to Gertrude Hanks, a native of Califor-

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

nia and daughter of Wm. Hanks, better known as Julian Hanks. The latter was born in Massachu- setts, but migrated to Lower California, where he was interested in a vessel. In 1846 he came to Cali- fornia with the elder Fisher, and in San Jose con- ducted a grist mill, operating the same until 1866, when he traded it for property in Sonora, Mexico. He made his home in Lower California until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were the parents of six children: Laura, the wife of William Straub; Chester F., Neva, Gertrude, George, and Fiacro Julian. Both parents have passed away.

Fiacro Julian began his education in the public schools of San Jose, and then entered Santa Clara College, continuing his studies for two years, then finished his education in the San Jose high school. He then settled on the old home place at Coyote, engaging in farming, and in 1917 purchased an orchard of twenty acres at Cupertino, and selling it in 1919 he bought his present orchard of twenty-two and a half acres on the Casey Road, which he de- votes to raising prunes, being a member of the Cali- fornia Prune and Apricot Growers, Inc. In Septem- ber. 1917, Mr. Fisher entered the United States Army, being stationed at Camp Lewis until sent overseas with his regiment, the Three Hundred Forty-seventh United States Field Artillery, landing at Cherbourg, France, and training at Bordeaux until sent to Verdun sector. After the armistice, was with the Army of Occupation near Coblenz, until he came home in May, 1919. He was mustered out at the Presidio the same month and came home to his Cupertino ranch, which his wife had managed while he was overseas.

The marriage of Mr. Fisher united him with Miss Teresa Fahey, a native daughter of California, born near Wright Station, and they are the parents of one son, William Stanton.

CHARLES LEE GRUWELL .- One of Santa Clara County's well-known horticulturists is Charles Lee Gruwell, who was born on September 4, 1863, on part of the land which is still in his possession. He is the son of Melvin L. and Sarah (Wear) Gru- well, natives of Indiana and Missouri, respectively, Melvin L. Gruwell was born in 1826 and came to California in the year 1850 and settled in Santa Clara County in 1852. Entering into partnership with a friend, they settled on a ranch of 172 acres which belonged to Stinson and Lucas, and then later he purchased Mr. Lucas's half of the property and for fifty-five years was in partnership with Mr. Stinson, engaged in farming, and continued in this line until his demise, which occurred in 1910, at the age of eighty-four years. Melvin Gruwell and his wife were the parents of nine children. William, de- ceased; Arthur J., deceased; Charles Lce, the sub- ject of this sketch; Martha A .; Lydia became the wife of Jacob Breitenstein; Lawrence C .; Theresa became the wife of H. Van De Pier; Kate is the widow of James Hemphill: Lou became the wife of Joseph Hemphill.

Charles Lee, the subject of our sketch, attended the public schools of his locality and then attended the San Jose State Normal. He has been engaged in the raising of fruit since that time, confining his labors to the raising of peaches and prunes. His marriage, which occurred in 1898, united him with Miss Hattie Ellen, the daughter of C. W. Howard

and Eliza (Curry) Howard. Mr. Howard was born in England and came to the United States when he was only seventeen years old, first locating in Wis- consin and later coming to the gold fields of Cali- fornia, then settling in the Santa Clara Valley, where he still resides. Mrs, Howard was a native of New Brunswick. Mrs. Gruwell first attended the school in Solano County where she was born and where she lived until the age of nine, when she came to Santa Clara County with her parents, and the rest of her school days were spent in the schools of Santa Clara County. Mr. and Mrs. Gruwell had one child, Howard Romayne, who died at the age of three and onc-half years. Mr. Gruwell was bereaved of his wife February 19, 1922, a distinct loss to the whole community. Mr. Gruwell has an attractive and com- fortable home, surrounded by two acres of peaches, and one peach tree which stands near the house is more than forty-five years old and bears delicious fruit. He also has six acres in prunes, a part of the old home place. Mr. Gruwell is a past master of Liberty Lodge No. 299, F. & A. M., Santa Clara, also a member of Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., San Jose, and San Jose Council R. & S. M., and San Jose Commandery No. 10 K. T., Islam Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco, and the O. E. S.

EDWARD BRUCE STONE .- A good example of what energy and resourcefulness can accomplish, when wisely directed and centralized, is furnished in the career of Edward Bruce Stone, who was born in Denver, Colo., February 8, 1882, the son of Thomas and Mary A. ( Ward) Stone, both natives of England, but were married in the United States. The father, who was a butcher, came to San Jose with his family in 1887 and bought a ranch several years later in the San Thomas district where he resided for some time, and having been very successful, he has retired and is now residing in San Jose. He and his wife were the parents of three children: William T., of San Jose; Charles A., of Palo Alto; Edward Bruce, the subject of this sketch.

Edward B. Stone received his education in the public schools of San Jose and in San Tomas dis- trict. When seventeen years old he entered the em- ploy of the Southern Pacific Railway Company as telegrapher on the Coast Lines and worked in this line of business for seven years. His marriage, which occurred at Los Gatos on September 29, 1903, united him with Miss Emma C. Jarvis, who was born in Newark, Alameda County, Cal., the daughter of Francis Carr and Emma O. (Reader) Jarvis. Mr. Jarvis was born in Ellsworth, Maine, and his wife was a native of Indiana. Her father crossed the plains in 1850 to California, while her mother came with Grandmother Todd to Alameda, and they were married in Centerville. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are the parents of one child, Edward Bruce, Jr.

Mr. Stone is now engaged in ranching and is con- fining his efforts to the raising of prunes, his trees having been planted about twenty-five years ago. His forty acre orchard is located on Phelps Avenue, five miles south of San Jose and is bringing its owner a splendid income. Mr. Stone is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He is a member of the Christian Science Church of Los Gatos, where he served a term as first reader, and he is also a mem- ber of the Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.

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Mr. Stone is an energetic and tireless worker and keeps his orchard in a high state of cultivation and efficiency. He has a pumping plant with a capacity of 600 gallons a minute, ample not only for his own but also for the neighbors' orchards. In 1921 he built a modern bungalow residence, equipped with electric cooking facilities. The grounds are artistically laid out and well kept and the farm buildings, as well as the grounds, are lighted by electricity, and he has electrically driven machinery, thus making it one of the most complete in equip- ment of any ranch in the county. A magnificent Sequoia Gigantic on his grounds is one of the finest specimens of its kind in the valley, having been planted about fifty years ago by the Phelps family, who were large cattlemen here.

JAMES C. MERRITT-A man endowed with much business ability and honest and straightfor- ward in all business dealings, James C. Merritt is one of San Jose's successful young business men, enjoying the confidence and esteem of the entire community. A son of Andrus R. and Susan (Bul- lock) Merritt, natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively, he was born October 22, 1877. in Atchison County, Mo. Grandfather Merritt, who was a millwright, removed to Minnesota in 1856. One of a family of eight children, all boys, Andrus R. Merritt grew to manhood in Minnesota and re- ceived his education in the schools of that frontier country. Several of the Merritt boys were timber cruisers and one of them, while cruising came across a windfall and where the ground had been torn up found ore that resulted in the discovery of a mountain or iron. Five of the Merritt boys became interested and by the hardest kind of work and making sacrifices they finally opened up the iron mines in the Mesaba range, and proved them a success. They also built the Duluth and Mesaba Northern Railroad, bringing the whole into a won- derful development until the panic of 1893, when they were squeezed out and they are owned by the trust. The great value of the Mesaba iron mines in aiding the World War can best be told when it is known they produce seventy-two per cent of all iron mined in America.

Mrs. Susan Merritt passed away in 1880 leaving two children, James C., our subject, and Thomas A., the latter an automobile dealer in Glendora. Cal. Andrus Merritt was married the second time to Elizabeth Clark and they make their home in San Jose. They have two children, Lewis, a partner of our subject, and J. W., chief geologist for the Sa- pulpa, Oklahoma, Refinery.

James C. was educated in the grammar and high schools of Duluth, Minn., later taking a course at Hamline University at St. Paul. For a year he was with the engineering corps that located the Western Pacific Railroad in eastern Nevada, then in the brokerage and bond business in St. Paul for ten years. The lure of the western country proved too strong for him, however, and in 1916 he came to San Francisco, Cal. After traveling over the state for one year, in 1917 he purchased the share of J. J. Merritt in the Merritt Company, San Jose, and has since been devoting his time to this pros- perous business. They own and operate an extensive plant at Santa Clara, and manufacture many articles of cement and concrete, besides doing a general

contracting business. The Merritt Company plant was established in 1912 and engaged in the manu- facture of concrete pipe and it has grown rapidly since then. They use the Brubaker pipe machine of a large capacity, and are also contractors for laying irrigating pipe, the business having grown un- til in 1920 it was the largest of its kind in Cali- fornia. In June, 1921, the business was incorporated as the Merritt Concrete Products Company with James C. Merritt as president and manager.

In Elko, Nev., on March 30, 1903, Mr. Merritt was married to Miss Lola Swetland, a native of Elko. Nev., who is active and very prominent in club work. She is president of the Y. W. C. A., Mothers' Club of San Jose, a member of the house committee of the Y. W. C. A., superintendent of the inter- mediate department of the Methodist Episcopal Sun- day School and secretary of the Parent-Teachers Association in San Jose. To Mr. and Mrs. Merritt have been born two sons, Gerald Andrus and Glenn. Mr. Merritt is independent in his political views, and believes in the fitness of man for the office. Religiously he is a consistent member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. During the years of 1913 and 1914, while a resident of St. Paul, he acted as Exalted Ruler of the Elks. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club, the 100 Per Cent Club and a charter member of the Commer- cial Club. He and his wife were both active in the war and Red Cross drives. When enabled to do so, he spends considerable time in the mountains, hunting and fishing. He has ever believed in con- structive measures, and his diligence and determina- tion have been prominent factors in his career and by his constant application has caused him to ad- vance steadily toward the goal of prosperity.

EUGENE O. McGRATH .- Coming to California in the late '60's, Eugene O. McGrath has been identi- fied with many important gold mining projects and he has become recognized as an engineer of expert ability whose professional career has been one of continuous progress. A native of Vermont, he was born in Burlington, November 15, 1845, a son of Eugene O. and Mary (McGrath) McGrath, the for- mer a farmer by occupation. In the family were seven children, of whom the subject of this review was the fifth in order of birth. He is a veteran of the Civil War, as were also two of his brothers, one of whom was wounded in that conflict. In 1864 he enlisted in the navy and for nine months was one of the crew of the Dumbarton, which was at one time the flagship of Commodore Radford, under command of Admiral Potter, and later was engaged in patrol- ling the James River. He also served for a short time on the Nancimond, Mercury, and Wyandank and was stationed with the Atlantic patrol in front of Washington, D. C., at the time Lincoln was as- sassinated. He was in the engineering department in the navy and received his honorable discharge in 1865, after a little more than a year's service.

Returning to his home in Vermont, Mr. McGrath there remained for a year and in 1867 came to Cali- fornia by the Panama route, landing at San Fran- cisco on February 9. He became interested in min- ing engineering at Dog Town. Butte County, and for twenty-five years was thus occupied, building the second flume in the state. This was erected for the Sugar Pine Lumber Flume & Mining Company and carried an immense volume of water, which was used

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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 114

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