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 121

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 121

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The aim of the school, to build up vigorous physical health, to achieve the best possible intellectual ad- vancement, and to secure for each pupil the moral and spiritual development which will enable her to take her place among intellectual and cultured people, and to live a rounded and useful life, is evidenced in the artistic and thoroughly modern school home. The first floor contains the reception hall, the library, music room, recitation rooms and study hall, and the dining room and kitchen, and second floor is made up of the large, sunny bedrooms of the resident pupils, although many use the screened sleeping porches. Only such rules are insisted upon as are necessary to the comfort of all the household, and from each girl is expected a cheerful and ready response. One re- sult is that Miss Harker's School has become widely famous through its pupils, who are always known as true gentlewomen. The School is also enviably re- nowned through its excellent faculty, some eighteen or twenty thoroughly trained women of the highest academic credentials. These conduct a kindergarten department, a primary school, an intermediate school, a high school department, and a post-gradu-

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ate department, and also departments for the study of music, Biblical literature and history, and drawing and applied art, as well as cooking and sewing. The value of the kindergarten as the logical foundation for the whole structure of education is more than ever widely recognized; the folk and nature story stimulates interest, and the games and handiwork develop respect for the rights of others. In the pri- mary school, the children are trained in the habits of concentration, independent thinking, thoroughness, accuracy, and consideration for each other. The aim of the intermediate school is the development of in- dependent thought and expression, and this is ac- complished by discussion of topics of the day, de- bates, individual reports, and a class paper, all con- tributing to train for good citizenship. It speaks for itself that the high school department is accredited both to Stanford University and the University of California, and that the regular college preparatory course prepares pupils also for Vassar, Smith, Wel- lesley, Mt. Holyoke, and Bryn Mawr. For those who do not desire to enter college, there is another regular course of four years leading to graduation. A systematic course of Bible study is given, ex- tending from the primary grades through the high school; there is a two-years' course in free-hand drawing, with modelling in clay; special designs are made and executed on wood, leather, brass, copper, silver and textiles; there are both theoretic teaching, in lectures, and practical work in cooking; elementary and advanced sewing are provided for, and the de- partment of physical training is conducted with spe- cial care for the individual needs of the pupils. Each year the senior class presents a play out-doors.

In order, for example, that the girls may have a practical knowledge of business methods such as becomes those who are some day to have more or less business to transact on their own account, par- ents are requested to send direct to the School a stated monthly allowance to be deposited in the School Bank; and this will be subject to the pupil's personal check to be used only for personal ex- penses that require actual cash payments, on which account no money will be advanced to pupils. Check books and pass books are furnished to each pupil, and parents are requested to cooperate in instilling increased care in the expenditure of money.

WILLIAM FISKE HENRY .- A native son of whom the Northland may well be proud is William Fiske Henry, the able superintendent of the Palo Alto "Times", and among the best known citizens of Palo Alto, Cal. He was born in Oakland, Alameda County, Cal., December 10, 1875, a son of Charles Everett and Juliette (Fiske) Henry, both natives of New England. On both paternal and maternal sides his lineage is traceable to two historical characters in American development-to Patrick Henry on his father's side and to John Fiske, historian, on his mother's side. He was educated in the grammar and high schools of Dixon, Cal., then entered Stanford University, taking the English course, and was grad- uated with degree of A. B. in 1900. For ten years fore- man of the Tribune Publishing Company at Dixon, Cal., he terminated his service in that capacity in 1895, when he removed to Palo Alto and became fore- man of the University Press at Stanford University; he was thus engaged for ten years when he entered the employ of the Times Publishing Company as

foreman and served efficiently until 1919, when he be- came a part owner and assumed the superintendency of the Times Publishing Company.

On January 7, 1903, Mr. Henry was married in Palo Alto to Miss Evelyn Henrietta Benoit, a daugh- ter of Louis Benoit, a native of France and a partici- pant in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870; on her mother's side she is a descendant of the St. Louis family, for whom the city of St. Louis, Mo., was named; her mother's family were pioneers of Cali- fornia. Her education was begun in the grammar schools of Palo Alto and finished at the Notre Dame Convent at Redwood City, Cal. They are the par- ents of four children: Wilma Cecelia; Wilbur Vin- cent; Louise Margaret, and Arthur John. In his political views Mr. Henry is a Democrat and frater- nally belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors of America, and the Elks. From 1905 to 1920 he served as president of the Palo Alto Typographical Union, and from 1909 to 1919 served the city of Palo Alto as councilman. Mr. Henry has been active in many ways in furthering the development of Santa Clara County, and is a well-known and highly es- teemed citizen of the college city.

HENRY A. ALDERTON, M. D .- After a suc- cessful career in the medical profession, as a special- ist in diseases of the car, nose and throat, Dr. Henry A. Alderton retired and has since devoted himself to the study of painting. Born in New York City, December 28, 1863, he attended the public schools of his native city and the Brooklyn Polytechnic and Col- legiate Institute, where he prepared to enter the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgons, this being the medical department of Columbia University. He graduated in 1885 and then spent a year as an interne at St. Jo- seph's Hospital in Paterson, N. J.

Taking up the general practice of medicine at Brooklyn, N. Y., Dr. Alderton later went abroad to study, taking special work on the ear, nose and throat at the University of Berlin in 1890-91, and on his return to Brooklyn, he specialized in these sub- jects, continuing there until 1912. He taught in the earlier years at the New York Post-Graduate Col- lege and the New York Polyclinic and later at the Long Island Medical College; was aural surgeon to the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital, Kingston Ave- nue (contagious disease) Hospital, Kings County Hospital, Bushwick and East Brooklyn Hospital, and the Nassau County Hospital. He was formerly a member of the Hamilton Crescent, and Church Club in Brooklyn. Also of the American Otological, Amer- ican Otological, Rhinological and Laryngological and of the New York Otological Societies; and is, at pres- ent, an honorary member of the New York Otolog- ical Society. Since coming to California in 1912, he has studied painting under C. P. Townsley, Richard Miller, Mannheim and Armin Hansen, after prelim- inary work at the San Francisco Institute of Art. The year 1920-21 was spent in Spain and Portugal and Dr. Alderton returned with many original sketches from which he is now working.

In 1885 Dr. Alderton was married to Miss Marion S. Decker in Brooklyn, N. Y., a native of that state and a descendant of families of that state on both paternal and maternal sides. Dr. Alderton's father, Henry Alderton, was a native of Sussex, England, and his mother, Mary Amelia Gibbins, was born in

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

New York of English and French ancestry. In the Alderton family there are three children: Dorothy M., married to Herbert A. Kellar, director of the Mc- Cormick Agricultural Library in Chicago; Barbara, an assistant at the Stanford University Library; and Henry A., Jr., at present engaged in civil engineer- ing and formerly second lieutenant in the late war. All are graduates of Stanford University. The fam- ily make their home at 915 Channing Avenue, Palo Alto, where Dr. Alderton has also his studio.

GEORGE M. CURTIS .- The son of pioneer par- ents who crossed the plains in 1850, George M. Cur- tis can well take pride in the state of his birth, the development of which has come about through sturdy settlers, such as his forbears were. He was born at Bodega Corners, Sonoma County, October 6, 1868, the son of Benjamin A. and Rebecca (Humphrey) Curtis, who left their Pennsylvania home to pioneer in the Far West more than seventy years ago, set- tling in Sonoma County on their arrival here, where they engaged in farming.

In 1872 the family removed to Mendocino County, where they took up their home in the pine and red- wood district, and here George M. attended school, entering the sawmills as soon as he was large enough to do the work. He soon became the head planer for the Gualala Lumber Company, and he followed this responsible line of work until 1908, when he re- signed to take up his residence at San Martin on the ranch which he had purchased in 1893, when his par- ents had come to San Martin to make their home. The San Martin district was surveyed and sold off in small tracts, beginning in 1892, so that the Curtis family are among the earliest settlers there. This was a stubblefield and now is a fine prune orchard of thirteen acres, which was among the first to be planted. Benjamin A. Curtis lived to be seventy- eight years old, passing away in June, 1914, at San Martin, survived by his widow, who makes her home with George M. Curtis at the comfortable fam- ily residence on Church Avenue.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin A. Curtis, as follows: George M., of this sketch; Lillie married F. W. Briones; they have four chil- dren and reside in San Francisco; William resides at Albin, Mendocino County; Charles is a well driller and resides at San Martin with his wife and two chil- dren; Cora died aged two years; and Edna when she was eighteen. A fine type of public spirited citizen, Mr. Curtis can well look back with satisfaction on his years of hard, honest work that have brought him a competence he may now enjoy, knowing that it has come about entirely through his own efforts. He is a charter member of the California Prune and Apricot Association. Well liked and esteemed by his many friends and neighbors, he performs his civic duties under the banner of the Republican party.

LAZARD LION .- A California pioneer of extra- ordinary force of character and intellect, whose busy life of work and care leading on to success for him- self and all associated with him, well illustrates that characteristic in thousands of men, the will to do, to continue to do, despite all odds, and finally to tri- umph over seemingly impossible obstacles, was Laz- ard Lion, who closed his eyes to the scenes of this world on February 26, 1911. He was born at For- bach, Alsace-Lorraine, France, October 29, 1829, and there received a good education and training that en-

abled him to accomplish much as he went through the many years granted him.

When a young man of twenty-three he came to America, arriving in New York in 1852, and after a short sojourn in the East he went to Indiana and for a short time was engaged in business at Marshall. WVe next find him in New Orleans, where he also car- ried on a business for a short period of time; then he crossed the Isthmus and arrived in San Francisco in 1853. Soon after his arrival there, he, with others, founded the City of Paris dry goods house, and from a small beginning the business grew with the years until it ranked with the largest in the western metrop- olis. Mr. Lion retained his interest in that establish- ment for many years. On account of ill health, Mr. Lion decided he would leave the Bay section and he came to San Jose in 1855, secured employment in a store on Market Street, and the following year, 1856, embarked in a general merchandise business at the corner of Post and Market streets for himself. While he was living in San Francisco he had become very well known to some of the largest merchants in the state for whom he bought goods-at a time when all goods were sold at auction in San Francisco-and being a shrewd buyer he gave his patrons every sat- isfaction. After he became established in husiness here he went through the pioneer experiences of all pioneers of those early days, but he was one of those progressive men and forged ahead, never letting him- self become discouraged, whatever the obstacles. He continued in business on Market Street until the cen- ter of trade shifted over to First Street and he easily adapted himself to conditions and moved to the old Music Hall building where he had four stores. His business kept growing apace and he began manufac- turing gloves in one of his stores. That business grew to such proportions that he had from seventy- five to eighty people in his employ and later the in- crease for the California tanned buckskin gloves be- came so great that he had to send the goods to the East to have them made, then returned to California and the customers' wants supplied from here. He imported hides from Alaska, and later built a tannery here to cure his own hides; also imported fine kid hides from France for fine goods. He even supplied large manufacturers in the East with the California buckskin gloves. The first year the sales of the San Jose Glove Company amounted to over $200,000.

As the city expanded Mr. Lion opened an exclusive carpet house in a store building in the Knox Block, opposite the Music Hall building. He was also inter- ested in a store in Santa Clara, maintaining that in- terest. for many years. It was due to his business acumen that the City of Lions store was established in Sacramento-one of the most extensive dry goods stores in the entire valley. He was one of the organ- izers of the Commercial and Savings Bank of San Jose and for many years was its president. This bank came into possession of extensive land holdings in Mexico, and these were looked after by one of his sons, Gustave Lion. He was one of the promoters of the Vendome Hotel; was a stockholder in the San Jose Woolen Mills, the San Jose Gas Company, the San Jose Fruit Packing Company, and other enter- prises that he thought might benefit the city of his adoption. He also owned a large tract of land near Gilroy, near Paradise Valley, some 5585 acres of fine land that was purchased in 1890, but which has since passed out of the possession of the family. Mr. Lion

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

took an active part in local politics, always to elevate the standard of the seeker after office, and he was appointed by Governor Bartlett one of the trustees of Agnew. He was a Mason of many years standing.

In 1857 Lazard Lion was united in marriage with Miss Zulema Martin, born in Bordeaux, France, the daughter of Mary Martin, who came to America and California in 1847 in a sailing vessel with her daugh- ter and conducted a hotel in San Francisco, where all the old-time miners used to hold forth when in that city, spending their gold dust. She also carried on a hotel in San Jose for many years. There were five sons and one daughter granted to Mr. and Mrs. Lion, one of whom. Charles, died in boyhood. The others are Gustave F., president of L. Lion and Sons Company; Ernest P., vice-president; Henry J., treas- urer, and Emile MI., secretary. The only daughter, Estelle, is the wife of Charles Fay, of San Francisco. These children were all educated in San Jose. Mrs. Lion passed away in 1898.

Lazard Lion had a wide acquaintance in the state and when the news of his death was printed it was a severe shock to all who had known him. When he came to this county there were no railroads-stages were the means of transportation north and south; the quicksilver mines were at the height of their pro- duction during his business career; the evolution of the county from stock to grain and later to fruits and intensive farming were all watched with interest by this farsighted merchant prince. The present estab- lishment of L. Lion and Sons Company of San Jose is the outcome of the little store started on Market and Post streets in 1856, and represents the oldest concern in the state that never has been out of the family control. Mr. Lion was successful in all his business undertakings; was modest in manner and always had a cheery greeting for everybody. He was public spirited, always giving with the thought that it was for the best interests of the county. He was a man of splendid business judgment and was popu- lar in social circles in his younger days. At his pass- ing on February 26, 1911, the county lost one of her most loyal citizens.

GUSTAVE F. LION .- A family, historic in its way, of successful merchants and land owners is rep- resented by Gustave F. Lion, president of L. Lion and Sons Company of San Jose, where the family has been continuously represented since 1855. He was born in San Jose, December 13, 1859, son of Lazard and Zulema ( Martin) Lion, mentioned at length elsewhere in this work.

Gustave attended the Gates private school in San Jose and then Santa Clara College until he was four- teen. He then left his books to assist his father in his business and went to San Francisco, where he had full charge of his office there and bought goods for his seven stores; and was also selling agent for the San Jose Glove Company in San Francisco; this concern was also owned by his father. The lad went to night school while he was in the city and also at- tended Heald's Business College to further perfect himself in being able to manage affairs. In 1880 he came back to San Jose and established a dry goods business, which he later sold to Stull and Sonniksen. In 1886 Gustave Lion went to Los Angeles to visit and he saw the great opportunities of the southern city, as it was at the time of its first real boom, and he opened an exclusive carpet store and continued there for almost four years, then sold out and came

back to San Jose to identify himself with the L. Lion and Sons concern. That same year it was incorpo- rated as L. Lion and Sons Company, with Gustave F. as its president, and that office he has held ever since. The famous San Martin ranch of 5585 acres also came under his control and he managed that until it was sold for subdivision into small farms in 1921. He had been looking after the extensive land holdings for his father-or in reality the Commercial and Savings Bank-some years previous to this time. Mr. Lion has given his entire time to the development of the concern of which he is the head, but not to the exclu- sion of his duties as a public spirited citizen.

The marriage of Gustave F. Lion with Miss Mary Jobson of San Jose was celebrated in 1880, and they have become the parents of three children: Clara Z. married W. E. Blauer, manager of the San Jose branch of the Bank of Italy; Morrell G. is a grower and wholesaler of seeds in Santa Clara County; and Hortense is at home. The daughters were born in San Jose and the son in Los Angeles. The family home is at 1275 Alameda. Mr. Lion is one of the popular citizens of the county as well as one of the most public spirited. He is a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, the Country Club, the Commercial Club, the B. P. O. Elks, a director of the San Jose branch of the Bank of Italy and a member of its ad- visory board. He was vice-president of the Commer- cial and Savings Bank for several years and until it was sold, was president of the Salsina Canning and Packing Company. Always interested in politics, thought not a seeker for office, he has sought to do what he could under the banners of the Republican party, although he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, held in Chicago in 1896. Of kindly disposition, keen business discernment, Mr. Lion has a host of friends through the state who gladly acknowledge his success and consider his word as good as his bond.

PROF. ELMER E. BROWNELL .- California has been particularly fortunate in her exceptional staff of educators who have done yeoman service in helping to lay broad and deep the foundations of the great commonwealth, and prominent among those contributing to these great aims and results is Prof. Elmer E. Brownell, the popular supervising principal of the Gilroy public schools, and a leader in the edu- cational work of Santa Clara County. A native Ver- monter, Elmer E. Brownell was born at Essex Junc- tion, in the Green Mountain State, on June 1, 1865, the son of Lyman A. Brownell, also a Vermonter, a stonemason who migrated west to California in 1871, and settled at San Jose, where he died in 1902. Mrs. Brownell, who was Eliza A. Cook, before her mar- riage and a native of New York, died January 23. 1921, highly esteemed as was her husband, and the center of a circle of steadfast friends. The Brown- ells came to America before the Revolutionary War, three brothers hailing from England, and settled in Vermont, while the Cook family migrated from Scot- land to New York in early Colonial days.

Elmer Brownell passed through the elementary schools of San Jose and was graduated from the State Normal in this city in 1884, after which he spent one year at Stanford University, and in 1887 he was in charge of the Lone Tree district school, in Contra Costa County. The following year he removed to Monterey County, and then he taught at Warm Springs and next at Decoto, in Alameda County, be-

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

coming there the acting principal of schools. He was principal of the Mountain View schools from 1890 to 1899, and was assistant teacher of the San Jose high school from 1899 to 1904. Since 1904 he has had charge of the Gilroy schools. From 1896 to 1906 he was president of the board of education of Santa Clara County. In national political affairs a Repub- lican, Professor Brownell has always been an enthusi- astic, non-partisan worker for local movements and men properly endorsed.

At Irvington, in Alameda County, on July 25, 1890, Mr. Brownell was married to Miss Lizzie Valpey Craycroft, the daughter of J. W. Craycroft of Mo- desto. She passed away in 1903, lamented by all who had come to appreciate her personality and gifts, and survived by four sons: R. E. Brownell is a graduate of the University of California, class of '11, from which he received the D. D. S. degree; he is married and the father of two children, and resides at Fresno. John R. is in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, is married and has one child, and served for twelve months in France, during the World War. Dr. H. L Brownell is also a graduate of the Physicians and Surgeons College of San Francisco, having been a member of the class of '14: he is mar- ried and lives at Fresno, and was a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy during the war. Herbert W. Brownell, another ex-service man, is attending the Dental Col- lege of the University of Southern California. Pro- fessor Brownell was married for the second time on Christmas Day, 1909, to Miss Sarah Annette White- hurst, the daughter of L. A. Whitehurst, the well- known pioneer, now deceased. The family now reside at the old Whitehurst home on South Church Street, Gilroy. Professor Brownell is a Republican, a Scot- tish Rite Mason and a Knight Templar and a mem- ber of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Fran- cisco, and belongs to the Watsonville lodge of Elks, and to the Mountain View lodge of Odd Fellows, the Gilroy I. O. F., and is secretary and treasurer of Gil- roy Golf and Country Club.

STEPHEN HEILMANN .- A successful orchard- ist, who has made valuable contributions toward the advancement of California husbandry, is Stephen Heilmann, who came to Gilroy on August, 1, 1886. and since Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1886, has resided on Bodfish Road. He was born near Raude- sacker, near Wurzburg, on the River Main in Bava- ria, on April 10. 1861, the eldest son of Franz and Barbara ( Feuerer) Heilmann, and he attended school in his own home district. In time, he spent three years in the German army, doing his full duty by the land of his birth, and having thus kept his rec- ord clear, so that he might at any time return to the Fatherland if he wished, he set out for America. On July 11, 1892, he was admitted to citizenship by Judge Lorigan at San Jose, and since then, becoming more and more American, he has steadily made good. He worked on the Lewis place when he first came to this section and after Mr. Lewis died he served Henry Miller faithfully until April, 1905. While in the em- ploy of Miller he acquired 185 acres of very desir- able orchard and hill land, and this he has been devel- oping into an orchard and a vineyard. A Republican in matters of national import, Mr. Heilmann has been broadminded and non-partisan in local affairs, and is at present a school trustee in the Live Oaks district.

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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 121

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