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 122

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 122

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He was also roadmaster of the Bodfish district for many years.

At Gilroy, in 1898, Mr. Heilmann was married to Miss Barbara Bumm, a native of the same part of Bavaria as her husband, where she was born on April 7, 1861, and she came to California in 1888. Five children made up their family: Lizzie, Mrs. Evans, resides with her two children at Woodland; Augusta, wife of Chief Engineer Satler, of the Union Iron Works at San Francisco, 'is at home; Herman is as- sisting with the work on the ranch, is married and resides on the home place. Mary resides with her hus- band, Joe Gubser, and her three daughters at Old Gil- roy. Sarah, Mrs. George Brem, resides near Gilroy; she is a graduate of the San Francisco State Normal School, and the mother of a son. Mrs. Heilmann was a general favorite, and when she passed away, in June, 1905, at the Fisher Place, she was deeply mourned by a wide circle of friends.

Many interesting events have helped to fill the fruitful life of our subject, but in none has he taken more pride than in his relation to the Nemo Prune, the story of which may be had in his own narrative. "For many years," he says, "I was working upou Henry Miller's fruit ranch, known as the Lewis Place, where there were some green-gage plum trees, whose fruit we could not very well use. Mr. Miller thereupon ordered me to graft the trees to Imp. prunes, and he sent me the scions. The grafting was a success, and after a couple of years, the branches bore well. I noticed on one tree a French- prune graft, which was accidentally joined to the Imp. prune scions, and this gave me the idea of im- proving the French prune by means of the Imp. prune, which is tender and gets soft very quickly. I took about half a dozen of the Imp. prunes which were close to the French prune limbs and planted the pits of the former. and only one was growing. I carefully attended to this one little trec, eager to see what kind of fruit it would produce. I made grafts of this little tree to older trees, and they are now bearing an exceptionally good prune. I call it "Nemo." This prune is large, of good color, sweet, firm in flesh, and it does not get soft like the Imp. prune when lying on the ground. This prune tree may be grown on poor land, and yet will grow large -much larger than the French prune of neighbors growing in the same kind of soil, and about thirty- four grown on poor soil will make a pound."

S. G. RODECK .- A native son, S. G. Rodeck was born in Sonoma County, November 1, 1856, and re- ceived a good education in the schools of Petaluma; he is a son of John and Letitia Rodeck, born in Germany and Ireland, respectively, who settled in the East and later emigrated to California via Pan- ama and followed farming near Petaluma. S. G. Rodeck was engaged in dairying in Sonoma County, then spent two years in San Luis Obispo County and then came to Santa Clara County in the '70s. He purchased an orchard near Campbell, and here he was married in 1876 to Miss Laura Campbell, who was born in the town of Campbell, a daughter of Benj. Campbell, the founder of the town. They have engaged in orcharding ever since, and Mr. Rodeck was a director in the Bank of Campbell until it was sold to the Garden City Bank & Trust Co .. He is now a member of its finance committee and a man

Dewoody

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of much influence and public spirit. Mr. and Mrs. Rodeck have three children: Mrs Cora Antrin, of Fresno; Mary L, and Geo. Benjamin. They are members of the Methodist Church in Campbell. .

DAVID BACON MOODY .- Success has attended the efforts of David Bacon Moody, and though re- tired from active duties, he is still alert and interested in all measures that tend to the advancement and de- velopment of his community. Born in Michigan City, Ind., March 14, 1837, his parents, Ransom G. and Elmira (Bacon) Moody, removed, in 1840, to Mil- waukee, Wis. There he attended the public schools until early in the year 1849, when the family crossed the plains with ox teams to California, coming by the southern route and the Cajon Pass, their wagons being among the first to come by that route. Their progress was slow, accompanied by perils and hard- ships, but they finally reached San Bernardino about Christmas time, 1849, coming on to San Jose in May. 1850, where Mr. Moody attended school until nine- teen years of age. When he was twenty-one he em- barked in the flour-milling business with his father and two brothers, Charles and Volney D. Moody, and continued in that business until his retirement from active life. Their mills were known as the Moody Mills, and afterwards as the Central Milling Company, composed of eleven units in all, and dis- tributed their products throughout the state. Later these mills were combined with other mills and be- came known as the Sperry Flour Company, and for eighteen years he was secretary and auditor for this company. For fourteen years, or until the liquidation of the business, Mr. Moody was president of the San Jose Woolen Mills, and he was also one of the pro- moters of the Vendome Hotel. Since 1910 his pri- vate interests have been demanding his full time.

Mr. Moody is a public-spirited citizen, who has the fullest confidence of the community, and served as city treasurer in 1862, which office he held for ty: years. In 1867, at a time of great public agitation, he was called upon to act as county treasurer by the board of supervisors. The incumbent of the office had absconded with $23,000 of the county funds. Great excitement was the result, but Mr. Moody took hold of matters and carried them safely through the critical time, finding no difficulty in giving at once bonds of the heaviest nature. From 1867 to 1871 Mr. Moody was chairman of the Republican County Central Committee, and September 27, 1886, he was a prime mover in the organization of the Board of Trade, which afterwards became the Chamber of Commerce, which has done a vast deal of good for this valley in advertising its advantages and resources and in disseminating accurate and reliable informa- tion. Mr. Moody was elected president at the first and held that important office until going to San Francisco for the Sperry Flour Company; he also served on the board of education four years. In addition to his business interests, he is the owner of considerable real estate.

The marriage of Mr. Moody, June 27, 1861, united him with Miss Jeannette B. Wright, a native of New York. They have two children, Nettie, a graduate of the College of the Pacific, and Anna L., both resid- ing with their parents.

Mr. Moody, from his majority until 1900, was an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has the honor of having voted for Presi- dent Lincoln twice, and twice for President Grant; however, he now votes the Democratic ticket. He is 36

a great lover of good music, and in this he finds his recreation. He is a member of the Loring Club of San Francisco and attends rehearsal every Monday night; he has been an active member of this club for over twenty-five years. He is a composer of some distinction, having begun when eighteen years of age, and several of his songs have met with popular ap- proval. For twelve years he was the tenor of St. Joseph's quartet choir of San Jose. Mr. Moody was a member of the board of freeholders, elected for the purpose of framing a new charter for city govern- ment, and was also a member of the committee of re- vision, a responsible office requiring the highest qual- ities. This board succeeded in establishing the com- mission form of government in San Jose. Mr. Moody was a volunteer fireman in the early days, and for his service of six years received an exemption certifi- cate, which relieves him from jury duty. Although advanced in years, Mr. Moody is still active and re- tains the energy and ability which have always dis- tinguished him.

JOE HAGEMAN .- Among the prominent and outstanding figures in realty circles of San Jose, and a name that is familiar to home builders and inves- tors is Joe Hageman. To him belongs the credit of introducing the modern, high-class residence apart- ments, which have become so popular with investors and tenants alike. He was born in Franklin, Ind., on July 26, 1875, a son of Simon P. and Annie ( MeCol- lough) Hageman. The family removed to California during the year of 1884, and settled in San Jose, where the father was well known as an orchardist; both parents have passed away.

Mr. Hageman received his education in the public schools and high school of San Jose and spent his spare time in helping his father on the home place, where he secured a training that was of much help when he started to make his own way. He first en- gaged in ranching; then entered the drug business, became a licensed druggist and followed that line for the next six years. He again entered the ranks of the ranchers and continued for eight years. During 1906 he quit ranching and went to San Francisco and was engaged in the wrecking business in which he met with success, helping to clean up the debris of the big fire of April, 1906, which was the initial step in the building of greater San Francisco. Upon his return to San Jose. in 1909, Mr. Hageman built the first resi- dence apartment house in San Jose, located at 330 South Third Street; since then has built another at the corner of Third and Julian streets. When he first commenced the plan and carried it into execution, it was considered impractical and unprofitable, but the success of the venture has proven so practicable and this style of apartment so popular, that many have followed his example and dozens have been con- structed, aiding very materially in the housing prob- lems of San Jose. In 1919, Mr. Hageman was the moving spirit in the organization of the United Realty Company, his business associates being Arthur L. Grey and Joseph V. Cardoza, with offices at 61 West Santa Clara Street. From the time of its establish- ment, the United Realty Company has had its share of the business and the volume and importance of their transactions are growing month by month; in connection with the realty business, they conduct a general insurance business.

The marriage of Mr. Hageman occurred in San Jose, June 24, 1901, and united him with Miss Jane

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Trader, a native of Jersey City, N. J., later removing with her parents to Kansas City, Mo. They are the parents of one child, Bruce. Mr. Hageman is very popular in the San Jose Lodge No. 522, B. P. O. Elks and is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the San Jose realty board. His leis- ure time is spent in the open, and he is particularly fond of camping trips in the mountains, a recreation he enjoys as much as his busy life will permit.

JOHN Q. A. BALLOU .- Numbered among the oldest and best posted horticulturists of the Santa Clara Valley, John Q. A. Ballon still retains his clear mind and alert intellect at the age of ninety-five and it is indeed a rare privilege to converse with him. The founder of the Ballou family in America was Maturin Ballou, of French and Norman lineage, who migrated from England in 1645, and became an asso- ciate of Roger Williams in Rhode Island. He had two sons, John and James. In the sixth generation from him was Abram Ballou, a native of Rhode Island and besides being a farmer was a shoemaker, which occupation he followed for some years in New York state and there died, His son, Otis, was born in Smithfield, R. I., and removed to New Hampshire, where he married Lydia Chamberlain in 1816. Later he settled in Hartland, Windsor County Vt., and combined the trade of a shoemaker with the occupa- tion of farmer. During their residence there his son, John Q. A., was born, a representative of the eighth generation in descent from the founder of the family in the United States. When he was seven years of age, the family removed to Walpole, N. H., and the father continued his trade of shoemaking and farm- ing. Later the family returned to Rhode Island and there the father passed away. His wife died in New Hampshire in 1849. She was a granddaughter of Thomas Chamberlain, one of the earliest settlers of New Hampshire and a lieutenant under General Stark in the Revolutionary War.

J. Q. A. Ballou was the eighth child in a family of twelve children, eleven of whom attained mature years, and was born March 26, 1827. He attended the common schools and learned the trade of cutter in a shoe manufacturing establishment, and at the age of twenty-two had risen to the position of foreman of the manufacturing department. He continued in this employ until March 1, 1849, when he and his brother, George W., sailed from Boston on the ship Sweden around the Horn, and after a voyage of 153 days landed in San Francisco on August 3 of that year, just fifteen days before the landing of Bayard Taylor, correspondent of Horace Greeley's New York "Trib- une." They hurried on to the mines, but six weeks after their arrival George W., was taken ill and died at Coloma. In January of 1852, J. Q. A. returned to the east via Nicaragua and in May of the same year accompanied by his two brothers, Warren S, and Charles O., they started back by the same route. Their tickets provided for passage in the North American from San Juan Del Suer to San Francisco, but that steamship having been wrecked they finished their trip by a voyage on the S. S. Lewis instead. Warren S. Ballou returned East within a year but Charles O. stayed until 1860, when he also went back and enlisted, became second lieutenant and was killed during the terrific fighting at the battle of Fredericks- burg, while acting as captain.

After his second arrival in California in 1852, J. Q. A. Ballou went to the mines in Sierra County. In March of 1853 he went to Santa Clara County, and arriving at San Jose, March 14 of that year, he put up at Price's Hotel, which was located where the Wilcox Building now stands. Its proprietor was Col. John Price, a brother of the Confederate general and ex-governor of Missouri, General Sterling Price. In 1855 Mr. Ballon turned his attention to the nursery business and in 1857 purchased his present property in the suburbs of San Jose on the Milpitas Road, and he was thus engaged until 1862, becoming the best posted man on fruit cultivation in the Santa Clara Valley and well deserved that honor, for many years were devoted to the study of obtaining the best re- sults with the varied products which the soil would bring forth. One of the first experiments that Mr. Ballou tried was the boring of a well on his ranch, and in February, 1857, water was reached. Mr. Bal- lou was associated with the introduction of bee cul- ture in California. His ranch consisted of forty acres and was planted to pears, apples and plums. In addi- tion he has a stock farm of 140 acres on the Guada- lupe on First Street a quarter of a mile north of the city limits. For thirty-five years he has been interest- ed in city property in San Francisco besides owning valuable property in San Jose. He was the first man to experiment in drying fruit in the sun, an indus- try that has since developed into a most profitable occupation in Santa Clara County. In 1864, while on a visit to his New England home, he married Miss Catherine J. Kimball, daughter of Timothy D. and Jane Alice (Mann) Kimball, residents of Claremont, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Ballou were the parents of two children; Allis K., Mrs. Wager Bradford, and George Ballou, an accountant in the auditor's office of the shipping board in San Francisco. Mrs. Ballon passed away in 1914.

Mr. Ballou also helped pioneer the fruit canning industry at San Jose, where the first cannery was started in 1870 by Dr. Dawson, and in 1874 it was incorporated under the name of the San Jose Fruit Canning Company. In 1879 Messrs. Ballou and Ozier became owners of three-fifths of the capital stock and Mr. Ballou served as its president for three years. He was also prominent in the organiza- tion of the Farmer's Union Store and for many years served in the capacity of secretary and is still a stockholder and director. As a result of an opera- tion for cataract, Mr. Ballou has lost his sight and can only distinguish the light from darkness, but he still retains his wonderful memory and it is indeed interesting to converse with him upon the early his- tory of California in the early mining days. Mr. Bal- lou has been connected with the organization known as "California Pioneers" since 1856. It was started in 1849 and one of the points of eligibility is that the member must have been a resident of Califor- nia before statehood. This organization is a very noted one, among other things being the residuary legatee of the James Lick Estate. He is also a mem- ber of the Santa Clara County Pioneer Association. From the formation of the Republican party in 1856 Mr. Ballou has been a firm believer and an advocate in Republican principles. In 1866 he was elected a member of the county board of supervisors, but re- signed three years later. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Masonic lodge No. 10 in San Jose.

Agrilesson

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HON. ISAIAH ALONZO WILCOX .- A grate- ful posterity such as makes up the rank and file of California citizenship today will always gladly honor such patriot pioneers as the late Hon. Isaiah Alonzo Wilcox, who for years participated in the direction of public affairs, while he enjoyed distinction as one of the foremost settlers who had contributed sub- stantially toward the scientific and practical devel- opment of the varied fruit interests of Santa Clara County. A native of the great Empire State, he was born in Herkimer County on September 16, 1822, the son of Asa and Clarissa ( Nichols) Wilcox, also natives of that county. His father both followed agricultural pursuits and conducted a well-stocked store, besides looking after other business interests. and thus it happened that Isaiah, during his attend- ance at the local schools, not only received such an education as is possible to obtain from books, but he imbibed much else of great benchit to him in after years. He progressed so well, indeed, that at twenty he undertook to teach school, and in that field he asserted his powers and leadership qualities to the extent that the authorities induced him twice to accept the office of superintendent of schools. He was far from satisfied with pedagogy, however, and at the age of twenty-four began to study law, partly under the distinguished Judge Loomis. Unfortu- nately, too close application to his study impaired his health, and he was forced to seek outdoor activity. He took up various occupations, even trying his luck at cod-fishing off the Banks of Newfoundland, in 1849; and having decided that he must make a still greater change, he turned his attention to the genial climate of the Pacific Coast, about which everybody was then talking, on account of the excitement fol- lowing the discovery of gold.

Making his way via the Isthmus of Panama, he at length arrived in San Francisco in 1852; and al- though he had almost an aversion to mining, he ac- companied others in search of gold. He worked for a while at Little York, Wanlope and Red Dog, but, discouraged on account of his continued poor health, he returned to San Francisco, and soon made his way to the new town of Alameda. Messrs. Chipman and Augenbough, founders of the proposed city, made him foreman of the survey, and he then went to work in the redwood district north of Oakland. In partnership with Henderson Llewelling, who had been a pioneer in importing fruit trees to the West- ern Coast, he bought 500 acres of land, later laid out as Fruitvale, but owing to trouble on account of the title, their plans with the property were never made use of. In 1856 he went to San Francisco, and there, with E. J. Loomis, he established a commis- sion and produce house that was soon known for its enterprise and dependability. Two years later, when the excitement as to gold spread along the Fraser River, he established stores at Victoria, on Van- couver Island, but the failure of the mines and the consequent departure of the miners forced him to close the shops again.

Concentrating his attention upon the advantages offered by Alameda County, Mr. Wilcox engaged actively in fruit culture there; and in 1867, con- vinced that Santa Clara County offered still greater opportunities, he removed hither, settling on Olive Avenue, three miles northwest of Santa Clara, where he continued his fruit planting and cultivating on

about sixty acres. He had some 6,000 trecs, mostly Bartlett pears and French prunes, and between the trees he cultivated onions and strawberries, evolving with the latter a very profitable industry. He had six acres of alfalfa, and managed that corner of his busy ranch so well that he gathered six crops a year from the rich land.

Mr. Wilcox was married in 1859 to Miss Mary Frances Abbott, the daughter of the California pio- neer, Stephen Abbott, a charming lady, who first saw the light at Wilton, N. H., and bade adieu to the scenes of this world on May 13, 1891, at the age of fifty-three. The worthy couple were blessed with four sons and one daughter: Frank Asa is the subject of a review on another page; Harry W. is deceased, survived by a widow, who resides in the East; Emily A. Wilcox married Francis J. Henry, who is engaged in mercantile pursuits at Glendale, where they reside; Walter I. is a dentist and enjoys a lucrative practice in San Francisco; he resides on a part of the premises of the Wilcox Fruit Company. and is that company's secretary and treasurer. Irving A. Wilcox, who is married and also lives on a part of the fruit company's property, is the manager.

Isaiah Alonzo Wilcox's prominence in the Western fruit industry is attested by the fact that the Califor- nia State Horticultural Society selected him as its representative at the Industrial Exposition in New Orleans, where he accomplished much to arouse a live interest in the soil, climate and products of Cali- fornia, and the fruits of his intelligent and conscien- tious labors were apparent in the large number of desirable settlers who afterwards located in the state. He assisted effectually in organizing the American Horticultural Society, and was one of the founders of the Horticultural Hall Association of San Jose, a member of its first board of directors. He was also one of the first directors in the Bank of Santa Clara County, and he assisted in founding the Grangers Bank of California. He was a stock- holder in the Farmers' Union store in San Jose, and also in the Santa Clara Cheese Factory. On the organization of the Santa Clara Grange. Patrons of Husbandry, he became a charter member, and he was twice honored as this body's representative in the State Grange. Later he helped to organize the San Jose Grange, and became its first worthy master. He was a standpat Republican, and was a member of the State Legislature for 1886-88, render- ing great service to his constituency. After a very busy and unquestionably useful career, "crowned by prosperity and blessed by many warm friendships," as an earlier writer has said of him, "he entered into rest April I, 1897, mourned by the pioneers who had labored by his side in the early days of Santa Clara County, and followed to his grave by innumerable tokens of respect on the part of his former associates and companions."

PAUL C. SAINSEVAIN .- A representative of one of the oldest families in the Santa Clara Valley is Paul C. Sainsevain, whose father, Pedro Sainse- vain, came to San Jose from his native place, Begay, France, when he was eighteen years of age, in 1836, and in this old Mission city he met and married Miss Paula Sunol, a native daughter of San Jose, whose father, Don Antonio Sunol, came hither from Spain in 1818, and was the second of the foreigners to come to Santa Clara Valley. Don Antonio Suñol

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became a large landowner and a successful and in- fluential man. On his maternal side Paul C. Sainse- vain is also descended from the Bernal family, his Great-grandfather Bernal coming hither in 1787 with the old Mission Fathers.

Pedro Sainsevain built the first sawmill in San Bernardino County, and with his brother Louis set out a large vineyard at Cucamonga. Then he ran a sawmill near Santa Cruz and had a grant of land at Santa Cruz, a part of it now being the site of the powder works. In 1849 San Francisco Bay was full of idle boats, as captains could get no sailors to man them because of the rush to the mines. Wish- ing to make a trip to Chile, Mr. Sainsevain char- tered a boat and had to guarantee a crew, so he inanned the boat with Indians, made the trip to Chile, purchased merchandise, and on his return sold his stock at a profit of $50,000. He also en- gaged in business in Yerba Buena. When his old- est children were of suitable age he sent them to Bordeaux, France, to go to school. The mother made the trip and remained for some months, and while she was there Paul C. was born in Bordeaux, May 25, 1856. In 1864 Pedro Sainsevain started a large wine business in New York City, but owing to the conditions of the times he lost heavily. He continued on his ranch in San Jose, where he had 116 acres of vineyard. now Sainsevain Villa. After- wards he was again in business in San Francisco. Then for about eight years he was in business in Central America, later returning to San Jose. After his wife's death he returned to France, where he spent the rest of his days. They had three children: Michael, deceased; Charles, a rancher of San Jose, and Paul C., of this sketch.

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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 122

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