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 138

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 138

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

IAlex forbes

879

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

attitude in local affairs, and has been a first-class "booster," lending a helping hand whenever and wherever needed.

The day before Christmas in 1902 at San Jose, Mr. Davison was married to Miss Maude L. Welch of San Jose, a lady of exceptional gifts who taught in the public schools for a number of years. They have one son, Henry Welch, who was born on De- cemiber 13, 1903, a student in the San Jose high school. From August, 1910, to August, 1911, Mr. Davison was great sachem of California's Improved Order of Red Men, and from 1905-06 department commander of California United Spanish War Vet- erans. He is a member of Fraternity Lodge No. 399. F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America.

H. RAY FRY .- A scholarly, experienced attor- ney whose successful practice in law has added dignity to the legal profession in California is H. Ray Fry, of the well-known firm of Fry & Jenkins, San Jose. A native son, proud of his mother state, he was born in Dewitt, Cal., on April 7, 1876, the son of George Washington Fry who came to Cali- fornia via Panama and thence by sailing vessel to San Francisco in 1852, and for nine years tried his fortune at mining in Lassen County. In 1861 he took up farming and stockraising, and in that field of agricultural industry he continued until his death, in 1892. Mrs. Fry, who was Miss Mary Louisa Wiggin, crossed the great plains to Cali- fornia in 1863, and in Lassen County they were mar- ried; she is still living.

Ray attended the grammar schools of Dewitt and San Jose, and in the latter city also pursued the excellent courses at the high school, from which he was graduated in 1896. Then he matriculated at Stanford. studied there for two years, enlisted on May 4, 1898 in the First California Volunteers for the Spanish-American War, and on receiving his honorable discharge, returned to Stanford University and was graduated in 1901 with the A. B. degree. The following year, the same institution gave him the LL.B. degree.

In 1901. Mr. Fry was admitted to practice at the California Bar, and for twelve years he was a part- ner with Judge Beasly, the two attorneys handling many important cases and defending many important interests. In 1913 Mr. Fry joined hands with D. T. Jenkins, and the partnership of Fry & Jenkins then established still continues, the firm being rated as a leader both in and beyond Santa Clara County. Mr. Fry belongs to the State and County Bar associa- tions, in which his personal character as well as his knowledge of the law have given him a very enviable reputation for model practice.

Mr. Fry was married to Miss Edna F. Milco, and they are the parents of two attractive children- Leland R. and Percy W. Fry. Mr. Fry belongs to the First Presbyterian Church, and he is also active in Masonry, being a past grand master of the Grand Council of the State of California; he is also a past high priest of Howard Chapter No. 14 R. A. M., and past commander of San Jose Command- ery No. 10, and is a Shriner. He is fond of hunt- ing and fishing, and also finds recreation in such commendable undertakings as the erection of a three-story building-one of the finest in the city --

at the corner of San Carlos and First streets. This structure is owned by Mr. Fry, and stands as a worthy contribution toward the continued expansion of a city widely known for its edifices.

DANIEL J. MCGRATH .- For many years the name of McGrath has been associated with Santa Clara County where Daniel J. MeGrath has been in the furniture business at San Jose, and at the present time he is the owner of a successful enter- prise at 138 South Second Street. A native son, born in San Jose May 9, 1868, he is the son of Patrick and Bridget McGrath. His father, who was an ironmolder by trade, migrated to the Pacific Coast in 1852, settling in San Jose; here the parents were married and both passed away here.

Daniel J. McGrath received his education in the public schools of San Jose. After finishing school le became associated with Lion's in the furniture business and remained with them about fourteen years, then began for himself and in 1918 located at 138 South Second Street, where the business is yield- ing ample profits to its owner. His success has come only through intelligent effort, backed by a determi- nation to overcome every obstacle. In political affilia- tion a Democrat, Mr. McGrath has served one term under the Davidson administration as council- man from the Second Ward. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and whenever op- portunity affords he spends a few days in the moun- tains, hunting and fishing. He is a stanch supporter of all municipal improvements, and enjoys the confi- dence and good will of all who come in contact with him in business or social matters.

JOHN A. RAWLINGS .- The son of one of Santa Clara County's pioneer residents, himself a native of the county, John A. Rawlings is making good in the field of horticulture at his thriving orchard home on Pearl Avenne, south of San Jose. He was born Feb- ruary 25, 1874, near San Jose, his parents being George S. and Florence Minerva (Roberts) Rawl- ings, highly esteemed residents of this neighborhood. The father, who was born in Kentucky, settled here in 1866, being employed for several years on the large ranch of John G. Roberts, part of which later passed to Mrs. Rawlings on the death of Mr. Rob- erts, and during all the years since then it has always been the family home.

John A. Rawlings attended the public schools of his neighborhood, but early in life he deserted the school room for the more practical tasks of helping his father on the home ranch. Here he remained until 1915, getting a thorough experience in every detail of ranch and orchard work, when he pur- chased a tract of twenty acres near the home place, and this he has developed into a fine prune orchard, doing practically all the planting himself. He has given it his careful attention and its value is steadily increasing.

Mr. Rawlings' marriage united him with Miss Lois V. Williams, the daughter of Alexander and Emma (Perry) Williams. She was born in the Almaden neighborhood, her mother's family being well-known old residents of that locality, Perry Station being named for one of the family. Mr. Rawlings is a Democrat, and has a public-spirited interest in all the affairs of the community.

882

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

to San Jose and leased an alfalfa and dairy ranch of forty-three acres, owned by Richard P. Keeble and situated on the Alviso Road about three miles north of San Jose, and there he was engaged in dairying, with his usual enviable success, until the fall of 1921, when he bought twenty-two acres of the Trimble ranch and built a dairy barn to ac- commodate forty cows. Unlike many ranchers, he employs only Americans, and he keeps not less than two constantly at work with him, thus carry- ing out a principle and a theory as to the ad- vantage of American labor, and the willingness of efficient Americans to work for those of their own nationality. A Republican in his preference for na- tional party platforms. While at Napa he rendered his fellow-citizens good service as a trustee of the school district.

At Chico, on February 15, 1917, Mr. Tuttle was married to Miss Mary Agnes Young, a native of Ohio and the daughter of Ernest C. and Effie (Sny- der) Young,-the former a civil engineer associated with a large development company in the Sacramento Valley. Miss Young came to California as a child. and was reared in Chico, where she attended the local schools, although she previously had gone to school for a while at Salinas. Three children have been granted them --- two fine lads named Carl and Robert, and a daughter, Rebecca Jane.

HENRIE GRANVILLE HILL .- A scholarly, conscientious and thoroughly dependable representa- tive of the California Bar is Henrie Granville Hill, the junior member of the firm of Bohnett and Hill, the well-known attorneys of San Jose. He was born at St. Louis, Mo., on September 7, 1884, the son of Walter Baylor and Zoe (Taylor) Hill, with whom and the rest of the family he came out to California in the late '80s. Walter Baylor Hill is deceased, but his devoted wife is still living, the center of an honoring circle.

Henrie Hill attended both the grammar and the high schools of San Jose, and in 1909 he was grad- uated from Stanford University with the A. B. de- gree. Two years later he was given by the same institution the degree of J. D. In the meantime, dur- ing 1909 and 1910, he had studied law at the Har- vard Law School. In 1911 he was admitted to prac- tice in California. The first two years he was asso- ciated in practice in San Francisco with Senator A. E. Boynton and Chas W. Slack and in 1914. he located in San Jose and opened a law office. In 1917 with L. D. Bohnett, he formed the partnership in which he at present figures. During his college days he was a member of the Delta Chi and during his senior year he was elected a member of the scholarship fraternity Phi Beta Kappa and the law scholarship fraternity "Order of Coif." Fraternally he is a member of San Jose Lodge of the Elks, the Garden City Lodge of the Odd Fellows and the Masons, and is a past master of Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., of San Jose.

Mr. Hill was married at San Jose on March 2, 1912, when he took for his bride Miss Bernice Field, a native of California and also a graduate of Stan- ford University. They are the parents of one daugh- ter, Zoe Ann Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are both patrons of good music, and both ready and anxious to forward in every way possible the best and last- ing interests of the county and city.

CHARLES L. WITTEN .- A most interesting rep- resentative of the legal profession in California, whose active participation in the varied events through which he has lived enables him to review some of the most stirring chapters of Golden State history, is Charles L. Witten, who was born in Contra Costa County, on November 1, 1860. His father, T. Z. Witten, was a genuine '49er, who started across the great plains before gold was discovered, and when he reached here, mined at Placerville. In 1852 he came into this valley, and later he removed to Contra Costa County, where he lived for years and died. He married Miss Rachel Smith, and she also passed away there. They were the parents of six children,- four boys and two girls,-and our subject grew up the youngest of this family.

He attended the local schools, and after that pur- sued courses of study at the University of the Pacific for a term. He next studied law with Judge S. F. Leib, and he also took a course of lectures upon law by Judge John E. Richards at the Univer- sity of the Pacific. A thorough student, he was ad- mitted to practice in California in August, 1885; and then he was in Judge Leib's office until 1888, when he entered the district attorney's office, and served as deputy for a term under D. W. Burchard. He then devoted himself to his private practice, in which he was recognized as one of the leaders of the bar, until he received the appointment, on Jan- uary 3, 1921, of justice of the peace to succeed Judge F. B. Brown who had been elected one of the superior judges; and although retaining a selected portion of his private practice, much of his time is devoted to official business.

At San Jose, in April, 1894, Mr. Witten was mar- ried to Miss Nellie Hanson, a daughter of pioneer parents and a native of Sonora, Cal., and they have four children: Winifred 1. is the wife. of G. H. Miller, of San Jose, the clerk of Judge Witten's court, and she has three children, Dorothy, Janie and Grandin; Alice Louise is a student at the University of California at Berkeley; Muriel M. is assistant cashier of the Bank of Milpitas; while the youngest of the children is Kenneth R. Witten. Mr. Witten belongs to Fraternity Lodge No. 399, F. & A. M., and to San Jose Pyramid No. 9, A. E. O. S. He joined Pacheco Lodge No. 117, 1. O. O. F. in 1881, in Contra Costa County, passed the chairs of that lodge, then becoming among the youngest past grands in the state. When Observatory Lodge No. 23 was organized in San Jose about 1894, he became a char- ter member. He also marches with the Republican party. He has been the attorney for the Bank of Milpitas since its organization, and a member of the San Jose Board of Library Trustees, of which he was president for some years. He is an active mem- her of the San Jose Bar Association, and until re- cently was its president.

Judge Witten is fond of "hiking." and takes an annual trip, using the railroad to certain points, and then walking over new ground. For the past fifteen years, in fact, he has thus spent his vacations, and during this time he has covered the most interesting points in California, Oregon and Washington, on some occasions walking 250 miles. There are no points of interest, resorts, missions, ete., which he has not visited, and all his trips are written up and published in the local paper and to this mode of recreation he attributes his fine physical condition and good health.

883

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

BERT T. KIRK .- A descendant of a worthy family of which he is a worthy scion, Bert T. Kirk, in fol- lowing farm pursuits, not only made use of his early training, but followed the bent of his ambition and today he is one of the representative horticulturists of Santa Clara County. His fine ranch, well known as the Socrates Kirk place, containing 100 acres, is located on the Dry Creek and Kirk roads. This ranch was a claim taken up many years ago, the family having owned the water right for the past sixty years. For many years the entire acreage was devoted to the raising of grain and it is within the memory of the subject of this review when most of the valley was a vast grain field.

Born April 25, 1874, on the old home place of his parents in Santa Clara County, Mr. Kirk is the only son of Socrates and Louise (Guerraz) Kirk, pioneers of the county. Socrates Kirk and his brother The- ophilus came to the county as young men and to- gether the brothers purchased and improved their land, the two families owning over 900 acres of fine fruit land. The father passed away in 1906, his death being a real loss to the community in which he had lived and worked for so many years. Mrs. Kirk survives him and still resides on the home place.

Bert T. began his education in the public school at Willow Glen; then he attended Hoyt's Oak Grove School at San Mateo, and from this institution he entered the Garden City Business College owned by Prof. Worcester, and here he was duly graduated, Leasing a portion of his father's large orchards, he engaged in fruit raising, making a study of it from a scientific standpoint and with his energy and ex- perience has made a success of it. His 100-acre or- chard of prunes, cherries, and peaches is located at the corner of Dry Creek and Kirk roads and there he has built a large, modern residence, as well as suit- able farm buildings. He is constantly making improve- ments and his ranch is most modern in equipment, in- cluding a drying plant. He also owns seventy-three acres at Edenvale, which he operates in connection, and valuable business property on East Santa Clara Street and on the corner of Fountain and Second streets, which he has improved, so it brings a nice income. He has also been an interested dealer in real estate in other parts of California.

The marriage of Mr. Kirk in San Jose, February 14, 1899, united him with Miss Mary K. Hamilton, a native daughter of California, her parents being early settlers of Santa Clara County. Mrs. Kirk's father, Prof. William Hamilton, came to California around Cape Horn in the early '50s. The boat was wrecked, but the family was saved. He was an edu- cator for many years, now retired, and living in Santa Rosa, a well-educated and cultured gentleman, whose refining influence has left an indelible impression on the communities in which he resided. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk's union has been blessed with three chil- dren: Louis, educated at Heald's Business College, San Jose, is ably assisting his father in his horticul- tural enterprise; Bert. T., Jr. is a graduate of Heald's Business College and also is assisting his father, while Clarence H. is attending the grammar school. Mr. Kirk is a believer in protection as a fundamental prin- ciple and never fails to give his allegiance to the Re- publican party. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk are liberal and enterprising and their home is the scene of much social enjoyment and hospitality. 40

JOHN FRANCIS SHANNON .- Law, order and a regard for the rights and best interests of humanity are well represented in John Francis Shan- non, the alert, efficient and popular constable of San Jose, who was born in the city he so well serves on October 31, 1875. His father was Christopher Shan- non, for thirty-five years a police officer; he had married Miss Nellie O'Keefe, and they had nine children, all living. Mr. Shannon died on May 2, 1919, at the age of eighty years, and Mrs. Shannon passed away in 1898.

John, the eldest in the family, went through the grammar school in San Jose, and then for a num- ber of years worked for the Western Meat Com- pany. Rather naturally, perhaps, considering the record of his father, he was elected constable in 1902, and he has been re-elected so often that he is now serving his twentieth year.

On May 25, 1904, Mr. Shannon was married to Miss Harriet G. Ziemer, a native of San Jose. They attend the Catholic Church, and are familiar figures in the circle of the Pastime Club. Mr. Shannon also belongs to the Native Sons, the Ancient Hibernians, the Modern Woodmen and the Ancient Order of Foresters. He is fond of hunting and fishing, and in politics is a Democrat.

That Mr. Shannon takes a broad view of the duties of a constable is shown in the careful administration of his office-endeavoring, as he does, to afford the greatest protection to society, and yet remembering the human side of those who fall, need correcting, but also need bracing up, if possible, to a better life and for a new start to usefulness.

LAWRENCE E. BARBER .- One of the substan- tial men of his district and a successful rancher, Lawrence E. Barber is located on the ranch pur- chased by his father in 1880. A native of Wiscon- sin, he was born in Oak Grove, Dodge County, June 20, 1872, the son of Reuben S. and Sarah (Evans) Barber. The wonderful stories of the opportunities of the Golden State lured Reuben S. Barber to re- move to California in 1852, where he first mined, then came to Santa Clara County and farmed for fourteen years. Returning to Wisconsin he lived for fourteen years in his old home county. There he was engaged in the manufacturing of agricultural machinery and at one time owned a one-half interest in the Barber & Van Brunt Works at Horican, WVis., the shop now run by the John Deere Plow Company. Returning to California in 1880, the family settled at Milpitas and a farm of 222 acres was purchased and set out to orchard. The ranch is now devoted to truck gardening and fruit raising, mostly pears and prunes, and is well watered from three fine artesian wells.

Lawrence E. Barber attended the public schools of Milpitas and his vacation and spare time was spent in working with his father on the ranch. When his parents passed away, a sister and he became the owners of the old Barber ranch. In San Francisco in December, 1912, he was united in marriage with Miss Kate Bellew, the daughter of Michael and Eliza E. (Kinney) Bellew, the father a native of Ireland who came to California in the '50's, making his way westward via the Panama route. He chose Milpitas as the most promising spot in the Santa Clara Valley in which to establish a home, settling here in 1862, and he acquired about 800 acres of land.

884

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

which was devoted to the raising of grain, the cul- tivation of fruit, and the management of a first-class dairy. Mr. and Mrs. Bellew were the parents of five children, Mrs. Barber being the fourth of the family. Mr. Barber is a member of the Masons of San Jose and all the other branches, including the Islam Tem- ple of San Francisco. He has served his district. as a school trustee of Milpitas.

EARLE C. FANCHER .- A far-seeing, progress- ive and successful rancher whose life story is interest- ing and instructive, is Earle C. Fancher, residing at the corner of North Thirteenth and Gish streets, San Jose. He was born near Anita, Iowa, on July 28. 1886, the son of Charles Willis and Maria C. (Hol- combe) Fancher, farmer-folks dealing extensively in stock and grain of their own raising, and the parents of four boys and two girls. An uncle, George H. Fancher, was a pioneer of California, and was one of the first to enter the Yosemite Valley. Charles W. Fancher also made a trip across the plains in early days, but returned to Iowa, where he followed farming. Earle, the youngest of the family, attended the grammar and high schools at Anita, Iowa, and when he was fourteen years old, removed to San Jose with his parents. In the latter city he continued his schooling, and topped off his studies with a busi- ness college course at San Jose.

When nineteen years old, Mr. Fancher learned the automobile building and repairing trade, and for four years he filled the important post of "trouble finder" for Osen & Hunter in San Jose. Then, pushing out into the larger world, he went to Los Angeles, entered the employ of the Los Angeles Motor Car Company, where he labored on truck work, doing and also demonstrating various kinds of expert shop service. After that he became associ- ated with the Spreckels Ditch, of the Otay Dam near San Diego, and participated in the construction of that difficult piece of engineering. He next joined the crews at work on the Los Angeles Aqueduct. and for cighteen months assisted in the accomplish- ment of that wonderful enterprise, being locate near Mojave; and when through with that arduous under- taking. he spent some time in various parts of Nev- ada, Texas, Mexico and Alaska, always engaged in construction work of one kind or another.

In 1912, Mr. Fancher returned to Santa Clara County, and became floor foreman for the Letcher Garage. His father, as early as 1898, had acquired a ranch of 4,000 acres in Merced County, five and one-half miles east of Merced, devoted to the rais- ing of grain; and in 1912 he joined his father in ranching. The day before Christmas, 1913, he took charge of the home ranch, and ran it until Septem- ber 22, 1919, when it was sold to the California Pack- ing Corporation, and set out to peaches and apricots, becoming the largest orchard of its kind in the world. In 1919, he returned to San Jose, and pur- chased the old Fox nursery property of forty-two and one-half acres devoted to the culture of prunes and pears, well irrigated by a splendid well.

At Fresno, on December 22, 1914, Mr. Fancher was married to Miss Maybelle Neumann, a native daughter, who was born in Le Grand. Cal., the daughter of Paul and Mattie Neumann, worthy pio- neers and among the most progressive and extensive grain farmers of Merced County. Three children have blessed this union. Pauline, Eldon and Jack.

Mr. Fancher is a Republican, keenly interested in the problems of national politics; but he is too broad- minded a citizen and patriot to allow partizanship to narrow either his range of vision or his field of activity, and he is always ready to put his shoulder to the wheel and do his share.

ANTON WAGNER .- A native of Southern Russia who has more than made good since coming to Cali- fornia is Anton Wagner, the enterprising and suc- cessful rancher of Swift Lane, about one and a half miles to the northeast of Evergreen. He was born at Neiburg on March 17, 1859. the son of Jacob and Barbara (Engel) Wagner,-the former a native of historic and picturesque Wurtemberg, Germany, and the latter a native of musical and artistic Hungary. His father was for a quarter of a century a school teacher, and hence our subject began life with excep- tional educational advantages at his service.

When, therefore, he left home as a young man and crossed the ocean to the United States, he was well equipped for a tussle with the New World; and good judgment directed him to South Dakota, where he took up a quarter-section homestead in Turner County, not far from the ranch of his father, who had also come out to America. The latter, in his sixty-eighth year, was paralyzed, and after that he came to live with his son, who was the third among four children, the eldest being Jacob, the next elder Gottlieb, and the youngest Charlotte. His father lived to be seventy-four, and then died, honored of all who knew him.

On October 12, 1881, Mr. Wagner was married to Miss Theresa Lorenz, the ceremony taking place in Yankton County, S. D. She was a native of Germany and the daughter of Andres and Theresa (Schmidt) Lorenz; her father was for years in the employment of the German government. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wagner went to Gregory County, S. D., and there for many years leased a ranch; and in time they bought 560 acres, and for sixteen years laised cattle on their own land. When he sold out, Mr. Wagner came out to California with his family on account of failing health, and in 1912 he bought his present ranch of twenty-one and a half acres on Swift Lane, nine acres of which he has set out in pears, apricots and prunes. Nine children have been granted Mr. and Mrs. Wagner: Rose, Minnie, Sophie, Carrie, Mary, Clara, Walter, Henry and Emile. Rose is Mrs. Metzger of Evergreen, and has one child-Fred: Minnie is Mrs Berg of South Da- kota and has eight children-Gilbert, Fred, Solomon, Richard, Gertrude, Helen, Alma and Laura. Sophie has become Mrs. Hombal and the mother of three children-Mary, Carrie and Ida, and also lives in South Dakota; and Carrie is Mrs. Bradshaw, and she resides near her parents: her children are Doris, William and Joseph.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 138

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