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 149

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

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many, his patriotism was stirred and he volunteered his service, entering an officers' training camp, but his years of service in the Philippines had told too much on him, so he could not stand the strain. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Gould has sold the home farm, although she has permission to occupy the house as long as she desires, and during the winter seasons she resides with her daughter in Spokane. She is a member of the Rebekahs and of WV. R. C., being past president of E. O. C. Ord. W. R. C., No. 51, Los Gatos, and nearly every year takes pleasure in attending the department conven- tion of California and Nevada. She is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Los Gatos, in whose benevolences she takes an active part. Mr. Gould was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and his political allegiance was given to the Republican party. He left behind him a memory that is cherished by all with whom he was associated, for he was progressive in business, loyal and public- spirited in citizenship and true to the ties of home.

FELIX SOURISSEAU .- A pioneer of California, Felix Sourisseau arrived in the state in 1846 and was a witness of its development, and San Jose owes much to his progressive spirit. He was a native of France, born in Bordeaux, February 16, 1827, a son of Vic- tor and Marie Sourisseau. The father was a civil engineer and the possessor of considerable inventive genius-a trait inherited by his son Felix. Victor Sourisseau became a prominent contractor and builder, building up a large fortune in that connec- tion, all of which was swept away in the revolution of 1845. Believing that the opportunities offered in a newer and richer country would enable him to recoup his losses and reimburse his creditors, he sailed for America, accompanied by his son Felix, leaving the remainder of the family in France. In 1846 they reached San Francisco, Cal., and soon afterward entered the mercantile circles of the city as gunsmith, opening a store on Market Street. Scarcely a month later, however, they embarked on an expe- dition for Chile, a member of the family of the late Leopold Lion being one of the party. Fortune fa- vored them in that country and in 1849 they returned with the original company to San Francisco to find that gold had been discovered on the American River. Mr. Sourisseau and his son at once went to that locality, opening the first gun and locksmith shop in Marysville. For a short time the father engaged in prospecting, but as the returns from his store were more certain. he decided to devote his energies ex- clusively to his mercantile interests, and their busi- ness grew by leaps and bounds. Among the treas- ured heirlooms of the family today are a number of gold slugs which were used as money in trading with the miners in the days of '49. Some months later they disposed of their store in Marysville and came to the Santa Clara Valley, traveling with a mule and wagon. The vehicle was handmade, the wheels having been constructed from the trunk of a tree of large circumference and attached to a wooden axle. Ere they reached their destination the mule was stolen by bandits and they were obliged to draw the cart into San Jose, pitching their camp on North Market street, adjoining the city hall. The following year they purchased the property, on which they built a shack, securing their lumber from Coyote Creek. They soon became identified with the busi-

James Gould

Mary E. Gould

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ness life of the place, opening a gun and locksmith store. With the growth of the district their trade increased in proportion, and with his carnings Mr. Sourisseau, Sr., made investments in other enter- prises, his interests becoming important and exten- sive. Having accumulated sufficient money, he re- turned to France to pay his debts and also to bring his wife and two daughters to this country. He was not long permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors, passing away in 1859, soon after his return. He was a man of strict integrity, whose life had ever been guided by high and honorable principles.

His son Felix did not inherit riches, but became the possessor of large property interests which were heavily incumbered with mortgages. The property included Hotel La Fayette, which was operated in 1859, a large store and real estate on South First street, all of which had been partly paid for. In clearing the estate of all indebtedness Mr. Souris- seau faced heavy responsibilities, which he met with poise and assurance, proving himself the possessor of marked executive ability and administrative pow- ers. He soon became a dominant figure in the business life of the community, and Hotel La Fayette was a well-patronized and popular stopping place. During those days he was a member of the first band organized in San Jose and was its bandmaster.

In 1863 Mr. Sourisseau was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hayden, a girl of striking beauty, who was born in Ireland and came to America during her girlhood. The wedding ceremony was performed in the residence of John Auzerais and the festivities were continued for several days. In 1861 Mrs. Sourisseau engaged in making garments for the Union soldiers in association with Mrs. Mary Bradley, their work being done in a building on South First Street. Mr. and Mrs. Sourisseau became the parents of seven children. Marie Louise, who acquired her education at Notre Dame, passed away at San Jose, July 16, 1919; Alice became the wife of Henry Pasquale, by whom she had a daughter, and her demise occurred in February, 1892; Louis, who was born and reared at San Jose, assisted his father in the gem store and passed away May 11, 1916; Thomas Felix became an expert jeweler and for about twenty years engaged in the manufacture of jewelry at 89 South First Street, San Jose. Later he opened a retail store at 143 South First Street, where he continued manu- facturing and diamond selling in which he was an expert and had a large retail store. Recently he sold out and retired from that business and is now a rancher at Campbell. He married Miss Maude Still- well, a daughter of J. M. Stillwell, a native of this state and an honored pioneer of San Jose, his home being at 452 South Ninth Street. Mrs. Thomas F. Sourisseau is a graduate of the San Jose State Nor- mal, and previous to her marriage engaged in teaching for four years. She is the mother of a son, Thomas Felix, Jr., the only grandson in the family; Henry is a jewelry engraver and resides on Delmas Avenue, San Jose. He married Miss Pearl Houseman, born in Kansas; George, who has traveled extensively. is now a resident of Los Angeles. Eva resides at the old homestead, 45 West St. James Street, which has been the home of the family since 1870.

Felix Sourisseau passed away on May 26, 1909 and the widow was called to her final rest on October 26, 1916. At his death Mr. Sourisseau left a large

estate, which is held as a trust by the children. He was a stanch Democrat in his political views, deeply interested in the welfare and success of the party. The call of charity never found him unresponsive and he was ever ready to extend a helping hand to those in need of assistance. In his passing, California lost one of its honored pioneers, San Jose one of its promoters and upbuilders, his associates a faithful friend and his family a devoted husband and father.

ROLLA FREEMAN FULLINGTON .- A lead- ing business man of San Martin, extensively engaged in the real estate and insurance business, R. F. Ful- lington has had a long and interesting career in varied lines of activity, both in the Middle West and in California. A native of Vermont, he was born at Burlington, on May 17, 1851. In 1852 the family re- moved to Union County, O., and in 1863 they re- moved to Iowa and there he finished the courses of the public schools of Newton, then attended Thomp- son College at Newton, la. On leaving there he entered the employ of the Pope-Davis Grain Com- pany of Chicago, Ill., being employed by them as a grain buyer for several years at Colfax, Ia., where they had their elevator, and while there he was one of the incorporators and one of the first councilmen of Colfax in 1875.

In December of 1875, Mr. Fullington removed to California, locating at San Francisco, where he was a traveling representative of the McCormick Harves- ter Company in this state. Being an expert in demonstrating their machinery he attended all county and state fairs and field trials and he was a very valu- able man to the company and for ten years was af- filiated with them. Later he went into grain raising on his own account near Santa Barbara, and he op- erated as high as 5,000 acres at one time. He made his home at Santa Barbara, and as his time and means afforded him excellent opportunity for travel he took many extensive journeys. He was also a resident of Fresno from 1890 to 1900, and while there established and conducted the Park Livery Stables on the site of the present post office. During the first development of oil in Kern County, Mr. Fullington was one of the early promoters of the Posey Creek field, serving as superintendent and manager of the Commonwealth Oil Company.

Returning to San Francisco in 1900, Mr. Fulling- ton opened a real estate and insurance office at 1010 Market Street, and here he established a thriving business that was making a splendid growth until the fire of 1906 wiped him out, with thousands of others. He then went to Oakland and took part in the sub- division of Allendale and Fruitvale, removing in 1908 to San Martin. The townsite of San Martin had been surveyed in 1892 by C. H. Phillips, who was suc- ceeded by C. M. Wooster & Company, with whom Mr. Fullington had been associated previous to 1900, and he at once became active in the disposal of the lands of the San Martin Ranch after locating here, building up a good insurance business, as well hand- ling fire, life, indemnity, health, accident and auto- mobile insurance. In addition to his business prop- erty at San Martin, which he has improved with buildings, Mr. Fullington owns twenty-four acres of land at Romas, Monterey County, planted to apricots, apples and pears. On February 12, 1871, at Newton, Ia., Mr. Fullington was married to Miss Mary Ger-

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

hart, who was born in Minnesota, and three children were born to them: Fred T., who was formerly a railroad man, now resides at San Martin with his wife and two sons: Rolla Earl, deceased, is survived by his widow and one son; Daisy. Mrs. J. Wesley Evans of Ducor, Cal., is the mother of five children, three living. Mrs. Fullington passed away at Hen- rietta, Tex., in 1885, while on a visit to her sister and brother there. Mr. Fullington's second marriage, which occurred at Fresno in 1892, united him with Mrs. Annie Illif, a native of Newton, Ia., and the mother of one son, Bruce I. Fullington, who is on the ranch at Romas. Mr. Fullington is a Democrat and prominent in the Odd Fellows, being now one of the oldest surviving members of Channel City Lodge No. 232, I. O. O. F., at Santa Barbara, in which he is a past officer, and he has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge. In business circles he is a member of the United Realty Association. He has pioneered in San Marin and has improved consider- able acreage, which he has sold at good profit.

JOHN A. RICE, D. D. S .- Well and favorably known in professional circles in Santa Clara County since 1888, where his influence as a public-spirited and progressive upbuilder has been demonstrated, is John A. Rice, D. D. S., a native of New York state, born at Spencerport near Rochester, December 9, 1857. His father was Dr. Austin Rice, who had married Miss Jane Cole, both natives of the Empire State, where the father was a prominent and well-known dentist, John A. Rice enjoyed the helpful instruction in the public and the State Normal School of New York and then took up the dental profession with his father. On the latter's death, he continued the prac- tice until he came to Los Gatos, Cal., in January, 1888, and has since practiced continuously in this beautiful foothill city.

Dr. Rice was united in marriage with Miss Kitty D. Van Deventer of Spencerport, N. Y. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally he is very prominent in Masonic circles. He was made a Mason in Etolian Lodge No. 479, A. F. & A. M., Spencerport, N. Y., and is now one of the oldest members of Los Gatos Lodge No. 292, F. & A. M. He is also a member of Howard Chapter No. 14, San Jose, and San Jose Commandery No. 10, K. T., and is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason of the Consistory in San Jose; also a mem- ber of Islam Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, San Francisco, and with his wife is a member of the O. E. S. Dr. Rice is deeply interested in all that pertains to the public welfare, and is a whole- hearted, companionable man, endowed with the qual- ities that make friends. He is deservedly popular among his many acquaintances and friends. Public spirited and willing at all times to take a good citi- zen's part, he can be counted upon to aid in all pro- gressive movements.

EBY ATHY HETTINGER .- Prominent among the thoroughly experienced builders of Santa Clara County is Eby Athy Hettinger, of Palo Alto, who has done so much to control and mould public art taste in that city, and to secure for the famous university town the best housing and office conditions. He was born in Red Bluff, Tehama County, on September 23, 1860, the son of Benjamin F. Hettinger, who first saw the light near Philadelphia, as had his Grand- father Hettinger before him. He married Miss Sarah

Eby, a native of Wayne County, Ohio. The cere- mony took place in Pennsylvania, and after Mr. Het- tinger had lived for a while in Ohio, he set out with his family in 1856 to make the overland journey to California. Originally a tailor by trade, he believed that he might find better fields on the Coast, and for a while he tried his luck at mining. Subsequently he moved to Red Bluff in Tehama County, and in 1861, he removed to Los Angeles. After a year, he re- turned to Red Bluff, and entered the service of the Antelope Saw Mills, where he was for years head sawyer. Some memories of those crude pioneer days are still retained by our subject. One night when he was two years old, Indians surrounded the mill and a couple of Indians were killed in the fight put up by the whites in defense of themselves and their families. Mrs. Hettinger held a candle in the oven, thus screening the light so that the savages could not see, while at the same time she afforded light enough for the men to reload their guns. At the same time, also, the children-our subject and his nine-year-old sis- ter-were put between feather beds to protect them from the firing of the Indians. Benjamin F. Hettin- ger passed the closing years of his life in Red Bluff, and his widow went to Drummond, Mont., to spend her advanced years.

Eby went to the public schools, and also to the academy in Red Bluff, and when he was fourteen years of age, he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, and served an apprenticeship under his brother- in-law, Edwin Dunckel, in Butte City, Mont. After working as a journeyman in Butte, Helena and Red Bluff until 1886, he came to California and settled at Monterey, where he assisted in building the cele- brated Del Monte Hotel. On April 22, 1887, he first took up his residence in Santa Clara County, locat- ing at Mayfield, and in July, 1888, he built the first building at Palo Alto, a real estate office for a Mr. Marshon, still standing at the back of Southwood and Watson's real estate office. He made his resi- dence for years at 541 Ramona Street.

Mr. Hettinger has built many of the finest struc- tures in this part of the state; and among the edi- fices erected by him or for which he furnished and completed the exterior or interior woodwork, may be nientioned the Assembly Hall, the Library and the chemistry building at Stanford University, Stanford Memorial Church, one of the finest buildings on the Coast, which he constructed originally, and also after the earthquake, when it was completely rebuilt. He also put up 1000 feet of the Museum Building. He built the Stanford Inn, the Phi Delta Theta Club house, the Delta Kappa Epsilon Club house, the Bachelor's Club house, the Delta Upsilon Club house, the George B. Cooksey residence, the James Dough- erty, or first five-story building erected in San Jose, and in Palo Alto the Masonic Temple, the City Hall and the City Water Works, and he also designed the Post Office building, the Palo Alto Garage, the larg- est in the County, and he remodeled the First Na- tional Bank. He also built the New Lyndon hotel at Los Gatos, and the San Jose high school, destroyed by the earthquake, was another evidence of Mr. Het- tinger's craft. During the war he signed a contract to complete the various buildings and structures at Camp Fremont. For eighteen months, from Novem- ber 1, 1917, to April 1, 1919, he was the general

John a Rice

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

contractor and employed as high as 440 men for several months, doing work aggregating $400,000. He finished Camp Fremont proper, the rifle range, and machine gun range, the remount station and the base hospital, all under the inspection of Major J. B. Chaffey, who had charge, under the Government of the entire construction work at Camp Fremont. He was the promoter of the project for buying the Palo Alto postoffice building for the local order of the N. S. G. W. and is president of the board of directors of the N. S. G. W. Hall Association of Palo Alto.

On November 30, 1890, Mr. Hettinger was married at Mayfield, the birthplace of the bride, to Miss Tillie Weisshaar, a daughter of Frederick William Weiss- haar, a native of Kreuzburg, Saxe-Weimar, born in 1832, who became an expert overseer on a farm of a thousand acres. He sailed for Baltimore in 1852 and made his way to New Orleans, and later came to San Francisco by way of the Isthmus. Reaching the Bay City in 1856, he set himself up for five years in the furniture trade; but then he decided to move inland to Mayfield, and with a partner purchased land and was one of the first to subdivide and to encourage others to settle there. He became prominent in the Odd Fellows and the Druids. Mr. Hettinger has been a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West since 1907, and a Knight of Pythias since 1881. He was also a city councilman of Palo Alto from 1909 to 1915. In national politics he is a Republican.

JOSEPH EMORY COX .- A representative man, Joseph Emory Cox is one of the enterprising and active ranchers in Santa Clara County, giving sub- stantial encouragement to every plan for the pro- motion of the public welfare, and is recognized as one of the leading horticulturists. He was born on the old home place located on Saratoga Avenue, June 10, 1866, and is the son of William and Dicey (Baggs) Cox, both natives of Coshocton County, O., and a cousin of former Governor Cox, candidate for president. William Cox was a pioneer of Santa Clara County, locating here in 1852, establishing a family that do him honor to this day.

Joseph Emory Cox received the educational ad- vantages of the public schools of Moreland district, and then taking a commercial course in the Garden City Commercial College in San Jose, where he was graduated in 1886, he was well qualified to meet the problems, of life. After completing his business course, he assisted his father on the farm and or- chard, and helped in caring for and propagating the nursery stock, learning budding and grafting, the stock being used to set out their whole orchard.

Mr. Cox's marriage at Saratoga on September 24, 1890, united him with Miss Emma Seale, a native of Kentucky, the daughter of John and Theresa (Chase) Seale, born in Virginia and South Carolina, respec- tively. They were merchants near Lexington, Ky., and spent their life there. Mrs. Cox is next to the youngest of a large family, but the only one who came to California. She was educated in the public schools of Kentucky and came to California in 1885 with friends, and at Saratoga she met Mr. Cox. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are the parents of four children: Floyd A., married Velma Rice of an old and prominent family here, and he is an automobile salesman in San Jose; Ruby, is assisting her mother in presiding over the household; Leslie M. Cox, married Miss Annie Virginia Carmichael, also a member of a prom-

inent family, and they have one child, Virginia May, and he is a rancher and assists his father; Ed- win Cox is also assisting on the home farm. Mr. Cox has been a very successful orchardist and is owner of forty-seven acres, a portion of the old Wil- liam Cox ranch that is set mostly to prunes; he also owns another ten-acre prune orchard nearby and also twenty acres in prunes on Prospect Avenue. These orchards are now full bearing and are yielding a splendid income. Mr. Cox, with his sons, have been close students of the propagation of a fine vari- cty of large prunes and were fortunate in obtaining a very select large-sized prune, which is called Cox's Double X, a French prune now much sought after all over the Pacific Coast country. These buds are taken from two trees that he had obtained and only for the great care he gave them, they would have died; but he saved them, to the great advantage of the prune growers of the Pacific Coast. In connection with their orchards, they have a nursery where they make a specialty of growing the Cox Double X prune. For the past eighteen years, Mr. Cox has been deputy assessor and has faithfully fulfilled his duties in that capacity and has always been ready to help with any good movement for the uplift and in sup- port of his community. He has inherited many of the good traits and sterling qualities of his father, and his has been an active and useful life in which he has improved his opportunities wisely and well, not only in the advancement of his individual for- tunes but for the benefit of the community at large. He has a wide acquaintance and all who know him speak of him in terms of warm regard. In national politics he is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church at Saratoga.

MRS. MYRTLE WALKER JOHNSON .- Among the substantial residents of her community and a fac- tor for good and progress in moral and social circles is Mrs. Myrtle Walker Johnson, an orchardist on the Los Gatos-San Jose Road. She is a native Califor- nian, born on her father's place, a part of the old Parr ranch called Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos in the early days. Mrs. Johnson is the daughter of Robert and Eliza Jane (Parr) Walker and is the sec- ond oldest in a family of three children. Her educa- tion was obtained in the schools of Santa Clara County and she grew to young womanhood in her father's ranch. On June 17,1896, at San Jose, she was married to Frank A. Johnson, a native of Wis- consin, who came to California and was engaged in farming until his death. They were the parents of two children: Robert P. and Alice. Mr. Johnson passed away in May, 1900.

Mrs. Johnson inherited a thirty-eight-acre ranch from her mother, who was a daughter of Jonathan Parr, and in 1900 this place was set to an orchard of prunes and apricots. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Johnson has managed the property in a thor- ough and systematic manner which hespeaks much business ability and the substantial improvements on the ranch are of such nature as to increase the value of the property. Mrs. Johnson is an active member of the Rebekahs Lodge at Campbell, is a past noble grand and has been a representative to the Grand Lodge of that order. Her life has been an active, useful and honorable one and has been crowned by successful accomplishment.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

MRS. ISABELLE MERRIMAN .- How effectively the sweet memory and blessed, uplifting influence of a life well lived continues to cheer and stimulate those struggling along after, is well and beautifully exemplified in the story of the late Mrs. Isabelle Mer- riman, who died at her home in Palo Alto on June 13, 1920, at the age of seventy-two years. She was born in Connecticut. the daughter of Leonard and Sarah ( Burns) Pardee. both natives of the Nutmeg State and both worthy members of representative, old American families; and she married Louis Merriman, also a native of that state and a farmer; who brought his family to California in 1885, when they located in Santa Clara County and continued agricultural pur- suits. At first, they lived near San Jose; then they moved to Los Altos; and after that they pitched their tent at Palo Alto. coming here in 1907. They had two children, who are both living and reside in Palo Alto: Mrs. Marion J. Marriott and William N. Merriman. At the time of her lamented demise, the San Jose Mercury Herald contained the following touching tribute to Mrs. Merriman's cherished memory from the pen of Mrs. Marian Shaw:

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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 149

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