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 167

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 167

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).

David P. Fouts began his early education in the common schools of Wooster; later attending Otter- hein University at Westerville. After leaving college, he spent several years in teaching school in Wayne County. On September 19, 1862, he enlisted for service with Company C. First Ohio Cavalry. His company was sent to Washington, D. C., and en- tered upon the Gettyburg campaign, as an escort to General Kilpatrick, who was in charge of three hrigades in the campaign. On July first and second the companies were in battle at Hanover Courthouse, Pa., with Stewart's cavalry, and the following night again encountered him at Hunterstown. Following this, General Kilpatrick received orders to join Gen- eral Mcade at Gettysburg, and was in the battle from July 3 until General Hood was defeated; on the morning of the Fourth of July, General Kilpatrick captured a rebel wagon train in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Monterey. The following spring David P. Fouts was granted a two weeks' furlough, at the end of which time he was to report back to General Kilpatrick, but the general was so badly wounded that he was disabled for active service, so his company reported to General Wilson at Nash- ville, Tenn., where he remained all summer. On September 19, 1865, he was honorably discharged. having served for three years. After the close of the war, he removed to Schuyler, Colfax County, Neb., taking up a homestead. During the year of 1874 he sold out and removed to California, settling in Fres- 110 and was engaged in following his trade, that of painting, and was thus engaged for twenty years. He returned to Ohio during the summer of 1886 on a visit with relatives and friends.

The marriage of Mr. Fouts occurred in Novem- ber, 1886, uniting him with Miss Mary Siler, a daugh- ter of John and Mary Siler, carly settlers and one of

1079

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

the founders of Muscatine, lowa. Mrs. Fouts was educated in the public schools of Muscatine, She came with a sister and brother to California in early days. In 1904 the family removed to San Jose, where Mr. Fouts engaged in the contracting business until about five years ago, being nearly eighty years old when he retired from his activities. Mr. and Mrs. Fouts are the parents of one daughter, Florence, the wife of Mr. Ogier and they have one daughter, Dorothy, the family residing at Pacific Grove. Mr. Fout's course in life has been upright and honorable in every relation, winning him the confidence, good will and high regard of all with whom he has been associated. He is prominent in G. A. R. activities and was quartermaster of Atlantic Post at Fresno when it was organized, and afterwards was chaplain. He is now a member of Sheridan-Dix Post No. 7. San Jose. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and has ever believed in constructive measures.

JAMES FERRELL .- A self-made man who has become well known as a cement contractor of Santa Clara County is James Ferrell, having resided in San Jose for the past twenty years. Born at Morton, Delaware County, Pa., August 6, 1851, he is a son of James and Sarah (Coats) Ferrell. The father was a butcher by trade, serving at his trade in Philadelphia, but living nine miles in the country at Morton. James Ferrell is the third child of a family of eight. He attended grammar school, but the opportunities for an education were very meager, as he was able to attend but three months each season. When he was eleven years old, he started out to earn his own way working on farms. In 1868 he removed to Rock Island, Ill., where he remained for a short time; he continued west until he came to El Paso, Texas, then to Phoenix, Arizona, then to Yuma, and on to California in 1871 remaining in Los Angeles but a short time. He then left the Southland and journeyed as far north as Lake County and for several years was engaged in driving a stage from Calistoga to the Big Geyser Springs in Lake County from the fall of 1871 till 1876. From Lake County he went into Humboldt County and drove a logging team in the lumber camp of John Vance on Mud River at Ar- cata. He then drove a logging team on the Salmon River at Table Bluff for Mr. Jones. In 1881 he came to San Joaquin County and engaged in ranching, raising grain, beans, and potatoes on the river bottom lands in San Joaquin County. He lived for a time in Stockton and did teaming between Stockton and the mining camps in the Sierras. In 1901 he re- moved to San Jose and engaged in cement work, doing sidewalk, curbing, concrete foundation and til- ing Mr. Ferrell was married in Vallejo February 14, 1884 to Miss Frances Rule, a native of Vallejo, a daughter of Samuel and Isabel (Moffat) Rule, her father a pioneer of 1850 arriving in California after a long and hazardous journey around Cape Horn. He was engaged in the building business for the gov- ernment at Vallejo and Mare Island. He passed away in 1883. Frances Rule Ferrell was educated in the public schools of Vallejo. Mr. and Mrs. Fer- rell are the parents of nine children; Isabel, now Mrs. Harris, resides in Oakland; Samuel married Ethel Lee and they live in San Jose, where he is engaged in paving work; Sarah, a graduate of San Jose State Normal, is a teacher in the Oakland schools; Margaret died in infancy; Frances, also a

graduate of San Jose State Normal, is a teacher at Willow Glen; Lydia, now Mrs. Adoradio, resides in San Jose; James, now ranching at San Jose, was in an officers' training camp at Stanford University until taken sick with influenza; Charles is employed by the Bethlehem Steel Works, Oakland, as mechanic; Kenneth is a student in the high school in San Jose. The family have resided at 882 East Julian Street for the last seven years. Mr. Ferrell was bereaved of his wife October 6, 1915, a sad blow to the family and their many friends.

FRANK A. VON DORSTEN .- An experienced. efficient official is Frank A. Von Dorsten, the super- vising foreman of the Pacific Telephone & Tele- graph Company, with headquarters at San Jose, who is a native of Colusa County. He was born in Colusa on December 12, 1872, the son of Henry August Von Dorsten, who was born on February 17, 1832, and started to come to California in 1849 but was compelled to delay his journey until the fall of 1851. He first tried to cross the great plains in an ox train, and in doing so underwent some very severe hardships. The Indians broke up the emi- grants' outfits, and they were compelled to return home; and when they got through Mr. Von Dorsten made for the mines in Shasta County. There he was employed in a grocery store, and then he hauled supplies between Benicia and Shasta. He bought the oxen himself, and ran between the mines and Benicia. He leased sheep land near Stony Corrall west of Maxwell, and followed sheep raising for some years, and then he took up land and engaged in the growing of grain, adjoining Maxwell on the west. He then removed to Oakland, where he spent two years, and in 1884 he came to San Jose. In 1888 he engaged in orcharding, and having sold out his interests in Colusa County, he continued to special- ize in his new field until his death on October 15, 1915. He was a member of the Masons, and was buried with Masonie honors.

Mr. Von Dorsten had married Miss Frances Dun- lap, born at Concord, N. H., on August 13, 1836, who came to Colusa County in the early days, and she died on January 10, 1875, beloved by all who knew her. They had another son, Otto F. Von Dorsten, born April 16, 1867, and he is still living on the home ranch in Santa Clara County.

Frank A. enjoyed all the local educational advan. tages and attended first the grammar and then the high school, in San Jose, and after that he followed with success the courses of the San Jose Business College from which he was graduated in 1891. Then he joined his father and brother on the home ranch in 1891 and remained there until June, 1895, when he entered the service of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, then the Sunset Telephone & Telegraph Company. He has been with this con- cern ever since, and has occupied his present posi- tion for the past eight years. With his brother he owns the old Van Dorsten home ranch of 100 acres devoted to raising prunes and they are members of the California Prune and Apricot Association, and Mr. Von Dorsten is also vice-president and di- rector of the Home Union and a stockholder in the Security Bank. In San Jose, on January 29, 1902, Mr. Von Dorsten was married to Miss Bessie Dun- gan Rutherford, a native of Little Rock, Ark., and they have one child living, a daughter named Frances.

1080

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

He is a member of Fraternity Lodge No. 399, F. & A. M., Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., San Jose Council No. 20. R. & S. M., San Jose Com- mandery No. 10, and with his wife is a member of San Jose Chapter O. E. S. He is also a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .. San Francisco, and is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 522. B. P. O. E., and he also belongs to the Telephone Pio- neers of America.

Mr. and Mrs. Von Dorsten are fond of motoring and each summer they take long trips with their car enjoying the scenery of the Pacific Coast states, each year going into the high Sierras, where they have great pleasure and enjoyment in hunting and fishing.

FRANK ABERNATHY .- A representative or- chardist of Santa Clara County, Frank Abernathy was for twenty-one years the capable and efficient manager of the Sorosis Fruit Company, becoming well and favorably known as a horticulturist and manager of large affairs hut is now looking after his own properties. He was born in Iowa in 1876 and is the son of William Watson Abernathy, a native of Ohio, born in 1851. The paternal grand- parents were Samuel and Lydia Abernathy and were farmers. His father was also a farmer and when William was twelve years of age, moved to Indiana and he lived there until he was twenty-one years old. when he returned to Ohio where he worked in a tile factory for two years. In 1873 William W. Abernathy was married to Miss Sarah E. Hodgell, a native of Ohio, born in 1853, and in 1880 they removed to California, and after residing in dif- ferent parts of California, finally settled in San Jose in 1901. Mr. Abernathy was in the fuel, feed and delivery business for several years and then he pur- chased his present place on the Saratoga Road, where he and his wife now reside. They are the parents of two children: Minnie, the wife of Frank R. Forrest, and Frank is the subject of this sketch.

Frank attended the public schools of Jewell. Kans., and then entered the State Normal at Emporia; later he taught school for two years in Jewell Coun- ty. In 1901 he removed to California and entered the employ of the Sorosis Fruit Company, owned by F. M. (Borax) Smith, and in 1908 became the manager for the company and occupied that re- sponsible position for six months after Mr. Smith sold it to the new owners. Wishing to give all of his time to the management of his own orchards he resigned this position in January, 1922. Since 1908 Mr. Abernathy has owned orchards, adding to his holdings by the purchase of full-bearing groves from time to time, until he now owns five different orchards in the vicinity of Saratoga, embracing 143 acres, devoted principally to raising prunes, although he also grows apricots, peaches, and pears. On his ranch at Congress Junction he is also engaged in raising White Leghorn poultry, having modern and well equipped yards for the purpose. His home ranch, known as the Bonney Orchards, is located on the heights above Saratoga, commanding a beautiful view of the Valley. His dry yards are located at the Congress Junction ranch, where he cures all of his fruit from the various orchards.

Mr. Abernathy's marriage united him with Miss Nettie Melone, a native of Illinois, and they have two children, Florence and Frances. Fraternally

Mr. Abernathy is a Modern Woodman, and with his wife is a member of the Christian Church of San Jose, being a inember of the official board.

ADA SCOTT MORTON, M. D .- Prominent among the distinguished members of the medical profession in Santa Clara County, Dr. Ada Scott Morton is a well-known surgeon of San Jose, who has been able to exert a helpful influence in the ad- vancement of the practice of surgery. A native daugliter, she was born at Stockton, a member of a family of physicians. Her maternal grandfather, a native of Alabama, was Dr. John Ferguson, and he was widely known in both Alabama and Arkansas as a successful practitioner. When he passed away, he also enjoyed the prestige as owner of an extensive plantation. Her paternal grandfather was Dr. Thomas Scott, and he lived and died in Kentucky. Her father, Richard Scott, was born in Kentucky, was married in the East and crossed the plains in 1849 in a wagon train, locating at Stockton. He brought mules and cattle across the plains, as well as a large freighting outfit: and engaged in freight- ing between Stockton and the mines, as well as into the upper San Joaquin Valley. His brother, Dr. David Scott, and relatives, crossed the plains in 1857 and were killed in the Mountain Meadow massacre. Dick Scott, as he was familiarly known, was success- ful as a freighter. He went through some hazardous and harrowing experiences in those early days, hav- ing been held up and robbed more than once. Later on lie engaged in ranching and became the owner of several farms and after he retired, leased them. He always made his home in Stockton until he came to San Jose, where he spent his last days with Dr. Morton, passing away in 1919. Her mother, who was born in Alabama, where she was reared and educated at a female college, is a cultured and refined woman, who makes her home with her daughter, Dr. Morton, at her home in Linda Vista, aged eighty- four. Dr. Morton's brother. Dr. C. L. Scott, is a practising physician at Hanford; another brother is Dr. W. P. Scott of Bakersfield.

The twelfth child in a family of thirteen, Ada Scott grew up in Stockton, where her father operated as a large grain farmer. She was born in Stockton, March 17. 1882, and graduated from the Tulare high school in 1900, and then took, first a pre-medical. and then a medical course at the California Medical School at San Francisco, after which she entered the medical department of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She was graduated on June 4, 1907, with the degree of M. D., and in the same year began her active practice, associating herself with her brother. Dr. W. P. Scott, at Bakersfield. At the end of the year, in May, 1908, she removed to San Jose and practised until 1911; then, during 1911-12, she pursued post-graduate work for eleven months at the Mayo brothers' celebrated clinic at Rochester, Minn., and each year she spends a month or two among Eastern clinics. Just before the outbreak of the World War, she joined the clinical congress of surgeons of the world in London. In January, 1914, Dr. Morton went to England and France, and while there attended clinics under different surgeons, among them being Drs. Warterhouse and Lane in the former country, and Hartman and Tuffier in the latter; and she was in France when war was declared; in fact, was in a surgeons' meeting, standing by the side of Dr. Tuffier when he received the message that war

Frank abernathy

1083

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

was declared. When she was ready to return, their ship was chased by submarines.

In the carly part of 1913, Miss Scott married Dr. A. W. Morton of San Francisco, whom she later divorced, and from three to four years she practised in San Francisco as surgeon for the Santa Fe Rail- road Company. On May 8, 1919, she was married to her present husband, Robert H. Frederick, popu- larly known in athletic circles, where he is famous as an athlete and wrestler, as Ed. "Strangler" Lewis, and they are the parents of one child, Bobada Lewis. He was born at Sheboygan Falls, Wis., in 1890, of German extraction, is six feet one and one-half inches tall, and weighs 240 pounds. He was educated at Louisville, Ky., and was the athletic instructor there. He offered his services to the U. S. government, was stationed at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., and taught the soldier boys hand-to-hand fighting. He is now the world's champion wrestler. Dr. Morton retains her former name for professional reasons, and she enjoys an extensive practice as a surgeon.

CURTIS ELDEN HANGER .- Coming to Cali- fornia and the Santa Clara Valley in 1883, Curtis E. Hanger is counted among the successful horticul- turists of the county. He was born near Lafayette, Ind., on October 5, 1855, a son of M. M. and Ann (Ellis) Hanger. The father was born in Augusta County. Va., and came with his parents to Tippe- canoe County, Ind., where he was reared on a farm. In 1850 he came via Panama to San Francisco and followed mining for a couple of years then returned East again by way of the Isthmus. He was married in Indiana to Miss Ann Ellis, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Stoner) Ellis, of English and German descent, respectively. The Hanger, Ellis and Stone families were all pioneers of Indiana when there were Indians all around that part of the country. M. M. Hanger and his family came to California in 1881 and in 1883 they settled in Santa Clara County, where they bought and improved an orchard at the corner of the Union and Los Gatos roads. Here the mother died in October, 1900, Mr. Hanger passing away in September, 1902. They were the parents of four children: Curtis E. of this sketch; Edward E. lives in Indiana; Elizabeth died at the age of seven; Fred G. of this place.

Curtis E. received his preliminary education in the schools of Indiana; later attended the Wabash Col- lege and the Purdue University and Northern In- diana State Normal. Before coming to California, he had worked on a ranch, and after arriving here was with his father on the ranch in the mountains near Wright's Station. He then removed to his present location on Union and Los Gatos roads, where he has since engaged in horticulture. He has also done his part in developing orchards here, for he bought thirty-five acres of stubble which he planted to prunes and brought to a high state of cultivation before he disposed of it.

The marriage of Mr. Hanger occurred at Campbell. in March, 1902, and united him with Miss Rose E. Kimber, born in Brighton, England. Mrs. Hanger was the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Perrin) Kimber, born at Brighton and Cambridge, England, respectively. The father was a machinist until he retired and they still make their home at Brighton. They are the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, Mrs. Hanger was the eldest of the family

and the only one in California. In September, 1896. she came to California to visit friends who were liv- ing in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and it was while here that she met Mr. llanger. Mr. and Mrs. Hanger have no children of their own, but have adopted an orphan niece of Mrs. Hanger's, named Olive Hanger, now attending Campbell high school. In national politics, they are Republicans, and Mr. Hanger has been a trustee of Cambria school district. The family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Campbell, while Mrs. Hanger is a member of the Ladies' Aid and the Country Woman's Club and Pundita Club. In 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Hanger made a trip abroad, visiting Mr. Hanger's old home, Brighton, England, and also traveling into different parts of England as well as on the continent, and on their return home they visited the large cities of the East and Canada.

HARRY BARNES .- Although of English birth. Harry Barnes has spent practically his entire life in the United States and has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his adopted country, be- ing now numbered among the leading orchardists of the Santa Clara Valley. He was born in London, England, May 13, 1882, a son of William and Alice (Stroud) Barnes, who came to the United States in 1887. settling in southwest Texas. At the time of the Galveston flood in 1900, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes and their six children were residing in that city. Harry was the oldest and had left Galveston for Dallas, the night before the storm. The rest of the family all perished excepting the father, who es- caped miraculously and now lives in Ft. Worth. In the schools of the Lone Star state Harry Barnes acquired his education and on starting out in life for himself entered the employ of the firm of Stone & Webster, Engineering Corporation of Boston, Mass., becoming superintendent of power house con- struction, which position he continued to fill for ten years, his work in that connection taking him all over the southern portion of the United States. He was likewise identified with the agricultural in- dustry, being engaged in raising stock, grain and fruit, having a thirty acre orchard of peaches, pears and plums. He continued in Texas for nine years and then decided to locate in California, having been very favorably impressed with this region during previous visits to the state, having first visited the Santa Clara Valley twenty years ago. Disposing of all of his interests in Texas, he came to the Santa Clara Valley in February, 1921, and purchased a tract of eleven acres on the corner of Casey Road and Union Avenue, near Campbell. He specializes in the raising of prunes, in which he has been very suc- cessful, for he believes in advanced methods and keeps abreast of the times in every way.

Mr. Barnes was married in Dallas, Texas, July 31, 1905, to Miss Marie Brundrett, a native of Texas, and they now have a daughter, Harriet Brundrett Barnes. Mr. Barnes is a member of Orchard City Grange and the California Prune and Apricot Grow- ers, Inc. He finds recreation in hunting and fishing and is nonpartisan in his political views, placing the qualifications of a candidate above all other consid- erations. In the management of his business affairs he has been progressive, energetic and capable and in the discharge of his duties as a citizen has at all times been actuated by patriotic principles.

1084

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

HENRY B. FISHER .- A man of high standing in his profession who has been identified with the county of Santa Clara since 1893, is Henry B. Fisher, surveyor and civil engineer, with offices in the Grow- ers Bank Building, San Jose. Mr. Fisher is a native of Wisconsin, having been born at Port Washington, on September 17. 1866, a son of William F. and Emeline (Beach) Fisher; the father, who served dur- ing the Civil War, passed away while the family were still residing in St. Paul, Minn .; the mother made her home with her son in San Jose until her death, August 31, 1921.

Henry B. Fisher attended the public schools of St. Paul, Minn., and also had the advantage of a course in a St. Paul business college. Later he took a course in the International Correspondence School, in civil engineering. He first worked in St. Paul as dep- uty county surveyor of Ramsey County, Minn .; later as assistant engineer of construction of the Woods Harvester Works, and still later served one season in the river and harbor work of the U. S. War Depart- ment. In 1893, he came to California and settled in San Jose, where he has established himself in busi- ness, and here he has been very successful, each year widening his circle of influential friends and clients. He is city engineer for the towns of Santa Clara, Gil- roy, Morgan Hill, Alviso, and Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Mr. Fisher's marriage united him with Miss Laura Lacey, a native of Wisconsin, and they are the parents of three children: Raymond W., Helen, and Flor- ence. Mr. Fisher is popular in the fraternal and business circles of San Jose, being a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, Sons of Veterans and Royal Arcanum. Mr. Fisher and his family are active workers in the Congregational Church, and in national politics he is a Republican. He is a lover of outdoor life, is very fond of baseball and spends his leisure time during that season watching that interesting sport on the diamond.

HOWARD S. WALTZ .- A prominent builder and contractor of San Jose who is contributing to the upbuilding of the Garden City by the attractive homes he is erecting for others as well as those he is building and selling himself, is Howard S. Waltz, proud of his heritage as a native son of Cali- fornia, having been born in Oakland, on August 30, 1888. He is the son of Dr. George and Gertrude (Smith) Waltz; the father, who was a dentist, came to California in the early '80s and settled at Walnut Creek, where he resided at the time of his death; the mother is still living and makes her home in San Jose.

Howard was educated in the public schools and having come here in 1895, he took the high school course in San Jose. For six years he was in the employ of Frank Wolf as an architectural drafts- man and later served one year as head draftsman of Wright and Kimbrough at Sacramento, Cal., later returning and engaging in contracting, taking con- tracts for such buildings as the George Glendenning home, the Horace Keesling home, Dr. H. B. Rey- nold's residence in Palo Alto and others there, also the home of H. C. Phillips in Los Gatos. He is now building and selling homes himself, in which undertaking he has been very successful.

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 167

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