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 176

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 176

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ALLEN R. LATHAM .- A veteran of the Civil War, Allen R. Latham is a native of New Hampshire, born at Concord. December 8, 1842. The family is traced back to William Latham, who came from England in the Mayflower in 1620. Mr. Latham's father, Allen Latham, was born in Tyme, N. H., No- vember 5, 1818 and settled in Lamont, Ill. He practiced dentistry for fifty years and passed away November 25, 1894. Mr. Latham's mother was Clara Eastman Jenness, born in Chichester, N. H., April 9, 1820, and died in Danville, Ill., August 22, 1852. Their only child to grow up was Allen R., who came with his parents to Illinois in 1852, attended school in Danville and studied dentistry under his father until 1862, when he volunteered in Company M, Second Illinois Light Artillery, but was later placed in Com- pany H of the same regiment. He was in the Battle of Harper's Ferry, then with General Burnsides in Eastern Tennessee and later with General Thomas at Nashville. He was mustered out at Camp Butler, Ill., July, 1865, as corporal, after two years and nine months' service. After the war he made his way to what is now Ludington, Mich., and followed saw- milling until 1872, and then located in Springfield, Ill., where he practiced dentistry and later engaged in the drug business. In 1886 he removed to Delta, Colo., where he engaged in general merchandising, in- cluding a drug department, the firm being Latham & Williams. Setting out he came to California in June, 1891, and a month later he located in Los Gatos. Finding it to his liking he engaged in the grocery trade for five years and then followed clerking in the Farmers' Union and also in A. W. Bogart's hard- ware store for some years. During these years he had purchased and improved a ten acre ranch to prune orchard; he cared for this orchard for many

years until the work became too arduous, when he sold it. Meantime as early as 1892, he purchased his present place of two and one-half acres which he has set out to orchard.

Mr. Latham was married at Hamlin, Mich., to Emma Christina Gustafson, born in Sweden, who was reared in Michigan from the age of fifteen years. Mr. Latham was bereaved of his wife on May 15, 1919. Their union resulted in the birth of two chil- dren; Robert Allen died in Angust, 1917; John Ed- ward died January 1, 1909; he had married Florence Blank, who survives him and presides over Mr. Latham's home. She has one son, Allen Emmett, a graduate of Oakland high school, class of 1922. Mr. Latham was made a Mason in Pierre Marquette Lodge, Ludington, Mich., in 1872, is a past master of Springfield, Ill., Lodge No. 4, A. F. & A. M., and is now a member of Los Gatos Lodge No. 292. He is a member of Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., and San Jose Commandry No. 10, K. T., and all the Scottish Rite bodies in San Jose. He is also a mem- ber of E. O. C. Ord. Post No. 82, G. A. R.

FRED G. MUSSO .- One of San Jose's progres- sive young business men is Fred G. Musso, who was born in Italy, January 14, 1888, the son of Eugene and Mary Musso, both natives of Italy; the latter with their family came to San Jose in 1892 to join the father who had preceded them by two years. Both parents are still residing in San Jose.

F. G. Musso was educated in the grammar and high schools of San Jose, later attending St. Joseph's College. He also attended night school in order to acquire a speaking knowledge of the English language. His first position was as an apprentice with a drug company and at the end of three years, he took the examination for assistant pharmacist ; later taking a correspondence course and successfully passed all examinations, and at the end of five years became a registered pharmacist and for fourteen years was engaged in his chosen profession.

Desiring to own a business for himself, Mr. Musso established what is known as the Musso Onting Equipment Company, with an attractive store and factory at 190-192 West Santa Clara Street, where he manufactures the famous Musso "Auto-Home- Camp-Bed." The products of his factory are so popular that he ships to all parts of the United States; to the South Sea Islands; the Hawaiian Is- lands; the Samoa Islands; but his greatest field is in this state and the adjoining states of Utah and Nevada. This "camp-bed" is moderate in price. comfortable to sleep upon, and the pleasure of a camping trip is enhanced by the comforts it affords. and it is winning prosperity for its maker. He al- ready has one patent and something like fourteen claims, with others pending. He opened his business in a very modest way, working principally among his friends, but the business has so increased, that it has become necessary to seek larger quarters. His present payroll consists of fifteen men and fifteen women constantly engaged in the manufacture of camp equipment.

The marriage of Mr. Musso united him with Miss Edith Starkey and to them has been born one son, Frederick Warren. He casts his vote with the Re- publican party, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters; he is also a mem-

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ber of the Drug Clerks' Association and the One Hundred Percent Club of San Jose. He adheres to the teachings of the Catholic Church. He is a great lover of outdoor life and finds time to take his fam- ily on hunting and fishing trips. He believes there is a great future for Santa Clara County, and is an enthusiastic supporter of all movements for the bet- terment of the beautiful Garden City.

DOXEY ROBERT WILSON, M. D .- The high professional attainments of Doxey Robert Wilson, M. D .. have given him a place of prominence in the medical fraterntiy of San Jose, and his experience and training have well qualified him for his responsible post as superintendent and physician in charge of the County Hospital. A native of Indiana, he was born at Noblesville, on April 19, 1884, and was the son of Coleman and Mattie (Doxey) Wilson. He received his education in the public schools and Culver Military Academy of Indiana and later attended Stanford University, taking his medical work at Cooper Medical College. He received the M. D. degree in the year of 1908 and at the convocation of that college in 1920 a fellowship in the American College of Surgeons was conferred upon him. For two years Dr. Wilson served as an intern at the Santa Clara County Hospital and then devoted some time to private practice in San Jose, before his ap- pointment in 1913, to the position of superintendent and physician in charge of the County Hospital where he has shown signal administrative and exec- utive ability. In 1918 Dr. Wilson enlisted in the Medical Department, U. S. A., was commissioned first lieutenant and served in the orthopedic department of Letterman Hospital at San Francisco and at Camp Lewis, Washington, he received his honorable dis- charge in April, 1919.

Dr. Wilson's marriage united him with Miss Eliza- beth Cornell, a native of San Francisco, Cal., and they are the parents of three children: John, Martha and Elizabeth. Dr. Wilson is very popular in the Wood- men of the World and the Odd Fellows lodges. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the State and County Medical Societies. In national politics, he is a Republican, but being a man ahove party ties, he is liberal in his views, voting for men and measures rather than party ties.

EDWARD R. POLHEMUS .- A highly progres- sive business man of San Jose who is doubly inter- esting as a representative of one of the oldest, his- toric families in the state, is Edward R. Polhemus, the efficient and popular secretary and treasurer of the California Plow Company at San Jose. His na- tive city is San Francisco, where he was born on August, 1889; and his parents, now both deceased. were Edward and Eunice ( Blanchard) Polhemus. As early as 1860, the father settled near Anaheim, where he had a sheep ranch; then he migrated north and spent some years in Seattle; but lured by the old spell of California, he came back to the Golden State and once more lived at San Francisco, where he passed away.

Edward R. Polhemus attended both the grammar and high schools of San Francisco, and then went to Stanford University and in 1909 he said good-bye to lecture-halls and entered the exporting trade in San Francisco. Ten years later, in June, he came to San Jose and soon after associated himself with the California Plow Company, a concern still in

its infancy, but of great promise. He was made secretary and treasurer, and as he was already expe- rienced in handling agricultural implements, and es- pecially tractors and all that goes with that Twen- tieth Century device for the farmer, the development of the plow manufacturing enterprise moves steadily forward, on broad, permanent lines. In November, of 1921, Mr. Polhemus became interested in the Valley Oil Refinery, located at the corner of Pol- hemus Street and Stockton Avenue, San Jose. This company operates two stills and make a superior quality of gasoline; also lubricating oils, distillates and an oil especially made for spraying.

Mr. Polhemus, who is an Episcopalian, is a Scot- tish Rite Mason, a Shriner and an Elk, and also a member of the S. E. A., a college fraternity. He is fond of sport. and is well known is yachting cir- cles. In political movements, he invariably assumes the attitude of the man above narrow partisanship, and his influence as a citizen is far-reaching.

CHRIS RASMUSSEN .- Since coming to San Martin in 1908, Chris Rasmussen has done much toward the upbuilding of this section, for in addition to developing his own ranch, he has done a great deal of work for others in the line of orchard plant- ing and taking care of orchards, operating every season both with horses and Yuba tractors. Mr. Rasmussen is a native of Denmark, born near Aarhus, on May 9, 1880, his parents being R. P. and Mary ( Vester) Rasmussen, both members of well-known families of that part of Denmark. The father stood high as a teacher, and he gave his son the oppor- tunity of schooling in good educational institutions. Mrs. Rasmussen passed away in 1896, but the father is still living at Aarhus at the age of seventy-nine.

The fourth child of the family, Chris Rasmussen first was employed three years in the hardware busi- ness, after his school days were over. In 1900-01 he served in the Danish Army as a corporal in an infantry regiment, training at Aarhus. After his military training was over he decided to migrate to the United States, and in 1903, arrived in Mitchell County, Iowa, a stranger in a strange land. but am- bitious to give his best efforts to making a success in the new land. For a time he worked out on farms, saving his money meanwhile, and in March, 1906, came on west to California, locating at Fresno, and for a short time worked on a ranch, and then entered the sawmill business at Shaver, then came to San Francisco. In 1908 Mr. Rasmussen came to the Santa Clara Valley, and purchased a tract of thirteen acres on Church Avenue, San Martin, which he devel- oped into a valuable property, four acres being in Royal Anne cherries. Here he made his home for six years, until the coming of his brother, R. U. Rasmus- sen, to this section. Disposing of this place to his brother, they purchased a larger ranch and there the three brothers reside, as M. Rasmussen is also con- nected with the farm. The place consists of twenty acres on Colombet Avenue, all being set to fruit trees. Efficient and hard working, he has given his orchard the best of care and is now re- warded by its excellent returns. In 1922 R. U. and M. Rasmussen purchased a thirteen and one-half acre ranch of young orchards, on Church Avenue. A loyal citizen of his adopted country, Mr. Rasmussen received his final citizenship papers in San Francisco in 1912. He belongs to the California Prune and Apricot Association, and in politics is a Republican.

Sorry R. Wilson.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

JAMES EDWIN BLAUROCK .- A wide-awake, efficient business man of the type which always makes itself manifest in a progressive community, is J. Edwin Blaurock, the popular manager of the Pa- cific Fruit Product Company at San Jose. He was born in East Orange, N. J., on May 6, 1873, the son of Samuel and Hattie (Sommerville) Blaurock, worthy citizens, devoted parents and good neighbors, with a host of friends.

After leaving school Mr. Blaurock worked with his father in the plumbing business in East Orange but tiring of that he went to New York City and was employed as salesman and in other capacities until going to Colorado in 1897. He worked in the mining business, at plumbing and as salesman there,- then in 1904 went back to Chicago and was in busi- ness for himself until coming to California in 1909.

Mr. Blaurock spent two years in Sacramento and San Francisco, -- in the former city with the John Bruner Company, and in the latter with the Coast Fire and Marine Salvage Company. On September 26, 1911, he came to San Jose, and he has been with the Pacific Fruit Product Company ever since, starting at the very bottom and working his way through the different departments until, since July, 1916, he has discharged the varied responsibilities of his present position.

In the busy season, the Pacific Fruit Product Com- pany employs some seventy-five people. and they pack dried fruit under contract for the California Prune & Apricot Association. They also maintain a jam department, and put up jam of a very high qual- ity, and they formerly packed cherries and other green fruit, selecting only the best raw materials, and preserving them in the most scientific manner. Mr. Blaurock's thorough training, partly in the com- mon schools of the East, partly in a business college. and partly in the great school of experience, has enabled him to manage this growing business con- cern with the true spirit of enterprise. In national politics a Republican, he is ready at all times to cast aside partisanship and to pull a long and strong stroke in favor of the best things locally.

In 1900, Mr. Blaurock was united in marriage at Cripple Creek. Colo., to Minnie E. Largent, a na- tive of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and they have a daugh- ter Edna May.

Mr. Blaurock is fond of all outdoor recreations; and fraternally he joins his fellows in the circles of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the Woodmen of the World, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

SYLVAIN LE DEIT .- An enterprising, progres- sive business man who is never satisfied with the success of today but has his eye far ahead on to- morrow, is Sylvain Le Deit, of the Garden City Glass Company, at San Jose, in which city he was born on June 13, 1887. His father. Matthurin Le Deit, came to San Francisco in 1852 by way of the Horn, and for a while was a cowboy. Later in San Jose, he engaged in the poultry and butcher trade; and here he lived until his death, in December, 1907. He married Georgetta Gaire, a native daughter, who was born at San Francisco.

Sylvain attended the public schools and then worked in a mill. After that he learned the art-glass trade, beginning in 1902, and seven years later he established a business for himself, and in 1920 took into partnership Richard French, and purchased the 49

Garden City Glass Company. Now they have the largest art-glass plant between Portland and Los Angeles. Their shop is located at 122 Lenzen Ave- nue, and there they employ ten men regularly, turn- ing out everything from the plainest window glass up to the most artistic specimens, and sending their products all along the coast and the nearby western territory. Mr. Le Deit belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and never loses an opportunity to endorse and otherwise help any movement of benefit to his fellows in business as well as to himself.

At Santa Clara, in 1911, he married Miss Mar- cella Williams, of San Jose, and they have two sons, James and Sylvain, Jr. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church and Mr. Le Deit is a mem- ber of the Foresters of America, the Woodmen of the World and the Elks.

Richard French, Mr. Le Deit's partner, was born in England, on April 24. 1879, the son of Joseph and Frances French, who came to Pittsburgh, Pa., with their family from England in 1887 and later moved to St. Paul, Minn. Richard, who came to America in 1890, was educated for the most part in England, and for a term at a St. Paul Minn., school. In 1895. he engaged in the glass business; and on March 10, 1920, he came to San Jose and with Mr. Le Deit succeeded to the proprietorship of this com- pany. He married Miss Stella J. Winks, and they have three children, all girls. Laura Thelma, Stella Faye. and Mary Velma. Mr. French did not take long to join hand and heart with his fellow-Amer- icans, and he participated in the Spanish-American War as a member of Company G, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, thereby doing his highest patriotic duty.

WILLIAM F. SERPA .- Among California's na- tive sons, who have done their share in the up- building of the city of San Jose, is William F. Serpa, who is engaged as a plumbing and sheet metal con- tractor, having been engaged in this business for himself since the year 1914. Mr. Serpa was born on February 21, 1885, and is a native of San Jose, a son of Manuel F. and Mary (Marshall) Serpa. The father came here in 1874 and it was here that he met and married Mrs. Serpa, who was also a na- tive of California, having been born in Placer County; her father was an early settler. coming to Califor- nia during the pioneer days; Mr. and Mrs. Serpa still make their home at San Jose.

Mr. Serpa attended both the grammar and high schools of San Jose and at the age of twenty-one became an apprentice in the plumbing trade. He worked for a number of years as a journeyman in Oakland and San Jose at this line of business and then he decided to start in business for himself, es- tablishing his shop during the year 1914. He has installed the plumbing in many of the larger resi- dences, and buildings, among them Mr. Schmidt's residence at Wright Station, and Mrs. Joseph's resi- dence. Evergreen; S. H. Chase residence. R. H. Borches' residence, C. Kimberlin residence, Naglee Park; the Metropolitan Store, the Curtner-Wright Garage, the Delmas Paper Company, on North Mar- ket Street; the Montgomery Building, all school buildings in 1920, but one, and did a large amount of sheet metal work on the park and race track, and has secured the contract for all work for the Western Pacific from Milpitas to San Jose. In all his un- dertakings he has been very successful, and he has established a reputation for excellent work.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Mr. Serpa's marriage in March, 1907, united him with Miss Marie Ickler and they are the parents of four children: Clara, Hazel, Thelma, and Beryl. Mr. Serpa was very active during the World War in the different war drives, showing the patriotic spirit which he feels toward his country. He is also active as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and fraternally, is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America and the Odd Fellows. In national politics, he casts his vote with the Republican party.

A. KIEFFER BURKETT .- In each community are found men of business enterprise and thrift whose activity and progressive ideas place them in the front rank of the real builders of our commonwealth and among these in San Jose is A. Kieffer Burkett, contractor and builder. He was born in Jefferson, Ashe County, N. C., June 16, 1882, the son of R. H. and Elizabeth (Smithdeal) Burkett. The father and grandfather were both natives of North Carolina and the mother was born in Virginia.

A. K. Burkett was educated in the grammar school of Jefferson and at the age of sixteen, he went to West Virginia and worked in the coal fields of Mc- Dowell County for a year and a half. In 1901 he came to California, located near Santa Cruz where he was employed on a dairy ranch for three years. He next was employed by the California Powder Company, which later became a branch of the Du Pont powder companies, for seven years, in time becoming a foreman in the manufacturing depart- ment of dynamite and black powder. In 1914 he came to San Jose and spent three years with L. I. Kelly, contractor, learning the carpenter trade, after serving his apprenticeship, he began contracting for himself, specializing in first-class bungalows.

On February 5, 1918, Mr. Burkett was married to Miss Stella Stowers, a native of Bluefield, W. Va., the daughter of Stewart Stowers, a successful farmer of Bland County, W. Va. Mr. Burkett is a Demo- crat and has been quite active in the ranks of his party; fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fel- lows. Besides attending to his contracting business, he is improving an eighteen-acre ranch on the Mon- terey Road. He manifests an interest in questions of public concern and he has ever held to high standards in manhood and citizenship.

LYLE R. NASH .- A successful executive who profits both by his own valuable experience and that of others, and who never fails to study environment and present-day conditions, with the result that, while seeking immediate prosperity, he is also paving the way for the attainments and profits in the mor- row, is Lyle R. Nash, the efficient general manager of the Nash, Englehart, Silva Manufacturing Com- pany, at San Jose. He was born at Monmouth, War- ren County. Ill., on September 9, 1882, the son of Robert W. Nash, who is superintendent for Ander- son-Barngrover Company in San Jose, and had mar- ried Miss Clara Rodgers. The family came to Cali- fornia in 1883, so that Lyle is almost a native son, coming here when he was a few months old.

He enjoyed all the advantages of the public school system, the San Jose State Normal and the fine courses of one of the San Jose business colleges where he was graduated in 1903, and after that he was fortunate in learning the machinist's trade in the machine shop of Anderson-Barngrover Com-

pany, at which he worked for several years. On the first of February, 1913, the Nash, Englehart, Silva Manufacturing Company was established, with the services of five men; and now, such has been the remarkable development of the concern and its flattering patronage, twenty-five men are needed to do the work in the making and repair of general agricultural and other machinery. Their plant is located at 502 to 512 West Santa Clara Street, where they have a complete machine shop and have the agency for the Fairbanks, Morse & Co.'s motors, engines, pumps and accessories. Mr. Nash. belongs to the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association, and as a practical man of real business accomplishment is able to contribute toward whatever that excellent organization plans. In national politics he is a Republican.

At San Jose on May 24, 1905, Mr. Nash was mar- ried to Miss Dorothy V. Drinkwater, a native of San Jose and a graduate of San Jose State Normal. One child, Wilmer Westelo, has blessed their union. Mr. Nash is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He was made a Mason in Fraternity Lodge No. 399, F. & A. M, San Jose, and is a member of San Jose Scottish Rite bodies and of the San Jose Pyramid No. 9 of the Sciots, and is a Yeoman and a Modern Woodman, and he is fond of hunting, fish- ing and the game of baseball. He is public-spirited, and has been a popular school trustee.

STANLEY BASSETT SMITH .- An enterprising horticulturist of Santa Clara County is Stanley Bas- sett Smith, who for the past fourteen years has de- voted his energies to the operation of a desirable ranch, situated on the Los Gatos-Santa Clara Road. A native of the state of New York, he was born July 31, 1889, of the union of James and Ellen (Sawyer) Smith, the former a well-known educator, who was for ten years principal of the academic department of Grinnell College, Iowa, and after coming to California in 1888 he became prominently identified with edu- cational interests of this state. He was one of the organizers of the Campbell Union high school and acted as its principal from 1900 until his demise, which occurred in 1912. While residing in the East he also conducted private schools and his life was devoted to the profession of teaching, in which he was very successful. The mother makes her home in Campbell.

Stanley B. Smith is one of seven children of this family, five of whom were graduated from the Camp- bell high school, and later he entered Leland Stan- ford University of this state, which conferred upon him the A. B. degree in 1911. He has since given his attention to the cultivation and development of his ranch of twenty-seven acres, which is situated in Santa Clara County, specializing in the raising of prunes and apricots. His labors have ever been of a con- structive nature and intelligently carried forward.

Mr. Smith married Miss Isabel Rowell, born in Fresno, Cal., daughter of W. F. Rowell, a pioneer rancher of Fresno County, who died in San Jose. Mrs. Smith is also a graduate of Stanford, class of 1914. This union has been blessed with two children, Frances and Albert. Mr. Smith is a valued member of the local Grange, being past master, and his political support is given to the Republican party. He is a member of Charity Lodge F. & A. M., at

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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 176

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