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 178

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 178

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Brother Adam was born and reared in Chicago, a son of Adam and Susan Adam, and first saw the light on December 23, 1867. He came to San Jose at the commencement of the school, and since 1908 has been principal of the boys' department. He has had a wide experience in educational work, part of which was acquired at Chicago, San Antonio, Texas; Washington, D. C .; Louisville, Ky., and at Baltimore. The school offers complete grammar and high school courses, and affords facilities for the study of science, mathematics and business. Even a wireless school is conducted here under the direction of C. D. Her- rold. The "get-together" spirit is fostered to a great extent by the faculty. During the past three years, since Reverend Grisez has had supervision of the school, the basement has been excavated, cement floors and partitions put in, the former covered with wooden flooring, iron supports have replaced the old wooden posts for bracing the floor above, and an adequate heating and lighting system installed. Dur- ing the school season moving pictures are shown

Jhve. R. martin, S.J.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

every Friday afternoon for the pupils and in the evening the program is repeated for the benefit of the grown-ups, to whom an invitation is always extended, and afterwards a dance is given, with music by the school's orchestra. Socials and business meetings are also held here. A cafeteria has been installed and a daily service is maintained at reasonable prices for the convenience of all pupils who wish to take ad- vantage of it. The service is also in operation during the dances and social gatherings.

REV. THOMAS R. MARTIN, S. J .- A cultured and highly educated man, filled with enthusiasm for the education of boys for the priesthood, and train- ing them to be devout and religious, Rev. Thomas R. Martin occupies the position of rector of the Noviti- ate of the Sacred Heart located at Los Gatos, which he is filling worthily and capably. He was born in Boston, Mass., the fourth oldest of a family of six children born to Thomas and Catherine ( Kelly) Martin, natives of Scotland and Boston, Mass., re- spectively, Thomas was reared in the cultured en- vironment of the Hub City and there attended the public schools. On completing the high school in Massachusetts, he came to Los Gatos, Cal., in 1902 and entered the Novitiate of the Sacred Heart as a novice where he made his classics. He then entered the House of Philosophy at Gonzaga College at Spo- kane, Wash. where he completed philosophy and then taught at Gonzaga College for two years; thien at St. Vincent's College, Los Angeles for three years; then entered Woodstock College in Maryland, where he completed his theology and was ordained at that ed- ucational institution in 1917 by Cardinal Gibbons for the California Province. He taught one year at Seat- tle College, then came to Los Gatos as teacher of classics at the Novitiate of the Sacred Heart and in July, 1921, was made rector, thus becoming the head of the institution where he began his novitiate.

The Novitiate of the Sacred Heart at Los Gatos is an interesting educational institution. For many years it was located at Santa Clara and is one of sev- eral colleges on the Pacific Coast, or rather the California Province, of the Society of Jesus. The provincial headquarters are in Portland and they have colleges at Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Seattle, and Spokane and have churches in various places and Indian missions in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska. In time the quarters of the No- vitiate at Santa Clara became too small, so in 1888 they established the Novitiate at Los Gatos. The present grounds, comprising .a quarter section of land in the foothills above Los Gatos, commands a wonderful view of the Santa Clara Valley and the large and commodious buildings are erected on a natural pla- teau, requiring much excavation and filling for the site of the buildings. The first wing was built in 1906 and the right wing was finished in 1914, each two sto- ries high. The class rooms, study rooms and dormito- ries are all equipped with the most modern furnish- ings and there is also a large chapel. Here the schol- astics are trained in mathematics, academic and clas- sical courses, preparatory to entering the House of Philosophy. There are about sixty young men in the institution and the faculty is composed of six Jesuit Fathers, who teach the various branches, with Rev. Thomas R. Martin in charge. Father Martin is in- tensely interested in the institution, where he re-

ceived his instruction in classics, and leaves no stone unturned to assist the scholastics under him to ad- vance their education and instill in thein a high regard for their leading an upright and true Christian life.

WILLIAM AND GEORGE LIDDICOAT .- As partners under the firm name of Liddicoat Bros., William and George Liddicoat are running a first-class meat market in the Economy Block at 322 University Avenue in Palo Alto. Both are natives of Petwan County, Cornwall, England, where Will- iam was born February 14, 1885, and George, July 31, 1891, being the sons of William and Ellen (Wet- ter) Liddicoat, who are both still living at Par, Eng- land, the father being a well-known shipwright. Will- iam and George were both schooled in the grammar and high school of their native town, and both as soon as they were able to work, were apprenticed to the butcher's trade. While yet a mere lad, William was apprenticed to his uncles, the Liddicoat Brothers, prominent stockmen and meat market proprietors at Loswithel, England. He thoroughly learned every phase of the meat business, including stock-raising, feeding, butchering and retailing meat, as well as buying and selling cattle and other livestock. Thus equipped, at the age of twenty, he resolved to come to the United States, where he arrived in 1905. He worked as a journeyman butcher from coast to coast for some years, thus becoming thoroughly conver- sant with conditions in America before embarking in business for himself. At La Honda, Cal., he opened up his first shop and soon thereafter was joined by his brother George in 1912. Forming a partnership, they leased a 2000-acre stock ranch at La Honda and in addition to running their meat market, they en- gaged in farming and stockraising, feeding and fin- ishing beef cattle for the market. The brothers were thus profitably operating a large and growing busi- ness at the time of the outbreak of the recent war, when having become naturalized American citizens, George joined the ranks while William continued to conduct the business. Joining the Three Hundred Sixteenth ammunition train, Ninety-first Division, George Liddicoat trained at Camp Lewis; he landed at Cherbourg, France, in June, 1918; was at the front for ten months, taking part in the Meuse-Argonne campaign, saw terrific fighting and bloodshed, but with the exception of a painful cut from barbwire, came home in fine physical condition. He was sta- tioned at Cornay, France, November 11, 1918, at the signing of the armistice and spent Christmas of that year in Paris. He was then stationed at Le Mans, France, until April, 1919, when he returned to America and was honorably discharged at the Presidio, San Francisco during May, 1919. He immediately went to Mountain View and with his brother bought out Swall's meat market and together they ran it for thirteen months; then they sold out and leased their present place in Palo Alto in the Economy Store Block and opened for business July 15. 1920. Will- iam Liddicoat is the outside man, buying the live- stock and superintending the slaughterhouse; while George has charge of the retail work in the market, employing four experienced butchers to take care of the trade. The Liddicoat Bros. do the largest retail business of any market in Palo Alto, having their own refrigerating system and requiring two trucks with two drivers to take care of their deliveries.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Mr. George Liddicoat's marriage occurred in 1920 and united him with Miss Mary Lennon of San Mateo and they are the parents of one child, Mary Ellen. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Pescadero, Cal., while William is a member of the Masons and Sciots. Liddicoat Bros.' latest venture is in the dairy business. They have recently started a large dairy farm on the Page-Mill Road, where they keep thirty registered Holstein milch cows. At present their product goes to San Francisco, but as soon as pasteurizing machinery and other necessary dairying equipment can be installed, it will be retailed from their own market in Palo Alto.

FRANCIS MARION RIGHTER .- A very suc- cessful horticulturist, whose attainments have encour- aged others to work for higher standards and better, larger results, and who thereby has greatly advanced the science and art of California husbandry, is Francis Marion Righter, a resident of Campbell. He was born in Indiana, near Indianapolis, March 4, 1843, and is the son of George G. and Salome ( Kilbourne) Righter, born in Virginia and Ohio, respectively. George G. Righter was a farmer and blacksmith and also ran a sawmill and threshing machine. He passed away at the age of fifty-four, and the mother survived him several years.

Francis M. Righter received a good education in the grammar and high school and assisted his father in operating a sawmill. After his father's death, wishing to gain a higher education, he determined to obtain the funds by manufacturing lumber. He was under twenty years of age, but arranged for backing and credit and purchased a sawmill and made a suc- cess of the enterprise. After several years he sold out, having made sufficient to pay his way at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, after which he taught school in his native state, Indiana, and during a part of the Civil War he served in the commissary department at the front. Coming to California in 1873, he taught in the schools in different parts of the state, and then going to Southern Cali- fornia, he taught in the schools, now within the city of Los Angeles. After that he went to Santa Clara County and taught in the Mayfield and San Jose schools, and for a short time in Saratoga. During this time he was principal of the schools at Eugene, Ore., and the fourth ward school in San Jose.

In 1879 Mr. Righter was united in marriage with Miss Belle Lutes, a native of Ohio, who was born near Cincinnati, July 15, 1857, the daughter of Alex J. and Lavinia (Willey) Lutes, also natives of Ohio, who were farmers there. Mr. and Mrs. Righter be- came the parents of two sons, George Lutes and Cornelius Erwin Righter, both graduates of Stanford University, and both served in the World War, George, the oldest returning with a first lieutenant's bar. The younger son, better known as "Swede," has made a name for himself as an athlete while at Stan- ford, playing on the football and basketball teams. Perhaps his greatest honor came when he was selected as a member of the All-California Rugby team which represented the United States at the Olympic games in 1920. In the final game at Antwerp they defeated France and became Olympic champions, for which they were presented gold medals by King Albert of Belgium. A tour of Southern France followed the Olympic games in which the team was successful

against the French. During the intervals between the games the members visited points of interest in Hol- land, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Both of the boys are now engaged in physical education work in California.

In 1882 Mr. Righter purchased a ten-acre ranch at Campbell which was set out in apricots, so in 1887, when it had begun to bear fruit, he decided to retire from teaching and now spends his time in improving and taking care of his orchard, which is a model in many respects. He also owns a ten-acre prune or- chard at Valley View, which is well improved. Mr. Righter has been prominent and active in local affairs, having been a director in the Santa Clara County Mutual Fire Insurance Company since its organization more than twenty-five years ago. He was also one of the organizers of the Farmers' Tele- phone Company of Campbell and is president of the company. He was also one of the original stock- holders in the Bank of Campbell, has been an active participant in every cooperative movement in the valley, and is a member of the California Prune & Apricot Association and the California Peach Grow- ers Association. He has given many years of study to cooperative selling and, as he says: "There is but one all-sufficient cooperative law, and that is the Golden Rule. All things being equal, one must do unto others as he would have others do unto him, there being no other right basis of action. Those who accept this foundation and build their organiza- tion on it may hope to form a permanent association." Mr. Righter wrote a pamphlet on cooperative mar- keting of all farm products, outlining the method and showing that by this method the producer receives more for his product and the consumer pays less. The Farmers Club of San Jose published and dis- tributed Mr. Righter's pamphlet. Mr. Nutting, living near Fresno, who had done a great deal along co- operative lines of marketing, heard of Mr. Righter's method, and after obtaining a copy of the pamphlet substituted Mr. Righter's method for his own, chang- ing only the method of price making. Mr. Righter's method was to sell at public auction to the highest bidder, the organization reserving the right to reject any or all bids. The association's method was to make its own prices without reference to the buyers. On this basis Mr. Nutting and W. H. Wrightson, with a large number of other prominent cooperators, organized the California Raisin Growers Association. It goes without saying that this association has not only brought untold prosperity to the producers, but has also greatly benefitted the consumers. W. H. Wrightson, ex-state president of the Farmers Educa- tional & Cooperative Union of America, publicly stated at a state meeting of the above Union in San Jose that F. M. Righter has the honor of having fur- nished the basis of the California Associated Raisin Growers.

For over twenty-five years Mr. Righter has made a report of his weather observations to Washington, having a U. S. Weather Bureau station on his ranch -- latitude N. 38° 18', longitude west 121° 57', elevation 217 feet above sea level-his station being established before there was a public station in San Jose. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and in religious faith is a member of the Congregational

Jim. Righter

Bellen 2. Rightes

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Church. Mr. Righter has taught a Bible class for more than forty years. He has not been ill for more than sixty years and will be eighty years old on his next birthday. He has no use for pessimism, for he believes optimism is the mainspring of progress. He has always been independent in his political views, voting for men and measures rather than parties, and wielding his influence for the good of the community.

JUDGE JOHN M. HOESCH .- A public official whose record has been such as to commend him heartily to his fellow-citizens is the Hon. J. M. Hoesch, justice of the peace of Gilroy Township and police judge of Gilroy. He was born near Erie, Penn., on January 5, 1860. the son of Conrad and Barbara (Hiebeck) Hoesch. The father was a native of Germany who preferred to accept the stern hos- pitality of the forests of Pennsylvania to the harsh requirements of military service, with the result that he made his way across the ocean to the Keystone State and was soon clearing away stumps and trees and establishing a home. humble but comfortable. Mrs. Hoesch proved a devoted wife and mother; but such were the handicaps confronting the parents that from his twelfth year John was compelled to make his own way in the world.

In the spring of 1884. he pushed westward to Sul- phur Springs Valley, in Arizona, and in time he made several trips into Old Mexico. In the fall he arrived in San Francisco and shortly after came down to Gilroy, where he found employment on a grain ranch, working for several seasons driving a header. He had a great desire to learn, and when he was twenty-seven to thirty years old he was at- tending the public school in Gilroy, and, encouraged by his friends, he made rapid progress and in 1886 was the presiding officer in a debating society. In 1889 he passed the teacher's examination, but never took up the profession. For several years he has read law. preparing to practice before the California Bar. For thirty years Mr. Hoesch was connected with the Gilroy fire department, first with the Eureka Hose Company and later with the Vigilant Engine Company, and twenty-two years of that time he was engineer of the department and had charge of all apparatus; five years of that time he was also col- lector for the municipal utilities, and nine years in addition he was superintendent of the water works and plumbing inspector. In national politics he is a Republican, but in local matters he is decidedly non-partisan. During the World War he supported all the allied drives to the best of his ability.

In 1905, at San Francisco, Mr. Hoesch was mar- ried to Miss Minnie L. Schroeder of Amador County, and they have a daughter. Catherine Marian Hoesch. Mr. Hoesch is a member of the Gilroy Lodge of Odd Fellows and is a past noble grand, and for twenty years has been a trustee of his lodge. It was in 1918. when Gilroy was enjoying a veritable boom, that Mr. Hoesch entered the race for the office of justice of the peace of Gilroy Township and he was the successful candidate of the seven aspirants. When he took the oath of office in January, 1919, he suc- ceeded Judge Willey, who had filled that honored office for thirty-six years. The duties of the office keep him busy and his work is characterized by honesty, energy, efficiency and economy at all times. In meting out justice he is impartial, and it is in-

teresting to note that in none of his decisions has he ever been reversed by the higher courts.

ANTHONY GRECO .- An enterprising man of af- fairs, who has attained success in the canning busi- ness and as an orchardist and rancher, is Anthony Greco, of San Jose. He was born in New Orleans, La., on January 6, 1885, and is the son of Fortunato and Josephine Greco, who came to California in 1897 and located in Redwood City, where the father started a salt plant and here he is still engaged in business, now being the owner and president of the Greco Salt Works, and though well along in years, he is very active and personally superintends his business affairs. The mother passed away in 1917.

Anthony Greco received his early training in the public schools of New Orleans, later entering St. Stanislaus College at Bay St. Louis. Miss., receiving a good all-round training. In 1900 he came to Red- wood City, Cal., and in 1909 located in San Jose, where he engaged in the canning business as vice- president of the Greco Canning Company. He served in that capacity for four years, or until the company was reorganized. He then engaged in business under the firm name of the Anthony Greco Cannery. The plant was located on Park Avenue in Santa Clara for one season, packing $105,000 worth of tomato paste only. The plant was entirely too small to handle the increasing volume of business, so in 1918 Mr. Greco bought the plant located at Eighth and Jack- son streets, San Jose, where he carried on a very large volume of business and employed 160 first- class workmen. He shipped goods all over the United States and even to Europe, in which field he was very successful, thus spreading the fame of Santa Clara County. The business was incorporated, after they settled in San Jose, under the name of the Alba Canning Company, with Mr. Greco as president, with an every-day increase in their business, the outcome of good conscientious service, consideration and the quality of their goods, which gained prestige over some of the older brands of canned goods. In 1920 the Alba Canning Company sold out and in 1921 Mr. Greco bought 337 acres of land, known as the Sweigert Ranch, on the Sweigert Road, eight miles from San Jose; sixty acres of this land is in orchard and the balance in grain, and it is the intention to set a considerable acreage to grapes in the near future. The property has been greatly improved since Mr. Greco has taken charge and bids fair to surpass the majority of orchards in the entire valley. Mr. Greco's residence is situated on a beautiful eminence about 750 feet above sea level, from which a magnifi- cent view of the whole valley can be obtained. This property is located in what is know as the thermal belt, where frost and its damaging results have never been known, thus making the property valuable from the standpoint of the orchardist and early vegetable growing. Numerous springs are scattered over the ranch, which furnish sub-irrigation to growing crops and from which water is secured for domestic pur- poses, as well as for the 150 head of stock on the place. A visit to the Alba Ranch is one of the pleasant memories of those who make the journey.

In New Orleans, on December 6, 1916, Mr. Greco was married to Miss Edna Cabirac, a native of New Orleans of French descent, and they are the parents of three children, Anthony. Jr., Alba and Adelaide.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. Greco have made many friends in San Jose since taking up their residence here. Mr. Greco is a live member of the Chamber of Commerce of San Jose. He belongs to the Catholic Church and in national politics he is a stanch Republican.

GEORGE H. ANDERSON .- Among the men who have done much to advance the fruit interests of the Santa Clara Valley, likewise a native son of the Golden State, is George H. Anderson, of San Jose. He was born in Fairfield, Solano County, on August 17, 1863, a son of the late J. Z. Anderson and his good wife, who was in maidenhood Miss Sarah Sloan. The elder Anderson was among the early pioneers of Santa Clara County and helped to develop the fruit industry in pioneer times. He died in 1916 and was followed to the grave by his widow in 1920. A sketch of their lives appears on another page of this history.

George H. Anderson attended the grammar and high schools of Santa Clara County, supplementing his education by attending a business college. When a lad he began to learn the details of the fruit in- dustry from working with his father, who operated when the industry was in the experimental stage, and this training has stood him in good stead in later years for he is an authority on fruit, from preparing the land to marketing the product. He owns some valuable interests in San Benito County and controls other orchard interests in Santa Clara County, be- sides he has been engaged in the buying, packing and shipping of fruits for several years.

Mr. Anderson has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Susie Brown, daughter of the pioneer family of that name, and she passed away on July 16, 1912, leaving three children: Howard Anderson, is an employe of the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco; J. Z. and Elizabeth are attending the public schools in San Jose. The second marriage united Mr. Anderson with Mrs. Clara Simpson of Santa Cruz, a lady well qualified to cooperate with her worthy husband in all his undertakings. The family home is located at 661 North First Street, San Jose. Mr. Anderson's interests have been identified with Santa Clara County for many years and he has taken an active part in all movements for the development of its varied resources, at the same time doing his part to advance civic reform under the banner of the Republican party, being elected a member of the State Assembly in 1901. He is an Elk and a member of the Saratoga, Olympic and the Commercial Clubs and of the Chamber of Commerce. He is an en- thusiastic sportsman and was a member of the five- man team of trap-shooters that held the champion- ship for Santa Clara County for several years; as an expert shot he has many trophies to show for his marksmanship. An agreeable, courteous gentleman, Mr. Anderson has won and maintained friends where- ever he is known and these friends rejoice at his fin- ancial success and high standing in his community.

FRED B. SMITH .- An enterprising, industrious horticulturist who is successful in his efforts to help advance the best interests in his community is Fred B. Smith, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in January. 1879, the son of John and Eliza ( Bilton) Smith, both natives of England. The father made the first trip to America alone and then returned for his family and brought them back when Fred was only eleven years of age, locating at Saratoga, where they have been residing ever since.

Fred B. Smith attended the public schools of his district and received a fairly good education. His marriage united him with Miss Lucy Shorrocks, who was born in Minnesota, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Shorrocks. She attended the San Jose State Normal and taught for the three years fol- lowing her graduation. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of three children, Doris E., Clifford F., and Kathleen Mae. John Smith is the owner of thirty- three acres of land and Fred Smith has the fourteen acres adjoining his father, and they are closely asso- ciated in the operation of their farms. The acreage is planted to prunes, apricots and cherries, and the trees are bearing splendidly. Politically, Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, and in religious faith, he and his family are active workers in the Congrega- tional Church of Saratoga.

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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 178

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