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 182

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 182

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he came to California by way of Cape Horn, ar- riving in San Francisco in 1852, during an early period in its settlement, spending about twenty years in various parts of the state. He was a butcher by trade and dealt extensively in the buying and selling of cattle. In the early '70s he settled in San Jose and for a number of years successfully followed his trade, becoming recognized as an alert and enter- prising business man. The mother was a native of San Francisco, Cal.

George H. Le Deit acquired his education in the grammar schools of his native city and on starting out in life independently he followed in the footsteps of his father. taking up the trade of a butcher. Leav- ing San Jose, he worked in various sections of the state, finally returning to the city, where for some time he was employed in butcher shops. Through industry and economy he accumulated sufficient cap- ital to enable him to enter business circles independ- ently and in 1917 he engaged in the wholesale meat business, taking over the abattoir on Coyote Creek. He buys his stock in all parts of California, also going as far as Nevada, and he ships his cattle to San Jose in carload lots. His average output is 200 beeves a month and most of his meat is purchased by the markets of San Jose, and he also has a large output of sheep and lambs. His abattoir is supplied with the most modern equipment and accessories and he has every facility for handling his extensive trade.

At San Jose, in June, 1911, Mr. Le Deit was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Bailey, a native of San Francisco, who came with her parents, Arthur and Mary (Lynch) Bailey, to San Jose during her child- hood and acquired her education in the grammar schools in this city. Two children have been born of this union, George and Arthur. Mr. Le Deit is a Republican in his political views and his coopera- tion can at all times be counted upon to further any project for the general good, and all who know him esteem him for his energy, his aggressiveness and his sterling integrity.

HIRAM COYE HUTTON .- A western man by birth and training, Hiram Coye Hutton is imbued with the spirit of western enterprise and progress that has been the dominant factor in the wonder- ful development of this section of the great West. He was born on Market Street, San Francisco, on the site of the old Baldwin Hotel, March 4, 1860, and was the son of Henry and Eleanor (Foster) Hutton, both natives of New York. Henry Hutton made four trips to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, coming first in 1849. He landed in San Francisco and went to work in the mines where he spent a short time, then came back to San Francisco where he engaged in building wharfs for a few years then was in the wholesale butcher business until he went on a farm back of Oakland. While there he drilled an oil well but the well was too small to make it profitable to continue development. In 1870 he removed to Santa Clara County and purchased 240 acres of land for twenty dollars per acre on the Quito Road and here he raised grain and hay, be- ginning in 1873 to plant fruit trees, and in 1886 he subdivided his place for the children. He passed away when eighty-four years old, in July, 1896, his wife surviving him until 1911, when she died at the age of ninety-four. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hutton were the parents of a family of seven children: War-

ner has an orchard adjoining our subject's property; Laura became the wife of Parker Kieth and they also reside on a part of the old home place; Hiram C. of this review; Ann, who became Mrs. Finley, died in 1914; Sarah was Mrs. Coye and died in 1912; Jacob A. died in 1895; George was accidently killed when a boy in New York City. Henry Hutton was at one time under sheriff in New York City.

Hiram Hutton attended the public schools of San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Saratoga, gaining a good education. When he began making his own way, he engaged in ranching and has continued in that line of work since. His marraige, which occurred in 1883, united him with Miss Flora Brandenburg, a native of Butte County, Cal., born in 1862, the daugh- ter of Charles and Sarah ( Mullen) Brandenburg. The father was a native of Bulbrook, Ohio, who died in 1913, when eighty-three. Mrs. Brandenburg was born in Clairsville. Ohio, in 1834 and now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Hutton. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg crossed the plains by means of an ox- team train in 1861 and located in Butte County, later moving to San Francisco and then to Santa Clara Valley. They first lived on the outskirts of Santa Clara, then in 1887 they moved to what is now known as the Brandenburg farm on the Quito road. Mrs. Hutton received her education at Santa Clara where she attended the public schools and graduated from high school and then attended the College of the Pacific. Her brother, Harry Brandenburg, lives on the old homstead.

Mr. Hutton's ranch of twenty-eight acres is most- ly set to prunes, with some apricots. They are the parents of one daughter, Alfaratta, who, after finish- ing her education at Stanford University, married George Schuyler and are living at the old Hutton home, which joins her father's ranch. They have two children, Alan and Douglas. About 1897 Mr. Hutton built a well drilling machine and with a part- ner, Thos. Springer, engaged in well drilling in this county, continuing for fourteen years. One season was spent in Santa Cruz County drilling prospect wells for the Watsonville Oil Company. During these fourteen years they obtained some splendid results in securing water and proved to citizens that good wells for irrigating purposes could be obtained by deep drilling on the high lands.

Mr. Hutton has many friends and is highly es- teemed as one of the prominent orchardists of that section of the county. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a popular and active member of the Grange and with his wife and family is a member of the Congregational Church of Campbell.

FRANK H. O'KEEFE .- Few, indeed, are they who, fortunate in their birth in the Golden State, ever leave its borders to choose a residence elsewhere, as the lure of the land by the sunset sea outweighs all else. Among the native sons of California who have spent all their years here and have prospered is Frank If. O'Keefe, a member of the Walsh-Col Company, wholesale grocers. Mr. O'Keefe is now retired from active business life and is now enjoying the fruits of his year of industry. He was born in Stockton, Cal., on November 3, 1861, and was the son of Patrick and Margaret (Keating) O'Keefe. The father came to California by way of the Isthmus in 1854 and settled in San Jose in 1863, where he engaged and prospered as a rancher. The father passed away in 1896, the

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mother surviving him until 1898. Frank O'Keefe was educated in the public schools and high school of Stockton, and afterwards engaged in farming for a while. He then became interested in the wholesale grocery business and later helped to organize the well-known firm of Walsh-Col Company, where he spent many active years, and he still retains an inter- est in the business.

Mr. O'Keefe's marriage united him with Miss Mamie Haven, who was born in San Jose at the Auzerais House. Her father was a school teacher in the Milpitas schools in the year 1859; Mr. and Mrs. O'Keefe were the parents of three children: Gertrude, Marjorie and Frances. Mr. O'Keefe is very popular and is a member of the Country Club, which with E. K. Johnson, he helped to organize, and being a devotee of golf, he spends much of his leisure time on the links there. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E. and the Garden City Gun Club and is a trustee of the San Jose Public Library He has a deep interest in all that concerns the development of Santa Clara County and the city of San Jose, and can always be counted on to lend a hand.

FRANCIS J. McHENRY .- Not merely the Cali- fornia hotel world and its thousands of traveling patrons, but the citizens generally of Santa Clara and San Luis Obispo counties, will long mourn the departure of the late Francis J. McHenry, until his death the popular proprietor of the Montgomery Hotel. He was born in San Luis Obispo, September 25, 1876, the son of Patrick and Catherine (Coyle) McHenry, who came to California in the early '60s. each unknown to the other, and were joined in wed- lock at the old Santa Barbara Mission. They are still living, happily retired in comfortable circum- stances. After completing his schooling in San Luis Obispo, Francis entered the hotel business, where he met with success. He was manager successively of three of the principal hotels of San Luis Obispo before coming to San Jose, and the Montgomery Hotel, whose directorship he assumed in 19II. While a resident of San Luis Obispo he was prominent in civic work and fraternal life there, being a charter member of the Y. M. I. of that city, as well as a charter member of the Elks Lodge, of which he was afterwards exalted ruler. This experience in civic work and natural aptitude for leadership made Mr. McHenry a valuable worker for the development of San Jose when he came here and displayed an in- terest in civic affairs. He early identified himself with the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, and at the time of his death was one of the directors in that institution. As manager of the Hotel Mont- gomery he was the ideal host, and there was a charm in his quiet welcome. During the war he took an active part in all programs and labored energetically and effectively on some of the most important com- mittees. As a Rotarian he lived up to the ideals of service emphasized by that organization, and he gave of his energy and time in assisting to solve some of the financial problems of St. Joseph's Church.

In 1902 Mr. McHenry was married at San Fran- cisco, when he took for his bride Miss May Murphy, a native daughter of that city. Besides his widow. he left six children-Murphy, William, Katherine, Francis J., Jr., Elizabeth, and Patricia. He also left three sisters and a brother-Mrs. Margaret Brown and Mrs. Paul S. Roberts of San Luis Obispo, Miss

Kathryn McHenry of the same town, and Patrick Arthur McHenry of Richmond.

At the time of Mr. McHenry's demise a friend published the following tribute, well deserving of permanent form: "It was the night," he said, "of the first banquet of the San Francisco Hotel Men's Association, on February 14, 1908, that we first met. Already the hundred odd guests had been seated about the long oval-shaped table at the St. Francis. A bell-boy tapped the writer on the shoulder and announced that a gentleman at the door wished to speak to me. Answering the call, I met a squarely- built, handsome young man of thirty-one. Intro- ducing himself, he said: 'I am Jim McHenry of San Luis Obispo, and I have come over two hundred miles to attend this banquet, so that f could learn something of hotel keeping. Now that I am here, I find that you have a lot of politicians as speakers. What do they know about the hotel business?' Such orators as George A. Knight, Rabbi Jacob Voor- sanger, President Benjamin Ide Wheeler of the University of California, Governor James N. Gillett, and Gavin McNab, the cream of the after-dinner speakers of the Pacific Coast, didn't satisfy this 'plain country hotel keeper,' as he termed himself. Jim McHenry was thirsting for knowledge about his business-that of hotel-keeper. The above incident was characteristic of the man. He was filled with pride for his profession, and no effort was too great for his tremendous strength to take up if it only promised to add to his store of knowledge of that line. That evening, eventful in many ways, marked the beginning of a friendship between 'Mac' and the writer that has never wavered for a moment since, and the memory of which will be always pleasant. No man who ever called Jim McHenry friend ever had reason to change his mind. McHenry's loyalty to his friends and his profession, and his deep love for his family were the traits that marked the man. Ever generous in his views toward others, he was always the first to forgive. In his untimely passing in the very flower of his manhood, the hotel pro- fession loses one of the grandest of its characters, and all of us who knew him will forever miss his genial, warm, loyal comradeship. For no friend ever called upon him for help or advice who did not receive more than he had a right to expect. Dur- ing the two years when Mr. McHenry was president of the Northern California Hotel Association, he was tireless in his efforts to uphold that organiza- tion. Day and night his mind was busy planning campaigns which, when completed, should cause its membership to recall his leadership as one of con- struction and improvement. There is a saying that those whom God loves best He calls first. His passing at the early age of forty-four seems to bear evidence to its truth."

G. C. STURA .- Coming to California to seek suc- cess, G. C. Stura is making good as owner and pro- prietor of an automobile paint shop located at 715 High Street, Palo Alto. He was born in the Province of Piedmont, Italy, on March 10, 1889, and is the son of Philip and Santina ( Imarisio) Stura, who were farmers in the Piedmont district, and there his father passed away.

G. C. Stura attended the public schools of his na- tive province and at the age of twelve began to make his own way in the world and was apprenticed to

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learn the painter's trade. After completing his ap- prenticeship he worked at his trade until he was sev- enteen, then he set out alone for the New World. Sailing from Havre, France, he landed in New York City, and arrived at San Francisco August 28, 1906, settling at Oakland, where he soon found employ- ment at his trade; later he worked in San Francisco. In 1910 he removed to Palo Alto and entered the employ of Luscher & Huber and worked for them steadily for over eight years. Realizing the neces- sity of a speaking and writing knowledge of the Eng- lish language, our subject diligently pursued the study of the language in the night schools of Oak- land and San Francisco. Not being satisfied to work for others all his life, in 1919 he started into business for himself and purchased his present place of busi- ness on High Street.

The marriage of Mr. Stura occurred in 1914 and united him with Miss Louisa Degiorgis, a native of the same province as her husband. They are the par- ents of two children, Lucile and Albert. Mr. Stura is a stalwart supporter of American ideals and can be counted upon to lend his aid to the support of progressive measures.

PIERRE C. POURROY .- A man who has done much to aid in the improvement and the building up of the orcharding interests of Santa Clara County, of which he has been a resident since January, 1887, is Pierre C. Pourroy, a native of France, born near Gap, Hautes Alps, November 11, 1866. His father was also named Pierre and was a farmer and stock- man as well as a successful dairyman, who had mar- ried in early manhood, Miss Celestine Espitillier, and they had a family of thirteen children, only three of whom are living at the present time. Besides our subject, a sister, Pauline, is in France and a brother, Eloi, who also resides in the Saratoga district. The father died at sixty years, while the mother was only forty-eight when she passed away. Pierre was the oldest son and from a young lad assisted his father in the grain fields and with the stock. His schooling was limited to winters, for during the sum- mers there was plenty of work to do, but he was studious, so obtained a very good education by read- ing and self-study. Having determined to try his luck in California, he left home in 1886, coming direct to Bakersfield, Cal., arriving in January, 1887. For three years he was in the employ of a sheep man. In 1890 he came to Santa Clara County and the first year he worked for Adrien Bonnet and next for Narcissus Aubrey, with whom he continued for four years. He then purchased forty acres five miles above Saratoga, where he built a residence.

In San Jose, May 30, 1891, Mr. Pourroy was mar- ried to Mary Aubrey, a native of Saratoga, a daugh- ter of Narcissus and Rose Aubrey; the father was a successful vineyardist and here the parents both died. Mr. Pourroy improved his ranch with trees and vines and as he prospered, he purchased land adjoining until he had over 400 acres which he im- proved, but after he lost his boys he sold 200 acres to Mr. Dyer, so that he now has 210 acres devoted to prune orchard, vineyard and hay. Thus by un- ceasing toil of himself and wife, he has acquired a competence and now owns a valuable ranch.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pourroy were born an interest- ing family of ten children, as follows: Pierre enlisted in the U. S. Army for the World War, but died while stationed at Phoenix, Ariz .; Marguerite re-

sides in San Francisco; John volunteered in the U. S. Army for the World War and died of influenza at Camp Lewis. Louis died in 1916, aged seventeen; Marie is Mrs. Sylvester of San Francisco; Mrs. Em- ily Zermuhlen resides in San Francisco; Lucile is attending the high school of commerce in San Fran- cisco; Marcel, Medard and Amelia. In accomplish- ing his success, Mr. Pourroy has been ably assisted by his estimable wife, who has worked hand in hand with him to gain their ambition and independence. They are kindhearted and free in their hospitality and are highly esteemed by all who know them. Fra- ternally Mr. Pourroy is an Odd Fellow, being a mem- ber of San Jose Lodge. He is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

JAMES N. CRAWFORD .- The enterprising proprietor of the Gateway Garage at Los Gatos, James N. Crawford, is a native of Shenandoah, Ia., where he was born on March 15, 1893, the son of Albert J. and Rebecca E. (McCalmon) Crawford; the former a farmer in Iowa prior to his coming out to Montana. At first, the family removed to Mon- tana, where James attended the public schools; but in 1914 they left for the Pacific Coast. They located at San Francisco, and while there James N. Craw- ford enlisted, in 1914, in the First Battalion of the Fourth Regiment, Thirty-fourth Company, U. S. Ma- rine Corps, in which he served for four years. He had served eight months in the Guard of Honor at the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco; then three months in Mexican waters on board the old San Diego, then at the San Diego Fair, in 1916, as Guard of Honor for three months; then to Santo Domingo, 1916, with his regiment in the expedi- tionary force to Santo Domingo. When America entered the World War he was sent to the Porto Rice wireless station and was in charge of trans- portation for eighteen months, when he returned to New Orleans, La., honorably discharged as corporal, permanent warrant, October 26, 1918. He also received the button of merit, given only to those who never had a mark against them. On leaving the service he came back to San Francisco, and in 1919 he went back to Iowa on a visit and while there his father sold his Iowa holdings. In the fall of the same year, Mr. Crawford and his people removed to Los Gatos, and here Albert Crawford built the Gate- way Garage, centrally located on Santa Cruz Avenue, which was opened on July 3, 1920. His father, Albert J. Crawford, continued his interest in the business until his death, on April 9, 1921, and then James Crawford assumed charge as sole proprietor.

The Gateway Garage is a completely equipped re- pair shop with thoroughly modern machinery. The equipment alone costing over $5,000, and the whole establishment calls for an investment of about $20,- 000 and is a place of which Los Gatos may well be proud. It enjoys a steady patronage and keeps three first-class mechanics busy attending to the expert work called for. Mr. Crawford is a member of the Santa Clara County Auto Trades Association and his is the California State Automobile Association's official garage. He is also a member of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce and of Ridgely Lodge, I. O. O. F., Los Gatos.

On November 10, 1919, at San Francisco, Mr. Crawford was married to Miss Marjorie Pfiefer, and they have a little daughter, Mildred. Like Mr. Craw-

P. C. Pourroy

Mary Journey,

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ford, the family is fond of out-door life-just what Los Gatos in particular stands for; and Mr. Crawford finds stimulating diversion in politics, he himself being a stand-pat Republican.

LEONARD P. EDWARDS .- Numbered among the successful young men of Santa Clara County is Leonard P. Edwards, manager of the San Jose Ah- stract and Title Insurance Company. A native son of California, he was born in San Jose July 23, 1886, the youngest son of a family of five children of Thos. C. and Mary (Haven) Edwards. His maternal grand- father was James M. Haven, a pioneer of Oakland. His father, Thos. C. Edwards, who was one of the founders of the San Jose Abstract and Title Insur- ance Company in the year of 1891, has been active in the building up of the business, and is now pres- ident, making his home in Pacific Grove. Leonard P. Edwards was educated in the grammar and high schools of San Jose, later supplementing with one year at Stanford University. When nineteen years of age he quit his university course to enter the title business, and under the tutelage of his father he rose to his present position in 1912, and since then has devoted his time to the growing business. His pleas- ing personality and upright character has won for him the esteem of all who know him.

The marriage of Mr. Edwards occurred in San Jose, June 29, 1909, and united him with Miss Clara E. Donlon, and of this union were born three chil- dren, Martha Frances, Thomas C., Jr., and William D. Politically Mr. Edwards is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party and in fraternal circles is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O., N. M. S., of San Francisco Locally he is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce; besides serving in the capacity of manager of his own company, he is vice-president of the San Jose Coffee Club and a member of the Rotary Club, also charter member of the Commercial Club.

DANIEL LINDEN MCKEOWN .- Leaving his native land when he was eighteen years old, Daniel Mckeown came to America with his sister, Lizzie, in 1873, and for three years he made his home in New York State. A native of Ulster, Ireland, Mr. Mckeown was born on May 5, 1856, the son of Ed- ward Mckeown, who passed away early in life, leav- ing a widow, Elizabeth (Linden) Mckeown, and nine children to fight their battles alone. As a conse- quence Daniel had a very limited opportunity for schooling, being thrown on his own resources when he was a lad of eight.

In 1876 Mr. Mckeown came to California and located at Gonzales, Monterey County, where he worked on ranches in that vicinity until 1879, when he went to farming for himself on rented land near that town, raising wheat and barley. He met with good success and from time to time enlarged his operations, becoming one of Monterey County's pros- perous stock and grain farmers, continuing there until 1905, when he came to the Santa Clara Valley. Here he purchased a valuable tract of twenty acres, devoted to a vineyard, the marketing of his grapes having been handled through the California Wine Association, until he joined the San Martin Wine Company, Inc., in which he has held membership for a number of years.

On November 7, 1884, Mr. Mckeown was married to Miss Annie Curran, who came to California to

wed Mr. MeKeown. She was born at Jordan, N. Y., on August 9, 1858, the daughter of Michael and Mar- garet ( Folk) Curran, the father a native of Ireland and the mother born in England. Both Mr. and Mrs. Curran are now deceased. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mckeown, Edward L. and Lillie May; the latter died aged three and one-half years. Edward L. Mckeown is a graduate in law from Stan- ford, 1911, and resides at Carson City, Nev, with his wife and one daughter; the former was in maiden- hood Donalda Pierre, born in Nevada of French par- entage; he is well known in educational circles, being principal of the high school and superintendent of the schools of Carson City. Now retired from stren- nous work on his ranch, Mr. Mckeown lives in con- fort at his home on San Martin Avenue, maintaining an active interest in the current events of the day. A loyal citizen of his adopted country, he received his citizenship papers at Salinas, Monterey County, and since that time he has been an adherent of the plat- forms of the Democratic party.

WARREN GODFREY TOMLINSON .- Promi- nent both in civic affairs and in the horticultural de- velopment of Santa Clara County was the late War- ren Godfrey Tomlinson who died at his residence in Saratoga, February 8, 1922. He was a native of Sherwood, Branch County, Mich., born November 1, 1861, a son of A. E. and Harriett (Studly) Tomlin- son, early settlers of Michigan, the father coming from England and settling in Branch County in 1837. The educational advantages of the rural district in which he was reared were limited, but he attended school during the few months each year and mcan- time helped his father on the farm. He spent his youth and young manhood in the state of Michigan, and shortly after his marriage to Miss Cora E. Mason moved to Los Gatos in the year 1888. He did not remain there long, but went to work on the Wakefield ranch near Saratoga, where he was fore- man for six years. He then entered the grocery busi- ness first as a clerk, afterward joining in a partner- ship with Clarence Gardner under the firm name of Tomlinson & Gardner. The firm ran a store in Palo Alto as well as in Saratoga, but the members subsequently separated, Mr. Gardner taking the Palo Alto and Mr. Tomlinson the Saratoga business, which he sold to Corpstein & Metzger. He then opened a store at Sunnyvale, retaining his residence in Saratoga, and later establishing the grocery busi- ness in Saratoga, from which he retired because of declining health.

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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 182

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