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 186

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 186

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Mr. Garrod's marriage occurred at Oak Ridge ranch, the home of the bride, on the Twenty-seven Mile Scenic Drive in Santa Cruz County, April 3, 1916, when he was united with Miss Emma Stolte, who was born in San Francisco, a daughter of Cap- tain and Anna (Peters) Stolte, natives of Germany, who were early settlers of California, Captain Stolte being engaged in the coasting trade out of San Fran-

cisco until he located on Oak Ridge Ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mrs. Garrod has two sisters, Mrs. Charlotte Frahm and Mrs. Josephine Beatty. After completing her studies in the grammar school she entered Heald's Business College in San Fran- cisco, where she was duly graduated. They have been blessed with three children, Louise Sophia, Vince Stolte and Richard Ralph.

Mr. Garrod is a charter member and secretary and treasurer of Saratoga Local No. 82, Farmers' Educa- tional and Cooperative Union of America, being the oldest secretary and treasurer in years of service of any local in California. He was an active member of the state legislative committee of the above and afterwards vice-president of the state division. At the meeting of the state division of the Farmers' Educa- tional and Cooperative Union of America at Turlock he was honored by being elected president of the state division, December 7, 1921. He was for years a member of the Grange, and ever since he has been engaged in farming he has been active in all co- operative movements in relation to agriculture in California. Thus we found him a member of the California Prune and Apricot Growers' Association, the California Peach Growers' Association, a director in the Fruit Growers of California, as well as the Santa Clara Valley Growers' Association, a member of the California Cooperative Canneries, the Santa Clara County Fire Insurance Company. Fraternal- ly he is a member of the American Order of Forest- ers, the Odd Fellows, and Rebekahs, in Saratoga, and the Saratoga Improvement Club. He is an in- fluential Republican, having served four years as a member of the Republican County Central Commit- tee and was a member of the State Central Com- mittee for another four years. Mrs. Garrod has al- ways been interested in cooperative movements, serving as secretary and treasurer of the Lakeside local of the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America, and is also a member of the Rebekahs. Vince Garrod, as he is familiarly called by his friends, is a capable speaker and an able presiding officer-a successful leader of any move- ment to which he gives his support. In these co- operative and educational movements he is ably as- sisted by his gifted wife, who has also given these matters much thought and study and ably encourages Mr. Garrod in his work in behalf of the movement that has for its aim the bringing together of the pro- ducer and consumer to their greater benefit. With his family Mr. Garrod is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church of which he is church-warden.

JOHN GILLESPIE .- A well-trained mechanic with both a scientific and a practical knowledge of electricity and electrical conditions, who has kept pace with Twentieth Century progress and so has been in a position to bring San Jose into line with the leading municipalities of the Golden State, is John Gillespie, city electrician of San Jose, a native of Nevada, where he was born on May 2, 1865, the son of Archie and Agnes Gillespie. The father came to California in 1849, where he worked in the mines as a blacksmith; later he removed to Virginia City, Nev. In 1881, he returned to California; and in San Jose, amid pleasant surroundings, the parents died, honored as pioneers.

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John went to school in Nevada, and then, when it was time for him to prepare to earn a living, learned the trade of electrician; and he has been busy following that industrial line ever since, en- trusted with work of much responsibility and con- stantly adding to his experience. For fourteen years he worked in the department of which he is now head; and in October, 1919, he was appointed city electrician by Dr. Bailey, city manager. Part of his duty is to inspect the police telegraph and the fire alarm systems; and in other ways he is able to exert an influence to give San Jose the best of elec- trical service.

At San Jose in 1899, Mr. Gillespie was married to Miss Mamie Rife, a native of San Jose, as was her mother, Elizabeth Rife, who is still living; and with her husband she is deeply interested in Santa Clara County and especially in the future of San Jose. Mr. Gillespie votes the Republican ticket, -- and he votes it "straight."

FRANK V. CASWELL .- Business enterprise at San Jose finds a worthy representative in Frank V. Caswell, the proprietor of the business known as the "Reliable Tire Repair Shop." He is a native of Summit, Jackson County, Mich., and was born there October 8, 1884, a son of Charles and Mary (Red- ner) Caswell, who were both born and reared in Michigan, Mrs. Caswell being a native of Grand Rapids. Mr. Caswell's father was engaged in farm- ing in Jackson County, and was also successful in the lumber business. For eleven years Frank V. lived with his parents on the farm, and in the public school acquired his education. While still but a lad, he set out for himself, taking up farm work. Not being satisfied to remain in this line of work, he journeyed to Albion and worked in the iron founderies there for some time, where he learned the trade of moulder. Not having settled on the line of work he wished to pursue throughout his life, and wishing to see more of the world, he enlisted in the Navy, entering the Newport Naval School in 1901. After ten months of intensive training, he was commis- sioned as third class petty officer. Traveling from port to port, for many years, has served to give him 2 varied education, and has contributed much to his present success in the business world.

Having served his country with credit, Mr. Caswell was released from service and upon his return to New York, he entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad as fireman, but very soon tired of this kind of work. so left their employ and went home for a visit to his parents in Jackson County. While there, he decided to take up the trade of vul- canizing, which has proved to be the line he is most fitted for, and he has been extraordinarily successful in this work. He was in charge of the vulcanizing classes at the "Old Reliable Tire Shop" in Detroit, Mich. During the year of 1917 Mr. Caswell came to the beautiful Santa Clara Valley. Although pos- 'essing but limited capital, with true pioneering spirit, he launched out in business for himself, and has been eminently successful.

In Detroit, Mich., Mr. Caswell was married to Miss Blanche E. Zeliff, a native of Chicago, Il1. Her education was acquired at Chicago, Ill., and in 1918 she removed to California. Mr. Caswell is actively identified with the Odd Fellows and the

Woodmen of the World, and also holds membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

MAXWELL BENNO HAASE .- Among the na- tive sons of California who have materially pro- moted the theater business of Santa Clara County may be mentioned Maxwell Benno Haase, who was born in San Francisco August 14, 1871, the son of Maxwell and Marie (Mosson) Haase. The father, Maxwell Haase, was a native of Boston, who mi- grated to the western coast in the early sixties, and had a wide acquaintance here through his business, that of traveling salesman. Both father and mother are deccased.

Maxwell Benno Haase was educated in the public schools of San Francisco, Fresno and New York, finishing the high school course. He first engaged in the theatrical business in San Francisco, and in 1917 he migrated to San Jose and became the lessee of the Victory Theater. By his continued industry, directed by genuine business acumen, the theater has become a paying proposition, and to him alone is due the success and patronage which the theater enjoys. During the past twenty years, many people have leased the theater and have attempted to make a success of it, but not until Mr. Haase took hold of it, did the current of public sentiment change, and has succeeded even beyond his expectations.

The marriage of Mr. Haase united him with Miss Eva Glass, a native of Portland, Ore. Mr. Haase is a stalwart adherent of the principles of the Re- publican party. Fraternally, he is a member of B. P. O. E. Council 161, Saratoga Springs. It is said that every busy person should have a hobby in order to keep in good health and spirits; the hobby of Mr. Haase is the gathering of antiques, of which he has a very interesting collection. His recreation hours are spent, as much as possible, in the great outdoors, which he enjoys to the fullest extent. He has at all times been a champion of progress and improvement and has recognized the opportunities offered in the growing west, using these opportunities not only for the benefit of his in- dividual fortunes, but as factors in the improvement of the state and county.

HIRAM A. BLANCHARD .- A scholarly, experi- enced member of the legal profession who is ren- dering valuable service both to the profession which he honors and to the public at all times concerned with the accuracy of legal procedure and the cor- rectness of official documents and reports, is Hiram A. Blanchard, popular attorney, who was born near Marshall, Mo., on December 24, 1874, the son of George B. and Emeline (Payne) Blanchard. His father was a lumber merchant and stock raiser in Missouri, and coming West to California in 1893, he settled at San Jose and engaged in the hay business. He had the largest wholesale business in town, and his residence was at 875 University Avenue until his death. Mrs. Blanchard is still living.

Hiram A. Blanchard attended the grammar and high schools in Marshall, Mo., and then took a thorough course at the San Jose Business College; and for twenty years he was an official shorthand reporter in Santa Clara County. He studied law with Messrs. Richards and Jury, and later with IV. C. Kennedy; and he was admitted to the Cali- fornia Bar on May 1, 1897. Since then he has practiced alone.

It=g. Cross

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

On August 1, 1900, in San Jose, Mr. Blanchard was married to Miss Henrietta Gardner, the dangh- ter of W. H. Gardner, a pioneer of California, and they have had two children, Vivian G. and Hiram D. Blanchard. The family belong to the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Blanchard is a director of the Y. M. C. A .; and he is also a leader among the San Jose Democrats. His official, no less than his personal associations and experiences, make him naturally keenly interested in Santa Clara County, and the entire Golden State.

Mr. Blanchard has been honored repeatedly with public trusts and the confidence of his fellow-citi- zens in periods when the whole-hearted support of great movements meant much to everybody con- cerned. He organized the College Park Sanitary district, and was a member of the board having the matter in hand. He was president of the Y. M. C. A. for eleven years and during the World War, and helped to raise the funds for the new building. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conven- tion in Denver in 1908, and also to many state con- ventions. He was the leader in the movement that resulted in the paving of the Alameda, and the building of the Hester School, and also in financing the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A.

WILLIAM J. CROSS .- Interesting as one of the successful young men in Santa Clara County, Wil- liam J. Cross of San Jose is also worthy of attention as having in a very short time come to command in- fluence such as many, longer established, have sought in vain. He was born at Cheboygan, Mich., on June 30, 1882, one in a family of four children whose parents were William N. and Minnie B. (Wat- rous) Cross, the former a native of New York, the latter of Mississippi. His father, William N. Cross, early established his law office at that place and for many years served as county judge, which position he continues to hold. William J. spent his boyhood years at home attending public school, and in 1898 was graduated from high school, although for the last few months of the term he was absent, having enlisted in the Michigan Volunteers for service abroad. He was the youngest member of the Ex- peditionary forces in Cuba and made a very enviable record. He was finally invalided home, where he received his diploma from the board of education in reward for duties discharged away from school.

Later. Mr. Cross entered Yale University and in 1909 was graduated with high honors from the De- partment of Law. He then became the junior part- ner in the firm. Cross & Cross, with his father, but in 1913 gave up the active work of the office and court to engage in the law publishing business in Seattle, Wash., where he organized the Cross-France Company, pioneers in their line on the Pacific Coast, and publishers of legal publications. He founded and edited the Lawyers' Review, of which he became president and general manager, recognized as a reli- able and leading agency for lawyers in the North- west. In his work as editor, Mr. Cross made exten- sive tours through nearly every country of the world, studying and transcribing the comparative legal juris- prudence and compiling much interesting data.

In July, 1917, Mr. Cross was again inspired for patriotic duty and organized the first unofficial citizens training camp at Fort Lawton, near Seattle.

Although a civilian, he was, in recognition of his ser- vices in connection therewith, given command, the camp being of sufficient size and equipment to per- mit of the training of from 250 to 300 men. At the conclusion of this camp for officers he organized a similar one for corporals and sergeants located in the center of Seattle. This unofficial non-commissioned officers training camp, the first of its kind in the United States, was later taken over by the University of Washington and continued to function during the entire war. For his work in connection with these camps, Mr. Cross was highly commended by the WVar Department and by high army officers of the Northwest. In August, 1917, Mr. Cross retired from command of the camp and entered the Second Of- ficers' Training Camp at the presidio of San Fran- cisco from which he was commissioned as a first lieutenant and assigned to the Eighth Infantry of the Regular Army, stationed at Camp Fremont, Cali- fornia. He was soon promoted to a captaincy and made adjutant of the regiment, having later recom- mended for promotion to major, which rank he still holds in the Officers' Reserve Corps of the U. S. Army. He has been instrumental in organizing the San Jose Aero Squadron, a unit of the U. S. Reserve Corps, an organization devoted to the advancement of military and commercial aviation, and of which he is commanding officer.

On June 29, 1918, while still an officer in the Army, Mr. Cross was married to Miss Huanna Leigh, daughter of Hugh A. and Barbara Leigh, of Camp- bell, one of the old families of Santa Clara County. Her father passed away in 1916, but her mother still resides at the family home on Leigh Avenue in Camp- bell. Their one child, named Leighann, died in in- fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Cross reside at Hanchett Park, San Jose, where they are both active members of the Hester District Improvement Club which Mr. Cross assisted in organizing and of which he is a director and secretary. He is also an active member of the American Legion. Not the least of his civic activities has been his activity in promoting the San Jose Commercial Club, having been a member of its first board of directors and serving as its first secre- tary. In politics, Mr. Cross is an independent Re- publican and the family attend the Episcopal Church. He is a "booster" of the Santa Clara Valley, and has extensive real estate and mining interests there. He maintains offices at 408 First National Bank Building at San Jose.

CHARLES SAVSTROM. . An

enterprising orchardist of Santa Clara County who has made good in his chosen line of work is Charles Savstrom, owning an orchard of fifteen acres on Plummer Ave- nue. which he has brought to a state of productive- ness and which brings him a good income. He was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, December 23. 1868, a son of August and Charlotte Savstrom, both of whom were born, reared and died in that country.

Charles was educated in the public schools of Sweden, finishing the grammar grades there. He remained at home until he was fourteen, then he went to sea, which he followed until he was twenty- one years of age, touching at nearly all the principal ports of the world during that time. He set ont for the new world of greater opportunities and set- tled in Santa Clara County in 1889 and worked as

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a ranch hand on the ranch of Socrates Kirk and was thus occupied until his marriage in 1896 to Miss Anna Buck, a native of Germany. After his mar- riage he leased part of the Kirk ranch for a num- ber of years and then in 1904 bought his place of fifteen acres on Plummer Avenue, which has been set to peaches, apricots and prunes, which has been well cared for and is yielding a good profit. Mr. and Mrs. Savstrom are the parents of five children: William, Frank, Herbert, Isabella and Helen. Their son William served in the U. S. Navy three years during the recent war, carrying troops across the Atlantic on transports. In national politics, Mr. Savstrom is a Republican; and fraternally is an Odd Fellow. He is one of the substantial citizens of his community, and takes pride in advancing meas- pres for the general good of his locality.

BEN ANZINI .- As the proprietor of the Junc- tion House on the state highway at the junction of El Monte Avenue and the highway, Ben Anzini contributes very materially to the comfort and con- venience of the thousands who traverse the state highway. The house was built in 1906 by his brother, Victor Anzini, and the ten acres surrounding it planted to prunes and apricots. This summer and winter resort is well built and up-to-date and is conveniently and beautifully located. A native of Switzerland, Ben Anzini was born at Menzoni, Can- ton Ticino, January 6, 1874, the son of Pietro and Lucia (Grandi) Anzini. The parents were married in Switzerland and in 1865 the father left alone for America and settled first in Marin County and re- mained there until 1870. They were the parents of three children: Victor, Ben and Luisa. The parents owned the home in Switzerland and there it was that the father died at the age of seventy-four; the mother still lives at the old home, aged eighty-nine. Ben Anzini grew up and attended the schools of Switzerland and learned to speak the Italian lan-

guage. His brother Victor preceded him to Cali- fornia, arriving in 1882, and on November 10, 1891, Ben landed at San Francisco. He worked around on dairy farms for ten years for wages and in 1901 went into the dairy business with a partner for two years; then for the next three years he became the sole proprietor, milking from 250 to 260 cows, be- sides operating a creamery.

On October 12, 1903 he was married to Miss Clelia Berri, a daughter of Victor and Angelina Berri. She was born and reared in Marin County, Cal., and was the youngest of a family of five chil- dren. Her mother died when she was only two years old, and later her father married Mrs. Ma- rianna Silacci. He immigrated to California in an early day, and became a large dairy farmer and well- to-do, his dairy supporting 250 cows, which he ran forty-four years; then retired to Petaluma, Sonoma County, where he died. The dairy farm which Mr. Anzini rented contained 2,003 acres, known as the Tomasini ranch in Marin County. After disposing of his dairy business he removed to Petaluma, Cal., and engaged in business for the next five months when he sold out and in 1907 took his wife for a trip through Switzerland, also visiting France and Italy. Upon their return, he bought back his busi- ness in Petaluma and operated it until 1915. He invested some of his earnings in city property in Sebastopol, Sonoma County, which he still owns. On May 13, 1913, he purchased the Junction House

from his brother and rented it out at first, but for the past five years he and his wife have conducted it. He was naturalized in San Francisco in 1901, and in national politics he is a Republican. He be- longs to the Eagles No. 333 of Petaluma, and he and Mrs. Anzini are members of the Catholic Church at Mountain View.

GEORGE ALBERT KELLY .- An expert in the use of tools of all kinds, George Albert Kelly has been for many years actively identified with the up- building of San Jose as a general contractor. His parents, John and Winifred (Connelly) Kelly, both deceased, came to California in 1880, settling on a farm near San Jose, and during their residence there George Albert was born on May 12, 1888, next to the youngest of a family of four boys and two girls. Mr. Kelly was educated in the public schools of his community and from boyhood on has followed the building trade. In 1911 he and his brother Charles formed the firm of Kelly Brothers, house movers and general contractors, and this partner- ship continued for eight years or until 1919, when George Albert Kelly bought out his brother's in- terest and since that time he has conducted the business alone, confining his work to moving heavy weights exclusively. He employs about eighteen men during the busy season.

On August 12, 1914, he was married to Miss Mar- garet Morovanni, also a native of San Jose, and three children have been born of this marriage: Albert, Genevieve and Howard. Enthusiastic and public-spirited Mr. Kelly has the best interests of Santa Clara County at heart and for a diversion seeks out-of-door sports and games, being especially fond of hunting. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Eagles and of the Chamber of Commerce.

E. C. HAMLIN .- A resident of Santa Clara for more than twenty years, it has been the privilege of E. C. Hamlin to witness the many changes that have taken place during these decades. A native of Min- nesota, he was born in Blue Earth County on August 13, 1866, the son of Andrew S. and Lucinda (Dur- kee) Hamlin. His early years had been spent on the Minnesota farm of his parents, where he re- mained until he was seventeen, and then was four years with a lumber company of that locality. En- gaging in the hardware business at Lake Crystal, Minn., he remained there for twelve years, when he decided to avail himself of the more varied op- portunities of the Pacific Coast.

Arriving in California in 1901, Mr. Hamlin spent his first eighteen months at Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County, and then came to San Jose, where he entered the employ of the Santa Clara Valley Mill and Lumber Company, remaining with them from July, 1903, until April 1, 1910, when he resigned. In October, 1910, he became the secretary and man- ager of the Pacific Coast Pottery and Terra Cotta Company, in which he was a stockholder, and it was largely due to his energy and successful meth- ods that the company was enabled to prosper as it did, until they sold out and disincorporated in 1920. In September, 1921, Mr. Hamlin bought the local branch of Earl C. Anthony, Inc., and continued the business, having the agency for the Packard and Reo cars. In connection he has a modern, up-to-date repair shop and garage, his quarters at 361 South First Street extending from First Street to Mar-

Ben anzini

Clelia Lanzini

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ket and he is associated with his son, Howard C. Hamlin, the firm being E. C. Hamlin & Son.

Mr. Hamlin's marriage on June 12, 1888, united him with Miss Elva M. Coonley, and two sons have been born to them: Homer C. is manager of plant No. 4, California Prune & Apricot Growers, Inc., and Howard G., in partnership with his father. On entering the service of his country during the World War, Howard G. Hanilin was assigned to an officers training camp and was on a cruise when the armis- tice brought a cessation of hostilities. In his politi- cal affiliations E. C. Hamlin is a Republican and he is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., and the Sciots, and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. A man of excellent business ability and experience, he is well- informed on the questions of the day and takes a lively interest in all community affairs, where he is held in high regard.

JAMES T. BAKER-HERBERT C. BAKER .- Prominent among the contractors and builders of San Jose, especially in the field of brick and tile work, are J. T. Baker and Herbert C. Baker, and who have been steadily engaged in this work at San Jose since coming here in 1904.

A native of Wales, J. T. Baker came to the United States when he was only seven years old, the family settling at Pittsburgh, Pa. His education was ob- tained in the public schools of Pittsburgh, and when he became a young man he was employed in the steel works of that city, and proved himself so very capable that it was not long before he became a foreman there. He made a specialty of brick work and when he came to San Jose, he gave his time to this work. Having had so much practical experi- ence along this line, the people of San Jose soon learned of his reliability, and gladly turned their work over to a man whom they knew understood his business and could relieve them of any responsibil- ity, knowing the work would be well done. When his son Herbert grew to manhood he took him in as a partner and they are now handling the work together. They have built many of the larger build- ings, such as the Potash Furnaces, one of the largest structures in the county, and the Linquist and Isaac- son Feed House, the first tile buildings in San Jose, and they erected the Growers' National Bank build- ing of Campbell, Cal. Mr. Baker and his son spe- cialize in fire brick construction and are consulted by some of the engineers on the coast in regard to this work. In the busy season they have as many as twenty-five men in their employ. H. C. Baker has taken up the manufacture of concrete irrigation pipe, the plant being located on Stockton and Ala- meda avenues, operating under the name of the Santa Clara Valley Concrete Pipe Company, Inc., and doing a growing business throughout Santa Clara County, with H. C. Baker as manager.

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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 186

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