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 190

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 190

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HARRY ELLSWORTH SMITH .- Another suc- cessful practitioner of law of whom the California Bar is certain to he prouder as the years go by, is Harry Ellsworth Smith, of San Jose, a native of England, but as enthusiastic a son of Santa Clara County, as if he had sprung from the local soil. He was born in comfortable-going Yorkshire, on July 29, 1885, and he came with his parents to California when he was four years old. His father, John E. Smith, had married Miss Eliza Bilton, and together they migrated to America, pushed on West to the Golden State, and located in Saratoga, where Mr. Smith became an orchardist. Both are still living.

Harry went through the grammar school at Sara- toga and the high school at Santa Clara, and was graduated from the latter in 1906; and after that he inatriculated at Stanford University, from which he was graduated with all the honors of that flourishing alma mater, in 1910. On November 8, 1911, he was admitted to the bar to practice law in California; and tor three and a half years he was located in San Francisco. No better field for experience of the most enviable sort could be found; and when he de- cided to remove inland, he had an asset in his Bay City practice such as anyone with sensible ambi- tions might have coveted.

In 1914 Mr. Smith came to San Jose, and ever since he has been increasing the scope and the im- portance of his practice. He has been associated with or in charge of many notable cases, and has thoroughly established his reputation as a well-

Chas . M. Gassin

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posted, ethical advocate. Besides being active in the County Bar Association, Mr. Smith has found it possible, as a broad-minded Republican, to help raise the local civic standards.

At Berkeley, on August 14, 1915, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Amelia A. MacSwain, a most at- tractive lady, who did much good, and drew about her a circle of devoted friends, passing away, mourned by many, January 22, 1919, the mother of one child-a daughter, Winifred Jean. Mr. Smith is a Scottish Rite Mason and an Odd Fellow. He enjoys a personal popularity through the geniality of his optimistic temperament.

CHARLES M. CASSIN-A California attorney whose growing prominence enables him, more and more, to help elevate the status of the California Bar among the legal profession of the United States, is Charles M. Cassin, who was born at San Francisco on January 10, 1868, the son of Michael and Anna (Daly) Cassin, both of whom are now dead. He attended the public schools in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, and in 1888 was graduated from Santa Clara College with the B. S. degree. He also studied at the University of Notre Dame, and in 1891 was given the LL. B. degree by the University of Michigan.

At Santa Cruz Mr. Cassin opened his first office; and so easily did he demonstrate an exceptional knowledge of the law, and also show his tempera- mental fitness for tactful practice and the honest defense and prosecution of his clients' best interests, that he rapidly acquired patronage which might have kept him in that delightful Coast city all his life. He took a fancy to San Jose, however, removed here in 1913, and ever since has been numbered one of the most successful of the elder barristers of Santa Clara County.

On August 24, 1896, Mr. Cassin was married at Watsonville to Miss Catherine Sheeby, the daugh- ter of Jeremiah and Catherine Sheeby and a native of Watsonville; and their fortunate marriage has resulted in the birth of six children: Catherine, Charles, Marion, Gerald, Anna and Robert. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church, and Mr. Cassin is both an Elk and a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.

EMERSON H. WEMPLE .- A representative pio- neer settler of California, Emerson H. Wemple oc- cupies an honored position among the well-to-do re- tired residents of Santa Clara County. He has spent a busy and useful life, and many of the events of his career are worthy of record in this historical work. Born in Chautauqua County. N. Y., Novem- ber 17, 1853, a son of Harry A. and Betsy (Smiley) Wemple, who were both natives of New York, he is the third son of a family of six children: two brothers are deceased, three sisters still survive. Early in the year of 1860, his parents joined a company of a hundred people, who were determined to brave the hardships attendant upon crossing the plains; six months were consumed in making the journey in wagons drawn by horses. The family settled on the Sacramento River in Sutter County, where Harry A. Wemple owned and developed a 200-acre grain farm. There the mother died about 1870. In 1874 Harry Wemple located on a farm at Biggs Station, remaining until 1880, when he removed to Fresno and engaged in viticulture. Later he sold out and

retired and spent his last days with his son in San Jose, passing away at eighty years of age.

Emerson H. Wemple received his early education in the public schools of Sutter County and in 1874 he entered the San Jose State Normal with the in- tention of becoming a teacher, but at the end of two years he returned to the Sacramento Valley and in- vested in a 160-acre farm near Biggs, Butte County, and for two years farmed with considerable success, selling his wheat crop in 1877 for $2.271/2 per cental; but the wet years of 1878-9 drowned him out and he sold his farm and removed to Mendocino County, settling near Covelo, Round Valley, where he served as caretaker in charge of the livestock Ior the gov- ernment on the Round Valley Indian reservation for three years; looking after 5,000 head of cattle and several hundreds of horses, besides about sixty fam- ilies of Indians. Before going to Round Valley Mr. Wemple was married in Butte County in 1877 to Miss Dora Fisher, a daughter of Rev. J. S. Fisher. Methodist minister at Big Station, Butte County. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wemple: Ruby, the wife of George Rucker, and they reside on South Fourteenth Street, San Jose. In the year of 1882 Mr. Wemple removed from Round Valley to San Jose, and established himself in the grocery business in which he gave his undivided time. In 1901 the Wemple Grocery Company was incorpor- ated and he continued as president until he sold out in 1903, after twenty-one years in business.

From the very start, the business began to show signs of success, growing to such proportions that the company was forced to enlarge their store. For two years after selling out he prospected in the Sierras, and was fortunate in finding and developing a placer mine called Clipper Ship Mine, where he built a ditch and installed an hydraulic giant, and still retains a partnership in it. Upon returning to San Jose, he again entered his chosen line of work. opening an attractive, modern grocery store. In this business venture he was assisted by his son- in-law, and the partnership of the Wemple Grocery Company was maintained until 1919 when it was dissolved. They were both active in the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Merchants As- sociation of San Jose. After the sale of the busi- ness in 1919, Mr. Wemple purchased a half inter- est in the Crystal Creamery Company and his son- in-law was made an officer of the corporation.

Mr. Wemple has always been actively identified with the advance movements of his community. He was a member of the city council for two years. then library trustee two years, and for six years he was a member of the board of school trustees, two years of the time being chairman of the board. Po- litically he is a stalwart Republican, and at one time served on the Republican County Central Commit- tee of Santa Clara County. Fraternally, he has been an active member of the Odd Fellows since 1895. being a member of Garden City Lodge, and is a member of the Rebekahs and is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.

In 1917, Mrs. Wemple passed away at the family residence at 409 North Fourth Street, where they had continuously resided since 1888. On December 25, 1919, his second marriage occurred, uniting him with Miss Marie Jakuillard, a long-time friend of the family. She is a graduate registered nurse of San Francisco, who had been for many years, special

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nurse to Dr. Ward in San Francisco. Mr. Wemple is fond of out-door life and spends much time in motoring. Although practically retired, he is a man of intense vitality, of conserved energy and great resourcefulness, and he takes a vital interest in all movements for the development of the re- sources of his community. His high general stand- ing, his genial and cordial manners, and above all the noble aims of his life have made him many friends.

JOSEPH CHARLES STILLWELL .- An off- cient, genial public official of Santa Clara County is Joseph Charles Stillwell, the popular custodian of the State Normal School at San Jose, who enjoys a wide acquaintanceship throughout the county and beyond. His native town of San Jose, where he was born on June 26, 1879, a member of one of the his- toric families of California, his grandfather having come here in 1846 as a member of the Donner party; his parents, who are happily still living, are Joseph M. and Josephine Stillwell, the former also a native of San Jose. The Donner party, it will be recalled, was part of a train which went its own way, in the hope of finding a shorter route, and being lost in the Sierras amid the heavy snows of the winter of 1846- 47, suffered so terribly that only a few survived. Fortunately Grandfather Stillwell was made of those enduring qualities which enabled him to weather the storms and suffer the famine and other privations, and eventually become one of the most influential builders of the Pacific commonwealth.

Joseph C. Stillwell attended the public schools of San Jose, and when he was through with the school- masters, he learned the painter's trade, which he followed for seventeen years. He then and there established a reputation for excessive conscientious- ness to work and duty, and this was part of his capi- tal when, in 1909, he was appointed by the president of the State Normal School custodian of that insti- tution. He soon demonstrated his fitness for this position and he has performed the responsible duties ever since. He is a Republican, when it comes to a preference for national party programs, and yet there are few, if any, more encouraging "boosters" of the city and locality, willing to throw aside all narrow partisanship and help the town and its en- virons, and particularly to advance in every way he can the progressive institution with which he has the honor to be connected.

At San Francisco, and in 1905, Mr. Stillwell was married to Miss Mamie Miskel, a member of another old Santa Clara County family, and they have one child, Lorraine, to brighten their home.

EDWARD J. STOPPELWORTH .- An experi- enced, far-sighted realtor who has done much to stabilize land and property values in Santa Clara County, although a somewhat recent comer here, is Edward J. Stoppelworth, who was born in St. Louis on February 6, 1876, the son of Edward F. Stoppel- worth, an inventor. He married Miss Kate Huber, who proved just the wife for such an intellectual, ingenious man. Both of these worthy parents passed away in 1900.

Edward enjoyed the usual common school ad- vantages, and when he had a chance to do so, learned the ins and outs of a planing mill. In 1905 he first came to California. and in the fall of that year he

located in San Jose. He was for a year manager of the branch office of the W. J. White Company, at Campbell, and then he took the coast managership of the Luther Grinder Company of Milwaukee, and for two years traveled for them as their representa- tive. Then he entered the service of the San Jose Lumber Company, where, for a couple of years, he was department foreman. Having decided to ven- ture into the more attractive field of real estate, Mr. Stoppelworth resigned from the lumber company's service, and has been very successful in this field, ond such has been his good work as president of the Fifth Ward Improvement Club, that he became a candidate for membership in the San Jose City Council. A man above the restraints of narrow partisanship, Mr. Stoppelworth has been able to broaden local issues, and thus to render the greatest possible civic service.

At St. Louis, on April 19, 1899, Mr. Stoppelworth was married to Miss Marguerite Schroeder, a daugh- ter of Robert and Amalia Schroeder, and a native of St. Louis; and to them two children were born: Elsie was a graduate of the San Jose high school and was attending the College of the Pacific at the time of her death in February, 1921; Mabel is a graduate of the high school and now attending the State Normal School. Mr. Stoppelworth belongs to both the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

FRED F. STUDER .- Among the men who have been an aid in the upbuilding of San Jose in bring- ing to that city his expert services, is Fred F. Studer, a heating and sanitary engineer, who has been engaged by some of the leading residents of San Jose in his expert line of work. He was born in Peoria, Ill., July 4, 1869, and was the son of Dr. Joseph and Elizabeth Hermann Studer.

Fred F. Studer was the fourth eldest of their six children, was educated in the public schools of Illi- nois and at the age of thirteen he began his appren- ticeship at the plumbing trade. Desiring to see more of the world, in 1897 he took a trip to Alaska and then through British Columbia, where he spent two years. Coming to San Francisco, Cal., he soon went to the Philippine Islands for the U. S. Govern- ment on the Transport Grant, spending one year there, and then went to Tien Tsin, China, on the Hospital Ship Relief, and was there during the Boxer Rebellion. Later he returned to Japan and San Francisco, resigning his position after four years' service. He continued at his trade in San Fran- cisco until 1909, when he came to San Jose, where he has since made his home, the family residence now being at 667 East St. James Street. Here he has engaged as a heating and sanitary engineer, tak- ing contracts for the heating and plumbing of many large buildings and homes, among them the Gross, Ryan, Kimberlin, Lion, Pratt and Hopkins resi- dences, the Don Felipe Apartments, Colombet Apart- ments, Piedmont Court at Santa Cruz, Elks Build- ing at Bakersfield, Elks Building at San Luis Obispo, and the San Jose Undertaking Parlors. During the busy season he employs five expert workmen.

At San Francisco, in 1903, Mr. Studer was married to Miss Mabel C. Watson, a native of Cobden, Union County, Ill .; she came to Los Angeles in October, 1898, and later to San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Studer have made many warm friends during

and little

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their residence in San Jose. In political matters Mr. Studer has always been independent in his views, feeling that he can best serve his community by an unbiased attitude toward political measures and aspirants for public office.

HIRAM D. TUTTLE-The ethical administra- tion today of law throughout California is largely due to such able, conscientious and fearless advocates as Hiram D. Tuttle of San Jose, who was born in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa, on October 5, 1856, the son of Owen and Mary Ellen (Burns) Tuttle, who moved to California in 1873, and at Watsonville took up farming. They were highly es- teemed as substantial country folk, and when Mr. Tuttle died, in 1899, he left a record for usefulness and straightforward dealing such as anyone might envy. Mrs. Tuttle is still living, at the age of cighty- four. They had nine children, and our subject was the eldest of the family.

Mr. Tuttle finished the courses of the Watsonville high school and then, in 1879, graduated from the Pacific Commercial College and became a clerk in a law office. Three years later the Hastings College of Law conferred upon him the degree of a Bachelor of Laws, and July 25, 1881, he was admitted to the bar. Just prior to that, he had filled a responsible post which added largely to his experience, and widely extended his acquaintanceship. When the Superior Court was organized in 1879, Mr. Tuttle became the private secretary of the Superior Judges, and he held that appointment until he was admitted to the bar.

He first practised law at Salinas, in 1883, and then, from 1886 to 1889, he was district attorney of Mon- terey County. Then he removed to San Jose, and continued here his practice and was in partnership with H. V. Morehouse from 1890 to 1895; while from 1897 to 1902 he was a partner with Joseph R. Patten. He was appointed Judge of the Superior Court, and served the unexpired term of 1903-04, after which he resumed practice. Mr. Tuttle has one son, Hiram D. Tuttle, Jr. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and a member of the State and County Bar Associations.

JOSEPH L. CRAMER .- Santa Clara County owes much to her enterprising and successful mer- chants whose energy and aggressive methods have led them to push forward and to attain for them- selves early returns; and whose level-headedness and sensible conservatism have contributed to steady finance and trade. Among these energetic men we mention Joseph L. Cramer, well-known and success- ful merchant in San Jose. A native son of the Golden State, he was born in Monterey County on February 28, 1879, a son of Joseph and Lucy (Glea- son) Cramer. His father was a native of Germany who came to the United States and California and established the first harness and saddle shop in San Miguel; he also had a shop in Monterey for many years. His mother was a native of this state and a niece of the late Tom Watson, who will ever be remembered by the older residents of this part of the state as sheriff of Monterey County for many years. It was during his tenure in office that the notorious bandit, Vasquez, was pillaging the vil- lages in this section and Mr. Watson showed his courage in taking him single-handed and running his followers to their final undoing.

Mr. Cramer's maternal grandfather, James Glea- son, married Catherine, a daughter of James Wat- son of Monterey, an Englishman who came to Cali-

fornia in 1822 and established trading posts on this coast and did trading with the Indians. James Gleason was also a pioneer of the Pacific Coast and came to Monterey when that was the capital of California. He became a well-known and success- ful stockman and amassed considerable valuable land. The maternal grandmother was a daughter of an old Spanish family whose members were part owners of the famous San Lucas Rancho, a Spanish grant that comprised thousands of acres of choice land in Monterey and San Benito counties.

It was in this traditional environment that Joseph L. Cramer was reared. At the age of fifteen, having finished his school days in the public schools in Monterey, he took up the life of cowboy and rode the range for years and became a well-known figure in stock circles in Monterey County, continuing for twenty-seven years. His tastes did not lie in the direction of the stock business and in 1905 he established a store at New Monterey. His next venture was to establish a chain of seven stores from Salinas to San Jose and known as the Lib- erty Groccterias. He gave these stores his personal supervision and soon built up a lucrative business. In 1917 he sold them, just prior to the United States' entrance into the World War. In 1920 he once more entered the business world and opened a bakery, known as the Ho Say Bakery, at 7 West Santa Clara Street, and a cash grocery and specialty store at 65 South Second Street in San Jose. Since that date his has been an ever-increasing business and his returns are most gratifying. He employs fourteen people in the conduct of his business.

The marriage of Joseph L. Cramer in 1903, united him with Miss Cora B. Fry, a resident of San Jose since 1900 and they are the parents of two chil- dren: LeRoy Henry and Orvil C. George. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer are popular in their social set in San Jose and accounted among the public-spirited citi- zens of the city. Mr. Cramer is a stanch Republican in national affairs, but he gives his support to the best men and measures that in his estimation are for the greatest good to the greatest number re- gardless of party tics.

A. F. BROSIUS .- Among the leading business houses of San Jose, Cal., is listed A. F. Brosius and Company and "The Loose Leaf House" bookbind- ers, the present owner and proprietor being A. F. Brosius. This business was established in 1890 by his father, who came to San Jose when our subject was only eight years of age. Taking advantage of the educational privileges afforded in the public schools of San Jose, he received a fair training, but at a very early age, he began working in his father's shop, learning all the details of bookbinding and loose leaf work, so at the time of his father's death, which occurred in 1902, while young in years he had re- ceived such a thorough training that he was entirely competent to take up his father's work, and so con- tinued the business. His shop is one of the most modern in equipment and he has always given the very best of service in the way of workmanship, having in his employ four men and four women well- trained in this line of work. He is very well known and people are still better acquainted with his work and for that reason, he receives the greater part of the work in this section. The growth of modern business systems, applicable even to the smallest con- cerns, has added an immense volume to the loose

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leaf business, and the excellent work turned out by Mr. Brosius has given "The Loose Leaf House" its full share in this growing line.

Mr. Brosius is very popular in both social and business circles of San Jose, being an active mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce, and also a mem- ber of the Observatory Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the B. P. O. Elks. He takes great pleas- ure in hunting and fishing, being very fond of out- door recreation.

DR. EDMUND GOLDMANN .- A man of splendid attainments and high professional worth was the late Dr. Edmund Goldmann, who was born in Schotten Hessen, Darmstadt, Germany, in 1834. He studied at the University of Geisen, then at Heidelberg, where he was a graduate in medicine, after which he emi- grated to New Orleans, La., and practiced medicine, subsequently taking post graduate courses in Belle- vue Hospital Medical College. He was prominent in civic and educational matters in New Orleans, serving as president of the board of education, and it was during his term that the free book system was introduced in New Orleans. He was a friend of . Sheridan, Sherman and Farragut and during the Civil War served as a surgeon in the Union Army, so naturally during this period he lost much of his savings. After the war he removed to Galveston, Texas, where he practiced medicine, and it was there his first marriage occurred to Amelia Correth, a na- tive of Germany who was a countess; her father, Count Correth, had settled in Texas immediately after the revolution of 1848. Their married life was of brief duration, for she passed away a year later. Six years afterward, Dr. Goldmann married a second time, being united with Miss Julia Bergstedt, born in Bremervorde, Germany, the daughter of Franz Bergstedt, a successful business man who established a fine resort. Her mother was Anna S. Sorke and both parents passed away in Germany. To this worthy couple were born seven children, all daugh- ters, of whom Julia was the fourth oldest; grew up in their native country and there secured a splen- did education. She immigrated to Galveston, Texas, and there made the acquaintance of Dr. Goldmann.

After their marriage, Dr. and Mrs. Goldmann im- mediately removed to Monterey, Mexico, where he practiced medicine until 1886, when he came to San Jose. His knowledge of and experience as a physi- cian and surgeon was well received and he soon had a lucrative practice. In 1889 he purchased the ranch where he established the health resort and named it Villa Bergstedt. After practicing in San Jose, he gave it up to give all of his time to his resort. Mrs. Goldmann planned the grounds, had the level- ing and excavating done, planned the hotel and cot- tages and had them built. The splendid spring water was piped to the hotel and grounds; this water is splendid and healthful, having a trace of iron. There are also three other big springs on the place. Villa Bergstedt ranch comprises twenty-six acres, located near the summit of the Santa Cruz mountains at an altitude of 2000 feet; about fifteen acres of the ranch is devoted to orchards of a variety of fruits, but prin- cipally of prunes. The resort is four miles from Wright's station and is also four miles from the San Jose-Santa Cruz Highway. The new Skyline Boulevard is planned to embrace the country road now along the lower side of the ranch. The resort

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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 190

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