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 194

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 194

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When the World War called for experts on be- half of the government Dr. Baiocchi entered the Medical Reserve Corps and served for eighteen months in government work at the San Francisco County Hospital, which was under government direc- tion, his assignment there running from November, 1917 to May. 1919; and he had a very active part in caring for many of the 3,800 cases of influenza- pneumonia treated. He belongs to the Santa Clara County Medical Society and the State Medical Asso- ciation, and is a member of the medical fraternity. the Omega Epsilon Phi. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Y. M. I., and he is naturally a member of the San Jose Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West.

HARRY E. BRANDENBURG .- An experienced, well-read and well-informed rancher, Harry E. Bran- denburg enjoys the esteem of all who know him in and around Saratoga and Santa Clara County, where he has lived since the early '60s. He was born in Muscatine, Iowa, on December 8, 1857, the son of Charles Henry and Sarah M. (Mullen) Branden- burg. Harry was only three years old when his parents came to California, crossing the plains in 1861, first going to Butte County where the father engaged in mining, and from there to Santa Clara County about four years later. The elder Branden- burg was a farmer until he died September 7, 1913, aged eighty-three, while his widow is still living, aged eighty-seven years. Of their three children, our subject is the eldest of the two living. He was educated in the public schools of Santa Clara and a private school there, and later he attended the Garden City Business College in San Jose, where he was graduated in 1878. He engaged in farming two years; then in business in Oakland and Alameda two years, and then spent almost a year mining in Ari- zona, when he returned to Santa Clara.

Mr. Brandenburg's marriage, which occurred in Santa Clara, November 2, 1886, united him with Miss Sarah J. Hartwick, born in Santa Clara, the daughter of Christian J. and Sarah (Beecher) Hart-

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wick, who were natives of New York. Christian J. Hartwick came to California in the early days, lo- cating in Santa Clara, where he was a carpenter and builder. Grandfather Charles Beecher, an own cousin of Henry Ward Beecher, spent his last days in Stockton, Cal., where his son John Beecher was a pioneer business man. Mrs. Brandenburg's father died in 1872, being survived by his widow who died in March, 1895. Four of their nine children are living, of whom Mrs. Brandenburg is the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg are the parents of four children: Juanita Avenel, a music teacher residing in San Jose; Elizabeth E., Mrs. William Wight of Saratoga; Charles Edgar, a graduate of the Camp- bell high school and Heald's Business College, San Jose, and served fourteen months in the Quarter- master Corps during the World War, being stationed at Jacksonville, Fla., and was mustered out Febru- ary 6, 1919. He is now with the Ainsley Packing Company at Campbell, but makes his home with his parents. Annabel is the wife of H. A. Fosgate and resides at Corning, Cal.

In 1890 Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg located on the present ranch of ten acres which he set out to orchard, and it is now highly improved, a full-bearing orchard of prunes, apricots, peaches and cherries. This tract is a choice bit of land and he has spent much time and labor in bringing it to its splendid condition. Politically he is a Republican and with his wife is a member of the Orchard City Grange and he is a charter member of the Saratoga Lodge of Odd Fellows.

MERVYN A. DAVENPORT .- An industrious, straightforward business man, who is justly achiev- ing success in his line of work is Mervyn A. Daven- port, the genial proprietor of Austin Corners Garage. Born in San Francisco, December 26, 1890, he is the son of Withold and Hanna (Tobias) Davenport, both natives of New York State, where Withold Davenport was a merchant. Removing to California in 1886, Mr. Davenport continued to fol- low mercantile lines, and both he and his wife are living and make their home in San Francisco.

Mervyn is the oldest of three sons, and received his education in the public schrool and St. Joseph's Academy, Oakland, and then Ferrels Military School at New Orleans, La. His school days being over, he took a position as a helper in an automobile shop and was content to work from the ground up in order to become conversant with the business, and in this way he became a thorough automobile mechanic and familiar with repair work. In the fall of 1919 he located with the Sunnyvale Garage; then on October 14, 1920, came to Austin Corners and established himself in business, at first renting a small garage, and he has been very successful His business outgrew his quarters and he purchased two acres at the Corners where he erected a garage building 42 by 100 feet and has his residence adjoin- ing. His garage is equipped for repairing any kind of car, and he specializes in first aid, towing, and general repairing and has established a branch station at the summit, from which he can be reached by telephone and thus give immediate aid to stranded cars. He is also serving his community as deputy constable of Redwood Township under F. Lobdell. Mr. Davenport spent some time in New York City at

three different times, and from 1914 to 1917 he was in the rent car service at 181st Street.

Mr. Davenport's marriage united him with Miss May Keeler of New York, and they are the parents of two children, Marion and Mervyn A. Jr. On November 14, 1917, he enlisted in the Four Hundred Fifth Telegraph Battalion of the U. S. Army, sta- tioned at Camp Lewis until March, 1918, when he sailed from New York for France. Landing at Saint Nazaire, he served as dispatch rider for seven- toen months, and nine months after the armistice was signed he came home and was mustered out at Camp Dix in November, 1919, as corporal. Locally he gives his support to progressive, constructive legis- lation, regardless of party lines, supporting the best man for public office.

FRED S. RYAN, M. D .- The profession as well as the public accords Dr. Fred S. Ryan a prominent position among the medical practitioners of San Jose. He is specializing in surgery and through constant reading and close study of the cases that come under his care, he has gained that skill which brings to his work the utmost possibility of accuracy in results. Dr. Ryan is a native of North Dakota, his birth having occurred in Pembina, three miles from the Canadian line, on October 1, 1882. His parents are G. W. and Mary E. (Short) Ryan, the former a native of Ohio, while the latter was born in Vir- ginia. The father became one of the early settlers of North Dakota and a prominent banker of that state, having previously resided near Danville, 111. In 1900 he came to San Jose and is still a resident of this city. An uncle of Dr. Ryan enlisted for service in the Civil War and was killed at the battle of Lookout Mountain, while an uncle of his mother was a personal friend of Napoleon Bonaparte and also of the King of Spain.

In the acquirement of an education Fred S. Ryan attended the grammar and high schools of Pembina, N. D., and the University of California, from which he received the B. S. degree in 1903. Later he went to Chicago, entering the medical school of the North- western University, which conferred upon him the M. D. degree. He afterward served an internship at the Cook County Hospital and then came to San Jose, opening an office in the Garden City Bank Building. His labors have been attended with a gratifying measure of success and with the passing years his practice has steadily grown in volume and importance. He has developed expert ability as a surgeon, in which branch of the profession he is specializing, and is a member of the surgical staff of the O'Connor Sanitarium, and chief of staff of the Good Cheer Club and connected with the surgi- cal staff of Santa Clara County Hospital. He is also an advisory member of the Board of Health of San Jose, and local surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railway Company. In addition to his professional activities he has an interest in a ranch of 160 acres and in one of 44 acres in the San Joaquin Valley, both of which are irrigated by private pumping plants and devoted to the raising of peaches.

At Pembina, N. D., on February 25, 1911, Dr. Ryan was united in marriage to Miss Vida Mc- Cafferty, a native of that city and a daughter of John and Sarah (Cox) McCafferty, the former a farmer by occupation. Dr. and Mrs. Ryan have a family of four children: S. Elizabeth and V. Mar-

Sophie a. averill.

acquevill

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garet are attending grammar school, and George M. and Fred S. In August, 1918, Dr. Ryan enlisted for service in the World War, being commissioned first lieutenant. For six weeks he was at Fort Riley, going from there to Rochester, Minn., where he liad the benefit of six weeks' instruction under the cele- brated Mayo brothers. From there he was sent to Camp Knox, Ky., being attached to the Seventy- second Field Artillery, and was stationed at that point until January 8, 1919, when he was discharged, and returning to San Jose, where he has since con- tinned in practice. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and fraternally he is a Knights Templar Mason and a Shriner, and he is also a member of the Elks Lodge and Commercial Club. His innate talent and acquired ability have brought him to a most creditable position in pro- fessional circles, and he keeps abreast with the times in the field of medical and surgical practice.

ARTHUR EARL AVERILL,-A native son of the Golden West who is energetic in his desire to aid in the upbuilding and improving of this favored region of the globe, Arthur Earl Averill was born in Santa Cruz, May 13, 1893, a son of Volney and Alice ( Schul- theis) Averill. The father was a pioneer of the Santa Cruz Mountains and a veteran of the Civil War, elsewhere represented in this history, while the mother was a native of Santa Clara County, a daughter of John Martin Schultheis, one of the earliest pioneers of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Arthur Earl was the youngest of their seven children and received his edu- cation in the Summit school, from which he was grad- uated, after which he completed a special course in the Acme Business College in Seattle. He then returned to the home ranch, where from a boy he had assisted as best he could, thus learning the various phases of orcharding. A year later, in 1915, he leased the home ranch from his father and operated it with success. In the fall of 1920 he went to Arcata, Humboldt County, where he was employed in the cattle business with the Minors. In June, 1921, he returned to the Summit, and a year later he purchased his father's ranch of seventy-five acres, which he devotes princi- pally to the culture of prunes; he is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

The marriage of Mr. Averill occurred in Oakland on February 24, 1915, being united with Sophie Larsen, a daughter of Ole and Anna (Hemmingsen) Larsen. The father is now superintendent of the Mountain View Cemetery at Piedmont. Mr. and Mrs. Averill are the parents of two children, Dorothy Catherine and Gladys Eley. Mr. Averill is a member of the board of trustees of Summit school district, where he, as well as his mother, attended school.

HARRY C. LEWIS .- One of the best known commercial artists of Santa Clara Valley is Harry C. Lewis, who is known far and wide by his work as an artist. He is a native son of California, and first saw the light of day in 1872, in the thriving city of San Jose, where he has since made his residence, and was the son of J. B. and Mary K. McKee Lewis. The father was a native of Massachusetts, while the mother was born in Connecticut; they came to San Jose in the very early days and the father was en- gaged in the drug business, being one of the pioneer druggists remaining in this line for many years.

Harry Lewis attended both the grammar and high schools of San Jose and when he became seventeen

years old, he started to make his own way, taking up the work of typesetting at the "Mercury-Herald" office, and continued in this line for twelve years with the newspaper work. He then took up color work in the year 1903 and commercialized it, es- tablishing a business of his own and now has a very large and profitable trade in commercial art, making a specialty of designing show cards and all work along this line. His place of business is now located at 130 South First street, and the volume of his business is continually increasing, due to the orig- inality of his ideas and the artistry embodied in his work. Mr. Lewis is very popular in fraternal circles, being a member of the San Jose Parlor No. 82, Na- tive Sons of the Golden West, and of San Jose Lodge No. 552, of B. P. O. Elks.

FLOYD A. HANSON .- One of the important commercial enterprises of San Jose is the Bean Spray Pump Company, of which Floyd A. Hanson is the general sales manager, and the fact that he has been chosen to fill this important position is indisputable proof of his executive ability, business acumen and enterprise. He was born at Waukon, Ia., March 30, 1881, the only child of H. Thomas and Lelia (Peck) Hanson, the former also a native of the Hawkeye State, while the latter was born in Beaver Dam, Wis. The father followed the occupation of farming and also engaged in business as grain dealer, winning a substantial measure of success through the capable management of his affairs and becoming a prominent and highly respected resident of his community. The paternal grandfather, Ole Hanson, emigrated to the United States from Norway in 1845 and became a resident of Round Prairie, near Waukon, Ia., where he continued to make his home until his demise, when sixty-eight years of age. He was one of the pioneer settlers of the state and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.

In 1898 Floyd A. Hanson was graduated from the Waukon high school, and responded to the second call of the government for troops to aid in the Spanish-American War. He enlisted in the Forty- ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, reaching Des Moines, la., in May, 1898. From there he was sent to Jack- sonville, Fla., and in October, 1898, was in camp at Savannah, Ga. His command became a part of the Seventh Army Corps, which landed at Havana, Cuba, on December 23, 1898, there remaining until the following April. As a private he had a most interesting and commendable military career, receiv- ing his honorable discharge from the service at Savannah, May 13, 1899.

After spending some time on the Atlantic Coast Mr. Hanson returned to Iowa, but after a short time sought the opportunities of the Northwest and spent two and a half years in Spokane, Wash., and Mon- tana. In 1903 he arrived in Sacramento, Cal., going from there to San Jose and thence to Los Gatos, where he obtained steady employment on a large fruit ranch. Early in 1907 he became connected with the Bean Spray Pump Company, which was at that time located in a small shop on South First Street. He at first worked in the machine shop, after which he became an assemblyman in their new factory. Later he received an offer to represent the firm upon the road, but at first refused the position, which,

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however, he accepted three years later. As state representative he was very successful, being popular with the trade and building up a large business for the firm. He was thus active for six years and was then made manager of the Fresno branch, of which he had charge until December, 1918, when he was appointed manager of the sales department of the home plant at San Jose. He has advanced with the growth of the business and long experience has made him thoroughly familiar with every phase of the work, and owing to his progressive business methods and capable direction the sales of the company are constantly increasing in volume and importance.

In San Jose, on June 6, 1906, Mr. Hanson was married to Miss Mabel Root, a native of Santa Cruz County, Cal., and a daughter of Mrs. Ella Root, who was also born in that locality. Mr. Hanson gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and fra- ternally is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at Los Gatos. He is also a Mason, be- longing to San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., and San Jose Consistory, also a member of Islam Tem- ple, at San Francisco. Throughout his life he has completely mastered each task assigned him and his close application and earnest study of the business with which he is connected have brought him to the front in commercial circles of San Jose.

MRS. ELIZABETH A. DOIDGE .- An old-time resident of the Saratoga district who has done her part in the building up of this favored fruit section of the world is Mrs. Elizabeth A. Doidge, a native of New Jersey, born at Dover. She was in maiden- hood Elizabeth A. Mitchell, a daughter of John Mit- chell who was born in Carharroc, England, when he married Elizabeth Trabilcox, after which they emi- grated to Pennsylvania and later to New Jersey. Mr. Mitchell was a contractor in the iron mines. Later he removed to Mineral Point, Wis., where he was engaged in lead mining. In 1852 he brought his family to California via Panama and was engaged in mining until his death, 1857. The mother with her family then returned to England, but in time she brought the family out to Dover, N. J., when the mother died when forty-five years of age. Two of their four children are living, Elizabeth A. being the oldest. She was educated in the public schools in Dover, and there too she was married in 1866, being united with William Stile, who was also born in England. He was a miner in New Jersey, was a kind and considerate man, much esteemed by his family and friends when he passed away seven years after their marriage, leaving her three children: Thomas, who lives in Chico; Ernest, manages his mother's ranches; May, is the wife of Ralph Blabon.

In 1876 Mrs. Stiles married a second time, being united with Robert Doidge, born in Devonshire, England, who came to New Jersey and followed mining. He had made several trips to California before his marriage, so he came out again in 1877 and was mining at the Reed mine in the Capay Val- ley, Yolo County, when Mrs. Doidge joined him in 1878 with her three children. Two years later they settled at Saratoga and for a time owned a ranch on Fruitvale Avenue, but soon sold the place and pur- chased twenty-five acres on Pierce Road. They be-

gan setting out an orchard when Mr. Doidge was called to the Great Beyond in 1884. To this union were born three children: Florence, is the wife of Joseph Spenker of Burlingame; Harry and Edna, died at ten and six years, respectively. After his death, Mrs. Doidge continued orcharding, caring for and improving it until it is now fullbearing. In 1915 she purchased eight acres on the Mountain View Road, near Cupertino. She is a member of the Cali- fornia Prune and Apricot Growers' Association. Mrs. Doidge is very enterprising and well deserves the competence she has won. She is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church and of the Foothill Club.

HORACE WILSON .- Horace Wilson was born in Dublin, Ind., August 7, 1850, the next to the youngest of eight children born to John W. and Mar- garet (White) Wilson, natives of North Carolina, of Scotch and English descent. Grandfather Chris- toph C. Wilson was born in Scotland, settling in North Carolina. John W. Wilson removed to Wayne County, Ind., in 1834, where he was an extensive farmer and stockman, and also had three packing honses on the canal. During the war he bought horses for the army. Selling his holdings he removed to Kansas, his sons having previously located at Glasco, Kans., and there he resided until his death. He was a Quaker in religious belief. The mother was a graduate of a college in Virginia and was a minister in the Society of Friends. She was a talented and gifted speaker and an extraordinary woman of nobleness of purpose and heart, having a fine influence for good in the community. She passed away in Indiana.

Horace Wilson, after completing his education in the public schools, assisted his father in the stock busi- ness. In fact, as early as twelve years of age his father sent him out to buy stock. In 1872 Mr. Wilson re- moved to Kansas and located a homestead of 160 acres at Glasco. This he improved, breaking the virgin soil with ox teams, and was a pioneer grower of wheat and corn in that county, as well as buying and feeding cattle, and as he prospered he purchased lands until he acquired about 2,000 acres. He bred Short Horn Durham cattle and in time had the finest herd in that region, demonstrated by the fact that he sold one bull for $2,000. He also served as town- ship assessor and school trustee. In 1900 he sold and removed to Los Angeles and with his son, N. F. Wilson, engaged in the brokerage business. In 1913 he came to Santa Clara County, purchasing an or- chard of thirteen and one-half acres on the Summit; having since added to it he now owns a twenty acre orchard of full bearing prunes, pears and cherries.

While he and Mrs. Wilson were driving in their auto on Park Avenue, San Jose, November 14, 1918, they were run into by the street car and Mrs. Wilson was killed and he was picked up for dead, but re- covered after six weeks in the hospital. Mrs. Wilson was in maidenhood Viola Shafer, and was born at Assumption, where their marriage occurred. She was a cultured woman and their union proved a very happy one until he was bereaved of her by the un- fortunate accident. By a former marriage Mr. Wil- son had two children: Nicholas Field Wilson, who is engaged in the brokerage business in London,

J.b. Qouent.

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England, and Dora Sylvia, now Mrs. Daniels, resid- ing in Palo Alto. Mr. Wilson's political preference has always been with the Republican party.

A. C. COVERT .- One of the interesting men who shows a remarkable energy and ambition in his ad- vanced age is A. C. Covert of Los Gatos, who was born in Johnson County, Ind., December 1, 1833. His father, Jacob S. Covert, was born in Mercer County, Ky., October 10, 1810, and was married in that state to Martha Overstreet, who was born in Mercer County, Ky., Feb. 14, 1811. They moved to Johnson County, Ind., and then to Effingham County, 111. A. C. was the oldest of twelve children, only two of whom are living. He was reared on the home farm and attended the local school which was held in a log house with puncheon floors and the pupils sat on slab benches. He displayed a natural talent for music and was a choir leader; he had a splendid voice and frequently favored audiences with solos. In 1856 he removed to Vinton, lowa, but a year later located at Effingham. Ill., whither his father had moved.

On November 18, 1860, at Mason, Ill., Mr. Covert vas married to Harriet E. Deneen, a native of Ohio, born near Cincinnati, January 4, 1835, who had come to Mason, Ill., with her mother. After his marriage, Mr. Covert bought a farm, but after the Civil War be- gan, on August 15, 1862, although they had a little child, Mr. Covert showed his patriotism and re- sponded to the call and enlisted in Company H, Eighty-eighth Illinois Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, taking part in the Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1862, Murfreesboro, on December 30-31, 1862, and January 1, 1863, and Chickamauga, August 20, 1863, where he was shot through the body and left on the battlefield in the hands of the enemy and taken pris- oner. However, as soon as arrangements could be made, there was an exchange of prisoners that could not walk, by Generals Rosecrans and Bragg and he was exchanged September 11, 1863. After he had re- covered he remained in service at Camp Butler, Springfield, 111., until he was honorably discharged June 30, 1865. Returning to his home, he had lost his farm as he could not meet the payments while in the service. Soon after his return from the war, he removed to Stewartville, Mo., but a year later moved on to Kansas and purchased a farm which he operated for seven years and then removed to Rosita, Custer County, Colo., where he followed mining and cattle raising for seven and one-half years.

On November 25, 1882, Mr. Covert arrived in San Jose, Cal., and a month later purchased a ranch above Lexington where he farmed for two and one-half years and then located in Los Gatos and engaged in teaming for eight years, most of the time hauling lumber and wood, when he turned the business over to his son, Arthur W., since which time he has en- gaged in the real estate business and is now asso- ciated with Barker & Barker. He owns a comfort- able residence on Massol Avenue as well as other residence property in Los Gatos.

Mr. Covert was bereaved of his faithful life com- panion on October 18, 1881, after a very happy mar- ried life. They were blessed with nine children: Al- mira J., Mrs. William Davison, died at Rosita, Colo .; Chas. E. lives at Morgan Hill: Mary E. died at the age of fourteen; Effie B., Mrs. Matheson of Los Gatos; Carrie E, Mrs. Pelton of San Jose: Nellie D. is a graduate nurse, San Francisco City and County

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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 194

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