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 196

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 196

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The student body is an actual democratic state in miniature, self-governing through a mayor and board of commissioners, acting under a simple con- stitution and elected by ballot, holding office sub- ject to recall on petition at the pleasure of the elec- torate. Legislation and administration are actually subject to review, of course, by the faculty, which functions in this respect as a court of appeals. Con- stitutional amendment and by-laws are initiated from time to time by the commissioners, or petition, as ex- perience shows the need. The personnel of the school is world-wide. A large proportion of the boys come from outside of California, east to New York and New England, north to Alaska and Canada, and south to Ecuador and South Africa. There have been boys from England, France and a number whose parents, though American, are living in the Orient, Hawaii, and

the Far Fast. The boys lead an outdoor, pioncer life, in keeping with the principles of the school. They sleep on the open porches of the school dormi- tories, where they are constantly under the super- vision of directors. The open air gymnasium, the library, the assembly hall, the swimming hole, the pond with its boats and slides, the teeters and the merry-go-round add varied interest to the day's program of events after school hours.

The school is equipped with electricity, modern kitchen and dining-hall, sanitary plumbing with tubs and showers. The drinking water is piped from mountain springs on the place, insuring a pure and constant supply. Boys are not admitted without evidence of good health, as well as good character and good mental ability. A well-equipped infirmary, however, with an efficient nurse in charge, provides for emergencies. The Aztec style of architecture is being used for all the new buildings. Recent addi- tions bring the school holdings of land up to about two hundred acres of orchard and forest. The board of directors of the school corporation are Ernest A. Rogers, president; Charles B. Rogers, vice-presi- dent; Homer J. Lloyd, secretary and treasurer and Dora C. Rogers, Dorathec R. Lloyd.

GEORGE E. BOOKER .- A native son interested in advancing the horticulturist interests of this fav- ored valley is George E. Booker, born near Los Gatos, December 6, 1872. His father, William Wade Booker, was born in Morgan County, Ala., in 1834, of an old Southern family. He came out to Texas where he was a plainsman and frontierman and while in Texas he was a member of the Texas Rangers. In about 1859 he crossed the plains in an ox-team train to San Bernardino County, but soon drifted north to the Santa Clara Valley, locating a homestead of 160 acres on Campbell Creek, which is still in the possession of his children. He was for a time in the wood business, cutting wood for the paper mill. After clearing the land he set it out to orchards of apples and pears. He organized the first school in the district, which was called Booker district, saw to the building of the school house and was a trustee from the beginning up till the time of his death, December 6, 1893. Mr. Booker was mar- ried in this county to Margaret Nelson, who was a native daughter, her father having been a pioneer of Santa Clara County. Mrs. Booker survived her husband till December 28, 1915, leaving five chil- dren: George E., our subject; Mrs. Mary McIntyre of Salinas; William S. and A. C. reside on the old Booker homestead; Mrs. Edith Marshall of Belmont.

George E. Booker was educated in the Booker public school and from a lad he had assisted his father and became familiar with the science of or- charding. In 1902 he started a wood and fuel busi- ness in Sunnyvale, calling it the Sunnyvale Fuel Company, and had built up a substantial business when he sold out in 1910. Next he located in Indian Valley, Monterey County, being engaged in cattle raising until 1915, when he sold his cattle interests and returned to Santa Clara County, leasing a ranch near San Felipe, being engaged in dairying for three years, when he sold out and for almost a year was at Watsonville. In 1919 he returned to his old home, leased the old Booker ranch from the estate and also the Marengo Ranch of 200 acres, devot-

1270

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ing his time to the cultivation of the orchards and caring for the trees. Besides this he also cultivates Mrs. Morris' orchard.

In Sunnyvale, Mr. Booker was married to Miss Etta Russell, who was born in Oregon, their union having resulted in the birth of four children: Pearl is Mrs. Brooks of Watsonville; Elton is a plumber in the same town; Vera and Russell are still under the parental roof. While living in Indian Valley, Mr. Booker was a school trustee and is deeply interested in the cause of education as was his father before him. He is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

WILLIAM WARD PITMAN-A man of unques- tioned integrity of character and one who was held in high esteem in his locality was William Ward Pitman, whose passing away is inourned by his many friends and his devoted family, to whom he was father, friend and counselor. He was born in Cottle- ville, Mo., May 29, 1852, the son of Prof. Richard H. and Ella Virginia (Ward) Pitman, the father a native of Missouri and his mother of old Virginia stock.

William Ward began his education in the public schools of Missouri and then entered the university at Fayette. After finishing school he was married at O'Fallon, Mo., Nov. 26, 1884, to Miss Ellen O. Kerr, and after marriage engaged in farming in Mis- souri six years; then came to California, stopped a short time in Tulare County, then settled in San Jose in the fall of 1890. In 1891 he purchased thirty-five

acres in the Ware tract on the Ross Road and planted it to orchard, and also set out fifteen acres for a nephew. All of this land was a grain field, and the work of planting and cultivating and setting to orchard was no small task, but with his usual patience and thoroughness it was successfully accomplished. Mr. Pitman resided on his ranch until his death, January 12, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Pitman were the parents of six children; D. K .; Richard, an architect of Santa Barbara; Augusta, Mary, Nellie, and William Ward. Mrs. Pitman is active in educational affairs and is now president for the second time of the Cambrian Parent- Teachers' Association; and also served as secretary of this organization. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are held in high esteem by the citizens of the county.

Mrs. Pitman's father, Thomas Kerr, was a native of Scotland who came to America when a lad and set- tled in Virginia, where he lived until the news of the discovery of gold in California. He joined a com- pan of men who came across the plains in 1849, and upon his arrival here, went to the mines in the northern part of the state, and was among the suc- cessful searchers of the precious metal. After he had acquired sufficient for his needs he returned to Vir- ginia and invested in coal mines, and here again he met with financial success. When he sold his hold- ings in Virginia he went to St. Louis, Mo., with his family and engaged in the commission business at the Eads Bridge. In time he became what was re- garded at that time, a wealthy man. His death was due to an accident. He was the father of nine chil- dren, three of them living. The eldest, Mrs. Carrie Hall, lives in the City of Mexico; Mrs. Louise Far- row resides in Virginia, in the same locality where her father amassed part of his fortune; and Mrs. Ellen O. Pitman is a resident of California, the state

where her father made his first money as a gold- seeker in the days of '49.

Since the death of Mr. Pitman, his widow has car- ried on the work at the ranch, doing a considerable portion of it herself and overseeing the balance. She is an experienced rancher and has helped to develop the place she now owns. Besides her ranch work she takes care of her house and looks after the welfare of her family; at the same time that she takes an active part in local civic affairs. She has had an in- teresting career from her early girlhood and there is no more highly respected citizen of the county.

ELOI POURROY .- A native of France, Eloi Pourroy was born near Gap, Hautes-Alps, December 4, 1868, a son of Pierre Pourroy, a worthy gentle- man of an old and highly respected family. Eloi Pourroy was reared on his father's farm, mean- while attending the public schools of his locality. He assisted his father on the home farm until 1891, when he was employed on other farms in the vicinity for two years, during which time he saved sufficient funds to pay his expenses to California, where he desired to try his fortune in this land of opportunity. In January, 1893, he arrived in the Golden State and after spending three months in Bakersfield, he came to Santa Clara County, where he immediately found employment on the ranch of Mr. Aubrey. In 1895 he purchased a portion of the Adrien Bonnet ranch from a Mr. Jordan, who then owned it, and began farming; he set out orchards of prunes and also a vineyard and his trees and vines are full bearing and are cared for and cultivated in the most modern and up to date methods. His 240-acre ranch above Saratoga presents a beautiful appearance with its numerous springs and woodland dells.

Mr. Pourroy was married in Saratoga to Mathilda Boisseranc, who was born in Saratoga, a daughter of Jacob Boisseranc, a pioneer and honored early settler of Saratoga. Mr. Pourroy was bereaved of his faithful companion August 19, 1912, leaving him seven children: Helen, Mrs. G. Legalls of Wrights; Elizabeth presides over her father's home; then there are Henry, Robert, Mathilda, Mary and Ger- maine. As a fruit grower, Mr. Pourroy is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

AUGUST BOISSERANC .- A native son of Santa Clara County, August Boisseranc was born in San Jose, November 28, 1874. His father, Jacques Bois- seranc, a native of Hautes-Alps, France, came to Santa Clara County, Cal., in 1869, and married Vic- toria Nicholas, also a native of France. He was a well-known and highly respected citizen of the Sara- toga section, passing away in 1919, aged eighty-one years. He was one of God's noblemen, liberal and kind-hearted and was everybody's friend. This worthy pioneer couple had two children: August, our subject and Mathilda, who became the wife of Eloi Pourroy, but died in 1912. August was reared at Saratoga and educated in the public schools, after which he attended Santa Clara College until he began farming. He purchased twenty-five acres in the Saratoga district which he improved to orchard and vineyard. In 1903, he made a trip to his father's old home in France where he spent four months, during which time he became acquainted with the lady that afterwards became his wife, their marriage occurring in San Jose August 13, 1903, the bride being Miss Mary Galleron, who was born near Gap,

WWW. Pilman

1273

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Hautes-Alps, France, a daughter of Joseph and Philipine (Lozier) Galleron, who were substantial farmers. To Mr. and Mrs. Boisseranc have been born eight children: Eugenia and Clementine are in Notre Dame high school; Adelle, Nathalie, Au- gust, Joseph, Marguerite and John. Mr. Boisseranc is greatly interested in the improvement of the San- to Clara Valley, whose development he has watched from the time he was a lad. Thus he has only the highest praises for this region that is showing itself the garden spot of the world. Politically he is a Republican and in religion he and his family are members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

FIRMIN LADARRE .-- A farmer in the Saratoga section of Santa Clara County, Firmin Ladarre was born in Basses Pyrenees, France, September 2. 1882, a son of Peter and Mary Ladarre, farmer folk who are now both deceased, the father passing away at the age of ninety-one, while the mother died in 1887. Firmin was reared a farmer's boy and re- ceived a good education in the local schools. He served as a soldier in the French Artillery for three years when he was honorably discharged and could emigrate to any country he wished. He had heard flattering reports of California and the opportunities here, so he determined to cast in his lot with the country on the great Pacific Ocean. On Septem- ber 14, 1912, he arrived in San Jose, and immediately found employment on the ranch of Mr. Pourroy. Saving his money, he was soon able to purchase the present ranch of thirty-seven and a half acres, which is devoted to orchards of prunes and cherries and a vineyard. Mr. Ladarre was married in the city of San Jose in January, 1918, to Mrs. Cecelia (Dorch) Eichom, who was born in Algeria, Africa, of French parents. She had one child by her first marriage- Eugene Eichom. Mr. and Mrs. Ladarre have one child-Henry. Mr. Ladarre is a stanch Republican and is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

JAMES A. THOM .- A veteran of the Civil War, James A. Thom was born in New York City, April 29, 1846. His father, Archibald Thom, was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, a carpenter by trade, who came to New York City when a young man, where he married Mary Merrill, a native of Canada. They removed to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1850 and later moved to Columbia County, Wis., engaging as a contractor and builder. Still later he located in Clarence, Iowa, engaging for a while in farming but later as a hardware merchant. After this he lived for a time in Huron, S. D., until he came to San Jose where he resided until his death, while his widow spent her last days in Long Beach.

James is the oldest of their six children, was reared in Wisconsin where he attended the public schools. In February, 1865, he volunteered and enlisted in Company B. Forty-eighth Wisconsin Regular Volunteer Infantry. After being mustered in at Milwaukee, he was sent to St. Louis and then campaigned in Missouri and Kansas until after the close of the war. Returning to Wisconsin he was mustered out in Madison, in February, 1866. After the war he engaged in farming in Minnesota, living in Olmstead, Mower and Meeker counties at dif- ferent times. Next he homesteaded in Renville Coun- ty, Minn., where he farmed until 1890, when he came

to California with his family and located in Santa Clara County. He purchased a ranch on the Los Gatos Road where he set out an orchard. He also worked in warehouses and was employed in one warehouse in Campbell for twenty-three years from the time it opened until his health failed which forced him to give up his work.

Mr. Thom was married at High Forest, Mower County, Minn., September 30, 1877, to Mrs. Ellen ( Ross) Johnson, born in Palmyra, N. Y., a daughter of Clark and Alice (Warren) Ross, natives of New York. Mrs. Thom's maternal grandfather, Caleb Warren, served in the War of 1812. Clark Ross re- moved to Fond du Lac, Wis., engaging in farming. He served in the Second Wisconsin Regular Vol- unteer Infantry during the Civil War as did four of his sons .. Elfen Ross was first married in Wis- consin, to Philander Johnson, a native of Vermont, a farmer in Wisconsin where he died, leaving his wid- ow and four children: Alice, Mrs. Hutchins, who has been with the J. C. Ainsley Packing Company since 1884; Frank died near Los Gatos; Harley lives in Iowa and George in San Francisco. Soon after Mr. Johnson's death, his widow removed to Mower County, Minn., where her mariage to Mr. Thom occurred, which resulted in the birth of three children: Ella and Carl died of diptheria while the family was enroute to California. Ross lives in Van- couver, B. C. Mr. and Mrs. Thom make their home 011 Sunnyside Avenue, Campbell. Mr. Thom was made a Mason in Clarence, Iowa, and is now a member of Charity Lodge No. 362, F. & A. M., at Campbell. He is a member of E. O. C. Ord Post No. 82, G. A. R., Department of California and Nevada at Los Gatos, while Mrs. Thom is a member of the E. O. C. Ord Women's Relief Corps.

CHARLES PERONE .- A resident of California since 1894, Charles Perone was born in Ramianca, Novara, Italy, March 25, 1878, a son of Vincenzo and Josefa ( Rosetti) Perone, farmer folk who spent their days in their native country, the father passing away in 1893. Of their family of eight children, three are living: Mallia is a farmer and stockraiser at the old home. Mrs. Maria Panighetti of Los Gatos, and Charles, the subject of this biography, who was reared on the home farm. On March 25, 1894, his sixteenth birthday, he left for California, arriving in San Jose, April 20, of that year. He worked for Mr. Panighetti on the ranch and soon learned hor- ticulture and viticulture as it is done in California. He continued to work for Mr. Panighetti for eigh- teen years. During this time he made two trips back to Italy; in 1899 he made his first trip to the old home, visiting his mother, his father having passed away before he left home. After a four months' pleasant visit, he returned to California. His mother died the next year, in 1900.

In 1911 Mr. Perone made a second trip to his old home and while there he was married on October 28, 1911, to Miss Delphina Balardone, and returned to California with his bride. In 1914 he purchased his present place of eighty-one acres, located just off the Bear Creek Road and this he has improved, so he has a full-bearing orchard and vineyard. He is a hard worker and is very energetic and well de- serves the success that has come to him. They have two children, Josephine and Vincent. Politically Mr. Perone is a Republican.

1274

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ALEX W. HESS, SR .- Hale and hearty at the age of sixty-six, so that he forges ahead like a vigor- ous man in his forties, and popular as an active and prominent man in the fraternal life of the community, Alexander W. Hess, chief engineer of the San Jose Water Works, enjoys opportunity, influence and an enviable status in a section of the great California commonwealth whose natural resources and assured future have drawn hither an exceptionally large num- ber of able men, each representative of something worth while. He was born in Santa Clara County, four miles southwest of San Jose, on the old Infirm- ary Road, just opposite the old brick yard, on Decem- ber 12, 1855, the son of James B. Hess, a native of Indiana, who came across the plains in an ox-team train in the stirring days of '49, when it took seven months to make the trip. He married Miss Mary Josephine Walton, born in Kentucky, who came to California via the Isthmus of Panama in 1852, and in San Jose she met Mr. Hess. James B. Hess was a miner; and with a brother, Alexander Morris Hess, later located in Santa Clara Valley in about 1851. They each had claims of 160 acres of land in the middle of the valley. This land was on the old Galindo Grant, and afterward the Galindo estate con- tested the rights, and all the land involved was in the court for several years. Later, when the Government secured control, James Hess preempted the land.

Unfortunately, James Hess eventually was swin- dled out of the land and lost all that he had; and when our subject was sixteen years old, he took his family -- consisting of nine children, among whom Alexander was the oldest-and all his belongings and moved the family to San Mateo County, where he at first settled on the Hamm Ranch. But he stayed there only a couple of years, after which he returned to San Jose, where he spent the rest of his days. He had at length passed through many hardships, and the strenuous life he was forced to lead caused him to break down much sooner than might have been expected. When sixty-eight, he laid aside the cares and worries of this world, conscious at least that, as a sturdy, honest, intelligent pioneer he had done something commendable for those who came after him. Mrs. Hess is still living, at the remark- able age of over ninety years.

When five years of age, Alexander had to walk a long way to school, along a path which led through the haunts of wild cattle, and had to look sharp and move lively at times to look out for his own safety. He recalls other experiences at an age even earlier. The Digger Indians, a dirty, thieving tribe, had been prowling about his father's place at one time, and one morning, when the little fellow was at play and his mother was not watching, an Indian picked him up and started off with the object of stealing him. His mother luckily discovered his absence soon enough to survey the landscape, and when she saw the pack of Indians moving off, and one Indian car- rying the dangling, screaming child, she raised such an alarm as a fond, anxious mother might be expected to give, James Hess responded by seizing a pitchfork and hurrying after the kidnapers; and catching up with them, he jabbed the fork into the Indian carrying the child, and in short order got the youngster safely into his possession again. The In- dians, however, were so covered with filth and ver- min that before taking the boy back to his weeping

mother, he stripped the tot of all his clothes, pre- ferring nakedness to infection. Mr. Hess remembers when, as a boy growing up, the valley was nothing but plains. Wild cattle roamed at will, and there were many wild animals such as California lions and bears around the foothills. In 1862 there was a big flood and he has seen the valley covered with water and the same year it was also covered with snow. In those days the country between Dry Creek and Los Gatos was covered with chaparral and May Day picnics were held at Froments Mills, Los Gatos. In the sixties a dry year came and cattle starved by the thousands. They browsed on the leaves of trees and yet they starved and died, leaving skulls and bones all over the valley. The San Francisco and Santa Clara Railroad came into the valley in the sixties, and the stagemen were loud in their complaints, but they found new pursuits and forgot it, and now the railroads are confronted with the competition of auto stages and trucks. So things are reversed again. Thus he has seen the whole val- ley change from plains to waving fields of grain, and from the grain fields to alfalfa and orchards, a veritable garden spot.

Alexander Hess attended the country school until he was twelve years old, and later on he enjoyed two years at the University of the Pacific, at San Jose, and one year at a business college in San Jose. On push- ing out into the world to earn a living, he first sought work in the Mackenzie Foundry, where he labored for two years; and then he joined the fire department, and for seven years was an engineer there. He then spent two years in the machine shop of Joseph N. Wright; and followed a busy period there. This was a good introduction to his present responsibility in the service of the San Jose Water- works, upon which he entered in 1885; for he has been there so long and so actively, that he is the oldest employee in the San Jose Waterworks, his badge being number 1, and he has been chief en- gineer of the home plant at 374 West Santa Clara Street all but three years of the time. This plant has a capacity of six million gallons in twenty-four hours. He has held his position now for thirty- seven years. When he came all the company had was a 42 inch by 12 foot boiler and a No. 10 Knowles pump. That same year they installed a compound Duplex pump of two million gallons capacity in twenty-four hours, including two seventy- five horsepower boilers. This ran for ten years.

In 1895 they installed the Holly engine, which did duty until 1914, when they began using electric- ity, but the Holly plant is kept in running order in case of accident. They also had two 150 horsepower boilers to run the Holly pump station.

In 1914, as stated above, they installed four seven- ty-five horsepower electric main pumps, and also a fifty horsepower and a seventy-five horsepower elec- tric well pump, and since then they have added a new well and seventy-five horsepower pump. Thus all the improvements have been made since Mr. Hess' advent with the company, and he has had charge of the installation of the machinery and pumps.

On June 15, 1880, Mr. Hess was married to Miss Flora M. Spangenberg, the ceremony taking place in San Jose, a gifted lady born in historic Westches- ter County, N. Y. Her father was an artist who attained fame. Two children have blessed the

Tto. I. Les

1277

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

union of Mr. and Mrs. Hess. The elder is Alexan- der W., Jr., who served his time as machinist with the Union Iron Works, then made a trip to China and Japan on the S.S. "Korea." Soon after his re- turn he enlisted in the U. S. Navy, serving two en- listments, or eight years. The last four years he was chief machinist. During this time he served on the cruiser New York, cruiser Maryland, and the battleship Kearsarge. After eight years he retired from the Navy and was employed by the Pelton Water Wheel Company in San Francisco, resigning in 1917 to become machinist for the San Jose Water- works under his father and has continued there since. He married Ethel January, a granddaughter of Wmn. A. January, one of Santa Clara County's honored pioneers, and they have two children, Carol and June. The only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex- ander Hess, Hazel Helen, is the wife of Hugo Mans- feldt, a noted San Francisco musician. She is also an accomplished musician, being a fine pianist, and they are both teaching in San Francisco.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 196

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