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 202

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 202

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Mr. Lutter then spent a short time in Lyons, Iowa, and in 1909 came to California at the solicitation of the Bean Spray & Pump Company, who were desir- ous of having him take charge of their brass foundry. His services in that connection were so satisfactory that at the end of a year he was given supervision over the foundries for the plant and continued to fill that position for five years. Having carefully saved his earnings, he then decided to found an independent enterprise and in association with T. C. Kearney established a brass and iron foundry, which they operated for two years and two months and then sold. Mr. Lutter expects in the near future to open a first-class brass foundry in San Jose, in partner- ship with his brother Martin, who is also an expert foundryman, and the venture will undoubtedly prove a successful one.

In San Jose was solemnized the marriage of Clar- ence A. Lutter and Miss Lelia Oswald, a native of this city and a daughter of Benjamin and Aurelia Oswald, the former of whom followed the occupation of mining. To this union have been born three chil- dren: Olivette, Lelia and Clarice. Fraternally, Mr. Lutter is connected with the Loyal Order of Moose, belonging to the lodge at San Jose. Throughout his career he has closely applied himself to the work in hand and has steadily advanced, each forward step bringing him a broader outlook and wider oppor- tunities, thus gaining that superior knowledge which makes him an authority in the branch in which he specializes.

FRANK W. JOHNSON .- After a faithful record of twenty years' service with the Pullman Company, Frank W. Johnson is now living on his comfortable ranch on Murphy Avenue, San Martin, which he has owned for the past twenty years. He was born at Iowa City. Iowa, December 28, 1857, the son of Rolla and Helen (Morse) Johnson. The father was a native of Massachusetts and he migrated to Tiffin, Ohio, where he was in the mercantile business in the early days, before the coming of the railroad to that state. A man of fine education, he became a suc- cessful merchant in Iowa, and was very prominent in the public life of his day, serving as a representa- tive of Johnson County in the Iowa State Legisla- ture, and he lived to be over ninety years old. Mrs. Johnson, who was a native of Ohio, passed away in California, as did her husband, having made their home in this state since 1906.

Frank W. Johnson was reared and educated in Iowa, and at the age of sixteen he took a position with a dry goods firm, which later was merged into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Joel Lightner, continuing in this business until 1890. He then went to Chicago and entered the service of the Pullman Company, and spent the next seventeen years in the

employ of this corporation. On account of his health Mr. Johnson gave up his railroad work in 1904, com- ing to San Martin, where he had purchased twenty acres of open land in 1902. He had this land planted to a vineyard, and soon regained his health and strength in the freedom of the outdoor life in this balmy climate. Returning to the Pullman service, he was detailed to the Coast division on the South- ern Pacific, from San Francisco to Portland, and he rounded out twenty years with this company before retiring, years filled with interesting experiences that would fill a volume.

In 1890 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Augusta Wolfe, born at Tipton, Iowa, where she was reared, the daughter of William and Hannah (Colony) Wolfe, the father being extensively engaged in farm- ing and prominent in the public life of Iowa. He was born March 18, 1827, in Knox County, Ohio, while Mrs. Wolfe was born in March, 1833, in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one daughter, Helen E., the wife of Chas. G. Barnes of Morgan Hill, and the mother of two children, Helen L. and William Mansel, who have added much joy to the Johnson household.

SAM PISTURINO .- A far-sighted, progressive rancher whose methods have been both studied and copied by others, is Sam Pisturino, a native of the Province D'Reggio, in the extreme southern portion of Italy. His parents were Joseph and Grace Pis- turino, and his father was a farmer who died when our subject was nine years old, followed only a year later by the mother. Joseph Pisturino operated extensively in the management of a vineyard and the growing of oranges and olives, and he was a generous provider for his four children, Jennie, Sam, and Rocco and Angelina, the two latter deceased.

In 1898 Sam Pisturino left his home and native land and crossed the ocean to America, settling first in New York City, hence he traveled for about eight years throughout the East, the Middle West and the West, stopping longest in Chicago and Portland. In September, 1906, he came into California and took up ranching for himself. He bought six acres on Capitol Avenue, just south of Berryessa, and later purchased ten acres additional. These sixteen acres are now devoted to raising prunes and apricots and the land is amply irrigated. The ranch is also Hand- somely improved with a home which he himself built, and with other necessary buildings.

Mr. Pisturino's cousin, John, has been with our subject most of the time since he came out to Amer- ica, and together they have operated. John was born at the same place as Sam, in Southern Italy, on May 29, 1885, the son of Peter and Katherine Pis- turino, and entered a family eventually of six chil- dren. Joseph, the eldest, died in 1910; Mary and Cecilia came next; John was the fourth in order of birth, and Peter and Jennie were the youngest. When John Pisturino came to California in 1906, he joined his cousin Sam in San Jose. The following year, on March 16, he married Miss Sarah Giosa, a native of the Province of Palermo, and the daughter of Joseph and Rose Giosa. Now they have a family of seven children: Katherine, Peter, Frank, Joseph, Rosalie, Mary and Rosaria, the latter deceased. John Pis- turino has a ranch of twenty-five acres on Capitol Avenue, just north of that of Sam, fifteen acres of which are given to the cultivation of prunes, and the rest to apricots, buildings and drying yards.

Peter Canchaje

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VICTOR CAUHAPE .- Among the citizens of foreign birth who have helped to build up the great state of California so that it ranks high in the com- mercial world was the late Victor Cauhape, for many years a very successful buyer of stock and a resident of San Jose. He was born at Cier de Riviere, in the Haute Garonne section of France, on March 6, 1849, the son of John and Bertrande Cauhape, who were large land holders in that province.

Next to the youngest in the family, Victor Cauhape attended the local schools in pursuit of his education up to his nineteenth year. It had been the intention of his mother-his father having died in 1852-that Victor should be sent to Polignan college to prepare him for his life work, but the young man thought otherwise and declared that he was through with books and was coming to America and California, and that his future was in the New World, his success only awaiting his arrival. After much discussion he had his way and the money for his passage, and $700 be- sides, was given him by his aunt. He came to Cali- fornia via Panama and arrived in San Francisco the day after the great earthquake in 1868. His money enabled him to make a tour of the state and to study conditions and decide upon a place to begin opera- tions. To familiarize himself with local conditions he went to work as a ranch hand at San Juan, riding the range as a cowboy, and soon learned to speak Spanish and English, so that eight years later, in 1876, he began on a small scale to buy stock for the markets of San Jose. He opened an office and main- tained his headquarters in San Jose until his death, and in time became one of the best-known buyers in Central California. He bought eight acres of land southeast of the town and erected a slaughter house and there prepared the meat for the customer. In 1910 he gave up slaughtering and only supplied the markets with animals on the hoof. He leased large areas of land, on which he grazed his stock to fatten them for market; for nineteen years he was a tenant of David Jacks of Monterey, and they became fast friends.

Mr. Cauhapé was united in marriage at San Jose, August 21, 1879, with Miss Marie Landry. She was born in Mexico on July 24, 1862, the daughter of Joseph and Francesca (Marino) Landry, who came to California in 1867 on account of the revolution in Mexico, and located first at Carpinteria, Santa Bar- bara County. It was at Almaden, where Mr. Cau- hape had a meat market, that she first met her future husband and they were later married. They settled in San Jose in 1892, on the land where Mr. Cauhapé had maintained his slaughter house, but which he had moved to replace with a modern resi- dence, and there the family lived until 1919. There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cauhapé, four boys and three girls: Bertrande Marie, now Mrs. John J. Hartmann of San Jose, and the mother of a son, John J., Jr .; Victor, died at the age of two years; Blanche Marguerite, Mrs. Armand V. Turon- net, also of San Jose; Rita Antoinette, is Mrs. John M. Brown and she has a son, Benjamin M .; Francis Eugene, married Henrietta Beatty; they have two children, Francis E., Jr., and Victor, and reside in Los Angeles; Louis Charles, married Bernice Cork- ery and has a child, Louis C., Jr. Louis is carrying on a stock business and is quite successful. He served in the World War in the United States Army, enlisting July 2, 1917, and joined the motor truck

transport corps; July 3, 1918, he landed at Liverpool and a week later was in France and saw eighteen months' service with the M. T. T. C., being pro- moted to top sergeant. He was discharged at St. Agnews on April 9, 1919, and while in Europe toured France, Spain and Belgium as a civilian, returning to San Jose on June 10, 1919. The youngest son, Felipe Landry, is attending Tamalpais Military Acad- emy. These children were all born and reared in San Jose, the girls being educated at Notre Dame and the boys at Santa Clara College. In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Cauhape made a trip to France to visit Mr. Cauhape's mother; the second trip was made in 1890. This time they were accompanied by their two eldest daughters. Mr. Cauhape died in San Jose on November 28, 1917, mourned by all who knew him for his worth as a citizen and friend, husband and father. He was a member of the Chamber of Com- merce and was a Republican. He was liberal in his support of all worthy movements for the good of the county; was a quiet and unassuming man, always of cheery disposition and never so happy as when sur- rounded by his family. He was always ready to aid his countrymen who came to him for work and many of them owe to Mr. Cauhape their start in life in California. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

RICHARD J. MERRILL .- For nearly thirty years a resident of the Morgan Hill district, R. J. Merrill has for more than a quarter of a century lived in the residence which he erected on his ranch on Llagas Road. Mr. Merrill is a native of Wiscon- sin, born in Dodge County, July 25, 1850, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Merrill, the father being a native of Ohio, who lived to the ripe old age of eighty-five and died at Janesville, Minn. Three older brothers of our subject, Alex, Silas and Simcon, served in the Civil War. In 1860 the family re- moved to Waseca County, Minn., and there he passed his boyhood days, getting only a limited amount of schooling and learning the hard work of the farm.

In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Merrill removed to Dakota Territory and there pre-empted and home- steaded 320 acres of land. Here they passed through much hardship, due to crop failure, blizzards and the untoward experiences that are a part of pioneer life. but doing their part in bringing about the de- velopment enjoyed by its residents today. Here they remained until 1893, when they sought the milder climate of California, coming to Morgan Hill, where Mr. Merrill's older brother, Silas Merrill, had pre- ceded him, and who lived here until his death in 1905. Soon after locating here Mr. Merrill pur- chased his ranch property and he has since been oc- cupied as an orchardist and is the owner of thirty- five acres, devoted to fruit. In 1911 he also became interested in raising registered Berkshire hogs, and since then has bred and sold much fancy, high-priced stock, until marketing conditions became unfavorable.

While a resident of Minnesota, Mr. Merrill was married, on November 22, 1875, to Miss Alice M. Morse, born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Jacob Morse, a native of England, who came to this coun- try August 15, 1857. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Merrill: Frank L. is a cement con- tractor and resides at Los Angeles with his wife and son; Roy M. assists on the home ranch. Mr. Merrill is a member of the American Berkshire Association,

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

a charter member of the California Prune and Ap- ricot Association, and for thirty-seven years has be- longed to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. A Democrat in politics, he has always taken a public- spirited interest in community affairs, and while liv- ing in Dakota, served as director of the district school.

V. T. McCURDY .- Among the successful orchard- ists of Santa Clara County worthy of special notice is V. T. McCurdy, who is located upon a fine property of fifty-five acres in the vicinity of San Jose, where he is engaged in intelligent and practical agricultural efforts. A native of Sedalia, Pettis County, Mo., he was born December 20, 1870, a son of John and Elizabeth ( Miller) McCurdy. The father, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, emigrated to America, settling first in Kentucky, where he was married, later removing to Missouri in 1860. He was an ex- tensive farmer, owning a large acreage. The mother was born in Kentucky, the third generation back com- ing from Holland. The Miller family were promi- nent in the upbuilding of the Blue Grass State, Mil- lersburg being named after one of its members, and the maternal grandfather was for years extensively engaged in farming south of Lexington.

The boyhood of Mr. McCurdy was spent on the farm, and after finishing the common country schools, he attended the Normal school at Warrensburg, Mo., and in 1888 received a teacher's certificate. However, he did not wish to follow teaching, but was inclined toward the study of law, but his strong physique made his services an asset on the farm. He was the ninth son of a family of ten children, and everyone who was strong was pressed into service on the farm. The McCurdys bent their energies to the raising and fat- tening of hogs and cattle for market, and in the course of twenty years, they became prominent stock men of that locality. They marketed exclusively in Chicago, and at one time farmed 1,000 acres, never selling a bushel of grain, all being used for feeding their large herds of cattle.

The marriage of V. T. McCurdy in June, 1902, united him with Miss Estelle Blanchard, a daughter of George and Emeline ( Payne) Blanchard, natives of Warsaw, Ky., but who resided in Santa Clara County at the time of the marriage. Mrs. McCurdy, who is a graduate of the San Jose State Normal, followed the teacher's profession for three years, teaching at the Hester School, near her home on the Alameda. She is a member of the Arden Art League and active in Eastern Star circles.

On September 12, 1912, Mr. McCurdy purchased the present McCurdy ranch of fifty-five acres of the tract known to early settlers as the "Capt. Senate Rancho," who had purchased it from the Bascom estate. Twenty acres of this ranch are in forty-five year old pear trees, the balance are in trees from two to eleven years old, all fancy stock of the following varieties: Bartlett, Feralls, East Berren, Winter Nel- lis, Golutmorcan (a delicious French pear), B. Hardy, D. Comice, B. Bosc; nine acres are in apple trees of the following varities: Astrakans, Alexanders, Skinner seedlings, the latter variety being developed in this Valley. Mr. McCurdy has made many improve- ments upon his property, among them being a fine packing house, where all the fruit is packed by ex- perts, labeled with the McCurdy label and shipped from Bascom station. He maintains a standard of excellence in the choice of the fruit and the manner of packing, which enables him to command the best

of prices for his products. Through wise manage- ment and strict attention to details, he has so estab- lished his shipping as to distribute his fruit to all the principal markets in the United States, and also sup- plies the export trade to Cuba, England, New Zea- land, South America and Canada. His habits of thrift and industry have made him independent, and he has always given his support to all measures of advancement for his particular locality, and believes in the future of Santa Clara County. Fraternally Mr. McCurdy is a member of the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar and a Shriner. He is a director in the Garden City Bank, Richmond-Chase Company, Bean Spray Company, the Y. M. C. A. and the Cham- ber of Commerce and a member of the Grange, Fed- erated Farmers, Rotary Club and Commercial Club. Politically he is a Democrat in national affairs, but locally he is an independent, supporting the best men and measures. He is a man of intense vitality, of conserved energy and great resourcefulness, an ac- tive, helpful force in the business and social life of town and county. His high general standing, his genial and cordial manners, and above all the noble aims of his life have made him many friends and secured the confidence and respect of the entire community.

THOMAS B. BECK .- The owner of a fine ranch of forty-five acres in the San Martin district, Thomas B. Beck has rounded out a service of nearly twenty- four years with the Pullman Company, and expects soon to retire from his position with this corpora- tion so that he can give all his time to the develop- ment of his ranch property. Mr. Beck was born at Plattsville, Ontario, Canada, February 17, 1858, and spent the years of his boyhood in this vicinity. In 1884 he came to Northern Minnesota and there entered the employ of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad, and later was with the Northern Pacific, with which system he continued until 1893, when he removed to Chicago and entered the service of the Pullman Company, becoming a conductor in 1898. He took one of the western routes and in 1912 was transferred to the San Francisco division. In 1901 he had purchased ten acres of land at San Martin, and in 1912 the family took up their resi- dence there. They gradually added to their holdings until they now own forty-five acres, devoted to French prunes and walnuts, and a vineyard, which has been producing for a number of years.

At St. Paul, Minn., in 1884, Mr. Beck was married to Miss Belle Menzies, a native of St. Louis, Mo., but a teacher in St. Paul for several years, and four children have been born to them: J. Charles., at home; Thomas B. enlisted for service in the World War on December 12, 1917, in the Thirty-fifth Aero Squadron, trained at Waco, Texas, and was over- seas for ten months, serving with the Royal Air Force; he received his honorable discharge at San Diego, March 25, 1919, and has since managed the home ranch; Nellie Grace is engaged in teaching at San Martin; Evan F. is also engaged in ranching; he was also in the U. S. service, entering the S. A. T. C. at the College of the Pacific. Enterprising and public-spirited, the Beck family are among the pop- ular residents of San Martin. Mr. Beck is a mem- ber of the California Prune and Apricot Association, the Pullman Conductors' Association and the Odd Fellows, and in politics he votes with the Democrats.

Somale B Nogait.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

SEWALL B. BOGART .- A man who for many years took a prominent part in the business life of San Jose and was greatly interested in the growth of the community was the late Sewall B. Bogart, a son of A. W. Bogart, represented on another page in this work. Sewall B. Bogart was born in Lynn, Mass., June 11, 1872, but came to San Francisco when a small boy with his parents. After completing the public schools he chose the hardware business for his field of action, learning the business in all of its de- tails with Huntington, Hopkins & Company of San Francisco, after which he started a hardware store on Market Street of that city, continuing until he came to San Jose, and with Arthur Holmes was owner of the San Jose Hardware Company. After a number of years of successful business Mr. Bogart sold his interest and established the S. B. Bogart Hardware Company on South First Street, San Jose, where his straightforward method in his dealings enabled him to build up a large business. He even- tually sold out his business and returned to San Fran- cisco, becoming a member of the firm of Brittain & Company, hardware merchants, having charge of the general hardware department. He was rated as one of the best men in his line in the city. He was not permitted, however, to enjoy the fruits of his labors, nor to carry out his plans, for only a short time after their opening he was stricken by death, dropping dead in front of the Emporium on Market Street as he was hastening to take a train, May 9, 1909.

Mr. Bogart was married in San Francisco, October 13, 1894, to Miss Fannie Kennedy, who was born in San Francisco a daughter of James Kennedy, a pioneer dry goods merchant on Post Street, in the metropolis. Mrs. Bogart was reared in San Fran- cisco and completed her education at Irving Insti- tute. They were blessed with two children: Edith Adeline, a graduate of Washburn School, San Jose, studied music, specializing in piano and organ; she is now the wife of Thos. Alton, Jr., of San Mateo, and they have a child named Margery; Sewall B., is a graduate of San Jose high school and resides with his mother. Mr. Bogart was a Knights Templar, Mason and Shriner, being a member of California Commandery No. 1 and Islam Temple of San Fran- cisco, and was also a member of the San Jose Lodge of Elks. He was a talented musician, excelling on piano and organ, and from the age of nineteen he was organist in churches. While residing in San Jose he was the organist at the Second Presbyterian Church, of which he was a member. He was buried with Masonic honors. After her husband's death Mrs. Bogart made her home in the family residence in San Jose, caring for and looking after the educa- tion of their two children. In 1920, with her son, she took up her residence in San Mateo. Like her hus- band, she too is a Presbyterian.

MANUEL ANDRADA .- A native of the far-away Azores, Manuel Andrada was born at Ponta Delgada, the island port well known to thousands of tourists on their way to the Mediterranean, the date of his birth being August 15, 1870. Like thousands of other lads of his race, he desired to see more of the world than his island home, so in 1886, when he was six- teen, he sailed to the Hawaiian Islands, where for ten years he was employed on a great sugar planta- tion. In 1896 Mr. Andrada came to California and

located at Morgan Hill, where he acquired six acres of land on Hills Avenue, which he at once set out to develop, and in 1910 he purchased an additional tract of eleven acres on Llagas Avenue, where he and his family make their home.

In 1889 Mr. Andrada was united in marriage with Miss Mary Manisee, a native of Portugal, and eight children have come to bless their home: The two eldest, Mary and John, have passed away; Manuel is married and is living at Hollister; Rosie, Susie and George are at home, and Minnie and Antone are attending school. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church, attending the church at Morgan Hill. Mr. Andrada can well take satis- faction in the success he has made here, as his well- kept ranch is now entirely free from incumbrance, due to his thrift and willingness to work.

LEWIS H. BRITTON .- An educator of high standing in Santa Clara County who has had a long experience of unusual interest in the military service of his country is Lewis H. Britton, now principal of the Live Oak Union high school at Morgan Hill. Mr. Britton is a native of Santa Clara County and was born at San Jose January 14, 1881. His parents were Ephraim and Mary Jane ( Montgomery) Brit- ton, the father a native of Ireland who came from County Donegal, in Ulster, to America when a boy of twelve years. He located on a stock farm near Philadelphia, Pa., where he grew up, and after his marriage came to California, arriving here in the early '60s, locating at Murphy station, now Sunny- vale, where he acquired a large farm and continued to prosper until his death in November, 1914, Mrs. Britton having passed away in 1904.

Lewis H. Britton attended the Braly district school and later the Santa Clara high school. While a student there, at the age of seventeen he enlisted in the U. S. Army during the Spanish-American War, serving for twelve months and receiving his honorable discharge in February, 1899, at San Fran- cisco. On receiving his diploma from the San Jose high school he entered the Washburn Preparatory School and upon completing the courses there matric- ulated at Stanford University in 1901, receiving his A. B. degree in 1905. He then entered the U. S. Army, was commissioned a second lieutenant and immediately dispatched to Manila, and remained in the Philippine Islands from 1905 to 1908.

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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 202

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