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 204

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 204

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George C. Wolfe was reared on the Nebraska farm and attended the public schools of their locality and finished at the school in Gilroy. Until his marriage he assisted in the development of the home ranch and learned the details of the orchard business by practical experience. For about ten years he op- erated a hay baling machine in this part of the county and became well known to the majority of the ranch- ers hereabouts. In 1898 he bought thirty acres on New Avenue, prepared it for orchard and by hard work and patience added to his holdings until he now has eighty-three acres of finely improved or- chard which yields handsome returns. He believes in cooperative movements and is a member of the Cali- fornia Prune and Apricot Association.

In 1898, Mr. Wolfe was united in marriage with Miss Stella L. Branin, who was reared and educated in San Francisco, and they have four children: Mil- dred A., became the wife of Ralph W. Fowler, and

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they are ranching near Gilroy; Delbert, is assisting his father with the ranch work; Inez V., graduated from the Gilroy High School in 1922 and is at home; and Ernest W, a pupil in the public school. In pol- itics Mr. Wolfe is a Republican and fraternally be- longs to the Foresters and the Fraternal Aid Union. He is also an active member of the Methodist Church of Gilroy. Always vitally interested in public affairs, he can be counted upon to do his duty at any and all times for the advancement of his locality.

ARTHUR W. TEMPLEMAN .- Prominent as a hardware merchant of Los Gatos, Arthur W. Temple- man is contributing his share to the progress and growth of the local community. He was born in Hampton, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Decem- ber 1, 1877, the son of John and Annie ( Hoffman) Templeman, both natives of Nova Scotia of English parentage. John Templeman was a farmer but also followed the sea; he became a prominent and influ- ential man in his community, where he still resides, while his wife passed away some years ago. Of the five children born to this worthy couple, Arthur W. is the oldest. When he arrived at the age of eight- een he followed in the footsteps of his father and be- came a seafaring man and was for five years on coast- wise vessels. In 1900 he concluded to leave the sea, and coming to California, located in San Francisco, where he was employed as clerk for three years in a hardware store. Coming to Los Gatos he clerked and occupied the position of manager for five years for what was then a small concern. In 1915 he pur- chased the business, which he has enlarged so it is now counted one of the finest hardware and sporting goods houses in this section of the state.

Mr. Templeman's marriage occurred in San Fran- cisco in November, 1904, and united him with Miss Laura Hardwick, born at Annapolis, N. S., a daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Fleet) Hardwick of Nova Scotia, also of English parentage. They are the parents of one daughter, Mima. Politically Mr. Templeman is a Republican of stanch party loyalty. He was made a Mason in Los Gatos Lodge No. 292, F. & A. M., and is a member of Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M. and San Jose Commandery No. 10. as well as the Scottish Rite bodies in San Jose and Islam Temple, in San Francisco and with his wife is a member of Los Gatos Chapter No. 128, O. E. S. and the White Shrine in San Jose. While being alert to every business chance or opportunity, he is also interested in everything that pertains to the general welfare and his cooperation can be counted upon to further any measures for the public good.

TRACY LEARNARD .- A distinguished citizen of Gilroy is Tracy Learnard, widely known as a suc- cessful journalist and now serving as postmaster of Gilroy. He was born at Lawrence, Kans., on July 19, 1872, the son of the late Col. O. E. Learnard, who first saw the light at Fairfax, Vt., on November 14, 1832; and as a boy he attended first the common schools in the Green Mountain State and then the Bakersfield Academy. After that he attended Nor- wich University, and still later he was graduated from the Albany Law School; and he began the practice of law at Crestline, Ohio. There he became interested in the struggle for freedom in Kansas, and deter- mined to go into the territory and do what he could to make Kansas a free state, with the interesting result

that of those sturdy pioneers who came to found a free commonwealth on the Western prairies, few did more in that noble cause than Col. O. E. Learnard. He arrived in Lawrence in the winter of 1855-56, and soon became active in the free state ranks. He was put in command of a regiment of cavalry in the event- ful year 1856; and the campaigns of that year were strenuous and almost continuous, and Col. Learnard rendered valuable service through all the critical per- iod. He successfully executed the movement ordered by Gen. Lane for the final expulsion of the Border Ruffians, and he was frequently complimented by the free state leaders for his devotion to the cause and for his ability as an officer.

In the winter of 1856-57, Col. Learnard made plans for founding a new town in Kansas, and in this enter- prise he associated himself with other business men at Lawrence. In the spring of 1857 they laid out the town of Burlington, in Coffey County, and there Col. Learnard built the first mill, the first business house. He also erected the first building for church and school purposes. In the fall of 1857, Col. Learn- ard was elected to the territorial council, serving three sessions in this important body; he was not only an ardent Free State man, but a Republican. He was chairman of the convention at Osawatomie, convened on May 18, 1859, which organized the dis- trict; and he resigned to become lieutenant-colonel of the First Kansas Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. In 1863 he resigned his commission, but in 1864 he again offered his services when Kansas was threaten- ed by the Price Raid; and he was in all the battles of that campaign which defeated General Price. For many years, Colonel Learnard was associated with the railroad development of Kansas; he was claim agent and tax commissioner for the L. L. & G. Rail- road, and from this position he went as a director to the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad, after- ward known as the Kansas City, Springfield & Mem- phis Railroad, and now a part of the 'Frisco system. He was tax commissioner for this railroad for thirty years, and a great part of the time he had an office at Kansas City. He also engaged in the newspaper business, and published the Lawrence Journal, a con- solidation effected by him, after purchase, of the Lawrence Daily Journal and the Daily Tribune. This paper he owned and edited until a short time before his death. President Cleveland appointed him super- intendent of the Haskell Institute, the Indian School near Lawrence, and this position he held for a year. He was a Unitarian and one of the chief members of the Unitarian Church of Lawrence. In 1862 he married Miss Mary S. Eldridge, daughter of the well- known pioneer of Lawrence, Kans., now deceased. Colonel Learnard passed away at his home in Law- rence on November 5, 1911, and at present he is survived by his widow and two children, one of whom is the subject of our review. After his demise, Col. Shalor W. Eldridge paid him a noble tribute in his "Recollections of Early Days in Kansas."

Tracy Learnard was educated at a private school at Cambridge, Mass., which he attended from 1888 to 1890, the institution being known as the Brown & Nichols Academy, still flourishing there; and be- tween 1891-94 he attended the State University at Lawrence. In that city, upon leaving his studies,

Ast Templeman

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

he entered the printing department of his father's newspaper and learned the mechanical side of the newspaper business; then he became a reporter, and next an advertising manager, and at the age of twenty-three, he acquired a one-fourth interest in the business. He next became assistant manager, and also secretary for a period of four years; and he served as secretary of the Douglas County Fair As- sociation, and was instrumental in staging some ex- cellent expositions in the county. In 1898 Col. O. E. Learnard acquired by purchase the land known to all pioneer settlers of Gilroy as the Colonel Angney place-1,000 acres devoted to grain and stockraising; and four years later our subject came out to Gilroy and located on this ranch, and set to work vigorously to developing it as a first-class vineyard and orchard. Since then, he has been president of the California Grape Growers' Protective Association, Santa Clara County branch, and also vice-president of the State association with headquarters for a number of years at San Francisco. He has been a member of the Republican County Central Committee for many years.

At Lawrence, in 1896, Tracy Learnard was married to Miss Georgia Wilder, a native of Lawrence, whose parents were among the sturdy pioneers in Kansas hailing from Massachusetts. She was reared and schooled at Lawrence, and was a graduate of the State University there. Four children make up their happy family. Tracy W. Learnard enlisted for the World War on April 16, 1917, served overseas for seven months and returned with the Twenty-seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, and he is now in the employ of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company at Fall River Mills in Shasta County, Cal. Harry Paul, formerly a cadet at West Point, is with the Bank of Italy at Gilroy. Mary and Polly Dee both attend Stanford University. At college, Mr. Learnard was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and he belongs to the Elks, the Sons of Veterans, and the Loyal Legion. In politics, he marches under the banners of the Republican party. In April, 1922, he received his commission from President Harding as postmaster of Gilroy.

The Learnard home is located in a most captivat- ing portion of the Bodfish Canyon. The property was the winter home of Colonel Learnard during his life and he spent a great deal of his time in putting out the extensive vineyard on the place. Mr. Learn- ard took an active part in all the Allied drives during the World War and was a director of the Red Cross from its organization in Gilroy.

LUIGI GAGLIASSO .- A resident of Santa Clara County since 1889, Luigi Gagliasso was born in Piedmonte, Italy, in 1869, where he was reared to a farmer's life and educated in the local public schools. In 1889 he crossed the ocean and the great American continent to Santa Clara County, where he began working on ranches, becoming foreman on the Sullinger ranch in the Cuperinto district. As soon as he was here the required time he took out his citizenship papers. He was married in Cupertino to Christine Sutlane, who was born in France in 1867. After this he purchased a farm of 103 acres on the Soda Springs Road two and one-half miles above Alma, where he cleared fifty acres that he set to orchard and vineyard. Since the fall of 1913 he has also been in the employ of the State Highway.

Mr. Gagliasso was bereaved of his wife in 1919, who left three children, Alice is a Sister of the Holy Family in San Francisco, Jane lives in San Francisco and Louis in Los Gatos. Mr. Gagliasso has been a member of the Italian-French Lodge of Odd Fellows in San Jose since 1893.

EDGAR P. BONAR .- Among the men who have aided much in the building up of Santa Clara County is Edgar P. Bonar, who was born in Farmington, Towa, on April 10, 1861, the son of James S. and Elizabeth (Cook) Bonar. Ilis father was a contract plasterer and was among the earlier settlers of Iowa, where he worked for a number of years. Coming to California about 1871, by way of one of the first rail- road trains to cross the unsettled country to Cali- fornia, they settled in San Jose and here they have been residents since that time, the father continuing at his trade, and worked on the first building of the College of the Pacific. The father is a native of Ohio and the mother came from Indiana. James S. Bonar lived to a good old age, passing away about 1905, when he was in his seventy-seventh ycar, while the mother passed away in 1878. Edgar P. was the fourth child of a family of eight children, four boys and four girls; two daughters are living, one in Ore- gon and one in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, while Edgar is the only son living.

He attended the grammar schools of Farmington, Iowa, until he was in his tenth year, and then coming to San Jose, he attended the schools of that city. Naturally a mechanic, he took up lathing, working on the homes his father plastered, and continued with him in this business until he was about eighteen years of age. In 1880, he went to work for L. Lion, at that time engaged in the furniture business, and Mr. Bonar was placed in the carpet department, in which capacity he proved very successful, continuing in Mr. Lion's employ for twenty years.

In 1900, Mr. Bonar opened an upholstering, awning and tent business, in a building at 378-80 South First Street, and he was in this line for seventeen years, disposing of it when he sold it to Bell and Greenley, the business later becoming the property of the San Jose Awning and Tent Company. He also had a carpet-cleaning plant that proved very remunerative. He sold out his business in the fall of 1917. He stored all of his machinery, but was frequently impor- tuned by his old customers to go back into business, so in 1922, having a complete equipment, he opened a new business place, where he is engaged in manu- facturing tents and awnings and also in the uphol- stering business, at 386 South First Street.

In the spring of 1880, in San Jose, Mr. Bonar was married to Miss Kate Bell Macaulay, a native of Nova Scotia; her parents being John and Margaret Macau- lay. She came to California with her parents at the early age of two years, and was reared at Santa Cruz, where she received her education in the grammar school of that district, and her mother passed away in Los Angeles about ten years ago, her father hay- ing passed away shortly after coming to California. Mr. and Mrs. Bonar were the parents of four chil- dren: Pearl became the wife of J. H. Bennett, who is engaged in the automobile business in San Fran- cisco; Edgar Ray is with W. A. Plummer & Com- pany of San Francisco; Ruby is the wife of H. D. Melvin of Melvin, Roberts & Haworth of San Jose;

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Mildred passed away in the year 1919. Mr. Bonar was a trustee of the Gardner school in San Jose for fifteen years and president of the board for ten years. He has lived in San Jose for fifty-one years and has resided at his present home, 448 Auzcrais, for the past fifteen years. Mr. Bonar is a member of the Woodmen of the World and a stanch adherent of the Democratic party.

DR. GEORGE H. WORRALL .- Prominent among the distinguished professional men of Santa Clara County who have contributed much, by their advanced, ripe scholarship, scientific training, un- impeachable character and influential lives, to make California one of the greatest Meccas in the world to home-seekers, may well be mentioned Dr. George H. Worrall, the well-known dentist of 1085 Santa

Clara Street, Santa Clara. He has built up an en- viable practice, while finding time to follow his pub- lic-spirited tendencies and do something for the general wcal; and such has been his particular in- terest in the public schools of Santa Clara that it is largely due to his enthusiasm that the Santa Clara high school occupies a foremost place among the accredited high schools, both at Stanford and the University of California.

He was born at Media, Delaware County, twelve miles west of Philadelphia, on May 10, 1859, the son of Isaac Worrall, a contractor and builder of Welsh origin, and a member of an early Pennsyl- vania family, all stanch Episcopalians. As the re- sult of his intelligent industry and high principles governing all of his work, he met with such suc- cess that he retired with a competency, when only forty-five. He married Miss Susanna Broughton, a native of Manchester, England, in which country she was brought up, and they had eight children, our subject being the only one in California. He was educated in Pennsylvania, and while there be- came well acquainted with Dr. A. E. Osborne, his preceptor in Media, and through him he came to matriculate in the Dental Department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, from which he was gradu- ated in 1881. For ten years he practiced in Media; then came to California and settled in Santa Clara.

At Santa Clara, in 1891, Dr. Worrall was married to Miss Ella Eves, a native of Chester, Delaware County, Pa., where she was reared; and soon after he bought the residence on Santa Clara Street in Santa Clara in which he has lived for the last twenty years. It is historic, for it belonged to Don Luis Arguello, whose residence, also an historic edifice, adjoining Dr. Worrall's is now being wrecked, after the stately affair has been kept up mainly by the doctor. Four chil- dren were born to Dr. and Mrs. Worrall, and three are still living. Eoline graduated from both the high school and the State Normal School at San Jose, and is now the wife of Chauncey D. Kent; she resides at Saratoga with her husband, who is an internal revenue agent at San Jose. George Os- borne Worrall died when he was ten years old. Lorraine graduated from the Santa Clara high school, and is now attending the State Normal School at San Jose; Aletha is in the Santa Clara high school.

Dr. Worrall belongs to the State Dental Associa- tion, and he is among its most active and progres- sive members, ever seeking to advance the important science to which he has devoted his life. For

twelve years past he has served on the school boards governing the grammar and the high schools of Santa Clara, and during that period, for six years, he was president of the board of education, and never neglected an opportunity to discharge his sacred trust in such a way that the public might derive the greatest benefit from every dollar ex- pended. A pronounced and steadfast friend of both pupil and teacher, Dr. Worrall has been able to carry through to successful completion all that he ever proposed, fortunate always in having a united public behind his movements.

EDWIN P. GAMBLE .- A gentleman of large ex- perience in the affairs of life, whose days of retire- ment are brightened by the possession of a large circle of devoted friends, is Edwin P. Gamble, of 1431 Waverly Street, Palo Alto. He was born in Cincinnati on December 18, 1852, and his father was James Gamble, a native of the North of Ireland, who came to the United States in far-away 1818. They located in Cincinnati, where Mr. Gamble engaged in the manufacture of soap. He formed a partner- ship with William Procter, a candle manufacturer, and together they founded a company, in 1836, which later became the firm of Procter & Gamble, makers of Ivory Soap. Mr. Gamble married Miss Elizabeth Morris, and she was also born in Ireland.

Edwin Gamble finished his formal education at Cornell University, and never having been active in his business, he spent thirty years on his stock farm near Paris, Kentucky. He married Miss Lawder, a native of Ireland, and they have four children: Dr. James Gamble, George E., Elizabeth F., and Launce- lot J. Gamble. In 1901 Mr. Gamble came to Cali- fornia and the next year he built his home at Palo Alto, where he has for years spent most of his time. He was among the founders of, and is still active as a director in, the Palo Alto First National Bank, of Palo Alto. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and he and his devoted family live at 1431 Waverly Street, where they dispense a generous hospitality. California, and especially Santa Clara County, wel- comes such estimable citizens as Edwin P. Gamble.

FRANCISCO PASSANTINO .- Retired from ac- tive labor, and now enjoying the fruits of his many years of toil, Francisco Passantino makes his home at his ranch near Coyote. He was born in the province of Palermo, Italy, on May 24, 1851. His father died when Francisco was but eleven years old, and as the eldest son of the family he was obliged to go to work early in life to help support the mother and younger children. For many years he worked at any employment he could get, and then determined to cross the water where he could find a chance to become independent. Arriving at San Jose, Cal., in 1882, Mr. Passantino worked out on fruit farms in this vicinity, meanwhile saving his money, so that in 1889 he was able to send for his wife and four children and a brother to join him. He later sent for his mother who came to Cali- fornia. She lived to the ripe old age of ninety-nine years and six months, passing away at his home at Coyote. In 1898 Mr. Passantino purchased a ranch of ten acres at Mountain View, and on sell- ing that at a good advantage in 1914, he removed to Coyote, where he purchased fifty-three and one- half acres of fine land. There were no improve-

George Mborral,

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ments on the place at the time, but he has built it up into a comfortable home place, considerable of the acreage being devoted to fruit, cherries, peaches, apricots and prunes.

While still a resident of Italy, Mr. Passantino was married to Miss Antonia Balestreri, and nine children were born to them: Frank resides at Sunnyvale with his wife and nine children; Lena married S. Taran- tino and they reside at San Francisco with their seven children; Ignacius, who owns thirty-nine acres near Coyote, resides at San Francisco with his wife and six children; Jensy, married P. Arito and died, survived by a son, Muzio Arito; Joseph resides at Coyote with his wife and seven children, he is the owner of a twenty-acre ranch and also manages his father's place,; Antonitta, Mrs. I. Balestreri, has one child and resides at San Francisco; Charles lives at Coyote; Rosie is the wife of N. Alioto, and they reside at San Francisco with their two children; Catherine married Antonio Balestreri, they live at San Francisco and have one child. Mrs. Passantino passed away July 13, 1912, deeply mourned by her family, to whom she had been a devoted wife and mother. Mr. Passantino received his citizenship pa- pers at San Jose in 1891, and he have ever been a loyal citizen of his adopted land, appreciating the prosperity he has attained since coming here, which has come through his years of perseverance and in- dustry. He has for many years been an adherent of the Republican party, and takes an interest in all that will aid in the community's upbuilding.

JOHN F. DUNCAN .- A California financier, in the front rank of those to whom so much credit is due for various forward movements through which the state has in reality become one of the great commonwealths of the Union, is John F. Duncan, the far-sighted vice-president of the Garden City Bank & Trust Company of San Jose. He was born at Schoolcraft, Mich., that interesting little town named after the explorer of the Mississippi River's sources, on December 20, 1855, the son of Delamore and Mary H. (Field) Duncan, both of whom, as substantial Michigan folk, lived and died there.

John F. Duncan attended the elementary and then the high school of his town, and afterward en- joyed the stimulating courses of a first-class business college, growing up on a farm, and doing most of his studying in the winter. In April, 1892, he came to California and located at Campbell, where he helped to organize the Campbell Fruit Growers' Union. He entered the office as bookkeeper and as- sistant manager, and made himself so invaluable that he remained there for four years. Then, in 1896, he organized the Bank of Campbell, and became its cashier; and when, in 1918, after years of exceptional prosperity for an institution of its proportions, the bank was amalgamated with the Garden City Bank of San Jose, he continued in the service, placing at the stockholders' disposal all the valuable experi- ence of years. On March 15, 1920, having attained an enviable position among the bankers of Santa Clara County, he became the vice-president of the Garden City Bank, which position, to the satisfac- tion of its large body of progressive patrons, he is still filling with signal ability.

At Schoolcraft, on October 17, 1888, Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Elizabeth Parker, an accom- plished lady of Michigan; and their fortunate union

has been blessed with the birth of five children. Mildred, the eldest, has become Mrs. J. E. Carter; then come Marion, Alice and Elizabeth; while the youngest in the family is John Parker. The family attend the Congregational Church. Mr. Duncan belongs to the Republican party, but he is ever ready to cast aside partisanship, when by so doing he can accomplish more good, and put his shoulder to the wheel for any local or other advancement. He helped to organize the Union high school, and was its clerk for fifteen years. He is a Knights Templar Mason, and a Shriner, and he also belongs to the Grange, the National Progress Club and the Com- mercial Club. He is fond of outdoor life and sport, especially enthusiastic about camping, and favors the same devotion by others to the real pleasures of life as one of the surest roads toward helpful prosperity and a satisfying happiness.

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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 204

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