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 205

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 205

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LEVI W. WOLFE .- A worthy citizen of this locality who has made his influence felt in the build- ing up and the upbuilding of the Gilroy district into one of the most prosperous fruit sections of Santa Clara County, is Levi W. Wolfe, now residing in the vicinity of Watsonville, Cal. He was born in Taylor County, West Virginia, July 28, 1874, and is the eldest son of the late Henry M. Wolfe, whose sketch is found in another part of this history in connection with that of George C. Wolfe.

Levi W. Wolfe attended the public schools in Ne- braska and also after coming to California with the family in 1893. He grew up on the farm in Nebraska, and also after coming to California assisted in mak- ing the old Wolfe ranch one of the most productive in the San Ysidro district. His marriage united hin with Miss Emma Bales, a native of lowa, and they are the parents of three children: Harold C. served during the World War in the Ninety-seventh Cali- fornia aviation unit, and is an expert gunman; he is married and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio; Kenneth Floyd, and Dorette Bernice. For a number of years the ranch known as the Wolfe Place was conducted by his father and himself, who were quite extensively engaged in buying and selling fruit. In 1914 they disposed of their holdings and the partnership was dissolved; the ranch is now operated by the Rich- mond-Chase Fruit Packing Company of San Jose. Mr. Wolfe then conducted the Highway Garage at Gilroy for some months, and looked after his real estate holdings in Oakland and San Francisco. He at one time owned the entire location where China- town now stands in Oakland. Recently he purchased a ranch of sixty acres near Watsonville and the family are now residing on it, which they are im- proving. He is a stockholder in the Corralios Fruit Growers' Association of Watsonville; also a member of the Pacific Cooperative League and the local Chamber of Commerce. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally is a member of the Fraternal Aid Union. During his residence of twenty-five years near Gilroy he was the efficient superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School in Gilroy for twelve years. His activities have always been con- structive and in whatever community he lives, is found ready to aid all progressive matters, and is especially interested in the betterment of the schools of the community.

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ANDREW P. LEPESH .- Having heard of the wonderful opportunities in California afforded to any man who was willing to work, Andrew P. Lepesh left his native home in far-away Dalmatia to see what America had to offer, and he has not been disappointed, for he came to this country a poor boy and has attained the success for which he has worked. He was born in Smokavliani, Dal- matia, on December 11, 1865, and was the son of Peter and Kate Lepesh, natives of that country, who have both passed away.

Mr. Lepesh attended the schools of his native land, but gained most of his knowledge from the se- vere school of experience which, though sometimes a dear teacher, yet is a good one. He started to work at the early age of twelve years, and at the age of seventeen he made the trip to the United States, coming direct to San Jose, in 1883, where he had a cousin living, John N. Lepesh, who had come here twenty years before and who died in 1888. He began to work for fruit ranchers and was in this line of employment for a period of two years, when he engaged in restaurant work and continued in this occupation for about a year and a half. In 1888 he bought the grocery and fruit store, located in the Rea Building from his cousin's widow, and in 1910, he and J. S. Mise formed a partnership under the firm name of Lepesh- Mise Company and moved to their present location, at Market and St. Augustine streets, where they are operating a wholesale and retail grocery business which has proved most successful.

Mr. Lepesh is an enthusiastic and energetic work- er in the interest of his people and in this work also he has made great progress. His activities during the war in the various loan drives as a member and captain of the Slavonian committee, were very com- mendable, so much so that he received thanks from the state and received a medal from the Federal Government for the good which he had accom- plished. He is considered the leader among the Slavonian people, having been president of the Sla- vonian-American Benevolent Society, and was a member of the committee from San Jose that made the Slavonian day, September 20, 1915, such a suc- cess at the San Francisco Exposition. He is a member of the Red Men, the Chamber of Com- merce and is a member of the advisory board of the Bank of Italy. In national politics he is a Democrat, and in all charitable movements he has been a liberal supporter.

JOSEPH S. DESIMONE .- The success achieved by Joseph S. Desimone in business and the high standing he enjoys as a citizen indicate the possession on his part of superior qualifications and furnish for the rising generation an example of what may be accomplished by a man of judgment, perseverance and energy. Born in New Orleans, La., January 27, 1882, he is the son of Frank and Conchetta (Alaimo) Desimone, both natives of Sicily, Italy. When but a young man of twenty, the father came to New Orleans and by hard and persistent work became a man of considerable wealth. He was extensively in- terested in the fishing business, owning and operat- ing a fleet of boats on the Gulf of Mexico. During the year 1891, he removed with his family to San Jose, where he resided until the time of his death, December 22, 1922, at the age of eighty-two.

Coming with his parents to California when a small lad, Joseph S. Desimone obtained his carly educa- tion in the public schools, and afterwards graduated from the San Jose Business College during the year 1900. Following his graduation he accepted a po- sition as delivery boy for the Chapman & Johnson Company, and while serving in this capacity he de- termined to purchase an interest in the business. When he had accumulated $200 he purchased an in- terest in the grocery business, and from this time his success was assured, so that within twelve years he had accumulated enough capital to purchase the entire business known as the Enterprise Grocery Company. Mr. Desimone takes an active interest in all municipal affairs, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the San Jose Merchants' Asso- ciation. Fraternally he is connected with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. Although still a young man, his is a strong and self-reliant personality, full of optimism and hope, enjoying the respect and con- fidence of his associates.

WILLIAM RICHARD COUPLAND .- Many na- tions have contributed to California's citizenship, and among those of English birth who have profited by the superior advantages for horticultural development that have made the Santa Clara Valley famous throughout the country is William Richard Coupland, who for thirty-four years has been a resident of the Golden State. He was born at Hull, England, Au- gust 4, 1864, a son of Thomas and Mary Jane (Cressey) Coupland, and in 1883, when nineteen years of age, he sought the opportunities offered in the United States, first settling in Antelope County, Nebr., where he resided for five years. In 1898 he came to Santa Clara County, and has since been iden- tified with horticultural interests. He has set out, developed and sold several orchards and has made a success of orcharding, while for the past ten years he has acted as manager of the Ainsley orchard, and is most capably looking after the interests of which he has charge. He has made a close study of the science of horticulture and his labors have been ef- fective and resultant.

In Los Gatos Mr. Coupland married Miss Ada Shermantine, a native daughter of California, born in Los Gatos, and they have become the parents of five children: Mary Jane, the wife of A. T. Larson of Westwood, Lassen County; Frank W. enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Field Artillery in the World War, trained at Camp Kearny, was sent overseas to Brest, France, then was transferred to the Ninety-second Field Artillery and took part in all of the five battles in which the Americans were engaged; after the armistice he served nine months with the Army of Occupation at Cologne; returning to San Francisco, he was honorably discharged in July, 1919, after serving over two years, and wears the emblem of five stars; he is now assisting his father; the other children are Gertrude, Mrs. D. W. Pabst of Sisson; Gladys, and Grace. Mr. Coupland is a Republican in his political views, and for twenty- two years has been connected with Morning Light Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., at Campbell, having passed through all the chairs in that organization, and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Orchard City Grange, at Campbell,

a & Lepesh

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

of which he is now serving as master, and is repre- sentative to the State Grange. He keeps well in- formed on all modern developments along horticul- tural lines and his labors have at all times been of a constructive nature.

VINCENT AZZARELLO .- An orchardist of Santa Clara County, whose early training was received in his native land of Italy, is Vincent Azzarello, an energetic and industrious rancher residing on Pom- eroy Avenue in the suburbs of San Jose. He was born in the Province of Palermo, Italy, March 18, 1870, the son of Antonio and Anna (Cormella) Azzarello, the father being an orchardist and vineyardist there. Vin- cent was the third oldest in a family of twelve chil- dren: Antonio, Frances, Vincent, Joseph, Ignatia, Virginia (deceased), Samuel, Anna, Rosie, Mary, Au- gust, and Josephine. Vincent had little time for schooling, most of his time being spent in helping his father; this he did until he was twenty-five years old, then came to the United States and worked in Chi- cago, 111., for four years at various kinds of labor. In 1899 he came to California and was engaged in ranch work throughout Santa Clara County until he bought twenty acres on Pomeroy Avenue. This orchard was purchased in 1919 and is set to prunes and apricots and is well irrigated.

Mr. Azzarello was married at his home in Italy in 1898, to Miss Mary Spagnola, the daughter of Charles and Saveria Spagnola. They are the parents of seven children; Anthony A., Charles, Mary, Joseph, Samuel, Cosmino, and August. All the children have had the advantages of the grammar and high schools of Santa Clara County. Before coming to America Mr. Azzarello was a soldier in the Italian army for three years. Upon his arrival in America he lost no time in taking out his naturalization papers, and in his political affiliations he is a Republican, and a member of the Italian-American Benevolent Society.

ALBERT S. BROWN .- Among the horticultur- ists of the Santa Clara Valley who have achieved success is Albert S. Brown, who is being amply re- warded for his enterprising activities. He is a native son of California, born near Stockton, January 26, 1870, a son of B. E. and Lucy (Dean) Brown, and he grew up and was educated in the public schools of the district. He was engaged in farming pursuits until he was twenty-six years of age; then for twenty-five years followed railroading as engineer and fireman. In March of 1919 he left the road to take care of the ranch, which came to Mrs. Brown as her part of the Stockton estate. Mr. Brown married Miss Frankie Stockton, and they have one child, Hazel. Her father, S. P. Stockton, was a pioneer of 1852, and his first purchase of land consisted of seventy-nine acres in Branham Lane, it being cov- ered with brush and timber. In two years he had cleared twelve acres and planted it to vines, and year by year more land was cleared and planted without additional expense until in 1888 the whole tract of land was set to vines. In 1882 an additional tract of 100 acres was purchased and set to vines.

In 1887 his vineyard yielded 300 tons of grapes; twenty acres were planted to prunes and the remain- der was devoted to the raising of hay and grain. S. P. Stockton was a native of Alabama, born July 16, 1829. His mother died when he was young and he

left home at an early age; he drifted westward to Mississippi and later made his home in Tennessee and Arkansas. Upon arriving in California he first located at Santa Cruz; then, in 1854, he went to Mon- terey, where he went to farming, pre-empting 160 acres of land. Later he was engaged in stockraising in San Luis Obispo County, and retained his in- terest in the business for several years, but after 1859 left it in charge of his partner and devoted his full time to his large land holdings. Twenty-eight years of his life were devoted to viticulture and his success was gained by careful application to the details of the work. In 1869 Mr. Stockton married Miss Susie Welch, formerly of Missouri, but a resident of this state since 1852. They were the parents of three children-Paul, Frankie, and Herbert. Mr. Brown is an adherent of the Republican principles in na- tional politics, and with his wife takes an active in- terest in community affairs.

THOS. E. KEARNEY .- An enterprising and far- seeing manufacturer of San Jose is Thos. E. Kearney, the proprietor of the State Foundry and Pattern Works, located at 14 Stockton Avenue, San Jose. He was born at San Francisco, his parents now being numbered among the highly esteemed residents of Berkeley. After having attended the Columbus gram- mar school of Berkeley, he graduated from Humboldt evening school of San Francisco as mechanical draftsman; at the same time he served an appren- ticeship as pattern maker after working at his trade both as workman and as foreman for manufacturers in connection with foundries. In 1914 he came to San Jose as foreman pattern maker of the Bean Spray Pump Company, remaining with them until 1917; resigned to go to the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo County, remaining as pattern checker until the armistice, then returning to San Jose, his favor- ite city, to open the State Foundry and Pattern Works, which was a success from the start. He then married a San Jose girl and has planned to re- main a permanent resident of this city, enjoying the climate and beauties of the Santa Clara Valley.

MARY E. SCHERREBECK .- The daughter of a worthy pioneer of Santa Clara County, who is an esteemed resident of San Jose, is Mary E. Scherre- beck, the daughter of Patrick G. and Bridget (Madi- gan) Sullivan, both natives of Ireland. The father was born in Askeaton, County Limerick, in 1813, and his parents, John and Mary (Sheehy) Sullivan, were natives of that county. In 1827 the family emigrated to Eastern Canada and located in St. Edwards County, where he engaged in farming and stock- raising, in which occupation Patrick was reared, re- ceiving at the same time a good education. He con- tinued with his father in operating the farm until 1842, when he took a portion of the old homestead and operated it for himself. In 1842 he married Miss Bridget Madigan, the daughter of Daniel and Ann (Hanley) Madigan, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada and in 1853 came to California. Mr. Sul- livan was engaged on his farm until 1851, in which year he and his wife came by steamer to California via the Isthmus of Panama. Arriving in San Fran- cisco January 2, 1852, he immediately located in Santa Clara County, where he rented land and took his place among the pioneer farmers of the county. In

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

1854 he purchased his first land, comprising fifty- three acres located just east of San Jose. He resided upon this land until 1856. He then purchased 266 acres of land situated on the Alum Rock Road at the corner of King. This he stocked with about 300 head of cattle, among which was a dairy of seventy cows, and he became one of the pioneer dairymen of the county. The land increased in value and he made improvements upon it, then others claimed owner- ship under Spanish grants, and he had to buy out the claimant, and in 1865 he gained a complete title and ownership to the property. His operations had proved very remunerative; also his fifty-three-acre tract first purchased had become very valuable, and he ranked as one of the most prosperous and wealthy farmers of his section. He conducted his farming operations until 1879, when he retired from the active pursuits of life and sold his farm to his sons. Mr. Sullivan had previously sold fourteen acres of his fifty-three-acre tract, and at his death, which occurred April 6, 1886, left the balance of his valuable prop- erty to his widow. He always ranked in public spirit, enterprise, and liberality in public improvements, among the leading men of his section. He was one of the projectors of the Alum Rock Road, and gave the right-of-way through his land, and fenced the road at his own expense. Of a family of nine chil- dren, the subject of this review is the youngest, and only two others are living, Annie A., now Mrs. Fitz- gerald, and Frank J. Mrs. Sullivan lived to be eighty-five years old.

Mary E. Sullivan was born on the site where she now resides, on the northeast corner of Alum Rock Avenue and King Road. She was educated at Notre Dame College, San Jose, remaining at home with her parents until her marriage, which occurred April 3, 1888, and united her with Thomas J. Scherrebeck, a native son of San Jose, born November 21, 1849. His father, Peter Scherrebeck, was a native of Den- mark and came to California, around Cape Horn, in 1835. He was a seafaring man, and for many years was engaged as a trader in the harbor of San Fran- cisco and surrounding country. His mother, Mary (Sullivan) Scherrebeck, came to Santa Clara County in 1846, as a member of the family of Martin Murphy, Sr. The father passed away in San Francisco in 1862, and the mother in 1892. Until the age of fif- teen he attended school, receiving his education at St. Ignatius College in San Francisco, and upon the death of his father he became a clerk in a dry-goods store, continuing until eighteen years of age. He then learned the trade of carpenter and followed this until 1878. He then spent a year working in the lumber mills in Mendocino County, returning to San Francisco in 1879. He continued his occupation as a carpenter until April, 1888, when he came back to Santa Clara County, when he was married and took up his residence here. Mr. and Mrs. Scherrebeck are the parents of two children: Marie S. is a gradu- ate of Notre Dame College and San Jose State Nor- mal, and taught at Napa until she became the wife of Claud Harry Dean of Napa, who is with the Napa City Water Company, and they have three children- Marie A., Dorothy D., and Doris E. Thomas P. was educated at St. Joseph's high school, then spent four

years with Wells Fargo & Co. Express Company and a like period with the San Jose and Peninsular Railway as motorman and conductor, and is now fireman between San Francisco and Santa Barbara for the Southern Pacific Railroad. He is married to Miss Rosella Seebach, a native of San Jose, and they make their home with his parents. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus Lodge No. 879 of San Jose, and the Order of Railway Employees, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen.

ANTON T. NIELSEN .- The proprietor of the Altomont Creamery at 262 University Avenue, Palo Alto, Anton T. Nielsen, has met with splendid suc- cess in his business since locating here and has also established a branch creamery at Mountain View. Mr. Nielsen was born in Jylland, Denmark, Novem- ber 24, 1886, the son of Niels K. and Mette Nielsen. The father, who was a railroad man, died when Anton was only four years old, and when he was nine, his mother also passed away, so that he had to face the problem of making a living at a very early age. There were four sons in the Nielsen family, and among them Anton is the third, and the only one in America. He began his life as a wage earner among strangers, working on a dairy farm, mean- while attending school as much as he could, and he received a thorough training in dairy and farm work that stood him in good stead in later years. When he was' twenty-two years old, Mr. Nielsen came to America, Oakland, Cal., being his destination, and shortly afterward he went to work on a dairy farm near Pleasanton, and after six months he came to San Jose, being employed by the Golden Nugget Creamery there. He was a hard worker and ambi- tious, so soon mastered all the details of the cream- ery business, becoming buttermaker. He then formed a partnership with Mrs. Jackson in the Royal Ice Cream Company for two years, when Mr. Gulmon bought out Mrs. Jackson's interest, the Royal Ice Cream Company being operated by the firm of Gul- mon and Nielsen for the next year. Mr. Nielsen then started the Crystal Creamery, which he operated for two years, then going to Stockton, where he leased the Royal Ice Cream Company's business for a year. In 1918 Mr. Nielsen came to Palo Alto and bought the University Creamery and soon thereafter the Altomont Creamery, which he operates with fine success, as well as the branch at Mountain View, eighteen people being on his pay roll.

In 1911 Mr. Nielsen was married to Miss Opal Young, who was born at Allen, Mich., and they have one child, Virginia Ruth. They make their home in the attractive residence which Mr. Nielsen pur- chased, at 624 University Avenue, Palo Alto. He also purchased the property at 262 University Avenue, where his business is located, and here he expects to erect a two-story and basement building of concrete to accommodate his large and fast-growing business. The Altomont Creamery uses about 500 gallons of milk a day and makes about 200 gallons of ice cream daily, also a large output of butter and cottage cheese, which all find a ready market due to their superior quality.

William & Lande

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

FATHER WILLIAM J. LANDE .- Closely identi- fied with all the movements that aim to encourage and strengthen the moral and uplifting forces of the com- munity, Father William J. Lande, the well-beloved pastor of the church of St. Joseph a Cupertino, at the town of Cupertino, and also Sacred Heart Church at Saratoga, is among the most active and progress- ive of the clergy. A native of Ireland, he was born in County Limerick on April 14, 1875, a son of Will- iam J. and Ellen (Cummins) Lande, natives of that country who were engaged in farming pursuits until they were called by Providence to the world beyond.

William J. Lande was educated in Christian Brothers College at Doon, when after completing his classics he entered St. Patrick's Theological Sem- inary at Thurles, where he finished his physics, the- ology and dogmatics, after which he was ordained a priest at Thurles Cathedral by the great Arch- bishop Croke, for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, on June, 18, 1899. Among his classmates ordained at the same time were Bishop John J. Cantwell, of Los Angeles; Father Sampson of Sacred Heart, Oakland; Father Kiely of Petaluma; Father Quinn of St. An- thony's, East Oakland: Father Butler of San Fran-

cisco; and Father William Cantwell of Ross Valley. Soon after his ordination Father Lande came to America, arriving at San Francisco December 4, 1899. His first charge was at St. Brendans Church, San Francisco, then for two years he served the par- ish of St. Patrick's Church, San Jose. The next ten years he was located at St. Peter's Church, San Francisco, and during the last two years there he was acting pastor. Eight years of this period his time was given principally to the work of the City and County Hospitals of San Francisco, also the Contagious Pa- vilion, Pest House, St. Catherine's Home and to the tubercular patients around the Bay, ministering faith- fully to them and looking after their spiritual welfare, doing his duty with unselfish devotion, so that his name is a household word in many homes around the Bay. Father Lande was next appointed assis- tant pastor of St. James Church, San Francisco, where he remained for three years, and in 1915 he took up his present charge, at Cupertino and Saratoga.

For twenty-five or thirty years, services had been held at Villa Marie, on Stevens Creek, the country home of the Jesuit Fathers of Santa Clara, in the chapel near the entrance to the property. Succeed- ing Father Ricard, S. J., who had succeeded Father Cichi, Father Gabriel took charge of the chapel in 1902. As the larger portion was coming, not from Montebello, as formerly, but from the valley, it was decided in 1907 to close the chapel and build a church at Cupertino. Alex Montgomery donated the site of one acre and the church was erected at a cost of $9,000, with Father Gabriel in charge. After this Rev. W. McMillan, S. J., was in charge for three years, being again replaced by Father Gabriel, the last Jesuit father to have charge of the parish, for in 1913 Archbishop Riordan, D. D., transferred au- thority in most of the missions in Santa Clara County to the secular priests, when Father Thomas O'Con- nell, the present pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Oak- land was appointed the first rector of the parish. In August, 1915, Archbishop Riordan appointed Father Lande to take charge, Father O'Connell being trans- ferred to Mission San Jose.

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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 205

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