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 208

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 208

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He was married at Mayfield to Miss Augusta Duke, a daughter of Captain George and Mary Duke, both of English blood, pioneers at Mayfield. Mr. and Mrs. Crippen have a very cozy home at Mayfield and are the proud parents of two children, both well known and highly respected: Roy D., who is adver- tising manager for the Fidelity Bank at Fresno, and Dorothy May, who graduated from the San Jose Teachers' College, and is now engaged in the schools at Mayfield as a teacher. Mr. Crippen has held his present responsible position for the past five years; he attends very closely to his work, is capable and efficient, and last but not least, is very faithful to his trust. He is a great admirer of the founder of the University, while his love of the equine species and sportsmanship is as keen as ever.

DISMO M. DENEGRI .- One of a large number of men who have found business opportunities in the county of Santa Clara, and in turn have endeavored to promote the commercial activities of this portion of California, Dismo M. Denegri is one of the suc- cessful druggists in San Jose. A native son of Cali- fornia, he was born in San Francisco, March 30, 1882, a son of John B. and Mary Denegri. During the Civil War, his father served in the Confederate army; later migrated to California and settled in San Jose and engaged in the grocery business. Both father and mother have passed away.

His early education was obtained in the public schools and afterwards attended the San Francisco Polytechnic school; later going to the College of Physicians and Surgeons in San Francisco, from which institution he graduated in 1902 with the degree of Ph. G. He is an able linguist, being able to converse fluently in four languages. For a time after his graduation, he clerked in various drug stores of San Francisco, but in the year of 1914, came to San Jose and established his own business, which is growing steadily, now owning two stores.

The marriage of Mr. Denegri in November 1912, united him with Miss Mary Vatuone, a daughter of the old pioneer family of that name. Two children, Dismo, Jr., and Elena, have been born to them. Politically Mr. Denegri votes the Republican ticket, and served his party as assemblyman for one term in 1911-12. He presented the bill and was instru- mental in having Discovery Day changed to Colum- bus Day. His influence has been a many-sided one, and embraces practically all phases of growth in the town. Especially has he promoted all movements for the betterment of his fellowmen. During the World War he was active in all the drives, and his familiar- ity with several languages, enabled him to sell as high as $75,000 worth of Liberty bonds in one day. At the 1919 election he became a councilman for San Jose. His forceful, determined disposition, backed by the esteem of the community, enabled him to suc- cessfully conduct his own campaign. He held the honored position of president of the Italo-American Club of San Jose, is a Knight of Columbus, also an Elk; is an active member of the Chamber of Com- merce, the Merchants' Association, and the Com-

mercial Club. He and his family are consistent members of the Catholic Church of San Jose. For his recreation, he is an ardent admirer of the national game of baseball; also enjoys a bout with his fellow boxers. The optimistic spirit which he possesses has brought him his present prosperity and the esteem of his community.

MICHAEL O'BRIEN .- A worthy veteran of the Civil War, who bore more than an average part in that great conflict is Michael O'Brien, for many years an upbuilder of the orchard interests of the Santa Cruz Mountain region. He was born in Utica, N. Y., April 14, 1840, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Griffin) O'Brien, farmers in that splendid section of the Empire State, where Michael assisted on the home place as he grew up to habits of industry and economy, while he received a good education in the local public schools. Stirred with patriotism he volunteered his services to his country in the spring of 1862, enlisting in Company E, Fourteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, a second-year regiment; but he was held in service for three years. being first transferred to Company B, Forty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry (the Ellsworth Avengers) until that regiment was discharged, when he was trans- ferred to Company D, Second New York Heavy Ar- tillery. During his service he was in thirty-two gen- eral engagements besides numerous skirmishes. Among others he was in the Seven-Day Battle, Mal- vern Hill, Gaines Mill, Chancellorsville, Fredericks- burg, Antietam, South Mountain, Gettysburg, where he was slightly wounded in the right leg; Mine Rin, Petersburg, where, on June 17, 1863, he was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville and imprisoned in that horrible place for six months and three days. During this time, with sixty others, he tunnelled out and they made their escape, separating and going in pairs; by travelling nights and hiding daytime he made his way within twelve miles of Charleston, where he and his partner were captured and returned to Andersonville, and there he had the scurvy very bad. Both armies had arranged for an exchange of 10,000 prisoners. They were formed into squads of ninety and each squad went inside of the dead line to be examined by a doctor, the worst cases being allowed to go. He was not passed as the doctor said he could stand it another month, but his partner was passed. Mr. O'Brien watched until he saw the guard's back turned, then jumped across the line into the ranks of his squad, thus he was paroled with the others, but he took a desperate chance of being shot to save his life, for he would have died had he re- mained in prison much longer. They went to Annap- olis Camp, where he rejoined his command to help to take Richmond. He was present at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox, after which he marched to Washington and took part in the Grand Review. He was mustered out and honorably dis- charged at Alexandria, Va., in May, 1865. Returning to his home, he spent some time on the Erie Canal, steering a canal boat, and became very familiar with that region. In 1867 he took the steamer San Fran- cisco and crossed to the Pacific side via of the Nica- ragua route, from where he came on the old boat New York to San Francisco. For a time he was engaged in trucking, and then came to Santa Clara

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County and took a homestead of 160 acres at Wrights, built a cabin and by grubbing and clearing improved the place so he had a good tarm later setting out an orchard and vineyard. He farmed it for thirty-three years and then sold it to his brother, Thomas, who has since died. He then bought an- other ten acre ranch near Wrights, devoted to orch- ard and vineyard, but sold it in 1920. He lived at Wrights until March, 1922, when he located at Los Gatos. He is a member of E. O. C. Ord. Post.

HARRY V. GORDON .- A young man who has made a success of horticulture who also served his country in the Spanish-American War is Harry V. Gordon, a native son of Sonoma County, born at Healdsburg, September 27, 1877; his father, Eugene Gordon was also born there. Grandfather Andrew J. Gordon was born in Missouri and crossed the plains in 1846 a member of the Donner party until the train divided and he came with those who took the old trail and came safely and in due time to California. Andrew J. Gordon followed farming near Healdsburg, locating on Dry Creek and owned a large farm on the Russian River bottoms, now very valuable as hop lands, but he sold it in early days and moved to Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, and engaged in stockraising; later he re- moved to Texas where he became a large landowner and resided until his death. The father, Eugene Gordon, was also a stockman in Anderson Valley until he removed to Texas, where he followed the same business until his death. The mother of our subject was Laura Trailor; she was born in Illinois and came to California with her parents, who lo- cated at Kelseyville, Lake County, Cal., where she grew to womanhood. Some years after her husband's death, Mrs. Laura Gordon married Jacob M. Cox, a prominent rancher and official of Santa Clara County, a union that proved very happy until Mr. Cox was summoned by death. She now makes her home in Oakland.

Harry V. Gordon is an only child and was reared in Texas from the age of three until twelve. In 1890 he came to San Jose with his step-father, Jacob M. Cox, who is represented on another page in this history. Harry V. Gordon attended school at the Alameda Hester school and during these years he took up horticulture under Mr. Cox, who owned an orchard as well as being the deputy county assessor, so after his school days were over he took charge of the Cox ranch. On the breaking out of the Span- ish-American War, he enlisted at San Francisco July 6, 1898, in Battery 1, Third U. S. Artillery, be- ing stationed at the Presidio, until he was honorably discharged March 23, 1899. He signified his will- ingness to go East as a range finder in the U. S. Army, so was sent East and was attached to the range finding department, Battery M, Fifth U. S. Ar- tillery, serving at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, until his discharge March 23, 1902. During his stay in New York City he became acquainted with his future wife, Miss Barbara Nosova, who was born in Prague, Bohemia, a daughter of Francis and Marie Nosova. The father passed away in his native land and the mother brought the children to New York City, where she still makes her home. Mrs. Gordon was educated in the schools of Prague and when she came to the United States she resided in New York City until her marriage to Mr. Gordon,

on June 16, 1901. On his discharge, Mr. Gordon brought his wife to his ranch in Santa Clara County, which is a portion of the old William Cox ranch. He has been successful in raising fruit and now owns thirty-four acres devoted to growing prunes. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have three children: Alma Marie, a graduate of San Jose high school, is the wife of Ralph E. Weaver, residing in Evergreen; Camille Clifford is attending the Los Gatos high school; and Jackson Milan. Mr. Gordon was made a Mason in Liberty Lodge No. 299 F. & A. M., at Santa Clara.

A. H. MATHEWS .- A hard-working, successful business man of Palo Alto, who thoroughly under- stands his business is A. H. Mathews, the wide- awake owner and proprietor of the enterprising firm of Mathews & Company, dealers in staple and fancy groceries at 323 University Avenue, Palo Alto, Cal. He was born in Montreal, Canada, March 31, 1865, a son of Richard and Mary (Borbridge) Mathews, the father being engaged in the real estate business at Montreal. Both parents are now deceased.

Mr. Mathews attended the public schools and later took a business course in the senior high school in Montreal. After leaving school he sought and ob- tained employment as a salesman in the millinery store of John MacLean and later had charge of the trimming department, remaining in that capacity for eight years. In the fall of 1893 he came to Califor- nia; locating in San Francisco he was employed by Robert L. Toplitz & Company, wholesale milliners, and was in the trimming department for three years when his health failed and he was obliged to take a vacation, and for over two years he traveled about California in quest of health. He went to Carpin- teria, Santa Barbara County, and entered the employ of Charles Curtis, an old school friend, as a clerk in his grocery; then he went to Redwood City and was engaged in the poultry business for two years, and then came to Palo Alto in 1903. He went to work for Earle & Company and was with them for sixteen years, thoroughly learning the grocery busi- ness. On October 1, 1919, he established his own business, first as Mathews & Smith; later his partner, Ray Smith, sold his interest to Mrs. E. D. Clark and the firm name became Mathews & Company; in November, 1920, Mrs. Clark sold her interest to Leslie E. Sampson. Mr. Mathews was married in 1894 at Martinez to Miss Ethel Agnes Borbridge, a native of Canada, and they have a comfortable resi- dence at 244 Byron Street.

CHARLES BEEDLE .- Among those whose pro- gressive spirit and intelligently directed labors have resulted in making Santa Clara Valley the garden spot of California, Charles Beedle is deserving of special mention as one of the leading orchardists of this section of the state. He is a native of Cornwall, England, his birth having occurred February 18, 1850, his parents being William and Hannah (Davis) Beedle, who spent their entire lives in that country, the father being an expert landscape gardener.

Charles Beedle was the ninth of their twelve chil- dren and is the only one in the United States. He ac- quired his education in England and engaged in min- ing from seventeen until twenty-one years of age, when he came to the United States in 1871, first set- tling in New Jersey, where he worked in the iron

Barbara Gordon

Barry V. London.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

mines and remained for a year. He then spent a short time in New Hampshire and for four years resided in Vermont, going from that state to Nevada in 1877. There he was for four years stationary en- gineer for the G. WV. Grayson Company at the In- dependence Mine at Tuscarora, and then made his way to Oregon, bought a farm in Union County and farmed one year, and then sold and located at Pioche, Nev., as engineer for the same company. In 1883 he came to San Francisco and in January, 1884, to Santa Clara County, where he purchased twenty years of the Garden tract on the Shannon Road, which he planted to fruit. The next year, in order to make a livelihood, he went to Fresno as a stationary engineer in the Hildreth gold district, continuing for four years. Mr. Beedle is an expert horticulturist, special- izing in the raising of prunes and apricots, in which he has been very successful. He has a nice row of orange trees that is well cared for and he has sent exceptionally fine specimens of this fruit to London, England, for exhibition in their fairs.

On December 30, 1877, in Vershire, Vt., Mr. Beedle was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth S. Rowe, born in Devonshire, England, who came to Vermont when six years of age with her parents, Samuel and Mary (Cheynoweth) Rowe, and they became the parents of a daughter, Nellie B. Mr. Beedle's po- litical allegiance is given to the Republican party. Although he has traveled extensively, he has never found a region so well adapted to the raising of fine fruit as the Santa Clara Valley, and he is enthusiastic in his support of its advantages, pronouncing it the garden spot of the world. With his family, he is a student of Christian Science.

WILLIAM RADTKE .- An enterprising, thor- oughly competent contractor whose executive ability has been well demonstrated at Gilroy, is William Radtke, who was born at San Francisco, on March 11, 1888, the son of August Radtke, a cooper by trade, who had established himself in business at San Fran- cisco in 1886. He retired to take up orcharding in the Santa Clara Valley, and for a number of years he farmed near San Jose in the Hamilton district, and passed away in August, 1916. He had married Miss Adelheid Blanken, who proved a devoted wife and an affectionate mother, and attended conscientiously to the elementary schooling of her son, sending him to the Hamilton Grammar School. At the age of fourteen, the lad went to work at the Enterprise Foundry, owned by John Roll of Santa Clara, but six months later he went into San Francisco to enter the employ of Robert Hall, the machinist. Not long afterward, he took up the carpenter trade, serving a three-year apprenticeship in the employ of Charles Stockholm; and by the time he had reached his eighteenth year, he had done some small jobs in contracting, and decided to work for himself.

Among the first contracts completed were those for the Los Altos Grammar School, the private resi- dence of Paul Shoup, the president of the Southern Pacific Railroad, at Los Altos; the Ed Seifert Garage at San Jose, and the bridge across Guadalupe Creek at West Santa Clara Street, in San Jose. In 1913, he concreted the reservoirs for the City of Gilroy, which impounds the water-supply for Gilroy and con-

serves some 8,500,000 gallons of water. The year previous, Mr. Radike came to Gilroy, and since then he has contracted the very finest of all the buildings in the town. During 1921 alone, he successfully completed over $250,000 worth of contracts in Gilroy, and in addition he was also almost constantly busy with one contract or another in the suburban or rural districts. Among the larger buildings in Gilroy are the Louis Hotel, and Masonic buildings.

At Oakland, on March 21, 1912, Mr. Radtke was married to Miss Clara Loewen, and their home life has been made brighter by two children, both boys, John William and Thomas Madsen Radtke. Mr. Radtke is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow; and al- though a Democrat by national political preference, he has shown such broadminded nonpartisanship that his fellow-citizens have honored him with member- ship in the city council.

CHARLES L. NICHOLS .- A far-sighted, hust- ling business man, whose enterprise in providing the best of everything, and plenty of it, for the car- owner and car-user, has been thoroughly appreciated not only in Los Gatos, where he is established, but in near-by sections of Santa Clara County, is Charles L. Nichols. The experienced and accommodating proprietor of the Los Gatos Auto Supply Company is a native of the Buckeye State, born at St. Claires- ville, Ohio, on July 19, 1885, the son of J. W. and Caroline (Hoge) Nichols. The father died when Charles was a mere child, and in 1903, Mrs. Nichols and her son came to California and soon settled at Los Gatos. Charles was fortunate in becoming a student in the Preparatory College at Swarthmore, near Philadelphia, Pa., and then he worked as as- sistant surveyor for the Western Pacific, when they were building through Plumas County, Cal. He next entered the service of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad and engaged in preliminary and location work on the transcontinental line in Mon- tana and Idaho. Through hard study and practical experience he gradually mastered engineering; but he was induced to go to Tampico, Mex., and to purchase a ranch, which he farmed for a year and a half.

In 1908, Mr. Nichols returned to Los Gatos and married Miss May Lyndon, one of the popular belles of the town; and then, in this section, he worked for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. In 1916, he made the move of particular interest to all those who have since been served by him through his thorough knowledge of the automobile industry and the life and wants of the autoist: he began in the auto sup- ply trade, modestly at first, but in such a level-headed manner as to assure future success. Today, having builded and grown gradually, but surely, he has one of the most complete stocks in this region, carrying tires and oils, and also doing first-class vulcanizing| Mr. Nichols both meets the want of the traveler and he also anticipates his needs and so is ready for every emergency. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols attend the Pres- byterian Church, and Mr. Nichols is a member of Los Gatos Lodge No. 292, F. & A. M., and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. He is a member of the Santa Clara County Auto Trades Association, the State Automobile Association, and the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

LOUIS ONEAL .- Amoug the leading lawyers of Northern California, Louis Oneal figures prominent- ly. At the time of his election to the California Senate, in 1901, he had the distinction of being the youngest member of that body, but his marked abil- ity was soon recognized by his colleagues and in the session of 1903 he was appointed chairman of the committee on corporations, a position he filled with such capability as to attract the attention of his asso- ciates. He was particularly interested in the removal of the capital from Sacramento to San Jose, for which he presented a bill, but with unfavorable results. The ability displayed while a member of the State Senate was indeed gratifying to the Republican party, which nominated him, and to his community in general.

Near Winnemucca, Humboldt County, Nev., Sen- ator Oneal was born, November 24, 1874, being sec- ond among three children comprising the family of George W. and Sarah G. (Trousdale) Oncal, natives, respectively, of Missouri and Illinois, but hoth resi- dents of Nevada since about 1851. At the time of crossing the plains George W. Oneal was only a boy, but he at once began to mine at Gold Hill. Later he engaged in the cattle business in Paradise Valley, in which he continued for a long period; in later years horse and cattle raising occupied his attention. During his entire residence in the west he was inter- ested in mining. For many years he resided in Santa Clara County, but is now deceased. Louis Oneal ob- tained his early education in the public schools of San Jose, supplemented with a business course. His first means of livelihood was as a grocery clerk, but being energetic and determined to succeed, he began to study law privately and continued until he was ad- mitted to the bar, April 25, 1895. With B. L. Ryder as a partner, he opened a law office in the Ryland block and later was in the office of Howell C. Moore. In 1896 he was appointed deputy district attorney under B. A. Herrington and filled the position accepta- bly for two years, after which he became a member of the firm of Herrington and Oneal. The county board of supervisors appointed him city justice in January, 1900, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John W. Gass, and he remained in the position until November, 1900, when he resigned, subsequent to his election as state senator. He has extensive interests in cattle and horse raising in Santa Clara County, to which he gives considerable time.

The marriage of Mr. Oneal in November, 1902. united him with Miss Anna Hatman, who was born in this city and received a thorough education abroad in the University of Leipsic. In that famous institu- tion her special studies were music and art, in which she had the advantage of the training of the best masters that Germany affords. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Oneal, Duncan, a Santa Clara Uni- versity student. Mr. Oncal is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party and firmly be- lieves that the platform of this party is conducive to the highest progress of the nation and the greatest prosperity of its citizens. The Santa Clara County Republican League, when under his leadership, took an active part in campaign work and proved a valu- able aid in local party work. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Elks. He is progressive and enthusiastically in- terested in all civic affairs, and is a member of the

Chamber of Commerce. During his busy life, he takes time for recreation and finds the most pleasure in horseback riding. It was largely through his in- fluence that the California Round-up Association was organized, thus bringing to the present generation a touch of the vivid life of the old Spanish days. He has ever believed in constructive measures and has occupied a position of leadership, and is actuated at all times by a high sense of duty.

TOM LAMBERT .- During the latter part of 1920, three enterprising Sunnyvale young men, who are very much interested in the art of wireless communi- cation, established the Radio Shop in San Jose. These young men are Tom Lambert, Arthur E. Bessey and E. H. Bessey. Their efforts have met with success and the first unit of a manufacturing plant at Sunny- vale was completed about February 15, 1922; it has been found necessary to double the size of the plant and the second unit is now under construction. The plant is equipped to manufacture wireless apparatus of all descriptions, receiving sets, amplifiers, tube transmitters, rheostats, condensers, etc. In addition they will handle standard lines of other makes.

Tom Lambert was born at Plymouth, England, in 1893, and came to California when he was twelve years old. He attended the grammar school at Oak- land, Cal., and subsequently was graduated from the Polytechnic high school of that city. As a youth he hecame intensely interested in radio work and wire- less telegraphy and gained such proficiency that in 1908 he entered the radio sea-service, and for the next seven and one-half years he worked as radio opera- tor in the merchant marine, flying the American flag. His interest in radio development was unflagging and he found his greatest pleasure in the study of radio operation development.

Returning to California, he was placed in charge of the Marconi Institute at San Francisco, and was director of instruction during the late war. He then started in to manufacture radio appliances in San Francisco, and after continuing two years sold out and came to San Jose in February, 1920. Then he became associated with his present partners. In a back room in the Bank of Italy building in San Jose, the three young men worked, manufacturing on a small scale, ran a radio school and opened up a retail shop. Their business prospered and has paid its way from the start. Quarters in San Jose becoming too small, they moved to Sunnyvale, which is their home city. The site of their plant is on Murphy, Radio and Sunnyvale avenues, and the first completed unit is 40x220 feet, the building and equipment to cost in the neighborhood of $100,000. They now employ 125 radio mechanics, which will soon be increased to 200, as they have advance orders for $750,000 of their products. They are perfecting a new special receiv- ing apparatus which will be especially adapted for home use. It will be built similar to the ordinary phonograph cabinet, an ornamental piece of furniture which only needs to be connected up and the owner can listen in on concerts given by broadcasting sta- tions in different parts of the country. One-hour concerts are now given at the Radio Shop in Sunny- vale every Tuesday and Friday evenings. These concerts are regularly heard in Sterling, Ill., which is close to record distance for music and voice. From a

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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 208

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