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 210

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 210

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FRANK H. LOBDELL .- A useful citizen of Los Gatos and one who can be depended upon to give his best efforts to the upbuilding of the community, is Frank H. Lobdell, the capable constable of this thriving foothill city. On August 10, 1857, he was born in New Jersey, the son of S. H. and Susan Lobdell, and both parents are now dead. Frank H. was educated in the public schools and an academy, afterwards learning the painting and decorating trade, which he followed for four years. Leaving his native state, he journeyed to California, arriving at Los Gatos on January 10, 1910, and for the next four years was occupied at his trade. On account of failing health, however, he took a position as guard at San Quentin penitentiary, remaining in this capacity until he resigned on being elected constable of Los Gatos.

The marriage of Mr. Lobdell united him with Miss Lynn L. Lytle. He is a strong Republican and is active in the councils of his party. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. He is highly esteemed in his locality for his honesty and integrity, and Los Gatos is indeed fortunate in se- curing such a conscientious man to fill the office of constable. He supports all measures for advance- ment, taking great pride in the prosperity of the city.

OF Sahranson

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

GARNER R. SEARL .- Progressive San Jose owes much of her fame as a city well able to care for whoever knocks at her hospitable door to such en- terprising managers as Garner R. Searl, the owner of the Hester Apartments, 1060 The Alameda, a native of Riverside County, Cal., where he was born on January 6, 1896. His father, O. C. Searl, a native of Illinois, came west to California and settled as a grain farmer at Hemet; he married Miss Idella F. Reinhart, who was born in Missouri. Garner at- tended the grammar school at Riverside, after which he took a course of three and a half years at Heald's Business College at Riverside.

He then engaged at the Alameda plant of the Union Iron Works, Alameda, Cal., and became chief pricer, and going overseas for patriotic duty in the great World War, he was sergeant in the One Hun- dred Sixty-first Infantry and served at St. Mihiel, France, in the Adjutant General's department. He returned to San Francisco in 1919 and was honorably discharged August 18 at the Presidio, and was mar- ried at Berkeley on October 10, 1919, to Miss Hester Geraldine Lester, a daughter of the Rev. James N. Lester, who died in San Jose five years ago, a native of Illinois, who had married Miss Cora V. Hester, also a native of the Prairie State. Mr. and Mrs. Searl have been blessed with one child, Mildred Hester Searl. They are members of the Christian Church.

In 1921 Mr. Searl purchased the Hester Apart- ments, a large three-story, frame structure on The Alameda, and immediately began to improve the same, making the building one of the attractive and serviceable edifices in San Jose, and as would be expected, they are meeting with well-merited suc- cess. Their object was to appeal to a select class of tenants, and this object has been attained. Both Mr. and Mrs. Searl move in the best circles of San Jose society, and this fact enables them to serve, in their new venture, the most appreciative renters. Rev. James N. Lester was a pastor at Worcester, Mass., and as a man of letters interested in the problems of daily life, he attained distinction as "The Boy Preacher" of the Christian Church. He was eloquent and had just finished the work for the Ph.D. degree, but he died before it was conferred. Mrs. Searl graduated from the Berkeley high school in 1913; then took the classical course at the University of California at Berkeley, from which she was gradu- ated in 1918 with the A. B. degree, and in 1919 the same university conferred upon her the degree of Master of Arts.

JAMES A. GOODWIN .- One of the best-known and most successful business men of Santa Clara County is James A. Goodwin, one of the leading real estate and insurance men of San Jose. He is a man of unquestioned ability and integrity, who has achieved success by his thorough mastery of his calling, fidelity to his trusts, and honest dealings with all persons with whom he is brought in contact.

A .native of Providence, R. I., Mr. Goodwin was born March 29, 1863, and where his forbears had bcen prominent since early colonial days. The Good- win family came from England in an early day. Mr. Goodwin's mother was Miss Amanda Eddy before her marriage, her family originally coming from Scotland, who also settled in Rhode Island. She passed away in 1917 at the age of ninety-three years. 57

She was a cousin of the famous surveyor and civil engincer who laid out the site of San Francisco, who was also an honored pioneer; she was also distantly related to the famous organist, Clarence Eddy. Mr. Goodwin's father, Robert Goodwin, was well and favorably known in San Francisco as a pioneer in the furniture business, and was associated with his brother, J. P. Goodwin. He passed away in San Francisco at the age of seventy-four years. The family came to the coast for the first time in 1851, but were not content to remain permanently, making two trips across the continent, the last trip was made during the year of 1872. The family consisted of four children: Robert H., mining and civil engi- neer, residing in Oakland; Amanda M .; Carrie E .; and James A., the subject of this review.

Mr. Goodwin received his education in the public schools of San Francisco; when still a boy, he entered the employ of W. J. Landers, an insurance firm, and was thus employed for twenty-six years. Mr. Moel- lering, his partner at the present time, was also em- ployed in the same office for twelve years. In 1910 these two young men removed to San Jose and formed the partnership which still exists. By strict integrity and much natural ability, the firm has grown until it is, at the present time, one of the best- known and most reliable real estate and insurance firms of Central California. Mr. Moellering handles the real estate end of the business, and Mr. Goodwin attends to the insurance part of this thriving busi- ness, and is one of the oldest and best-posted insur- ance men in California. The business was founded during the year of 1867 by W. A. Parkhurst. The firm deals in all kinds of insurance, automobile, cas- ualty, plate glass, fire and life insurance. The firm has been instrumental in selling and exchanging some of the finest properties in the valley.

Mr. Goodwin's marriage united him with Mrs. Chessie A. Williams, formerly Miss Jones. Frater- nally he is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge and also the Chapter in San Fran- cisco, and of the Knights Templar of San Jose. He is also active in the San Jose Business Men's Club. He has always been a firm believer in the prosperity and development of Santa Clara County and with the interest of a loyal citizen has watched its growth and advancement until it has reached its present high standard of civilization.

JOHN JOSEPH SIMMONS .- One of the pros- perous and well-known business men of San Jose who enjoys a steadily-growing business, is John Sim- mons. He was born May 12, 1882, in Jugo-Slavia, a son of Ignatius and Mary (Lendvaj) Simunic. Ignatius Simunic was a man of good education, speak- ing fluently five languages; he is now eighty-two years of age and resides at Drnje, Jugo-Slavia, Mrs. Simunic having passed away. His father, Alexander Simunic, was, for a number of years, postmaster at Drnje and was a man of wealth and influence in his community. Ignatius Simunic was an officer in the Austrian army, highly esteemed for his honorable and upright char- acter. Mr. and Mrs. Simunic were the parents of twelve children, of whom John was the youngest.

John Simmons received his cducation in the schools of his native land, later taking a three-year course in a commercial college; he also studied the sciences and other languages so he now reads, writes and speaks three languages. At the age of seventeen he was employed by his uncle, Steve Lendvaj, in the

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meat market business in Drnje; here he became thoroughly conversant with the different lines of the meat business, remaining in the employ of his uncle for three years. He then entered the Austrian army, enlisting in the Sixteenth Infantry Regiment, serv- ing three years and three months, and attained the rank of sergeant. Upon his discharge from the army, he bid farewell to his family and sailed for America, on the steamship Carmania of the Cunard line, and landed at Ellis Island May 17, 1907; later he removed to Braddock, Pa., and for two months worked for the American Steel and Wire Company; then for two months worked in a tannery in Mil- waukee, Wis. While thus engaged, he was studying the English language. On coming to the United States he was naturalized at the first opportunity, taking the name of Simmons, for convenience of pro- nunciation. In September, 1907, he removed to Oak- land, then worked for a short time in Watsonville, Cal., removing to San Jose, November 12, 1907. Here he became an employe of the Russ House, working there for eight years, working from the bottom up to assistant manager; later was employed by C. J. Vath as foreman; then for the Esteribon Market and later George Wagner's Market. Not being content to work for others, he leased a store building at 25 West San Fernando Street, and established his pres- ent business December 1, 1920, equipping his shop with the modern refrigerating machinery, carrying the best grade of fresh meats, smoked and dried fish, and he keeps it thoroughly sanitary and up-to-date in every particular.

The marriage of Mr. Simmons united him with Miss Amanda Pasetta, a daughter of Mat. Pasetta, who is engaged in the dried fruit business in Santa Clara. Mrs. Simmons is a native daughter of San Jose and was educated at Notre Dame Convent. Politically Mr. Simmons supports the principles of the Repub- lican party, but he has never been an aspirant for official honors. During the World War he applied and passed the examination for entrance to an Officer's Training Camp and was accepted, but the Armistice was signed just before he was called. Fraternally, he is identified with the Eagles and the Slavonian So- ciety; also a member of the Pastime Club; the San Jose Meat Market Association and the Merchants Association. Although Mr. Simmons is a man who has won more than the ordinary share of success, in manner he is modest and unassuming, and his friends respect him for his genuine worth of character.

MANGNIN BROTHERS .- Among the men of en- terprise and ability, who are acquiring prosperity and influence, Mangnin Brothers are counted among the successful business representatives. Since the first of April, 1921. the three brothers, C. F., T. J. and W. J. Mangnin have been the owners and proprie- tors of the Overland Garage located on East Santa Clara Street, San Jose. Their establishment is one of the most important automobile service shops in the county. They carry a full line of all automobile accessories, gas, oils; do auto painting, manufacture automobile tops; they also do expert work in acety- lene welding and other repairs requiring the services of thorough mechanics. The two younger brothers are versed in all mechanical lines, and are assisted in their work by seven other machinists and me- chanics, who are kept continuously at work. Nothing but the best work is allowed to pass from their shop.

A specially-equipped service car is always held in readiness for emergency calls. They handle acces- sories for all makes of cars, and all the requirements of automobilists can be supplied under one roof.

The three boys are native sons of the county where they were educated. They are able, energetic, paying strict attention to their steadily-growing busi- ness, and success is crowning their well-directed ef- forts and their popularity is well deserved. C. F. Mangnin was born in Boulder Creek, April 21, 1890; T. J. Mangnin was born in San Jose on May 17, 1892, and W. J. Mangnin was born February, 1894. They are the sons of T. J. Mangnin, Sr., an honored and well-known citizen of San Jose, who settled in Cali- fornia in early pioneer days. He still resides in San Jose, where, for many years, he was in the laundry business, but is at present assisting in the Mangnin Bros.' Garage. All three of the Magnin boys grad- uated from the San Jose high school. The two younger boys are good plumbers and mechanics and have charge of the mechanical department of the company, while C. F. Mangnin has charge of the office work. The three brothers are excellent co- workers, and by such cooperation the business is as- suming large proportions.

All three of the boys began working in a cannery when only ten years of age and by careful economy they were able to save a sufficient amount of money, which they invested in a number of milch cows. They rented the old Colonel Young ranch on the Alviso Road and successfully carried on a dairy business for ten years. After selling out their business, C. F. Mangnin became a railroad man and was promoted to the position of conductor on the Sacramento North- ern Railroad. He spent five years in this line of work; meanwhile the two younger brothers were learning their trades of plumbing and mechanics, all in training for the business in which they are now engaged. C. F. Mangnin worker for three years in the largest department store in Chicago and later went into the garage business there, giving it the unique name of "Neal's Grease Spot." This busi- ness proved very prosperous, and in 1920 he dis- posed of it and returning to San Jose, entered into partnership with his brothers.

The marriage of C. F. Mangnin united him with Miss Isabelle Grant, a daughter of Roderick Grant, born in San Diego, but reared and educated in San Jose. They are the parents of two children, Eugene Cornelius and Dorothy May.

T. J. Mangnin was united in marriage with Miss Hazel Guthrie, a daughter of Frank Guthrie, pro- prietor of the Expert Dyeing and Cleaning Works. They are the parents of one child, Catherine Hazel.

The marriage of W. J. Mangnin occurred in San Jose and united him with Miss Alice Richardson, a daughter of Charles Richardson, and they are the parents of one child, Aileen.

The brothers are all active in fraternal circles, af- filiating with the Maccabees, the Woodmen of the World, and the Native Sons. They are popular mem- bers of the Pastime Social Club of San Jose. Politic- ally, they cast their votes in favor of the Republican candidates. Their business is conducted along pro- gressive lines, modern machinery is being installed, and everything that tends to an equipment that will adequately serve the public needs. They are all hard workers, generous contributors to worthy causes and friends on whom one can invariably rely.

martin C. Ball

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

MARTIN CHARLES BALL .- A native son of California and a successful horticulturist of Santa Clara County is Martin Charles Ball, who also con- ducts a nursery in connection with his orchard. He was born on the old home place on the Mountain View Road, July 10, 1873, the son of Peter Ball, who was born August 17, 1844, in La Salle County, Il1. Peter Ball's father was Martin Ball, a native of Ise- land and he was born about 1807; he married there and immigrated to Canada, where he resided for a few years, when he removed to Buffalo, N. Y .; later he removed to La Salle County, Ill. and in 1850 left there bound for California. The journey was made overland to Sacramento, where they located, and he engaged in the hotel business until the big fire of 1852, which destroyed all he had. The following spring of 1853 he settled in Santa Clara County and took up 370 acres supposed to be Government land, but which afterwards proved to be a Spanish grant and he was obliged to purchase the land. He resided there until about 1875 when he removed to Santa Clara, where he died, his wife passing away in 1878. Peter Ball purchased 265 acres from his father, and a large part of the acreage he set to vineyard, kept in a fine state of cultivation. In 1882 Mr. Ball was appointed deputy assessor of Santa Clara County, which position he held for five years. He was mar- ried in 1868 to Miss Mary E. Plunkett, a native of Australia, a daughter of Richard Plunkett, a pioneer of Santa Clara County, and they were the parents of five children. Peter Ball passed away June 3, 1901, and Mrs. Ball on August 11, 1911.

Martin C. Ball received his education in the public schools and Santa Clara College, and after finishing school he returned to his father's ranch. During the year 1900 they suffered the loss of their vineyard, and immediately the task of planting the land to fruit trees was begun, 114 acres being set to orchard. In connection with this orchard, he has a fine nur- sery of popular varieties of fruit trees. It is con- ducted as is the orchard under the firm name of Ball Bros., and they have met with splendid success. As a nurseryman, Mr. Ball's years of experience in orcharding have gained him much knowledge, so his advice being frequently sought by other horticultur- ists. He makes a specialty of the improved or double-x prunes, apricots, and pears. None but selected buds are used for grafting, so he grows a quality of tree that has a record for production. His business is not alone confined to the Santa Clara Valley but shipments are made to different points along the coast as well as into the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. He is progressive and enter- prising, aiding as far as he is able, movements for improving and building up the county, and is a mem- ber of the California Prune & Apricot Association.

ROBERT JUDSON STULL .- A careful student of electrical engineering and radio work, who has al- ready demonstrated an enviable theoretical knowledge and has also accomplished much in practical, scientific experiment, is Robert Judson Stull, today one of the most promising young men in the California world of science. He has the distinction of having been the first student of Prof. Charles D. Herrold, the widely- known expert on radio and one of the first to intro- duce wireless telephony to. California civilization as narrated in his own life-story given elsewhere in this work. A fine specimen of physical manhood, Mr. Stull has an intellect to go with it, and it is fair to

assume that he will more and more lay science under tribute and make humanity his debtor.

Robert Stull was born at San Jose, on January 23, 1893, the son of the late Judson Leroy Stull, founder of the drygoods firm of Stull & Sonniksen, San Jose. He attended both the grammar and high schools of San Jose finishing the courses of study in the latter institution in 1912, and he put in one year in the theory and practice of wireless at the Herrold College of Engineering and Wireless, and having studied elec- trical engineering, he was graduated in 1917 from the University of California with the degree of B. S., topping his work by a thesis on wireless telephony, considered a masterly work, considering that wireless telephony was in its infancy. Then he spent some time in the department of automatics of the Western Union Telegraph Co. at San Francisco, returning to San Jose to join Professor Herold.

At San Francisco, in October, 1817, Mr. Stull was married to Miss Lucille Marie Hughes, the daughter of Mrs. Sabina F. Hughes; and they have two sons, Robert Judson Stull, Jr., and Charles Leroy Stull. Mr. Stull, when at the University, joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and he is a Royal Arch Mason and a past-secretary of the Society of American Ma- gicians, at San Francisco.

JACOBI POULSEN-By industry and honorable dealing. Jacobi Poulsen has gained many friends, who, remembering the good service he has given them, send him new patrons, which in turn do the same. He deals in hay, grain, wood and coal, and is located at 73 Orchard Street, San Jose. He was born in Denmark, September 21, 1862, the son of Christian and Ingeborg Mana Poulsen, who spent their entire lives there. They were the parents of eight children, most of whom have settled remote from the old home and are now widely scattered; three of the girls settled in Brazil; two girls came to California, where one of them died; two died in infancy. Jacobi was the youngest and was educated in public schools and was employed at farming till in 1880, when he sailed from Isberg, Denmark, as a stowaway to escape the compulsory military training, his native land, Schleswig, having become a posses- sion of Germany. Reaching America, he soon came to California, and for the first year, he located in Alameda County, where he worked on farms around Oakland and Alameda. In 1883, he came to Santa Clara County, and worked on the ranch of Frank Buxton, near Saratoga, until the spring of 1886, when he moved to San Luis Obispo County and took up land at Paso Robles. Here he proved up on a home- stead of 160 acres in the Union district, and leasing land he farmed for twenty-two years or until 1908, when he came to San Jose and became proprietor of the Peacock Livery Stable, at 59 North San Pedro Street. The automobile industry finally made such a difference in his business that in 1913 he had a public auction and sold all of his stock and spent a year free from the responsibility of business. He then engaged in hay, grain, and fuel business, locat- ing at the corner of Julian and San Pedro Streets. His partner, H. A. Hansen, a brother-in-law, suffer- ing a stroke of paralysis, they sold out that business and Mr. Poulsen opened up his present place of busi- ness in the fall of 1915.

Mr. Poulsen's marriage, which occurred in San Francisco in 1883, united him with Miss Catherine

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M. Jorgensen, who was also born in Schleswig, and came to California in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Poulsen own a residence at 479 East Julian Street, where they have been living since 1908. They are the par- ents of four children, two of whom grew up; Chris- tian, who married Virginia Gerse, is a fireman on the Southern Pacific Railway and resides at 415 East Julian Street; Alfred lives at Owensmouth, and is the proprietor of an ice business. He mar- ried Mamie Penman and they became parents of two children, Alfred and Althea.

Mr. Poulsen is a member of Observatory Lodge No. 23, San Jose, and has filled every office in the subordinate lodge, including that of district deputy grand master and so is a member of the Grand Lodge of California. Mr. Poulsen joined Paso Robles Lodge No. 286, F. & A. M., in 1906, and demitting he is now a member of Fraternity Lodge, No. 399, F. & A. M., San Jose. In 1910 he joined the Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection No. 10, San Jose, and has since become a full 32 degree Mason, a member of San Jose Consistory. Interested in civic matters, Mr. Poulsen is always helpful in movements that have for their aim the building up of the city and county, as well as advancing the comfort and happiness of its peoples.

WILLIAM TAYLOR RAMBO-Among the highly esteemed citizens of San Jose whose record of usefulness and substantial success may well be incorporated in the annals of Santa Clara County, is William Taylor Rambo, who was born at Chicago on May 6, 1876. His father, Edward B. Rambo, who had married Miss Mary Taylor, came to Cali- fornia with his family in 1883, as Pacific Coast man- ager of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and located in San Francisco. Soon after settling there he bought a ranch in Santa Clara County, where the family spent about two months of each year; both he and his devoted wife died in San Fran- cisco, the former in 1897, his wife having preceded him in 1887.

After graduating from both the grammar and high schools of San Francisco, William Taylor Rambo at- tended Stanford University, and later went to New York City, where he was a student at Columbia Uni- versity. Leaving college, he spent some time in Eu- rope, and on his return to the United States he was employed for three years in fruit jobbing in New York and Chicago. Impaired health led him to come out to California again, and he secured a posi- tion with a leading insurance brokerage firm in San Francisco, where he remained for several years.

In the meantime, he had bought a ranch at Law- rence Station in Santa Clara County, and after the claims in which he was interested had been settled in San Francisco, following the great fire of 1896, re- moved to his farm property. In 1910, however, he joined a Mr. Hall in forming the firm of Hall & Rambo and opened an insurance office in San Jose; and soon after that acquired Mr. Hall's interest. Now he carries on a general insurance business, and being a man of wide and valuable experience in that field, and invariably attentive to the best interests of his patrons, he is naturally meeting with success. He is vice-president of the California State Association of Insurance Agents, and that speaks for itself. He is also a live wire in the San Jose Chamber of Com- merce, where he is a director, and in the Commercial Club of 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 210

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