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 211

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 211

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Mr. Rambo married in October, 1910 to Miss Ma- rietta B. Hall, a native of Chicago, and they have one daughter, Marietta H. Rambo. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rambo are popular in their social circle, and have a wide acquaintance both in San Jose and in San Francisco. He was one of the originators of the San Jose Chapter of the American Red Cross, and has been secretary ever since; and is a member of the Sainte Claire Commercial and Country Clubs of San Jose, and the Bohemian and Old Colony Clubs in San Francisco; also of the B. P. O. Elks.

PAUL L. CAVALA-Among the citizens of Santa Clara County who are known for their public spirit and integrity is Paul L. Cavala, successful realty dealer, with offices at 79 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose. He was born near Naples, Italy, October 17, 1873, the son of Andrew and Carmella (Guidina) Cavala. Andrew Cavala came to Califor- nia from his native land in 1873, locating in Merced County. After he had established himself on the West Side he sent for his wife and son, Paul L., who joined the husband and father in the new home. The family remained in that county until the year 1910, when they were induced to come to Santa Clara County by their son, Paul, who had preceded them, and both are still honored citizens of this county at the present time.

Paul L. Cavala was reared from infancy to young manhood in Merced County, where his parents were among the pioneers of the Los Banos section. He attended the public schools there and later took a course at Heald's Business College in San Francisco, then started out in the world to make his own way. His first position was in the general store operated by the firm of Miller & Lux at Los Banos, and after one year there he entered upon a mercantile career in that city and carried on business with increasing success until 1899, when he disposed of his interests there to come to Santa Clara County. It is interest- ing to note that Mr. Cavala served as a member of the board of trustees of the school district where he first attended school at Los Banos; also that he took an active part in local politics and was deputy as- sessor of Merced County three years; he was also secretary of the board of trustees of the Los Banos high school for some time. In fact, he became one of the leading citizens of the West Side in Merced County through his strict integrity of purpose and square dealings with all with whom he came in con- tact and when he decided to remove to Santa Clara County it was a distinct loss to that community that had known him for so many years.

Immediately upon coming here Mr. Cavala en- gaged in a wholesale bottling business and for ten years carried on an ever increasing and prosperous business. The real estate field engaged his atten- tion in 1910 and he began making a scientific study of orchards and soils, so that today there is no one more familiar with land and land. values than Mr. Cavala. He specializes in orchard properties, and it is conceded that he is an authority on that kind of property in Santa Clara County and has handled some of the finest class of properties sold during the past ten years. His word is considered as good as his bond and hence his success is assured.

On July 20, 1900, in San Jose, occurred the mar- riage of Paul L. Cavala with Miss Grace M. Spinelli, and they have two children: Louis A. and Evelyn G., both reared and educated in Santa Clara County.

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Fraternally, Mr. Cavala is a Mason and an Odd Fel- low, and is a member of the Pastime Club, the Mer- chants Association and the Chamber of Commerce; and he is treasurer of the Italo-American Club of San Jose. In national politics he is a Republican. There is no better "booster" for Santa Clara County than Mr. Cavala, and for all movements for the ad- vancement of the general welfare of the people or the county he is ready and willing to give of his time and means to accomplish the end in view. The family home is located on a fine orchard property on Lincoln Avenue, San Jose.

CHARLES HENRY SQUIRE .- A prominent and successful merchant in Santa Clara County who has been in business at Wrights for many years, and is also highly esteemed as the popular postmaster, Chas. Henry Squire is a New Yorker, born in Johns- town, August 2, 1882, a son of William B. and Eliza- beth J. Squire, natives of England, who settled in Johnstown, N. Y. Mr. Squire was a glove mann- facturer, and later came to San Francisco, when he followed the same line until his death at the age of fifty years. The mother died in New York when eighty-three years old. This worthy couple were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living. Chas. Henry, the youngest member of the family, received a good education in the public schools of Johnstown. In 1890 he removed to Tacoma, Wash., where he spent two years and then came to San Francisco. He was a great sufferer of asthma, so came to Wrights, Santa Clara County, and fortunate- ly found immediate relief and decided to remain in a locality where he could obtain such comfort. He be- gan clerking in the local general merchandise store and two months later his brother, James A. Squire, purchased the store and Chas. H. continued with him for eight years, except a short period spent in Los Angeles, in the same line of work. In about 1901 his brother disposed of the business to H. H. Gar- rity and Charles H. was placed in charge of the store, a position he held five years, when he bought out his employer April 1, 1906. He was just start- ing in on his own account when the earthquake wrecked the place, the shelving being shaken down and the goods piled in heaps. Saving a few things from the wreck, he put in a new stock and fixtures and continued business ever since. The railroad tunnel was closed up by the quake and it was more than eighteen months before it was opened again. However, he stuck to his business and has made a substantial success. He tried ranching on the side for a short time, but decided to give all of his time to his business. As early as 1893 he was made assist- ant postmaster, serving until September, 1906, when he was appointed postmaster, a commission he has held ever since.

The marriage of Mr. Squire occurred in Los An- geles uniting him Miss Elizabeth Mattern, a native daughter, born in San Francisco, and they have a child named Edith E. Mr. Squire is also serving as a trustee of Wright's school district, to which he gives the necessary attention, for he believes in hav- ing good schools for the rising generation. Frater- nally he is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 522, B. P. O. E., Ridgely Lodge No. 294, I. O. O. F., Los Gatos, and he was made a Mason in Los Gatos Lodge No. 292, F. & A. M. Politically he is a Re-

publican. Mr. Squire's honorable business career and faithfulness to his public is much appreciated by the citizens of the community.

I. J. KOEHLE .- Well known in Santa Clara County, I. J. Koehle is prominent and popular in lodge circles of the Garden City and is well and favorably known for the excellent quality of his cement work. He is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born at Cambria City, Westmoreland County, November 1, 1863, a son of Ignatius and Catherine (Schenk) Koehle, both parents being na- tives of Wurtemburg, Germany. Ignatius Koehle came to the United States and settled for a short time in Chicago; later going to Pennsylvania, he worked in the rolling mill of the Wood-Morrell Company at Johnstown, Pa. In 1874, he removed to California and worked for two years for Peguil- lan Bros., wholesale butchers of San Francisco, then on July 5, 1876, came to San Jose and worked for the Martin-Schroeder Brick Company. While work- ing on St. Joseph's Church he was injured and was forced to lay off for a time; then began working for the Eberhard Tannery at Santa Clara and worked there for thirty years. Both parents lived to be eighty years old, and during 1913 passed away with- in two weeks of each other. They were the parents of four children, the subject of this review being the eldest child.

1. J. Koehle attended the public school at Cam- bria City; then St. Vincent's School of the St. Bene- dictine order, at Trobe, Pa., and is still an active member of the alumni of this institution. Since the age of sixteen he has made his own way in the world; he first worked for three years and ten months for the Eberhard Tannery; then was with the Pacific Manufacturing Company, later taking charge of Dr. Breyfogle's place on Third and Santa Clara streets. On June 25, 1885, he returned to Santa Clara and for sixteen years worked as a mechanic for the Pacific Manufacturing Company. Following this he became the superintendent of the Catholic Cemetery and for nineteen years gave faith- ful and efficient service. In 1918, on December 1, he leased a twenty-two acre prune orchard on the Los Gatos Road, operating it for three years, and in connection with his ranching duties, he has taken up cement contracting, specializing on family vaults, many of the substantial and artistic vaults in the various cemeteries throughout the county attesting his superior workmanship. He does not, however, confine himself wholly to this kind of work, but does general cement contracting.

The marriage of Mr. Koehle occurred on May 27, 1892, in Santa Clara, and united him with Miss Emma Mary Zipf, a daughter of early settlers of Santa Clara County, and a relative of the Oswald family, pioneers of the county, prominent in the meat business. Mrs. Koehle came to California with her parents in 1877 and was educated in the schools of Santa Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Koehile are the parents of five children: George, Otilia, Josephine, Ruth and Naomi, who are twins. In 1884 Mr. Koehle cast his first vote in San Jose as a Democrat. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus, is a member of the Santa Clara lodge of Foresters, and lias the honor of being the first chief ranger of this lodge; he is also a member of the Red- men and is at present the chief recorder of the

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Santa Clara lodge, having passed through all the chairs; he was the first man to make application for membership to the Santa Clara charter of the Woodmen of the World, and has passed through all the chairs of this order. His son, George, entered the U. S. Army in June, 1918, and was with the One Hundred Twenty-fifth Field Artillery, Thirty- fourth Division, and trained at Camp Corvallis, Ore- gon. He took a special course of two months in the auto-mechanics school, and on completing the course was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma; then to Camp Upton, N. Y. He went to France via Liverpool, Winchester, Southampton, England, then to Cher- bourg, France. He was sent to a camp near Bor- deaux, France, and at Christmas time was at St. Nazaire when he left for America, landing at New- port News, Camp Stewart, then sent to El Paso, Texas, where he was discharged and returned home to Santa Clara.

OWEN DALE RICHARDSON .- Among the many capable lawyers of Santa Clara County, Owen Dale Richardson, of San Jose, holds a noteworthy position. A man of versatile talents, energetic, ex- perienced and progressive, he has met with excel- lent success in his professional career, and is recog- 1,ized as a citizen of worth and integrity. He was born December 18, 1868, in Evansville, Ind, a son of Robert Dale and Mary E. (Bollman) Richardson. His father before him was an able lawyer and for a number of years judge of the Circuit Court of Van- derburg County, Ind. Both parents are deceased.

Reared in Indiana, Mr. Richardson obtained his early education in the public school, later attending the state university of Indiana, from which institu- tion he received his B. A. degree with the class of 1893. Removing to California in 1894, he received his A. M. degree from Stanford University and his LL.B. in 1896 from Cornell. Upon finishing his education, he established himself in his profession in San Jose, where he has successfully practiced since 1896. In 1900 he served for six months as justice of the peace.

The marriage of Mr. Richardson, August 31, 1901, united him with Miss Marguerite E. Kibbe of San Francisco, and two children have been born to them, Helen Dale and Donald Bird. In politics he votes with the Republican party; in his religious belief he is a consistent member of the Episcopal Church, and he is greatly interested in gymnasium work of the local Y. M. C. A. He is one of San Jose's promi- nent and very useful citizens, and enjoys the respect and good-will of a host of friends, and contributes very materially to the advancement of the community in which he resides.

HENRY W. McCOMAS .- Prominently identified with the legal profession of San Jose Henry W. McComas takes a conspicuous part in all the com- munity's affairs. A native son of California, he was born on the Rush McComas tract near Santa Clara, Cal., in the year 1871, a son of Hon. Rush McComas, a native of Cabell County, W. Va., born in 1830. Rush McComas was the son of Hiram and Rebecca (Hatfield) McComas, and in 1841 they re- moved to Platte County, Mo., where Rush was edu- cated. When but a young man of twenty-three he was elected assessor of Platte County, Mo .; later in 1857, having purchased an interest in a Missouri steamboat, he was given the position of clerk on the steamer. In the year of 1861, he came with his

family, by way of the Isthmus of Panama to Santa Clara, Cal., and here he became greatly interested in agriculture, in 1864 purchasing a ranch of eighty acres, which he farmed successfully. In 1877 he was elected a member of the assembly of the State Legislature and in 1878 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention which met and formed the constitution of 1879; in 1879 he was elected to the state assembly and served on the committee of public lands, taking a leading part in the successful effort to obtain the appropriation to build the present State Normal School at San Jose. In 1884, he was elected county treasurer of Santa Clara County and served his community four terms until 1892. In 1893 Mr. McComas became president of the Garden City Bank and Trust Company, which he filled for six years, and after his resignation as president of the bank, he spent his remaining years on his ranch. He passed away in April, 1903, an honored member of the Masons and Eastern Star, his widow surviving him until July, 1905. His mar- riage in Platte County, Mo., in 1853 united him with Miss Ann E. Swope, a native of Kentucky and they were the parents of eight children; four of whom are now living; Cora M. the wife of the late D. W. Burchard; Ella, now Mrs. W. F. Cole; Harriett, and Henry W., the subject of this sketch.

Henry W., the youngest child, was educated in the grammar and high schools of San Jose. He was graduated from high school in June, 1891, and was employed in the county treasurer's office during the last term of his father's incumbency; he then be- gan the study of law in the offices of Judge F. E. Spencer and D. W. Burchard and was admitted to the bar in 1895. He has successfully practiced since then, making a specialty of civil and probate law cases. For seven years he served in Company B. of the National Guard and largely through his in- fluence Company M of the old Fifth Regiment, N. G. C., was formed for service during the Spanish- American War. He has always been affiliated with the Republican party and believes that the prin- ciples advocated by this party can best serve the na- tion. He is an active member of San Jose Parlor No. 22, N. S. G. W., of which he is secretary. Al- ways interested in the welfare of orphans, Mr. Mc- Comas is serving as local chairman of the Native Sons and Native Daughters Homeless Children's committee, in which work the above two orders are sponsors and in this way are able to place for adop- tion the homeless child in a childless home. Dur- ing the recent war, he served his country as county chairman of the Four Minute Men, having charge of about thirty speakers and in that way did very effective work. His service received recognition from the government in a form of a Certificate of Honor issued by the committee on public information; aside from this he was also active in the various Lib- erty Bond, Red Cross and other war drives. In addition to his busy professional life, Mr. McComas takes a live interest in' horticulture, and spends his week-ends on the old home ranch at Agnew, the property of himself and his sister, Harriette. Forty acres are devoted to the raising of pears, in which he takes great pride. He was active in the organiza- tion of the California Pear Growers' Association, which organization has done so much to forward and promote the pear industry in California. He is also a great lover of floriculture and has raised some

Joel Ransom

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fine specimens of dalilias and chrysanthemums and has the honor of having the McComas Dahlia named after him. Mr. McComas is an active mem- ber of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and a charter member of the Commercial Club, and is affiliated with the Christian Church of San Jose, of which his parents were members. Thus his life record is praiseworthy, containing many points of interest and as a citizen he is highly esteemed in the community of which he has so long been a valuable member.

JOEL W. RANSOM .- Since his first location in Santa Clara County in 1883, Joel W. Ransom lived in the vicinity of Madrone and Coyote until the day of his death, and to such men is due the progress and development of the county, which has earned for her the title, "The Garden of the World." At the time that Mr. Ransom acquired his ranches they were hay and grain fields and the progress in their cultivation and development has been a remarkable example of what industry and perseverance will ac- complish. The Madrone tract contained 402 acres; thirty acres were used for pasture land, while the balance was given over to the cultivation of fruit, which he superintended in setting out. In 1884 he set out an orchard of about thirty acres of apricots and three years later it bore a heavy crop, some of the trees bearing as much as one hundred pounds to the tree. He lost the entire crop and at once pulled out the trees and set out prunes. He planted about eighty-five acres in vineyard, table and raisin grapes; also in 1884 he planted sixty acres to French prunes and in 1885 100 acres were set to the same fruit, and in 1886 added ten acres more, making in all 270 acres in French prunes, which was at that time probably the largest French prune orchard in the world, containing 19,000 trees. The farm resi- dence was a commodious, one-story building, well adapted to the needs of his family. Much attention was given to the grounds surrounding the residence and numerous varieties of tropical and semi-tropical plants could be found in them. At the same time that he bought the property at Madrone some six miles from this ranch, at Coyote, he purchased a portion of the old Fisher grant that contained a little over, eighty-three acres; on this place he set out the orchard and a small vineyard; there was a fine two- story residence with all modern conveniences on the place, and this he moved into in 1892.

Joel W. Ransom was born in Salem, New London County, Ct., October 4, 1821. His parents, John S. and Lydia (Newton) Ransom, came from old New England families, and his paternal grandfather served in the Revolutionary War. His father was a farmer and was born in 1788 and passed away in 1871, eighty-three years old. Joel was reared in his native county until he left home in 1841 to make his own way. He went south and located at Cahaba, Ala., and engaged in the general merchandise business; while there he heard of the discovery of gold in California and disposing of his property he set out for New Orleans on January 22, 1849, where he boarded a schooner for Panama. He was twenty- four days crossing the Isthmus; he waited over two months for a sailing vessel that would take him to San Francisco. On the ninety-first day out from Panama he sailed through the Golden Gate.

He at once went into the mines and his history from that time is the history of nearly every miner of those days; he had his ups and downs, and mined throughout Northern California. In 1862 he went to Idaho and from there to British Columbia and later to Montana, where in 1866 he established him- self in Butte City and remained there until he re- moved to Santa Clara County; he engaged in several kinds of businesses and in the years of 1871-72 was county assessor of Deer Lodge County, Montana, a territory at that time.

Mr. Ransom's marriage in Montana, on December 9, 1878, united him with Mrs. James Ruy, now de- ceased. Since 1892 Miss Harriet N. Harvey, a daugh- ter of his favorite sister, has made her home on the Ransom ranch and caring for her uncle. Prior to his death he deeded to her the eighty-three acres where they were living. He was an active member of the Odd Fellows and lived up to the precepts of the order. He passed away July 11, 1897, honored and beloved by all who were privileged to know him.

H. G. DODDS .- A native son of California and now a retired resident of San Jose, H. G. Dodds was born at Todd's Valley, Placer County, Cal., September 29, 1858, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Fulton) Dodds. Thomas Dodds was born in Scot- land, later migrating to Indiana, where his marriage occurred. During the year of 1850 he crossed the plains with an ox-team, settling at Todd's Valley. In 1852 his wife came by the way of the Isthmus of Panama and joined him in Placer County. The father was engaged in mining, in which he had fair success. He was a public-spirited man, serving his community as county assessor and supervisor and also as justice of the peace. He owned a small ranch, which .he cultivated and made his home. Mr. and Mrs. Dodds were the parents of nine children, three of whom are deceased, the subject of this sketch being the oldest son.

H. G. Dodds received his education in the com- mon schools of Placer County. When nineteen years of age, he went to Nevada, where he worked in the Comstock mine for four years, then removed to Mexico, settling in the state of Sinaloa, where he worked in the silver mines. His employer was the noted mining engineer, Clarence King, and under his direction and close association he received val- uable and practical experience. Later he moved to the state of Zacatecas, an elevation of 8000 feet above sea-level. Later he prospected and opened a silver and gold mine which he sold to a company and remained as its manager. In 1894 he returned to San Francisco and settled in San Jose, where he was married to Miss Ida Humphrey, a daughter of a Placer County pioneer; she was also born and reared in Todd's Valley. her people migrating to California in 1851 from Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Dodds are the parents of two children; Lauren, a graduate of Stanford University, now a resident of San Francisco, employed by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He married Miss Ann Tabor, residing at Palo Alto, also a graduate of the Stan- ford University; Alice is a student, at the present time, of Stanford.

Mr. Dodds then engaged in mining in Trinity and Tuolumne counties and was fairly successful. In 1901, during the great excitement at Nome, Alaska, he joined the exodus of the thousands headed for

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the gold fields. He became well acquainted with the late Charles Lane, the millionaire mining man of California and Alaska, and was associated with him in various mining ventures. Self-made and self- reliant, Mr. Dodds has accumulated a considerable fortune owning valuable mining property in Alaska and elsewhere. He enjoys the best of health, and he had his family are living in contentment in their beau- tiful residence at 386 South Eleventh Street, erected in 1920. All enterprises that tend toward the up- building of his home city and county have his hearty support, and it is doubtful if a native son could feel a deeper interest in and love for Santa Clara County than does he, and he enjoys the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

HARRY E. CLOUSER .- It is interesting to chron- icle the history of a young man who uses his spare moments to originate a method to bring out and make an article that will excel as a building material and yet cheapen the cost, a matter very important in these days, when the great forests of our country are being so rapidly depleted. Such a man is Harry E. Clouser, inventor and patentec of the duplex inter- locking building block, who was born at DuBois, Pa., January 30, 1876. A son of John W. Clouser, a farmer and lumberman, Harry naturally assisted his father and learned farming and lumbering while he grew to manhood; at the same time, however, his education was not neglected, for he completed the courses at the local schools in DuBois. When twenty-one years of age he started for himself, working at the carpen- ter's trade in DuBois until he found his way to Pitts- burg, Pa., where he engaged in contracting and build- ing from 1901 until 1909. In that year he removed to Portland, Ore., and in that city he followed the same line. In 1916 he removed to Stockton, Cal., where he was successful as a building contractor, and it was while thus engaged that he perfected the du- plex interlocking building block, which he patented. In 1921 he organized the Duplex Construction Equip- ment Company, of which he is manager, with head- quarters in San Jose and San Francisco, the main plant being in the latter city. The equipment for time manufacture of this method of construction is specially constructed moulds made of the best grade of machine brass and the press is a high pressure inachine of an estimated pressure of forty-two tons.

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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 211

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