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 214

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 214

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HENRY CATANIA .- A native son of California, Henry Catania was born in Los Angeles, Cal., June 7, 1888, the son of Joseph and Josephine Catania, both parents natives of the Pro ince D'Palermo, Italy. The father, Joseph, came to the United States and settled in Louisiana when a young man and farmed near New Orleans one year and removed to California, but only remained one year, when he re- turned to Louisiana and for the next nine years was occupied in farming, after which he again returned to California, content to remain the balance of his days, and is now engaged in market gardening on his farm on North Thirteenth Street, San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Catania are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living: Joseph, Vincent, Henry, Frank, Nicholas, Rosie, Effie, and Jennie.

Henry was educated in the grammar school of San Jose and began to make his own way when quite young. He worked for four years for the Singletary brothers; for Henry Stelling for two years;

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then for two years he was with Charles Bocks, doing orchard work. He also worked on the farms of Frank Holmes and Ed. Johnson in the Cupertino district. He then was employed by the Singletary brothers as superintendent of their ranch on the Fre- mont Road, after having completed a two years' course at the agricultural school of the University of California, at Davis.

The marriage of Mr. Catania occurred in San Jose September 3, 1915 and united him with Miss Antonia Vassal, born and reared in Baldwin, La., where she received her education, and about twelve years ago she accompanied her parents to California. She is one of a family of four children. Mr. and Mrs. Cat- ania are the parents of a daughter, Josephine. In national politics, Mr. Catania is a stanch Republican.

FRANCISCO P. SOARES .- The subject of this review is the representative of a pioneer family of California, Francisco P. Soares, being the grand- son of Antone Soares who came to California in 1849 around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel. He was born in Flores of the Azores Islands, Portugal, October 31, 1872, the son of John and Victoria Soares. The paternal grandfather on arriving in California worked in the placer mines of Mono County; later he re- turned to his native land via Panama to Boston, thence across the ocean to Portugal. When our subject's father, John Soares, was sixteen years old he went to sea on a whaling vessel and after spend- ing four years on the sea, he stopped at New Bedford, Mass., expecting to meet his father, but upon arriving there found that his father had already returned to Portugal; he then secured employment on a sailing vessel and gradually worked his way back to his home; while at home he was married, bit soon left for America leaving his wife in Flores; for a time he was a sailor, plying between Philadel- phia and New Orleans, but when the Civil War broke out he remained in Boston. After the close of the war he went to San Francisco and wrote for his wife and family to come to California, but she did not like the account of the Indian ravages and thought California was uncivilized, so remained in Flores with their four children, Mary, Francisco, Joseph, and Emily. John Soares finally returned to his old home and lived there until he passed away in July, 1921; the mother is still living at the age of eighty-nine.

Francisco was educated in the schools of Flores and when he reached the age of seventeen he came to America landing at Boston and coming by rail to San Francisco in 1889. For eleven months he worked as gardener, then went to the sheep camps in the San Joaquin Valley and was engaged in herd- ing sheep for seven months at $25 per month; then he contracted to work for five years at $30 per month and at the end of the five years he had nothing, his employer having become bankrupt, Mr. Soares receiving but $50.00 for his five years' work. He then went to Reno, Nev., was with P. L. Flan- nagan, a stockman trading camp, for over seven years. At the end of this time he took a trip to his old home and was gone eighteen months, during which time he was married on February 4, 1903, to Miss Mary Gomez, also born in Flores, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Peireira) Gomez. Her parents were farmers. Mr. Soares remained one year in his old home after his marriage and in February, 1904, he returned to Nevada and again worked for P. L.

Flannagan. But before his wife could join him she passed away in September, 1904, in Flores, and the bereaved husband continued his employment with his former employer and worked for him over five years. He then went to work for Andrew Fran- zen, a sheep grower and later went into partnership with Mr. Franzen and Walter Sherlock. They pur- chased 2,700 sheep and within three years' time their flock had increased to 10,000. In July, 1917, the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Soares sold his interest for $30,000; then removed to Oakland and on December 4, 1917, was married the second time to Miss Anna Peireira, a cousin of his first wife, her father and the first wife's mother being twins. She is the daughter of John T. and Mary (Vascou- sellas) Peireira. After his marriage Mr. Soares bought fifteen acres on Pomeroy Avenue near Santa Clara, devoted to the raising of prunes, apricots and cherries. He has one of the finest orchards in the district. Mr. and Mrs. Soares are the parents of two children, Victoria Marie and John Francis. Mr. Soares is a member of the St. Antonia lodge, and Mrs. Soares of the U. P. P. E. C. in Santa Clara and the S. P. R. S. 1. of Hayward. In politics they are adherents of the Republican party.

JOHN F. BEATTY .- Few men in Santa Clara County are more deserving the success attending their various efforts than John F. Beatty, the ex- perienced, far-seeing and enterprising butcher of Alviso, for in addition to his ability and industry, he has always led in public-spiritedness, and has been invariably an effective booster for Santa Clara County and all within its favored borders. A native son, he was born in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, on Oc- tober 14, 1878, the son of George W. and Emma Beatty. His father, who was a butcher in Santa Rosa, came across the great plains in 1851, traveling by ox team, when he was a mere child; and with his folks he settled in Sonoma County.

John attended the grammar school of Santa Rosa. and at the age of seventeen, he started to make his own way in the world. He had learned the butcher's trade under his father, and when twenty-one years of age left Santa Rosa and went to Lovelocks, Nev., where he worked as a butcher. From there he moved on to Pendleton, Ore., where he followed his trade. In 1904, Mr. Beatty returned to Mayfield, where he worked as a butcher for a short time, and he also worked in the shops at Mountain View and Sunny- vale; and in 1916 he came to Alviso and reopened a shop which had previously been unsuccessful. Thor- oughly understanding his business, he attained suc- cess where others had failed, and now he buys grain, feeds hogs, and butchers hogs and calves, and such is the popularity of his high-grade products, that his own cure of bacon is always in demand-far ahead of its being prepared. He has raised a drove of ninety head of hogs, and he has a large flock of turkeys, and it is his intention soon to engage in the raising exclusively of hogs and stock.

At Mountain View, on February 8, 1913, Mr. Beatty was married to Miss Adele Girard, a native of Santa Clara County, and the daughter of a rancher who was also engaged in the management of a hotel at Mountain View. Three children have blessed the fortunate union, Clara, Evelyn and Frank. In na- tional political affairs, Mr. Beatty prefers the plat- forms of the historic Republican party.

Nick Nelson Eva Nelson

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

M. FARRELL .- The genial treasurer of the C'ali- fornia State Grange, M. Farrell, is a prominent figure in the affairs of his locality and his gift for leadership is appreciated by his fellow-citizens. He is of impos- ing stature, standing six feet four inches, and his cor- dial, kindly manner has won for him many friends and a substantial place in the community. He was born near Fond du Lac, Wis .. at the landing known as Eden, May 1, 1855, a son of Ryan and Ann (Don- nelly) Farrell. Making their way to New York in 1867, the family came via the Nicaragua route to San Francisco, landing there about June 1 of that year, the voyage consuming about a month. Settling at Los Gatos, the family purchased a farm and resided there until the father passed away in 1869; Mrs. Farrell spent her last days at Mountain View, her death oc- curring at the age of sixty-nine. M. Farrell was twelve years old when the family left Wisconsin, where he had received his elementary education in the public schools, and on reaching Los Gatos he con- tinued his studies there, meanwhile assisting on the home ranch. Upon the death of his father he was thrown on his own resources and began working out on farms, and so diligently did he apply himself that he became foreman of the Martin Murphy, Jr., ranch of 5,000 acres at Sunnyvale when he was but twenty years old, occupying this responsible position for seventeen years.

On May 20, 1880, Mr. Farrell was united in mar- riage with Miss Eliza South, a sister of Charles D. South, the present postmaster of Santa Clara, the ceremony being performed at San Luis Obispo. Mrs. Farrell was born in New York State and reared at Plattsburg, her parents being Captain Joseph and Catherine (McMullen) South, born in Ireland and Montreal, Canada, respectively. The father came to New York when a young man and although the head of a family when the Civil War broke out he enlisted, becoming a first lieutenant in the Ninety-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry. As senior officer of his company he was gallantly leading his men when he was shot at the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. Mrs. South spent her last days in California, passing away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Farrell. Mrs. Farrell, who was educated at D'Youville Convent at Platts- burg, N. Y .. came to Santa Clara in 1876, and for four years was engaged in educational work as governess in the family of Martin Murphy, Jr.

For four years Mr. Farrell operated the Martin Murphy, Jr., ranch under lease, in the meantime pur- chasing a ranch of 120 acres north of Mountain View, which he planted to apples, grain and truck garden, and another place of 142 acres south of Los Altos, upon which was a thirty-acre prune orchard, the rest being devoted to hay, stock and grain. In 1911 he ac- quired the twelve-acre ranch on El Monte Avenue and Springer Road, known as The Elms, largely devoted to prunes, and here the family make their home. Mr. Farrell has always taken a live interest in the political affairs of the county, and has served on the Democratic Central Committee, attending the various state and county conventions. He is a mem- ber of San Jose Lodge No. 522, B. P. O. E., and San Jose Lodge No. 879, K. of C., also of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, having served as county presi- dent. Mr. and Mrs. Farrell were charter members of the Mountain View Grange, which was the largest grange in the state, and Mr. Farrell has held all the 58

offices of the local organization. He is a past worthy master and since 1913 he has been state treasurer of the California Grange and with his wife has attended every state session, being elected a member of the executive committee at the first session. Mr. Farrell is the local chairman of the "sign-up" committee of the Prune and Apricot Growers, Inc .; a charter mem- ber of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Mountain View, he assisted in its organization and was on its first board of directors, a large stockholder. he is now serving as its vice-president and one of the board of directors. Mrs. Farrell has been active in civic and social circles and is a charter member and ex-president of the Mountain View Woman's Club, and is a charter member and past president of Col. Peter Porter Circle of Ladies of the G. A. R. of Mountain View. She is interested in the cause of edu- cation and for nine years was president of the board of trustees of the Mountain View grammar and high schools. She is chairman of the Mountain View auxiliary of the American Red Cross and gave valu- able service during the war, as did her husband, who was active in all the drives and other Government ac- tivities. Mr. and Mrs. Farrell are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Mountain View.

GEORGE WASHINGTON TALLMON. - A hale and hearty octogenarian resident of Morgan Hill, whose more than four score years rest lightly on his shoulders, is George Washington Tallmon. a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he was born near the village of Dunkirk on October 12. 1837. The family removed to Iowa in pioneer days and Mr. Tallmon was educated in the schools at Davenport, then entered lowa College at Daven- port for a preparatory college course, finishing his schooling at Beloit College, Beloit, Wis., and fol- lowed the teaching profession, being principal of the school at Davenport, fowa, when he enlisted on September 6, 1862, in Company E, Twentieth lowa Volunteer Infantry, and was made second ser- geant and a year later was commissioned as first lieutenant. He was active on the various fronts dur- ing his term of enlistment, though spent considerable time on detached duty. His company wintered at Prairie Grove and in the winter of 1862-63 Mr. Tall- mon returned north as a recruiting officer. In March, 1863, he rejoined his company and went to St. Louis, rejoined his regiment and embarked on boats at St. Louis, Mo., going down the Mississippi, besieging Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. The shortage of sup- plies necessitated a heavy guard and in this work and in solving the problem of getting additional food for the troops Mr. Tallmon had many exciting and unusual experiences. After the surrender of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, he finally went on to Washington, D. C. He resigned his commission on May 9, 1865.

Settling in Scott County, Iowa, on his return from the war, he became extensively interested in stock and grain farming, raising as high as 6,000 bushels a season. He was prominent in the public life of the locality, and held the offices of school director and justice of the peace for many years. During the war, on March 2, 1862, Mr. Tallmon was united in marriage with Miss Susan Carhart, a native of Syracuse, N. Y., who passed away at their home at Grinnell, Iowa. They were the parents of twelve children, as follows: Grace died in infancy; Ada

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

died at the age of twelve; Angeline is the wife ofcilia, and after them the twins, Charles and Rich- Rev. Burton Jones,-they reside at Forest Grove, Ore., and have eight children; Clara is the wife of Professor Lines Jones of Oberlin College and is the mother of five children; George Albert, a rancher at Morgan Hill, is married and has ten children; Susan married Rev. B. F. Sargent and they reside at Berkeley; Lucy is the wife of Harry Miler of Walnut Creek and they have four children; Marga- ret married Dr. L. Rutherford of Peoria, 111., and they have five children; Clover married L. D. Smith, has four children and lives in Humboldt County; Esther is a teacher at Morgan Hill; Edith is a mis- sionary in China; John died at the age of eighteen.

In 1902 Mr. Tallmon came to California, seeking a milder climate, and for a time resided at Berkeley, removing to Santa Clara County in 1906. Since coming here he has acquired seventy-seven acres in Willow Canyon and his residence and ten- acre ranch on Dunne Avenue, near Morgan Hill, where he lives in comfortable retirement, wide-awake and interested in all the issues of the day. He has always been prominent in G. A. R. circles, belong- ing to Lookout Mountain Post at Berkeley. He is a stanch Republican and has been since the days when he cast his presidential vote for Lincoln, and one of his cherished memories is the speech it was his privilege to hear the Great Emancipator make at Beloit, Wis., before he became president.

JOHN ANDREWS FREITAS .- A prominent rancher of Santa Clara County is John Andrews Freitas, who was born on September 15, 1887, the son of Joseph and Lucretia (Cumbra) Freitas, natives of Madeira, in the Azores Islands. They removed to Hawaii and there lived for four years; and in 1897 they reached California, after which Mr. Freitas was busy in Oakland, at various kinds of labor. They had eight children, among whom our subject was the seventh. Mary, the eldest is now Mrs. Dupont, in Oakland; then there is Ernest Freitas; Antone a farmer in East San Jose; Manuel lives on the Al- maden Road, near Los Gatos; Marsoline lives at Santa Clara; the next are Joseph and Margaret.

When he was seven years old, John Andrews ac- companied his parents to Santa Clara, and in that town he attended the grammar school. At the age of eighteen, he began to make his own way in the world, and he worked on farms, at the Western Distilleries at Agnew and for ten years he was employed by the San Jose Brick Company. In 1919, he took up farming and rented twelve and one-half acres of prune and apricot land at the corner of Kirk and McKee streets. At the end of two years he leased 150 acres, five acres of which were given up to a vineyard, and there he has prospered. Proud of the land in which he has found such advantages, Mr. Freitas, as a good Republican, has sought to do his duty as a citizen, and to enthuse others with the same admiration for America.

In Oakland, Cal., on June 29, 1908, Mr. Freitas was married to Miss Margaret Fereirra, the daugh- ter of Manuel and Antonia Fereirra, both natives of St. Miguel in the Azores. Mrs. Freitas came to the United States when she was eight years old, and for another eight years lived in Boston, Mass .; then removed to Oakland. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Freitas. Willard W. is the oldest son, then come Alice May, and Margaret Ce-

ard, and then Manuel, Dolores Madaline, Roy Jo- seph, Daniel Andrews and Robert James

JOHN J. MICHEL .- A native son of California, John J. Michel has demonstrated what industry and perseverance will accomplish in this favored section. He was born at Nicholas, Sutter County, September 1, 1874, the son of John Adam and Anna Margaret (Krieg) Michel. The father came to Cali- fornia in the '60's, from his native country of Ger- many, having been born at Abrefaussen. He had engaged in farming in his native land, and after set- tling in California bought land in Sutter County and continued to farm, raising grain and stock. He passed away in 1900, but the mother still lives at the age of eighty and is hale and hearty. They were the parents of seven children: Frank Joseph; Mary Eva, now Mrs. Otto Abel of Cupertino; Kasper Joseph; John J. of this review; Folka Margretta, now Mrs. Hous- ley; Elizabeth Catherine, Mrs. Waters of Shasta County; and Regina Hermina.

John J. attended the public schools of Nicholas and helped his father on his ranch until he came to Santa Clara County. He was married at Nicholas on June 30, 1915 to Miss Folka Margaretta Peter, a native daughter, born at Nicholas, Cal., a daughter of Kasper Joseph and Regina (Bergardt) Peter, the father a farmer. Her mother's people came from Germany and settled in California many years ago. Mrs. Michel obtained her education in the schools of Nicolaus. During 1915, Mr. Michel came to Santa Clara County and bought a ten-acre orchard on the Homestead Road a half mile west of the Collins school house and has continued to live there. Mr. and Mrs. Michel are the parents of two children, Helen Virginia, and Esther Margaret. Mr. Michel is a Republican and votes for and supports the candidates of that party.

OTTO ABEL .- An enterprising rancher of the Santa Clara Valley, who by industry and persever- ance has succeeded in accumulating a substantial competence, and comfortable home, is Otto Abel, who owns a fine orchard on the Homestead Road. He was born in the Rhine Province, Germany, June 22, 1865, the son of John and Eva Abel, both natives of that country, and there he was reared on a farm and received his education, remaining at home until he was eighteen years old, when he left home, bound for America and California. He settled first in the Sac- ramento Valley and did farm work for ten years near Marysville, Cal., then removing to the Santa Clara Valley he bought ten acres on the Foxworthy Road. For five years he farmed this place and worked for neighboring farmers, thus enabling him to pay. for his ranch. He resided on this place for twelve years, then disposed of it and rented a fifteen-acre fruit ranch, and ran this for two years; then in 1907 bought the thirty-acre orchard on the Homestead Road. This ranch was set to prunes, but was an old orchard and Mr. Abel pulled out the old trees and planted it anew; also built a new house and other buildings, making substantial and attractive improvements.

Mr. Abel's marriage occurred in the fall of 1893 in Sacramento, and united him with Miss Eva Michel, a native daughter born near Nicolaus, Sutter County, a daughter of Adam and Margaret Michel. Both parents were natives of the Rhine Province in Ger- many, and were farmers there. They are the par-

James M. Scenyon

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ents of three children; Anna, now Mrs. H. J. Baum- gartner, residing on a ranch; Lawrence resides in Sunnyvale; and Edward lives at home with his par- ents. Mr. Abel disposed of ten acres of his ranch in 1915, retaining the balance of twenty acres.

JAMES MONROE KENYON,-A worthy repre- sentative of a prominent pioneer family, James Mon- roe Kenyon, was born on the old Kenyon ranch on Homestead Road, three miles west of Santa Clara, February 26, 1863, the son of James Monroe and Mar- tha (Roberts) Kenyon. The father first came to Cal- ifornia in 1849 and the following year bought the ranch on Homestead Road. He was a native of Adams County, Ohio, born May 29, 1817, on the banks of the Ohio River. The paternal grandfather, Jonathan Kenyon, a native of Vermont, came to Ohio when a young man, located in Adams County and engaged in farming. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a stanch Republican to the day of his death; he married Sarah Stratton, born in Kentucky, her father Aaron Stratton, a native of Virginia, having removed to the Blue Grass state, where he engaged in the manufacture of salt. He was an extensive slave owner and a man of prom- inence in the community, where he died in 1829. He was also a soldier in the War of 1812. James Mon- roe Kenyon, Sr., received a good education in the public schools, and helped his father on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he was ap- prenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. He did con- tracting and building throughout the county and in Cincinnati. He then went to St. Louis and followed his trade for a time; then to Alton, Ill .; he then re- turned to his Ohio home and followed his trade for a few months. In company with his two brothers, Samuel and Thompson, he went to Missouri and worked at his trade, and in 1849 he started for Cal- ifornia, making the trip with ox-teams. Upon his arrival in the spring of 1850, he went into the mines and remained there until the fall of the same year when he came to Santa Clara Valley. Mrs. Kenyon was a native of Lewis County, Ky., the daughter of Woodford Roberts. Her mother died while they lived in Kentucky and after Mrs. Kenyon located in California, Mr. Roberts came west on a visit in 1889, passing away a few years later at an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon had a large family, six of whom grew to maturity. Mrs. Sarah F. Gardner was a resident of Santa Clara County until her death; John Fletcher is deceased; Harvey Thompson, deceased; Mrs. Emma Slavens of Santa Clara; B. Frank resides on the old home place; and James Monroe, of this sketch. The father had been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since he was sixteen years of age; he passed away in 1907 at the age of ninety years and Mrs. Kenyon died the same year.

James Monroe Kenyon was educated in the public schools of Santa Clara and the College of the Pacific. In Santa Clara occurred his marriage at the age of nineteen to Miss Mira Rea, a native of Placer County, Cal., who passed away in 1918, the mother of three children; Elsie V., now Mrs. Brickly, and resides in Los Angeles; Minnie E., Mrs. McNally, resided in Tuolumne County until she passed away in March, 1922, and Addie I. is Mrs. Paul Nerell and lives in San Jose. There are seven grandchildren. After his marriage, Mr. Kenyon farmed a portion of the

old home place and in 1885, he removed to Aptos, Santa Cruz County, where he engaged in farming and became the possessor of a 160-acre ranch, a portion of it overlooking Monterey Bay and Salinas Valley. Here he set out an apple orchard; half of the prop- erty is still in native timber with its tall redwood trees. He still owns the ranch, but in 1908 returned to Santa Clara County, taking up his residence on his present place of fifty acres on Fruitvale Avenue. Here he devotes his time to raising prunes and apricots and has developed it into a very valuable place. In politics Mr. Kenyon is a Republican; he is master of Santa Clara County Pomona Grange, serving his second term and is a member of the Saratoga Im- provement Association. He joined the Methodist Church when a young man of seventeen years, is now a member of the Saratoga Methodist Episcopal Church in which he is secretary of the board of trus- tees and recording steward. He takes pride in be- ing a member of the Santa Clara County Pioneer Society, and can be counted upon to assist and en- dorse all progressive measures.

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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 214

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