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 222

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 222

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2000 gallons per minute. Mr. Rhoades is one of the progressive and public spirited "boosters" of Santa Clara County and can always be depended upon to do his full share to help build up the county.

At Santa Cruz Mr. Rhoades was married to Miss Katherine Garnett, a talented young woman, who was a student at Miss Head's School, Berkeley, be- fore her marriage. Her grandfather, the late J. S. Garnett, was widely known as one of Solano County's sturdy pioneers, where he had extensive holdings which he left to his descendants. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades are the parents of two boys, William G., Jr., and David Garnett. Mr. Rhoades is a Repub- lican in his political preferences, and is a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, and an enthusiastic member of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

MATHIAS STOCKLMEIER .- A worthy repre- sentative of the type of citizen that has made Cal- ifornia a great state was the late Mathias Stockl- meier, whose strong and earnest manhood, forceful character, and business ability have been given to- ward the development of his home place located on the bank of Steven's Creek. He was born on June 21, 1861, in Amberg, Bavaria, and there grew up and received his education in the public schools of his native land. At the age of sixteen, he left Bavaria and came to the United States and almost immediately enlisted in the U. S. Army serving un- der General Shafter in the Indian warfare. He entered the service as corporal and was advanced to the position of sergeant and was studying for the position of a lieutenant, but before he had at- tained to that commission while stationed at Angel Island, he met Miss Adelaide Irmlear in San Fran- cisco, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. He then took his honorable discharge and quit the army to settle down and they chose Los Gatos as their home. Purchasing forty-five acres he engaged in the poultry business, but the hard times of 1893 and the burning of their house took away their chances of success. During the first great rush to the gold fields of Alaska, Mr. Stocklmeier was among the first to go. Going over Chilcoot Pass, he made his way to the Yukon and there he con- structed two boats with which to carry supplies down the river. On the trip one boat sank with everything on board, and besides suffering the finan- cial loss he suffered terrible hardships of intense cold and lack of food and sufficient clothing. The period of his first trip to Alaska covered two years, during this time he followed mining, then he re- turned to Oakland where his home was located. but again the charms of the frontier life called to him and he set out for Alaska, this time for Nome, but misfortune again overtook him and he lost everything, a tidal wave sweeping his mine; and he returned to California. The family were then living at Oakland, and they removed to Santa Clara County, where Mr. Stocklmeier purchased three acres on the Stevens Creek Road, his residence being located on the banks of the Creek. It is particularly well located for the purpose he had in mind, that of making it a show place, in the already beautiful and attractive Santa Clara Valley. However, he was not inclined to set- tle down until he had made one more trial for a fortune in that new and wonderful country of Alaska,

WooRhoads

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so he made another trip to Nome and after spend- ing a few months there returned to his home and took up the work of beautifying and improving his home place, now comprising six acres. He did not long enjoy his home, however, as he passed away January 17, 1919, from influenza. Mr. and Mrs. Stocklmeier were the parents of three children: Louis E., a civil engineer, was a first lieutenant in the U. S. Field Artillery and served overseas; Adel I. is a teacher in the College of Notre Dame; and Al- phonse ). is a civil engineer, and was a second lieu- tenant in the Field Artillery. Mr. Stocklmeier was a man of artistic temperament and had carried out many of his plans and ideas in the construction of their home, so it is indeed a beautiful spot, and Mrs. Stocklmeier being in accord with her husband's ideas is steadily improving it until in time Mr. Stockl- meier's plans and ideas will have materialized. The family are held in high esteem in the community and their beautiful home is an example of what in- dustry and perseverance will accomplish.

WILLIAM A. WHITEHURST .- In the rural district at Lexington, near Los Gatos, William A. Whitehurst was born February 25, 1864, a son of the pioneer lumberman and banker of Gilroy L. A. Whitehurst who was born in Princess Ann County, Va., June 4, 1834. His parents moved to St. Louis, Mo., when he was six years old and there resided for four years. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California and for a time mined in Butte County, but met with poor success and returned to Missouri in the winter of 1852. He once more returned to Cali- fornia, in 1859, and located in Sacramento, but re- mained there only a short time, when he moved to Santa Clara County on the Santa Cruz toll-road and engaged in lumbering. In 1869 he went back East for a visit but returned the following year and took up his residence in Gilroy. In 1875 he became con- nected with the Bank of Gilroy and served as its president for about three years. He had married Miss Hettie A. Logan, a native of Missouri, on Janu- ary 31, 1860. William A. was reared and schooled at Live Oak and Gilroy, later supplementing with a business course at Heald's Business College in San Francisco. In 1884 he took active charge of the lum- ber yards at Gilroy for his father, who had organ- ized the old bank of Gilroy and was employed in its management. For twenty-two years he operated and successfully managed the lumber business, and was succeeded by his brother, Logan L. Whitehurst.

In 1891 Mr. Whitehurst was united in marriage to Miss Mae V. Bradbury, a daughter of the pioneer Hiram Bradbury, now deceased, who was a fore- man on the Miller & Lux ranch. They became parents of five children: Thelma, G. R. N. of Queen's Hospital, Hawaiian Islands: Albert, has been an in- valid for sixteen years; Hettie, in training at St. Luke's Hospital, San Francisco; Ed, a student, and Charles, also a student. Mrs. Whitehurst passed away at the home place in Gilroy December 11, 1911. The second marriage of Mr. Whitehurst occurred September 30, 1914, and united him with Mrs. Mable E. (Heyman) Owen, who has two children, Harold Owen and Ruth Owen, both of whom reside in San Francisco. Mrs. Whitehurst passed away in San Francisco January, 1921.

For eighteen years Mr. Whitehurst worked in the old bank of Gilroy as bookkeeper and assistant cashier. He has also served two terms on the city council of Gilroy. Fraternally he has been a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows since 1886 and has passed all the chairs. Politically he is a stanch Democrat Many have been the reverses in the loss of his first wife and the rearing of his children, and then in the loss of his second wife, but his courage and deter- mination have never failed him. The beautiful Whitehurst ranch, which consists of some 3000 acres, is situated on the summit of the Santa Cruz moun- tains, overlooking the wonderful Santa Clara Valley. One hundred acres have been cleared and set to apple trees, which are just coming into bearing, and a more beautiful sight would be hard to find. Mr. Whitehurst owns a residence in Gilroy, but spends most of his time on the ranch. He enjoys the esteem and goodwill of a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances and gives freely of his time and means towards the development of his community.

ERNEST C. ZICKENDRATH .- The city of Palo Alto is fortunate in having a most complete and up-to-date veterinary hospital, owned and ope- rated by Ernest C. Zickendrath, which is complete and modern in every detail. He was born at Greens- burg, the county seat of Decatur County, Ind., Febru- ary 15, 1877. His father was Frederick William Zickendrath, a German by birth and a baker and con- fectioner by occupation. His mother passed away at the Indiana home in 1900, when our subject was twenty-three years old, and the father makes his home with our subject. They were the parents of two sons: William M., succeeding to his father's business in Greensburg, Ind., and Ernest C., grew up in Indiana and graduated from the Greensburg high school with the class of 1895; in the fall of 1907 he came to California.

The marriage of Mr. Zickendrath occurred in Berkeley during his second year as student in the San Francisco Veterinary College, and he and his wife lived in Berkeley until the fall of 1911, when they moved to Palo Alto. Mrs. Zickendrath before her marriage was Grace T. Jones, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of Evan Winthrop Jones, a native of Wales; her mother was Maria Thursfield, born in Ireland of English parentage. Mrs. Zickendrath was reared and school in Ohio; later she took a course at Denison University majoring in music; she is a fine pianiste and has held the position of organist in the Baptist Church of Palo Alto: she took a two- years' post-graduate musical course in Berlin under the great German pianist Prof. Oscar Raif.

Immediately upon arriving in Palo Alto Dr. Zick- endrath opened an office on Hamilton Avenue and practiced for two years and a half before their pres- ent residence was built in 1913. They purchased three-quarters of an acre and erected a beautiful residence, Mrs. Zickeidrath drawing the plans her- self. The hospital was built in the rear and Dr. Zickendrath specializes in the care of household pets, and has built up an exclusive and lucrative patron- age. He is a frequent contributor to the American Veterinary Journal and a stockholder in the Grow- ers Bank of San Jose, while both he and Mrs. Zickendrath are active members of the Baptist Church of Palo Alto.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

J. E. AZEVEDO .- Among those whose labors are contributing to the development of the dairy industry in the Santa Clara Valley is numbered J. E. Azevedo, an enterprising, wide-awake and progressive young man, who is acting as foreman of a large dairy farm near Lawrence Station and is proving fully equal to the responsibilities of this important position. A native of California, he was born in Marin County, on January 12, 1900, his parents being Andre and Anna (Silvera) Azevedo. The father, a prominent dairyman, is operating the Vendome Ranch, in the Santa Clara Valley, one of the finest agricultural properties in Northern California.

In the public schools of Marin County J. E. Aze- vedo acquired his education, and when not busy with his textbooks his time was spent in his father's dairy, so that he obtained a thorough knowledge of the business under the capable instruction of the latter. When a young man of eighteen the son came to Santa Clara County, and although but twenty-one years of age he is now foreman of one of the largest dairy farms in the entire valley. The ranch, which con- tains 550 acres, is situated near Lawrence Station and is owned by J. B. Enright, of Santa Clara, who leases the property to F. A. Machado, a prominent financier and expert dairyman and head of the Milk Producers Association of San Francisco. The build- ings are thoroughly modern and the dairy, under the capable management of Mr. Azevedo, is operated along the most progressive and efficient lines, so that the enterprise is proving a most profitable one. Careful training has given him a comprehensive knowledge of the dairy industry and he is thus well able to direct the labors of his four assistants. Mr. Azevedo puts up a large quantity of hay each season in order to supply the stock, which is of high grade and consists of forty-eight young cattle, four regis- tered bulls and 182 milch cows.

On January 26, 1921, Mr. Azevedo was married to Miss Mary Machado, a daughter of F. A. Machado, and they are popular in social circles of the com- munity. Mr. Azevedo has inherited much of his father's business ability and acumen and is rapidly forging to the front in dairy circles of the Santa Clara Valley. He is yet a young man, and judging from what he has already accomplished, his future career will be well worth the watching.

L. W. GIBSON .- Continuously associated with the commercial life of Palo Alto for over thirty years, L. W. Gibson is a pioneer blacksmith and machinist of the city, his place of business being at Emerson Street and Palo Alto Avenue. His partner, and brother-in-law as well, is G. L. Evans, the son of a Milpitas farmer and among the leading pioneers of Milpitas. Our subject comes from a prominent pio- neer family of Santa Clara County, and he settled in Palo Alto in the early days when there were not more than fifteen families living there.

Mr. Gibson was born at Milpitas, Cal., on October 3, 1877, a son of the late Edward O. Gibson, well- known pioncer farmer and stockman. His father, who was extensively engaged in grain farming and did threshing throughout the Santa Clara Valley, was a man of sterling characteristics and very successful in his operations. Several years before his death, he was totally blind, having met with an accident which caused the loss of his eyesight. He continued to do business, however, until he passed away in April, 1915.

He was a native of Canada and came to California in the early days where he married Miss Annie Burnett, a native of Mountain View, Cal., and a relative to California's first governor. Grandfather Burnett, who died while crossing the plains to California, married a Miss Jaynes and settled in Mountain View. When the Southern Pacific railroad was surveyed through that city, the right-of-way passed through the Jaynes' house. Our subject is one of six children, three boys and three girls, all living in Palo Alto, where his mother also resides. When he was two years old his parents removed to Santa Clara and settled on a farm and there he grew up and received valuable ex- perience in farm work, driving the big harvesters, and mowers. His father always maintained a black- smith shop in connection with his extensive farming operations and there Mr. Gibson learned to do black- smithing, repairing machinery, etc. He settled in Palo Alto in 1891 and soon thereafter opened a shop and has been in business continuously since that time, at one time being associated with George W. Harms, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. For a long time Mr. Gibson knew every person in Palo Alto and he is justly popular herc. Mr. Gibson's mar- riage, which occurred in 1920, united him with Miss Elsie Lippincot, and they are the parents of one child, Phyllis. The family resides at Mayfield.

PETER J. PETERSEN .- An experienced dairy- man who is much interested in the progress of Santa Clara Valley is Peter J. Petersen, who was born in Silkeburg, Denmark, on March 26, 1869, the son of Christian Petersen, a native of the same province, who died at the age of fifty-six, after a very strenu- ous life in the Danish forestry service. He had mar- ried Miss Sarah Nisson, a native of the same pro- vince, and on Ocober 3, 1921, she was eighty years of age, happily residing at her old home. Peter was reared in the home of his parents, and until he was fourteen years of age, he went to school. Then he secured work on a dairy farm in Denmark, where he had plenty to do, but learned a great deal. In 1890, he decided to come to America, and in company with an older sister he reached New York in October, 1890. In a short time, they made their way westward to San Francisco; but four years later, the sister re- turned to her mother.

In the meantime, Peter Petersen had removed to Sonoma County, and for ten years he was in the employ of R. A. Linebaugh, who had a dairy near Petaluma, and for whom our subject was cheese- maker. He also worked as butter-maker on the J. R. Denman ranch at Petaluma, where he remained for four years. He engaged in the poultry business at Tworock Valley for a few years, and, on disposing of his property in 1918, he removed to Santa Clara Valley and located on the Shepherd Dairy, near Old Gilroy. He operates a farm of 275 acres, with its own irrigation system, keeps 115 head of high-grade stock there, and has made much improvement since 1918. His cheese factory is No. 26.

At Petaluma, in 1902, Mr. Petersen was married to Miss Elizabeth Fisher, who had been reared at Tomales and is the daughter of Judge A. L. Fisher of Marin County; and they have four children-Earl, Clifford, Kenneth, and Norman, who are at school. Mr. Petersen belongs to the Masonic lodge and is a standpat Republican.

J. E. azevedo

P. Castillon

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JAMES CASTILLOU .- Among the worthy pio- neers whose useful lives are pleasantly recalled by all who were fortunate to know and profit from them, was the late James Castillon, a prominent citi- zen of the Morgan Hill section. He was born in Basses-Pyrenees, near lloron on October 25, 1852 and attended school in his native province. Early in 1869 he came to America and located first in San Francisco; he then went to what is now San Benito County and was foreman of a large ranch when only eighteen years old, but later removed to Santa Clara County. In 1884 he settled on the Catherine Dunne ranch near Morgan Hill and the first year worked as a wood cutter; the second year he farmed and the third year he leased a portion of the ranch on the east of Morgan Hill consisting of 3,600 acres and farmed extensively to grain and stock; at one time owning 1,000 head of Angora goats.

The marriage of James Castillowoccurred on Sep- tember 4, 1886, and united him with Miss Anna Bor- denave, also a native of Oloron, Basses Pyrenees, who was born October 12, 1866. Her parents, Jean and Mary (Barillies) Bordenave were both natives of Oloron. Miss Bordenave came to America in 1884 with a sister, now Mrs. Clavere, who resides at Gilroy, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Castillou are the parents of one daughter, Jennie, now the wife of M. Batcabe and they reside with Mrs. Castillou. Mrs. Batcabe was a graduate with the first class of the Live Oak Union high school. For many years Mr. Castillon was a successful rancher and dairyman and in 1909 purchased 105 acres on Tennant Avenue, where he erected a fine residence and where Mrs. Castillou still resides. Forty acres of his ranch were sold to Charles Kellogg, the naturalist, and he and Mr. Cas- tillou became boon companions. The last three years of his life were spent in retirement on account of his failing health. Mr. Castillou received his United States citizenship in Hollister and was the ninth person to receive citizenship in San Benito County. Besides being a successful rancher, he was active in financial matters, holding stock in the Bank of Italy at Gilroy and at one time was a stockholder and director in the Morgan Hill Bank.

After a useful, well-spent life, Mr. Castillou passed away at the family home September 28, 1920, leaving many friends to mourn his loss. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him for his genuineness of character and high ideals of citizenship.

JOHN M. CAMP .- One of Palo Alto's most pop- uiar young business men is John M. Camp, the effi- cient and genial local representative of Sherman Clay & Company's piano store, at 340 University Ave- nue. Genial and accommodating of disposition he takes pleasure in assisting teachers, musicians and concert people in advertising, printing programs and furnish- ing Steinway and other high grade instruments for public performances. He particularly aims to co- operate with local educational institutions in furnish- ing the best of pianos for their public recitals, school and concert work as occasion arises, thereby further- ing his company's business interests and at the same time doing valuable services to the community.

A native of Holland, he was born at Amsterdam, June 10, 1892. Having completed the course of puh- lic instruction provided in his native country, he entered the employ of Holland's largest piano house, the firm of C. C. Bender at Amsterdam, who repre- 60

sent the Steinway and Aeolian Companies in Hol- land, serving as an office boy and gaining sales knowl- edge and a general familiarity with the piano business. He arrived in America in 1909, and coming to Chicago, he first worked in the factory of the Schultz Piano Company, for two and a half years; then he worked in the factory of the Kimball Piano Company for four years. While he received a liberal education in his native tongue, when he came to America he at- tended night school and in this way obtained a good business use of the English language. In 1915 he removed to California and went to work for George Birkel of Los Angeles and in 1917 returned to Chi- cago and again entered the employ of the W. W. Kim- ball Company working in the repair department. He was then sent out on the road as a salesman for the Kimball Piano Company through southern Michigan. When the late war broke out Mr. Camp enlisted and was sent to the Presidio at San Francisco and served in the Coast Artillery. After his honorable discharge he went to San Jose and accepted a position with Sherman Clay & Company, as a salesman, and was with them until they opened their new music store on August 20, 1920 at Palo Alto; he was then solic- ited to take charge of their new store and he became the local representative and is making good in every way. The business is steadily growing and Mr. Camp is one of the most promising of all the young music dealers in California. His efforts are ever toward the advancements of all movements calculated to enhance the general welfare of Palo Alto, and his fel- low-townsmen esteem him highly for his many ex- cellent qualities.

GUSTAF M. LILJENSTEIN .- An ambitious uni- versity student who is combining business and stu- dent life as one of the proprietors of the California Restaurant at 530 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, is Gus- taf M. Liljenstein. He gives his personal attention to the operation and management of this business, which is one of the most popular and best patronized eating houses of the city. A young man of high moral character and lofty ideals, he is resolved to make the most of himself, and keeps up with his classes at the same time that he is shouldering the responsibilities of a successful restaurant business. He was born at Frederickstad, Norway, August 8, 1896. When one year old he was taken by his parents, the Rev. Jonas P. and Augusta (Hendricksen) Liljenstein, both na- tives of Sweden, back to Sweden, where the father became the pastor of a Swedish Congregational Church. He was seven years old when his parents left their native land and removed to the United States and settled in New London, Conn., where his father has since been the pastor of the Swedish Congrega- tional Church.

G. M. was educated in the public schools of New London and was graduated from high school with the class of 1916. Of the seven children in his family, our subject and a sister, Mrs. Carlson, the wife of Emil Carlson, a naval officer residing in San Diego, are the only ones in California. In 1918 Mr. Liljen- stein enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served at the submarine base at New London and on the U. S. S. Fulton. He was in the service fourteen months and was honorably discharged as yeoman of the first class at New London in 1919. He was determined to get a higher education, so he came to Palo Alto dur-

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ing 1919 and entered the Stanford University, pursu- ing the chemical engineering course. So keen was his determination to go through college that he began working as a waiter; then the opportunity came in February 1920 to buy an interest in the California Restaurant with W. C. McCombs and they have been successfully conducting it ever since. Mr. Liljenstein is a member of the professional fraternity known as the Alpha Chi Sigma.

ROLLER & HAPGOOD .- Prominent among the up-to-date, indispensable establishments of Palo Alto may well be mentioned that of Messrs. Roller & Hapgood, the undertakers, of 430 University Avenue. Arthur Roller, the senior member, was born in San Francisco, the son of J. W. Roller, a native of Michi- gan, who married Miss Elizabeth Pfaff, of San Fran- cisco. Her father came to the Coast as early as 1851 and ventured across the continent in doing so, meet- ing and overcoming all of the perils and hardships of the overland route. J. W. Roller came to Califor- nia in 1863, and having established this business, he managed it until he sold out to his son and Mr. Hap- good in 1912. Arthur Roller attended the public schools in San Francisco and also in Palo Alto, and at Palo Alto, in 1909, married Miss Leah Arlene Duncan. She was born in Mayfield, Santa Clara County, and grew up an accomplished young woman. Two children, Willis A. and Robert Lewis, have been born to them.

Frank A. Hapgood, the junior member of the enterprising firm, was born in Nebraska, and his father, Alfred A. Hapgood, was a native of Ohio. His wife was Miss Ella Frost before her marriage, and she was born in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Hap- good came to California about 1900, and Mr. Hap- good is with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as its agent at San Jose. Frank went to the public schools of Santa Cruz and then was employed in the Bank of Palo Alto until 1912, since which time he has been in this firm. He married Miss Eva Kerr, a native of Iowa, and they have one son, Rob- ert. Messrs. Roller & Hapgood enjoy a wide and enviable reputation for the perfection with which they operate their service in behalf of afflicted human- ity and according to the last word of science.

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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 222

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