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 223

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 223

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ROBERT P. GOBER, M. D .- A physician and surgeon of thirty-eight years' experience in Los Gatos and a native son of California, is Robert P. Gober, M. D., who was born in Sacramento, November 24, 1858. His father, Rev. W. R. Gober, was born in DeKalb County, Ga., in 1824, and was a minister in the Methodist Church South; he married Nancy Porter Beasley, a native of Lynchburg, Va., of a prominent old Virginian family, and an own cousin of General Robert E. Lee. In 1851 Rev. Gober, with his bride, came to California, coming via Panama to San Francisco. After preaching there for some time he took up his work in Sacramento, and then from 1864 to 1868 was stationed in Santa Clara, and after- wards his work was in various parts of the state. As presiding elder of the San Francisco District he rode horseback on his journeys from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. In 1872 Rev. Gober joined the Meth- odist Episcopal Church North, and his first appoint- ment was at Kingsley Chapel, Sacramento. He was presiding elder of Sacramento District for several years, then of the Napa District, and was a delegate

to the General Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Omaha, Nebr. He was chaplain at Folsom Prison for some years before he retired. Rev. Gober was one of the founders of Pacific Meth- odist College, located at Vacaville, and was its pres- ident for some years. In the early days he was a member of the State Legislature, and still later he was chaplain of the State Senate. This noble and grand old pioneer died at his home in College Park in March, 1908, being survived by his widow until December of the same year, when she, too, passed away, at the age of seventy-eight.

This worthy pioncer couple had six children, three of whom are living, Robert P. being the only son. Reared as an itinerant Methodist minister's son, he attended the public schools in various places until 1878, when he entered the University of the Pacific, now the College of the Pacific, where he was gradu- ated in 1882 with the degree of A. B., and then, hav- ing chosen the profession of medicine, he entered the Medical College of the Pacific, afterwards Cooper Medical College, for a year, then entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, where he was graduated in 1884 with the degree of M. D., and immediately returned to Santa Clara County, locating at Los Gatos, where he took up the practice of his profession, in which he has been so univer- sally successful, and he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him for his kindness of heart and philanthropy. He has seen the country round about grow from mustard fields to a garden spot of or- chards, and the city of Los Gatos from a hamlet to a city. He has built a beautiful residence on Santa Cruz Avenue and Bean Street.

Dr. Gober was married in Los Gatos June 17, 1886, to Miss Annette Bean, who was born at Hudson, Mich., a daughter of John Bean, a native of Maine, who settled in Michigan and was an inventor. While in Springfield, Ohio, he invented a force pump and also a turbine windmill. He came to Los Gatos in 1883, and was the inventor of the Bean spray pump, and organized the Bean Spray Pump Company, be- ginning their manufacture in Los Gatos. The plant was afterwards moved to San Jose, where he built up a large business. After years of activity, wishing to retire, lie resigned and spent his last days in Los Gatos, which had always been his home in Califor- nia. Mrs. Gober was educated in Springfield, Ohio, and was a cultured woman whose esthetic influence was felt in the community, where she was much loved and appreciated. Dr. Gober was bereaved of his faithful wife May 12, 1921, leaving two children: Helen Porter, a graduate of Stanford, class of 1914. married David Coleman, also a graduate of Stan- ford, and she passed away February 21, 1922, leaving a daughter, Nanette Coleman. Nancy Cornelia is a graduate of St. Luke's Hospital Training School for Nurses. She enlisted in the U. S. Navy as a nurse, was sent overseas and served at Guam for one year, when she returned and was mustered out of service. She now presides gracefully over Dr. Gober's home.

Dr. Gober was prevailed upon to serve as school trustee for four years. His time is taken up with his profession and he will not consider political preferment of any kind, but is a believer in the prin- ciples of the Republican party. Fraternally Dr. Gober was made a Mason in Los Gatos Lodge No. 292, F. & A. M., of which he is past master. He is

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a member of Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., San Jose, and of San Jose Commandery No. 10, Knights Templar, of which he is past commander. He is also a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., in San Francisco. Dr. Gober is influential in medical circles and has served as vice-president of the Santa Clara County Medical Society. He is a vestryman of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

FIORE CRIBARI -A worthy representative of his family, Fiore Cribari, of San Jose, is ably car- rying on the work of producing and shipping Cal- ifornia products as manager of B. Cribari & Sons' interests in Santa Clara County. He was born at Cosenza. Italy on January 21, 1890, a son of Benja- min and Josephine (Abruzzini) Cribari, both born in that same community in Italy where their son first saw the light. In 1899, with their four children, they came to America and located at Trinidad, Colo., where the father mined and worked in the coke ov- ens. He had followed the transfer business in his native country and this decided change gave him an insight into many angles of American life. In 1903 the family came on to California and made set- tlement in the Santa Clara Valley and ever since they have followed ranching and orcharding. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Cribari had seven children: Fiore, of this review: Angelo G., lives in San Bruno; Stani- slaus is deceased; Anthony also resides at San Bruno. These were born in Italy. Erma, born in Colorado. is a graduate from the State Normal at San Jose; Mary was born at Morgan Hill and is a student at Notre Dame; and Helen, also born at Morgan Hill, is a student in the San Mateo high school.

When his sons became of age, Benjamin Cribari formed the copartnership known as B. Cribari & Sons, and working together they have accomplished much good and aided materially in developing prop- erty in this part of the state. The first parcel of land they bought was forty acres at Morgan Hill, and starting on a small scale in 1904, they increased their operations until they owned and had under lease some 3,000 acres of land in various locations. They have developed orchards and vineyards; raised hay and grain; developed a fine dairy with 225 head of cows from the Mills herd, this latter at San Bruno, in San Mateo County, where they lease 800 acres of land. They own ninety-five acres and a winery at Madrone; have eighty acres in the Lion tract, which they will set to grapes and fruit. In 1922 they bought 330 acres near Hollister, which they expect to put in vines and orchard. For several sea- sons they have raised, bought, packed and shipped wine grapes to markets in the East, specializing in their brand-Sonnie Boy. In 1921 their shipments reached 3,000 tons and they expect to increase that amount in 1922. They use only the most modern methods and appliances to save labor, although they keep twenty-five head of horses on their ranches. Eight men are employed regularly and in busy sea- sons they have from forty to fifty.

Fiore Cribari was united in marriage at San Jose, cn July 6, 1919, with Miss Maria Bisceglia, a resi- dent of the Golden State since 1902, and they have two children, Josephine Maria and Theodore Stan- islaus. The family are always glad to welcome their many friends at their home, which is located on Bird Avenue, San Jose. Mr. Cribari received his naturali- zation papers at San Jose, in September, 1915, and

ever since he has been a stanch Republican. He is an active member of the Loyal Halo-American Asso- ciation and of the Knights of Columbus, and ever ready and willing to do his full share to make Santa Ciara County a better place in which to live by par- ficipating in all progressive movements.

Benjamin Cribari and his good wife live at San Bruno, San Mateo County, where the family have their headquarters. The sons, Angelo G., and Stan- islaus, who died from the effects of his war service, showed their patriotism and loyalty when they gave their services to their adopted country during the World War, Angelo served in France and was a corporal there for one year and since his discharge has taken his place with the B. Cribari & Sons firm. Their father had served three years in the National Army in Italy in his younger days Taken all in all, this progressive family have advanced steadily in the business world during their residence in California.

R. M. OLSSON-SEFFER, D. V. S .- The early memories of R. M. Olsson-Seffer go across the ocean to far-off Helsingfors, Finland, where his boyhood years were spent. He was born in Vermland. Swe- den, May 31, 1882, the son of Pehr and Alma Maria Olsson-Seffer, and while he was still a young lad the family removed to Helsingfors. The father was a wholesale lumberman and engaged extensively in this work, being the owner of seven sawmills. Most of his lumber was sawed in the forests near the White Sea, west of Archangel, Russia, where he had ob- tained valuable timber concessions, but owing to the treachery and dishonesty of the Russian bureau- cratic government, his right to ship out the lumber was denied and the consequence was confiscation of his entire fortune in 1900. The parents came to Cal- ifornia in 1909, settling at Fruitdale, where the mother still resides, the father having passed away in September. 1921, at the age of eighty-seven. Both parents came from excellent Swedish families, Mr. Olsson-Seffer having been a member of the Swedish lower house for eight years.

Of a family of eleven children, all of whom re- ceived good educations in the universities of Upsala and Helsingfors, Finland, R. M. Olsson-Seffer is now the second eldest of those living. With his older brother. Pchr Hjalmar, he left home at the age of eighteen, sailing for Australia, where they spent some time, also including the Orient, New Zealand, Egypt and South Africa in their extensive travels. Pehr Hjalmar Olsson-Seffer had graduated at the University of Helsingfors and was a botanist of note, so that they were well received everywhere. In 1900 the hrothers came to America, settling at Palo Alto, Cal .. where Hjalmar became an instructor of botany in Stanford University and received his Ph. D. de- gree. Later they were joined by their sister Ellen, who entered the medical school of Stanford Uni- versity, but the prospects of a brilliant career were cut short by her death during her junior year.

Having graduated from the University of Helsing- fors, Mr. Olsson-Seffer was prepared to take up a professional career. He first took the regular vet- erinary course in the San Francisco Veterinary Col- lege, graduating with the class of 1907. He then entered Stanford University for post-graduate work, spending three and a half years there, specializing in physiology, histology, embryology and biology, at the same time engaging in veterinary practice in

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Palo Alto, beginning in 1908, so that he has been established here for eighteen years. He is also en- gaged in the stock business, leasing a stoek farm in the vicinity of Palo Alto, where he raises about forty calves each year for milk cows.

At Redwood City, Cal., Mr. Olsson-Seffer was married to Miss Frances Walker of Palo Alto, a tal- ented woman, who before her marriage was a trained nurse; she is an active worker in the Episcopal Church of Palo Alto. Fortunate in an excellent ed- ucation, both in his native land and in this country, Mr. Olsson-Seffer's scientific training places him among the leading men in his profession in the Bay Counties of California, and he is prominent in the Bay Counties Veterinary Association. He is a Knights Templar Mason, belonging to the Palo Alto Commandery, and in politics is a Republican.

His brother, Pehr Hjalmar Olsson-Seffer, with whom he came to America, went from Stanford Uni- versity, where he was instructor of botany, to the City of Mexico. There he was associated with the governmental botanical laboratory, and at the same time was the Mexican representative of the Chile Sodium Nitrate Propaganda. He was government botanist for the Mexican Republic and was a good friend of Porfirio Diaz and President Madera, but during the revolution his promising life came to a tragic end when he was killed during an uprising there. Another brother, Runar Olsson-Seffer, grad- uated at the University of Wisconsin with the Ph. D. degree, and was formerly a student at Stanford Uni- versity. He now makes his home in Sweden, where he is director of the Chile Sodium Nitrate Propa- ganda for Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

HERBERT L. ROBERTS .- A career of more than ordinary business promise is that of Herbert L. Roberts, the cashier of the First National Bank of Los Gatos, who was born and reared in this beauti- ful mountain town. His birth occurred May 24, 1896, and is the son of Charles E. and Bertha (Hen- derson) Roberts. The father was born in Massachu- setts and came with his parents to Iowa, where he was reared. Later he moved to Eugene, Ore., where he followed ranching until he came to California in the early '80s. Here he was engaged again in ranch- ing and later in the meat business at Los Gatos and San Jose until he retired. Mrs Roberts, who was born in England, came to California with her par- ents, her marriage to Mr. Roberts occurring at Los Gatos. Of their six children, Herbert L. is next to the youngest. His preliminary education began in the grammar school at San Jose, and then at Los Gatos, where he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1914. After graduation he entered the First National Bank, and his advancement was rapid, for in 1918 he was made cashier, which posi- tion he has filled with capability and resourcefulness. From July, 1918, till January 24, 1919, he served in U. S. N. R. F. at San Diego as quartermaster of Aviation. He is a member of Los Gatos Post No. 158, American Legion, and is ex-treasurer and member of the executive committee.

Mr. Robert's marriage united him with Miss Ruth Littlepage, of Oregon, and they are the parents of two daughters, Rosemary and Ruth Janct. Political- ly a stanch Democrat he is a successful and popular man of affairs, who always finds time to lend a hand

to advance every worthy movement in local affairs, and the sterling traits of his character have gained for him the high respect, confidence and goodwill of his fellow townsmen.

D. W. JAMES .- A highly esteemed resident of Santa Clara since the carly '80s, D. W. James, of 1259 Main Street, has become well and favorably known as the mechanic for the Hubbard & Carmichael Planing Mill, on West Santa Clara Street, in San Jose, where he has been since 1896. He was born in Decatur, Macon County, Ill., on May 24, 1858, and in that town grew up until he was eight years of age. His oldest brother, Benjamin James, was killed in the Battle of Fort Donelson, in February, 1862, and his body was returned to Decatur for burial. D. W. James' father was Aaron E. James, a native of Vir- ginia, who had married Miss Mary Amos, also a native of the Old Dominion; and on both sides, his ancestors were of English Cavalier stock, members of colonial families established in America long before the Revolution.

When he was eight years old, he accompanied his parents in their removal back to Staunton, Augusta County, Va., the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson, but the country was so devastated on account of the war that the family settled at Litchfield, Ill., and there the lad grew up. His father was a cabinet maker and by his trade provided the support for a family ot eight children-four boys and four girls; only one of whom went back to Virginia to stay, while seven remained in Illinois. It thus happened that D. W. James grew up to learn the cabinetmaker's trade. The father, who was an invalid for several years, passed away on Christmas Day, in 1876. He had had many interesting experiences, as when, with the son who was killed at the siege of Fort Donel- son, he crossed the great plains and walked all the way from Omaha to California in 1854. He sought the hidden treasure in the Golden State, and after nine months of successful mining, returned to Decatur by way of the Horn in a sailing vessel.

He worked for four years in the furniture factories of St. Louis, and then went to Illinois and secured employment in the railway repair shops at Mattoon, 111., owned by the Big Four Railroad Company. In 1882, he came back to California and Santa Clara, where his sister Mollie, the wife of A. Boone Ford, was then living. After coming here, he was employed by the Pacific Manufacturing Company, he being then a journeyman mechanic; and this position of re- sponsibility he filled for eight years. In 1890, he went to work for the Garden City Lumber Company, in their planing mills on Orchard Street, and there he was master mechanic for four years. Then he came back to the Pacific Manufacturing Company, and worked for them in Santa Clara until the end of De- cember, 1895; and the following February he went to work for Hubbard & Carmichael, and he has been in charge of the sash and door department ever since.

In 1879, Mr. James was married to Miss Olive Crowell, a native of Ohio who was reared in Illinois. Her father, Amos Crowell, died when she was only a year old; and her mother passed away at eighty- eight years. Mrs. S. K. Sanders and Mrs. J. W. San- ders of Santa Clara are both sisters of Mrs. James; and she also had two brothers, George and Cory Crowell, that fought through the Civil War, Mrs.

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James being the youngest of eight children. Four children have entered the family of Mr. and Mrs James: Beulah M., who was born at Mattoon, Ill., is the wife of Ralph E. Eaton, the rancher of San Jose; and they have one child, Joyce. Harriet was born in California and grew to be seventeen years of age, when she died. Grace, the third in order of birth, is the wife of Dr. G. A. Snyder, a dentist of San Luis Obispo. Marcella is a graduate of the Santa Clara high school. Mrs. James is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Santa Clara. Mr. James is a member of the Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners, and he is a Progressive Republican.

EDWARD H. MULLEN .- An enterprising busi- ness man, who is proud to claim Santa Clara County as the place of his birth, is Edward H. Mullen, the genial proprietor of the general merchandise store at Robertsville, corner of Almaden Road and Bran- ham Lane, better known as the Five Mile Corner. He was born on September 3, 1884, the eldest son of Edward and Kate (Lanz) Mullen, who came to California in 1876 and settled in Santa Clara Coun- ty. Besides Edward they had three other sons: Harvey A., an engineer on the Western Pacific Rail- way; Frank A., assisting Edward in his store; and William W., an employe of the Shell Oil Co. at Martinez. After ranching in this county for a time the family moved to Redding, Shasta County, where Mr. Mullen engaged in ranching for a number of years, then moved back to Santa Clara County and now with his wife is living on a ranch near Alum Rock, enjoying the fruits of his labors.

Edward H. Mullen was educated in the public schools of Santa Clara and Shasta Counties and as a boy assisted his father on his ranch at Red- ding and became thoroughly familiar with the busi- ness. It was about 1901 that he came back to Santa Clara County and went to work for his uncle, Pros- per Estrade, in his store at Robertsville and he was busily engaged here for about five years, then went to Santa Cruz and became an assistant in C. D. Hinkle's store, continuing until 1913, at which time Mr. Mullen came back to this county and pur- chased the merchandise business from his uncle. He has added many necessary improvements and en- larged his quarters until today he has a modern es- tablishment and carries a large and well-assorted stock of general merchandise, groceries, oils and auto supplies. It was in 1919 that he made the purchase of the eight acres and buildings thereon from Mrs. Estrade and now is sole owner of the property. His courteous treatment of all patrons is well known and assures his ultimate success. He employs three people to help care for the trade, which has steadily increased.

The marriage of Edward H. Mullen and Miss Edna Reeg occurred on June 2, 1913, and they have two children, Winifred Bernice, a student at Notre Dame College, and Edward R. Mrs. Mullen was born in Placerville, Cal., the daughter of the late Leonard and Clementina (McLaughlin) Reeg, who also had these other children: viz, Oscar O., Chris- tina M., and Mary L. Reeg.

Mr. Mullen is a Republican in his political convic- tions and fraternally is a member of the Knights of Columbus, of the third degree, and of the Foresters of America. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Mullen is always ready and willing to

assist in the promotion of all enterprises for the good of the county and has served on various organization committees of the Prune and Apricot Growers; was one of the men who were largely instrumental in hav- ing the San Jose-Almaden highway paved and in many ways has shown his public spirit and enterprise so that he and his family are highly estecmed by all who know them, and particularly in the community where they reside.

LOUIS EATON .- The able and affable manager of the City Garage, located at 529 Alma Street, Palo Altar, Cal., Louis Eaton is counted among the most successful business men of the college city. He is a native son of California and is a wide-awake, square dealer and an able business executive. He was born at Biggs, Butte County, Cal., February 11, 1877, and is the son of B. F. Eaton, a pioneer of Califor- nia, who was a freighter from Oroville into the mines in the early days before the railroads werc built; he was born in Kentucky and came to Cali- fornia in the '50s, and still lives with his son, the subject of this sketch, and is an active and interest- ing California pioneer. The mother was Miss Jessie Jack, born in Scotland, and she passed away when Louis was twenty years old; he is the only son, but he had four sisters; one is dead, one lives in Oregon and two in California, one of whom is Mrs. Henry Sheets of Palo Alto.

Louis Eaton was educated in the grammar and high schools of Oroville, and soon after his mother's death he left Butte County, going to Southern Ore- gon, where he became county jailer, in which ca- pacity he served for a number of years. In 1911 he came to Palo Alto and engaged in the ice business with Mr. Woodard for eight years; then, in 1919, he became manager of the City Garage, and he has been the means of steadily increasing the business since taking charge of it. The City Garage has a well- equipped machine shop with three expert automobile mechanics constantly employed; they deal in Hood tires, automobile accessories of all kinds, gasoline, oils and greases.

Mr. Eaton's marriage occurred at Yreka, Cal., and united him with Miss Myrtle Worth, and they are the parents of eight children: Laura, Minnie, Mabel, Louis, Bennie, Myrtle, Franklin, and Virginia, a large and interesting family, favorites in Palo Alto, and they live at 481 University Avenue.

SEWALL S. BROWN .- Since his appointment as superintendent of the Los Gatos plant of the Cali- fornia Prune and Apricot Growers' Association. Sewall S. Brown has done able and conscientious work and is well qualified for the duties of his posi- tion. A native of Kansas, he was born in Grant County, November 20, 1891, of the union of Frederick B. and Mary (Miller) Brown, who came to Cali- fornia in 1893. The father is a man of high intellec- tual attainments and is now serving as Judge of the Superior Court, his rulings being characterized by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. More extended mention is made of Mr. Brown, Sr., elsewhere in this work.

Sewall S. Brown attended the grammar and high schools of San Jose and afterward became a stu- dent at Stanford University. After completing his education he became connected with the San Jose Water Works and then secured a position as field representative with the California Seed Growers' As-

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sociation, with which he remained until June 1, 1921, when he came to Los Gatos as superintendent of plant No. 7 of the California Prune & Apricot Grow- ers' Association. He has a comprehensive under- standing of the work in which he is engaged and is seeking in every way possible to advance the inter- ests of his employers, who thoroughly appreciate his services.

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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 223

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