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 253

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 253

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Mr. Scorsur attributes much of his success to the cooperation and able assistance of his wife, who is the possessor of many admirable traits of character and has ever been a faithful and sympathetic help- mate and a devoted mother, rearing her children to become useful members of society. IIe is a member

Ned B. Morgen

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

of the Austrian-American Society of San Jose and in politics is a Democrat, being broad and liberal in his views. He has worked diligently and persistently, and success in substantial measure has crowned his labors, while at the same time his efforts have been an important factor in the development and improve- ment of Santa Clara County along horticultural lines.

NED B. MORGIN .- A highly respected and suc- cessful orchardist is Ned B. Morgin, who came to the Santa Clara Valley May 18, 1902, and has succeeded even beyond his expectations. He was born at Smok- kovljane, near Ragusa, Dalmatia, November 12, 1877, a son of Ned and Nellie Morgin. Both parents passed away in the old country. When Ned B. was twenty- five years of age, he concluded to try his fortunes in the New World, so embarked for the United States coming direct to Santa Clara County, Cal., first set- tling in Cupertino, but was compelled to leave there within six months to find work. He went to Stanford University and worked as gardener for six years; and while there he studied evenings and learned to read and speak English, which has since become so val- uable to him in his business. In 1908 he purchased an orchard of two and a half acres on Stevens Creek Road at Cupertino, which he still owns. Here he made his headquarters for twelve years, being engaged in buying, curing and selling fruit, in which he met with deserving success. In 1919 he purchased fifty acres on Mountain View and Saratoga avenues, which is devoted to prunes and apricots. He has continued to improve this property from the time he took pos- session, has a complete and modern drying and pack- ing plant, and is well equipped to care for all the fruit raised on his ranch. He also engages in buying and selling green and dry fruit. He counts his suc- cess not only from a monetary standpoint, but he has also used his best efforts to advance his community. The marriage of Mr. Morgin at Cupertino, January 4, 1912, united him with Miss Annie Kalafatovich, who was also born in Dalmatia and came to San Jose in 1911, and they are the parents of four children: Ned B., Jr., Martin B., Nellie, and Mary. Mr. Mor- gan is proud of being an American citizen and exer- cises his franchise as a Republican. He finds his recreation in auto trips throughout the beautiful Santa Clara Valley and at all times he freely gives his sup- port to all progressive measures and is counted a worthy citizen of the county.

F. A. LINQUIST .- A thoroughly experienced miller whose success speaks well for the exceptional opportunities afforded by the Golden State is F. A. Linquist, the efficient and popular manager of the Alber Bros. Milling Company at San Jose. He was born at Chelsea, Wis., on August 23, 1885, the son of Charles A. Linquist, the well-known contractor who came to California in 1887, and who had mar- ried Miss Lena Larson.

Our subject enjoyed all the advantages of both the grammar and high schools of San Jose, and he par- ticularly profited from a first-class business course. Then, for eleven years, he was with the Garden City Bank and also the Bank of Italy, in San Francisco, and after that he organized the Farmers' Grain & Poultry Supply Company, in San Jose, a partnership concern, in which he was active for a year. On January 1, 1920, he assumed his present responsibility. He threw himself enthusiastically into the undertak-

ing, mastered the details, and so built up an enviable trade that the company now operates within a radius of twenty miles and does an ever-increasing business. All America knows the excellence of any Alber's ontput, and the Alber Bros. Milling Company, under Mr. Linquist's expert and energetic management, bids fair to enjoy more and more popular favor and to increase each year, with the natural and healthy expansion and growth of Santa Clara County, in sound prosperity.

At San Jose, in 1911, Mr. Linquist was married to Miss Elsie C. Keffel, a native of San Jose and the daughter of George Keffel, and their union has been blessed with one son, F. A. Linquist, Jr. Mr. Linquist is a Mason, and belongs to the Chapter, the Council and Commandery, and he is also an Elk and a Druid. He is fond of hunting and fishing, and so naturally has some very good stories to tell. Politically, he votes with the Republicans.

CHARLES E. LAURA .- A newcomer in San Jose who has brought to California a record of steady successes as a contractor in Detroit, is Charles E. Laura, of 580 South Eleventh Street. He was born about thirty miles from Detroit, in Michigan, on February 11, 1869, and his father was Joseph Laura, the well-known market gardener. He had married Miss Mary Warner, but her death, when Charles was beginning his teens, broke up the family life, and the lad made his way in the world ever since. It so hap- pened, therefore, that he had only four years of com- mon schooling in the country districts. The Warner family belongs to the circle of Michigan pioneers, and Mrs. Laura was the sixth child in a family of eleven. The father was in the Michigan Volunteer Infantry and served in the Army of the Potomac. He was wounded in the leg but recovered and is still living in San Jose. In 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Laura, Sr., came to San Jose, and here Mr. Laura still lives, aged seventy-six.

Commencing with odd jobs from the start, Charles Laura served an apprenticeship at basket-making and coopering, and then he took up the carpenter's trade and continued at it until he became a building contractor. He has put up many of the finest homes in the best residential districts of Detroit, where he continued as a leader in his field until 1919.

In October of that year he came to California and settled at San Jose, where he bought a home in the 400 block on South Eleventh Street. He soon sold it, however, and bought another residence at 580 South Eleventh Street, and there he is living today. He has been busy carpentering, and intends soon to launch out as a contractor able to erect the finest kind of homes. It is only a question of time, there- fore, and Mr. Laura may be counted upon to con- tribute his full share toward the elevation of the public taste in dignified, practical architecture.

At Detroit, Mich., on April 20, 1894, Mr. Laura was married to Miss Anna Deemer, a native of Yale, Mich., and the daughter of George and Sarah Jane (McGinty) Deemer, worthy farmer folks. Mr. Laura is a Republican in his political affilations.

WENDELL C. THOMAS .- A thoroughly enter- prising, efficient and successful representative of the widely-developed truck industry is Wendell C. Thomas, the manager of the Mack Truck Company at 173 South Market Street, and the agent of the

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popular Mack trucks. He was born in Pennsylvania on March 20, 1880, the son of Mark A. and Margaret (Eberhart) Thomas, and he came with his folks to Oakland in 1883. His parents, having completed years of hard and honest labor, are still living, in comfortable retirement. Wendell attended the com- mon and high schools of Oakland, and for three years he had a manufacturers' agency, selling west of the Mississippi and maintaining a home office at San Francisco. He went on the road as a commer- cial traveler for eight years, and he was president of the Vacations Homes Company, a real estate con- cern of Oakland, for four years.

In 1918 Mr. Thomas entered the service of the Mack Truck Company, and the following year he re- moved to San Jose, where he has since been more than successful and is more and more prosperous. The company handles only the Mack truck, and such is their steady trade that they employ two service men. Mr. Thomas has great faith in the future of Santa Clara County, and that means, of course, that he has increasing faith in the Mack truck in this part of the Golden State.

At Oakland, in 1901, Mr. Thomas married Miss Edythe A. Corwin, a native of Oakland and the daughter of Everett and Fredericka Corwin. He be- longs to the Chamber of Commerce, of course, and also to the One Hundred Per Cent Club, the Com- mercial Club, Auto Trades Assocation, the Elks, the Woodmen of the World, and the Odd Fellows, and he endorses the platforms of the Republican party. One son, Mark E. Thomas, has inherited his father's love for motoring and for ranch life-Mr. Thomas owning fifteen choice acres in Los Gatos section.

A. M. WEAVER .- Born in San Jose on Septem- ber 1, 1880, Arthur M. Weaver, proprietor of the Cali- fornia Cleaners, located at 10 South Morrison Street, is mentioned among the younger generation of men who are rapidly coming to the front in Santa Clara County. When he was a lad his mother moved to Fresno County and here he was reared and received his early education in the public schools and later took a course in the business college at San Jose. His first employment, after completing his business course, was with the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany at San Francisco and then he spent the next three years with his foster father at Selma. He then returned to Santa Clara County, selecting San Jose as a place of location and soon engaged in the insur- ance business, continuing in this line for seven years. He then disposed of the insurance business and on October 1, 1917, purchased his present establishment and he has spared neither time nor money in its improvement and upbuilding until the business has grown to such proportions that it is necessary for him to employ five men and two delivery wagons to handle the trade. The plant was built by Mr. Weaver for the accommodation of his business, and he has his home at the corner of Morrison and Alameda.

On February 25, 1906, he was married to Miss Charlotte E. Roese, the daughter of a well known family of San Jose, both parents having been born there. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Weaver, Armand and William. Mr. Weaver joined the ranks of the Redmen and Moose lodges and the Chamber of Commerce and religiously is a mem- ber of the Catholic Church. He is fond of out-of-

door life and sports and is held in high esteem in his community for his public spirit and the vital interest he takes in the welfare and development of San Jose.

L. W. WINKLESS, JR .- A representative of an old Eastern family who is meeting with success in San Jose is L. W. Winkless, Jr., president of the Model Extract Company, Inc., among the largest, best-equipped and most progressive enterprises of its kind in Santa Clara County. He is a native of Newport, Ky., where he was born on September 5, 1879, the son of L. W. and Rebecca (Ross) Winkless, the father surviving the mother, who passed away October 19, 1915. The grammar school education of our subject was supplemented by two years in the high school at Cold Springs, Ky., and after leaving school he followed the grocery line at first and then worked for a time in jewelry stores at Newport and Cincinnati.

On August 16, 1901, Mr. Winkless arrived in San Francisco, Cal., but soon went to Prescott, Ariz., where he engaged in the grocery business, and while living there was married on December 21, 1903, to Miss Meta Ralston, a native of Bentonsport, Iowa. She was the daughter of Dr. Joseph and Lida B. (Keck) Ralston, born in Springfield, Ill., and Greens- burg, Pa., respectively. They located in Iowa and later came to San Jose, Cal., where Mrs. Winkless was educated, graduating from the San Jose high school in 1896 and from the San Jose State Normal in 1898. She taught school in Nevada a year and in Montana for a like period, then in Heald's Business College in San Francisco until her marriage.

In July, 1905, Mr. Winkless located in San Jose and followed the grocery business until the earth- quake, when he bought an interest in the Model Ex- tract Company, Inc., and has gradually acquired the entire capital stock. In the management of the com- pany he is assisted by his wife, who has charge of the office. The up-to-date plant is located at Delmas and San Carlos streets and is equipped with auto- matic machinery for the manufacture of soft drinks. Fraternally Mr. Winkless is prominent in Masonic and Maccabee circles and takes an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his home city.

AL COMPTON .- Among the foremost contractors and builders in San Jose is Al Compton, who has been identified with the larger concerns in this city for more than eighteen years and he has contributed much to the development of the city. Mr. Compton was born in Burlington, near Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio on November 29, 1877, and was the son of Spencer P. and Ruth E. (Immal) Compton, born in Burlington and Mount Healy, Ohio, respectively. The father was a contractor and builder in Ohio. At Jacksonville, Ill., he enlisted for the Civil War in an Illinois regiment, serving from the start until the close of the war. He was wounded in battle and held a commissioned office. He returned to Ohio, married, and there engaged in farming at Burlington, Ohio, and later sold and located in Hamilton and followed the building trade till he retired.

Al Compton's young manhood was spent at the old Ohio home in Hamilton, there he received his education in the public schools, where he gained a good training, then learned the carpenter trade under his father, for which he had a decided bent. He worked at his trade in Ohio, coming to San Jose in

a. Zarevich

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

1902. Here he began to build houses to sell and soon his services were sought and he began contracting and in that line he has been occupied for the past eighteen years. He has just finished the high school at Cupertino, a structure of which he may well be proud. He has done work at the County Hospital, also at the Isolation Hospital, and the Morgan Hill high school and has built some very fine residences throughout the city and county. He keeps a good force of men, and as he supervises practically all details of his building operations, he has built up a reputation for artistic and dependable workmanship.

Mr. Compton's marriage in San Jose, February 26, 1906, united him with Miss Katherine Davis, who is a native of Dubois County, Indiana, and came to San Jose in 1906, and they have made many friends since taking up their residence in San Jose. Mr. Compton is a member of the Observatory Lodge No. 23. Odd Fellows, and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs.

ANTONE ZAREVICH .- A very successful hor- ticulturist, who has been a resident of Santa Clara County since June, 1886, and has established a rep- utation for industry and square dealing, is Antonc Zarevich. He was born near Ragusa, Dalmatia, September 18, 1867, and is one of six children, four living, born to the parents, Antone and Mary ( Kilunak) Zarevich. Both parents are now de- ceased. Antone as a lad had the advantages of the public schools and was brought up on the home farm. In 1886, when he was eighteen years old, he came to the United States and immediately came across the continent to San Jose, Cal. He had no funds, so he immediately went to work in orchards and on farms, and in time became foreman on the same ranches where he had worked as a farm hand. For five years he was foreman for Simowich, then foreman for Blake for three years, after which he worked on the Kraker ranch, first as foreman, then as man- ager of the ranch until 1916. Meantime, as early as 1892, he had purchased land on Homestead Road, where he had fifteen acres planted to orchard, and when it reached full bearing he sold it at a good profit. He had also bought land on Stevens Creek Road and Saratoga Avenue, adding to this adjoining land until he now owns forty acres, the entire cor- ner, which is mostly in prunes, the balance being in peaches, now in full bearing and very valuable. He has built a garage on the corner, making a splen- did improvement as well as a source of income. He owns a home orchard of ten acres on Stevens Creek Road, all in prunes, and there he has built a large, comfortable residence.

In 1916 he resigned as manager of the Kraker ranch to devote all of his time to the management of his own properties. He was first married in San Jose, in 1892, to Miss Micholetta Miglias, who died six years later, leaving two children, Antone, now deccased, and Mrs. Mary Klichin, who resides on a ranch near San Jose. His second marriage occurred in San Francisco and united him with Miss Annie Josich, also born in Dalmatia, and they are the par- ents of one child, Annie. Mr. Zarevich has been a member of the Austrian Benevolent Society since 1887, and of St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, and the Goodfellows Lodge of San Jose. He is an active member of the California Prune and Apricot Grow- ers' Association and is an example of what industry

can accomplish. Starting only with his two hands, with no friends to back him, he has become inde- pendent and well-to-do, as well as influential.

CHARLES S. ALLEN .- A retired lawyer, was born in Michigan June 14, 1864. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1886 with the degree of A. B. Subsequently he received the degree of A. M. from the same institution. From 1903 to 1914 he was a member of its board of regents. He prac- tised law in Lincoln, Nebr., from 1889 until he re- moved to San Jose in January, 1914. In his adopted home he has shown an interest in civic affairs and has served as a member of the Board of Education, the Good Cheer Club, The Welfare Federation, and other public service organizations.

HENRY C. ARTANA .- An enterprising business man, a progressive and helpful citizen, Henry C. Artana is making a record for himself which places him among the successful business men of San Jose. A native son, he was born at San Francisco, Sep- tember 15, 1881, a son of Louis and Louise ( Lavotti) Artana. His father was an early settler of San Fran- cisco, where he was established as a blacksmith and carriage maker. In 1902 the family removed to San Jose, and associated with his son he opened up a blacksmith and carriage shop, and soon they branched out into automobile repairs at the present location. In 1919 Louis Artana retired from the business, and with his wife makes his home at Del- mas and San Salvador streets.

The eldest of six children, Henry C. Artana, at- tended the public schools of San Francisco, later taking a course at St. Ignatius College. On finish- ing his education he learned the machinist's trade at the Risden Iron Works and when the family removed to San Jose he started in with his father as Artana & Son, a business which has grown to large propor- tions. In 1915 a modern structure was erected at Santa Clara and River streets, on a lot 130x190, fully equipped as a modern machine shop and woodwork- ing plant. The firm is now Artana & Geoffrey, and they are agents for Haynes automobiles, Fageol trucks and tractors, and Vim trucks in Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, besides a full line of tires and accessories, being the largest dis- tributor of Goodrich tires in the county. It requires the services of twenty-five people to care for their profitable and growing business, the reward for con- stant application and first-class service. Mr. Artana is also interested in horticulture and with his partner owns a 100-acre pear orchard north of Santa Clara.

On January 27, 1910, Mr. Artana was married to Miss Aurelia Guinasso and they have two children, Velda and Leo. During the World War Mr. Artana was actively engaged in war work, enthusiastically supporting all Government programs. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally a third degree Knight of Columbus; he is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the San Jose Progressive Club and a charter member of the Commercial Club, the Santa Clara County Anto Trade Association, and belongs to the State Automobile Association. Fond of out- door sports, he takes his recreation in hunting and fishing, and is keenly interested in all that pertains to the development of the community.

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NICKOLAS ZAREVICH .- A successful and pro- gressive rancher who has been a resident of Santa Clara County since June 2, 1889, is Nickolas Zare- vich, who was born in the village of Majkovi, near Ragusa, Dalmatia, February 18, 1871, a son of An- ton and Mary (Klunak) Zarevich, farmers who were representatives of very old farmers in that country, their lives having been devoted to husbandry. Nick- olas was the youngest of their five children and he and his brother Anton, also of Santa Clara County, are the only ones in the United States He was brought up on the home farm, having the advantages of pub- lic schools of his section. Having decided to cast his lot with California, of which he had heard as well as read favorable reports, he started for New York when eighteen years of age, arriving in San Jose June 2, 1889. He immediately found employment in or- chards and began studying horticulture, thus obtain- ing the knowledge and experience in this branch of agriculture that has heen so valuable to him in later years. During this time he was six and one-half years in the employ of Capt. Blake of Cupertino. Having accumulated some means, he invested his money in a ranch which he was fortunate to sell at a profit and in this way owned four different places before he purchased twenty-five acres, the nucleus of his present place.

At St. Mary's Church, San Jose, April 24, 1898, the ceremony uniting Mr. Zarevich and Miss Annie Simonitsch, was performed by Rev. Joseph Miller. Mrs. Zarevich was born at Richmond, Minn. Her father, Jacob Simonitsch, was a native of Krauska, Austria, and came to Minnesota when a young man, becoming a prosperous merchant in Richmond. There he married Gertrude Stockard, of German descent. On account of his wife's health, Mr. Simonitsch re- moved to Oregon, where his wife died in 1889. In 1891 he came to Santa Clara County and began fruit raising, becoming a large orchardist. He passed away September 11, 1897, leaving two daughters, Mrs. Mary A. Ladner of Cupertino and Annie, now Mrs. Zarevich, who was educated in Notre Dame Academy, Santa Clara.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Zarevich en- gaged in fruit raising on their orchard place, which they have given great care. Meeting with success, from time to time have purchased additional acreage until they now own 112 acres, all in a body and con- veniently located on Stevens Creek Road; ninety-five acres of the place is devoted to a prune orchard and the balance is in apricots, the place being operated with the most modern machinery. Mr. and Mrs. Zarevich have two children: Teresa is a graduate of Notre Dame high school, San Jose, class of 1919, now attends the State Teacher's College in San Jose. Ivan was edu- cated at Santa Clara College and Heald's Business Col- lege, San Jose, and is now assisting his father Mr. Zarevich is a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, the Austrian Benevolent Society, the Slavonian-American Benevolent Society of San Jose and with his family is a member of St. Joseph de Cupertino Catholic Church. Mrs. Zare- vich is an active member of the Altar Society of the above church and of the Catholic Daughters of San Jose. Mr. Zarevich is a believer in and supporter of Republican principles, and is a member of the California Prune & Apricot Association.

JOSEPH A. ABREO .- A native son of Santa Clara who is now residing in San Jose and the owner of a business establishment, is Joseph A. Abreo, who is the owner of a motorcycle and bicycle repair shop known as Joe's Repair Shop and is located at 236 West Santa Clara Strect, and here he has had a splendid business and is making good. Joseph A. Abreo was born in Santa Clara, on October 11, 1889, the son of Manuel and Anna Abrco, who were early settlers of California, having come to this country in the year of 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Abreo became the parents of ten children of whom Joseph was the fourth. The father, who was a railroad man, passed away on December 23, 1900, but Mrs. Abreo is still living in Santa Clara.

Joseph received his education in the St. Joseph's school and the Santa Clara University, where he re- ceived a good education and upon becoming a young man and making his own livelihood, he was employed in various occupations, first in the Pacific Manu- facturing Company for two years, then in the em- ploy of the Agnew distillery for eight years. Be- coming interested in the motorcycle business, he worked for four years in this line and on August 1, 1917. he established his own business, taking the agency for the Columbia bicycle, and he has since been engaged in general repairing of motorcycles and bicycles, carrying a full line of supplies. He has been very successful in all of his undertakings, giving the best of service.

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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 253

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