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 83

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

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In Scotland, on December 19, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary MacVicar, born in that country, and they have become the parents of eight children: Andrew, connected with Richmond-Chase Company in San Jose, and the father of two children. Dorothy and Norman A .; Hamilton, on the ranch with his father, formerly a garage owner at Saratoga; Jessie, the wife of A. L. Cilker of Los Gatos; Isa- bella, at home with her parents; Alexander, a civil engineer in the employ of the state and living in Berkeley, and has two children, Alexander and Mary Incz; Margaret, also at home; Mary, the wife of A. E. Stewart, of Berkeley; while Lawrence, widely known among a large circle of friends, died at the age of twenty-four.

Mr. Russell is a stalwart Republican and alive to the interests of his party in national issues, but in local matters he is above partisanship and supports the men and measures for the greatest good to the

Chas. J. 10. Herrmann

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

greatest number. He is a stanch advocate of edu- cation and has served as a member of his local school board for many years. He is a member of Liberty Lodge No. 299. F. & A. M. of Santa Clara. He is public spirited to a high degree, giving freely of his time and means to promote movements for the moral and social uplift of his adopted state and county. He has witnessed the steady growth and development of Santa Clara County and now in the evening of his days, with his good wife by his side, and surrounded by his children and grandchildren, enjoys life to its full, a well-deserved reward for his busy years.

JOHN R. LOCURTO .- In the path of an orderly progression, each step being made at the cost of earnest labor and close application, John R. Locurto has reached an enviable place in the business circles of San Jose, being now closely associated with its commercial interests as proprietor of the Consoli- dated Garage, one of the leading enterprises of this character in the city. He also has other business interests here and in the management of his affairs has displayed sound judgment, energy and enter- prise. He was born in New York City, November 22, 1888, a son of G. B. and Lucile Locurto, the former a native of Palermo, Italy. When a young man the father emigrated to the United States, es- tablishing his home in New York City, where he resided until 1901, when he responded to the call of the West and came with his family to California. He established his home in San Jose and soon after- ward identified himself with its business interests, opening a grocery store on West San Carlos Avenuc. He has now reached the age of seventy years but is still actively at work. Mr. and Mrs. Locurto be- came the parents of three sons and three daughters.

John R. Locurto acquired his education in the public schools of New York City, which he attended to the age of thirteen years, and a year later started out in life on his own account, going to San Fran- cisco, where for two years he was employed in the Union Iron Works. He then returned to San Jose and for the next three years worked for the Cali- fornia Fruit Canners' Association, afterward opening a butcher shop on West San Carlos Street. This he continued to successfully conduct until the spring of 1920, when he withdrew from its active manage- ment, although he still retains the ownership of the shop. He then bought out the Consolidated Garage and took over the Santa Clara County territory for the Kissel, Maxwell and Liberty cars. He carries at least one of cach of these machines in stock all of the time and his aggressive business methods have resulted in a large volume of sales. He is now con- ducting his interests in a fine modern garage, 50x250 feet, at 355 South First Street, which was especially . erected for this purpose. He carries a full line of automobile accessories and parts to the amount of $11,000 and also maintains a well-equipped repair shop capable of meeting .all of the demands of the trade. Under his able management the business has enjoyed a remarkably rapid growth and he now gives constant employment to from eighteen to twenty men. He was formerly the owner of a twenty-acre ranch on the Fox-Wertly Road, but sold the property on May 22, 1920, and invested the proceeds in his automobile business.

In October, 1914, at San Jose, Mr. Locurto was united in marriage to Miss Lina Petrina Garnise, a native of Texas and a daughter of Antone and Mar- garet Garnise. Her parents removed to San Jose during her girlhood and her education was acquired in the schools of Texas and this locality. Three sons have been born of this union: John, Jr., Antone and Joseph. Mr. Locurto is a valued member of the Italian-American Club of San Jose, and his political allegiance is given to the Republican party. His career has been marked by steady advancement, duc to his close application, industry and unquestioned reliability, and he deserves classification with the successful and public-spirited citizens of San Jose.

KARL R. FREDERICKS .- An aggressive, pro- gressive young man who is fast rising in the busi- ness world and enjoying the fruits of intelligent in- dustry and a well-merited popularity, is Karl R. Fredericks, among the proudest of American citizens from the fact that he has just received his citizenship papers. He was born in the ancient city of Augs- burg, in the province of Schwaben-Neuburg, in Bavaria, on July 27, 1890, the son of Ferdinand Fred- ericks, an artist and an interior decorator, who was much in demand for churches, public auditoriums and large buildings; he died when only forty years old. He had married Miss Margaret Kurgess, and she is still living in Vienna.

Karl went to the primary schools and the gym- nasium at Augsburg, and when fourteen years old started to make his way in the world. In 1906 he went to South America and worked in a broker's office, putting in a year at Santos and a year at Sao Paulo, Brazil, and in 1908 he came to California. He stopped only a short while in San Francisco, and soon came inland to San Jose; and for three years he worked for the Flickinger Fruit Canning Com- pany. He then took a post in the Star Grocery, and in the six years he was with that line of mercantile trade, he mastered the business. He next joined Messrs. Richmond & Chase, with whom he remained for two years; and after that he worked for a year at Cook's Oil Station at the corner of Sixth and Santa Clara streets. By this time Mr. Fredericks had saved enough to go into business for himself, and he bought out Mrs. Lingua's store on Terraine Street, and conducted a grocery store and soda foun- tain, and sold school supplies. His anticipation of the wants of his customers as well as his untiring efforts to please, have brought him many patrons.

At San Jose on October 18. 1915, Mr. Fredericks was married to Miss Angela Lavagnino, a native of San Jose and the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Rieger) Lavagnino, who came to California in 1876 when she was twenty-two years old. Joseph Lavag- nino, who is still living here at the age of sixty-five, hailed from Genoa, Italy, although his wife came from Bavaria. Angela attended the grammar and high school of Notre Dame, and she also studied music and graduated in that subject in 1914. She has two children: Karl J. and Margaret A., a joy in particular to Grandfather Lavagnino, who is now one of the old-time residents of San Jose and who by industry and close application to business ac- quired a competence so that he now lives retired, enjoying the fruits of his iabor.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ALEXANDER J. HART .- Prominent among the merchants of San Jose who have contributed largely toward the rapid and magnificent development of the city as a great commercial center, is, undoubtedly, Alexander J. Hart, the president of the L. Hart & Sons Company, one of the oldest business houses in this section of the state. He was born at Santa Clara on July 23, 1869, the son of Leopold Hart, the famous pioneer who had the first brick store building in San Jose, having come here in 1856 and ten years later founded the house which bids fair to perpetuate his name. He married Miss Hortense Cahen and for nineteen years was a storekeeper at Santa Clara; and when he came to San Jose he bought the old Corner Cash Store. He died on April 12, 1904, widely known and greatly respected.

Alexander Hart attended the grammar and the high schools of San Jose, and when a mere youngster joined his father in the conduct of the business. For some time he had practically managed the store; and on his father's death, he assumed charge. Concerning this succession, of such importance to the San Jose public, the representative newspaper, the "Mercury," well said:

"Absolute integrity and business authority of the highest type are represented in A. J. Hart, and the record of the growth of L. Hart & Son Company indicates that as a business leader he is rapidly realiz- ing the ambition of his father for the firm's expansion. The space now covered was formerly occupied by twenty different concerns. L. Hart & Son Company now occupy two-thirds of the entire block bounded by Santa Clara, Market, Lighston and Post streets, and there are thirty-five complete departments in the store. The apt slogan of L. Hart & Son Company is: 'California's Fastest Growing Store,' It has grown from a shop occupying 2,500 square feet to an estab- lishment occupying approximately 50,000 square feet: and from a store employing only four clerks to one having over one hundred fifty employees." The "Mer- cury Herald" of November 22, 1912, carried thirty-two pages of advertising space for this firm, and this journal said editorially: "Perhaps never before in any city of the United States has a single advertiser occupied with the contents of his own establishment thirty-two pages of space." In 1922 A. J. Hart com- pleted the purchase of the balance of the site now occupied by the establishment.

Mr. Hart was married at New York, on March 5, 1910, to Miss Nettie Brooks, an accomplished lady of Washington, D. C .; and their fortunate union has been blessed with the birth of four children: Leopold Brooks, Mariam Hortense, Allese Josephine, and Alexander J., Jr. Mr. Hart is a member of the Elks, the Native Sons of the Golden West, and the Sainte Claire, the Country and the Commercial clubs. He was one of the originators of the plan to organize the Commercial Club and he is a director and its vice- president. He called the first meeting of the Mer- chants Association, he originated the "Booster Trips," and he has long been an active member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce. A man above partisan- ship, he served for several years as police and fire commissioner, and he took a very active part in the Rose Carnival of 1910, and was chairman of the finance committee.

BENJAMIN FLINT-WILLIAM R. FLINT .- The personality and career of Benjamin Flint present a fascinating study to the analyst of character. He was a man of extraordinary mental versatility, un- usual resourcefulness and organizing skill and while he won for himself place, power and position, he also became a dynamic force in the development of Cali- fornia, with whose history his name is inseparably associated as one of its upbuilders and honored pio- neers. His birth occurred at New Vineyard, Maine, February 21, 1827, and he was the third in a family of ten children. A representative of an old and prominent New England family, he was accorded liberal educational advantages for those days, at- tending the grammar and high schools of Anson, Maine, and afterward completing a course in civil engineering at the academy of North Yarmouth, Maine. He secured a position in the office of the Maine Central Railroad at the time that line was built in the state and he also taught school for a while in Maine.

Attracted by the opportunities of the West, Mr. Flint secured passage on a vessel which left New York City on the 15th of March, 1849, and arrived at San Francisco, Cal., on the 29th of August of that year, going by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In search of the precious metal, he went to the mines of Amador County, Cal., where he remained for a year, meeting with average success. He then embarked in the cattle business at Volcano in order to meet the demands for fresh meat in the mining camps and from its inception the venture proved a success. In order to restock his ranch he returned to the East, purchased a fine band of sheep, which he drove across the plains to Southern California, arriving there on the first of April, 1853. As his business grew he admitted as partners Thomas Flint, a brother, and Llewellyn Bixby, a cousin, the enter- prise becoming known as the Flint-Bixby Company. They acquired over 100,000 acres of fine pasture land in Los Angeles County on which they raised large numbers of cattle and sheep, conducting an extensive and lucrative business in wool, hides and fresh meat. Subsequently Benjamin Flint became associated with Jotham Bixby and they purchased 40,000 acres of good grazing land near Los Angeles, and at a later period the Flint-Bixby Company be- came the largest exporters of wool in the state. At one time he was interested with James Irvine, Sr., in the San Joaquin Ranch, now in Orange County. Mr. Flint also became president of the Guadaloupe Is- land Company, located off Mexico and engaged ex- tensively in breeding high-grade Angora goats, hav- ing an average herd of 7,000 head a season. In the control of his business interests he displayed marked ability and energy, and became a dominant figure in business circles of the state. He was elected president of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, but owing to the heavy demands upon his time was obliged to decline the offer, although he subse- quently accepted the office of vice-president of the road, being instrumental in securing from the city of San Francisco the franchise which enabled the company to complete its line. Before the advent of the railroad the Flint-Bixby Company operated a line of stage coaches from San Francisco to Los Angeles and they also became important factors in the development of the sugar beet industry, in ad- dition to various cinnabar and quartz mines. During

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his later years Mr. Flint made his home in San Benito County, acquiring large land holdings near San Juan and Hollister, on which he raised cattle upon an extensive scale. His home ranch was known as San Justo, and here he resided for many years previous to his demise, which occurred in October, 1881. He was a man of culture and re- finement, with lofty ideals and aspirations, and de- lighted in travel, visiting all parts of the United States and Mexico.

On May 27, 1857, Mr. Flint was united in mar- riage to Miss Caroline L. Getchell, a representative of an old and prominent New England family and a direct descendant of Governor Bradford of Massa- chusetts. Mrs. Flint was born at North Anson, Maine, and immediately after her marriage started across the plains for California, continuing a resi- dent of this state until her demise on October 17, 1908, when she was seventy-three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Flint became the parents of seven chil- dren: Benjamin; William R. and George C., twins; Walter P .; Robert W .; Eva and Caroline. Mr. Flint joined the Masonic order in 1854 and in re- ligious faith he was a Congregationalist. He was a big man-big in that power which understands conditions, grasps situations and molds opportun- ities into tangible assets. He never deviated from the course which the world regards as right in the relation between man and his fellowmen and in all of his business career held closely to the rules which govern strict integrity and unabating industry.

His son, William R. Flint, was born in San Juan, San Benito County, Cal., March 13, 1869, and his education was acquired in the grammar and high schools of Oakland. On starting out in life for himself he went to Fresno County as manager of the Adobe Ranch, comprising about 26,000 acres of land. At the time Madera County was formed from Fresno County, Mr. Flint was appointed one of the commissioners by the governor to form that county. Following the outbreak of the Spanish-American War he entered the service and was sent to the Philippines, later returning to San Francisco. With his brothers he became the owner of a ranch of 3,000 acres situated near Hollister, upon which he remained for about fifteen years, during which period he was called to public office, serving for four years as state representative and for an equal period as state senator, his district comprising San Mateo, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. His political record was a highly commendable one, characterized by loyalty to every trust reposed in him and the fearless defense of those measures which he be- lieved to be for the best interests of his state and nation. A few years ago he disposed of his hold- ings in San Benito County and is now interested in Santa Clara County, making his home in San Jose.

In San Juan, San Benito County, Cal., Mr. Flint was married to Miss Mary L. Kemp on May 21, 1901. She is a native of San Benito County, her parents, Frederick W. and Marie Louise (DesLand) Kemp, being pioneers of San Juan Bautista, where her father followed the occupation of farming. Mr. Flint is a progressive Republican and an active worker in the ranks of the party, having served as a member of the state central committee. He is affiliated with the Masonic order, being a Thirty- second degree Scottish Rite and Knights Templar Mason and a Shriner, and he is also an Elk. He is

likewise a director of the Sempivirens Club, which was the principal factor in saving the Giant Red- woods of Santa Cruz County. He is deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his community, county and commonwealth and has long been a strong advocate of the conservation of Cali- fornia's magnificent redwood forests. He is a worthy son of a distinguished sire. By inheritance he bears a name that stands for the highest ideals in business and social life and he ranks with the leading and representative citizens of the Santa Clara Valley and of California.

CHARLES CLARK .- An attorney whose pro- found knowledge of the law has been the means of both drawing to, and holding for him a large and important clientele, is Charles Clark, one of the most popular members of the California bar at San Jose. He was born at Natchez, Miss., on November 20, 1849, the son of John T. Clark, a distinguished lawyer of St. Joseph, Tensas Parish, La. He died on March 30, 1855, when our subject was only five years old, leaving a widow, who had been Miss Margaret Nutt in her girlhood, and who was born at Laurel Hill, Miss. She came of an old influential family of English descent, who settled in the northern neck of Virginia at the same time the Washingtons and Lees settled there. She was a woman of exceptional education, and was the first instructor of her two boys; and when she died on November 29, 1874, she was mourned and honored by a wide circle of friends.

Charles, the eldest son, was the only one to grow to manhood. Although brought up during the Civil War, he had the advantages of a higher education. He started with private tutors, read law in Louisiana, and quite qualified himself for examination; but the evil effects of the reconstruction period leaving that section in a chaotic condition, he decided to come to California and on December 21, 1873, he arrived in San Francisco. Then he entered the law offices of Messrs. Haggin & Tevis, where he read law for a year; and on January 8, 1875, he applied to the Supreme Court for examination, and was admit- ted to practice in all the courts of California.

In the beginning, Mr. Clark practiced in San Francisco and Alameda County until 1884, and in that year he opened an office in the old Martin Block, San Jose, now the theater building, where he has ever since had his well-known headquarters. Coming of a fighting family prominent in the days of the Confederate army, he is known for his de- termination to contend for a client until the last ditch, and to safeguard every interest of those con- fiding in and depending upon him. In politics he is a Democrat, of the old, standpatter school.

At San Francisco on March 28, 1877, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Emma Fowler, a gifted lady of New Orleans, Louisiana, by whom he has had five children. David L. died in Mexico in 1904 at the age of twenty-six; Charles Edgar is a cotton broker at Austin, Texas, and Benjamin Palmer and Jeffer- son Davis are implement and tractor mien at Dal- las, Texas and the only daughter, Margaret Nutt, remains with her parents, assisting in presiding over the house. Mr. Clark enjoyed his home life, at Carmel-by-the-Sea, for some years, but since 1921 the family have made their home at Palo Alto.

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ALVIN M. BLOUNT-Some men are born with a genius for leadership and no obstacle can prevent them from attaining the object of their ambition. To this class belongs Alvin M. Blount, president of the Retail Grocers' Association of San Jose and also proprietor of one of the leading grocery stores in the city. A native of the South, he was born in Atlanta, Ga., September 7, 1878, his parents be- ing P. W. and Sarah (Wagers) Blount. The father was a farmer by occupation and in Georgia grew corn and cotton, remaining a resident of that state until 1893, when he removed to near Dallas, Texas, where he raised corn, cotton and sugar cane.

The seventh in a family of ten children, Alvin M. Blount attended the schools of Atlanta, Georgia, to the age of fifteen, when he removed with his parents to Texas, pursuing his studies in the Northern Texas Normal College at Denton, from which he received a second grade certificate. He then went to Parker County, that state, where for a time he engaged in teaching, and then resumed his studies in the normal school, working his way through, and received a first grade certificate as a teacher. Leaving Texas, he went to Pueblo, Colorado, where he secured a posi- tion in the freight department of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company, acting as a clerk with that corporation for three years. In 1908 he came to San Jose and entered the shipping department of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, with which he remained for nine years. Through thrift and economy he at length accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to embark in business on his own account, and in August, 1916, he purchased a grocery store at the corner of San Fernando and Seventh Streets, choosing a location near the high school. For three years he conducted that establishment and then when plans for the new high school were com- pleted it took in his location, and he then purchased a building at the corner of Tenth and William Streets, to which he removed his stock, consolidating the two, remaining in that locality for a year, or until March 14, 1921, when he obtained an option on the old Bluett property at the corner of Twenty-third and San Fernando streets, transferring his stock to this store, although still retaining his former holdings on Tenth Street, which he rents for store purposes. Here Mr. Blount built up a successful business, thus enhancing the value of the corner to such an extent that early in 1922 he sold it to great advantage and then purchased his present location, the old Home Union corner at East Santa Clara and Twenty-first street, where he conducts a splendid retail grocery establishment. His business has rapidly developed and the property has also become more valuable. His stock is of the highest grade and he has ever followed the policy of "Pay as you go" A keen observer, he has made a close study of the business, comparing his methods with those of other merchants, and he has become recognized as an authority in this line, his advice being often sought by those similarly engaged. He started in the bus- iness over five years ago without any previous know- ledge of the trade and through his intelligently directed efforts has risen to a foremost position in the line in which he specializes, being president of the Retail Grocers' Association of San Jose and also a member of State Retail Grocers' Association.

In Austin, Texas, on March 12, 1903, Mr. Blount married Miss Annie R. Wright, who was born in

Paris, that state, a daughter of Calvin Jones and Mary A. ( Rogers) Wright. Her mother was born in Alabama, while her father was a native of North Carolina, becoming a resident of Texas in the early days. He followed the occupation of farming and passed away in 1895. but the mother is still living at the age of sixty-six years. They had a family of four children, of wbom three survive. Mr. and Mrs. Blount have become the parents of two sons. Alvin H., class of 1922, and Travis W., class of 1923, San Jose High School, after which they will enter Leland Stanford University. Fraternally Mr. Blount is identified with the Woodmen of the World of San Jose; and he is also an enthusiastic member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants' Associa- tion of San Jose.

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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 83

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