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 84

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 84

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BRUNO BERNAL .- A worthy pioneer whose hallowed memory all who knew him delight to honor was the late Bruno Bernal, who was born on the Santa Teresa rancho, south of San Jose, on Feb- ruary 14, 1857, the youngest son of Bruno Bernal, the pioneer and wealthy ranchman, and owner of the Santa Teresa grant. He came to Santa Clara in the early days, and became one of her foremost citizens. He was married a second time to Miss Blanda Castro, and from this union sprang the sub- ject of this story and three daughters. His brother- in-law was General Castro.

Bruno Bernal, Jr., grew to manhood on the home ranch, and he lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age. Then he came to San Jose, and for many years thereafter he conducted a cigar store here, and after that, removing to San Luis Obispo, he likewise was a merchant for fifteen years. He was married to Miss Josephine Comelio, the daugh- ter of Antonio and Luella (Duarte) Comelio, a gifted lady born on April 26, 1862, the eighth child in a fam- ily of twelve, three of whom survive the father and mother. She attended Notre Dame Convent, and was a most popular young woman among her musical associates. Mr. Bernal died on May 5, 1920, an honored member of the Pioneer Society of Santa Clara County, and also of the Foresters.

Eight children were granted Mr. and Mrs. Bernal. Bruno Arthur resides at Oakland, is married and has one child: Rebecca died at the age of fourteen; Edward R. resides at home; William, the fourth in the order of birth. died in infancy, while William, the next-born, also lives at home; Salvadore is single and a lieutenant in the San Jose Fire Department; Adele remains with her mother and is an accom- plished young woman in music and the drama, hav- ing attended Notre Dame Convent and the School of Expression of the College of the Pacific. Jose, the youngest, also enjoys the shelter of the paternal roof. Edward R. Bernal served in the One Hundred Fifteenth Ambulance Truck Supply, and was over- seas for eight months; he received his honorable dis- charge from Camp Kearney on May 4, 1919. Wil- liam Bernal served as bandmaster on the U. S. S. Huntington, which made nine trips overseas in the transport service. Salvadore served for three years as sergeant under General Funston in Mexico, and he also enlisted for service in the recent war as a member of the One Hundred Ninety-Fifth Infantry. The oldest son. Bruno, worked in the shipyards, and Miss Adele gave entertainments to the boys in the camps, and did all she could to sustain the morale of the brave boys in khaki.

a. M. Blount

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

TULLY CLEON KNOLES .- It is a widely acknowledged fact that the most important work to which a man can direct his energies is that of teach- ing, whether it be from the pulpit, from the lecture platform or in the schoolroom. It is in youth that the life of a man is marked out, his future course decided and his choice as to good or evil made, and to the work of instructing the young, Tully Cleon Knoles is devoting his time, energies and thought. A native of Petersburg, I11. he was born January 6, 1876. His father, Thomas Stone Knoles, was a native of Illinois, born in Menard County, whither his parents had come from Indiana in 1847. After completing his early education, he began reading law and was admitted to the bar, becoming well known and active in the profession. He is a direct descendant of Thomas Stone, a native of the state of Maryland, whose signature appears on the Declarat- tion of Independence. His mother before her mar- riage was Miss Laura Ellen Hart, a native of Illi- nois, and mother of four children at the time the family removed to the Pacific Coast in 1887; locating near Ontario, where four more children were born. She traces her ancestry back to John Hart of Vir- ginia, who was also present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence and affixed his signa- ture to the famous document. Some of the progenitors of these families were prominent in the history of early colonial days and have always been stanch and true American patriots. After the re- moval of the family to the Pacific Coast, the father continued his practice of law with marked ability at Ontario and later at Los Angeles, where in 1902 the family removed.

The preliminary education of Tully Cleon Knoles was obtained in the public schools of Ontario. In 1895 he graduated from the preparatory school of Chaffee Academy, thereafter entering the University of Southern California, taking a ministerial course, and becoming a student-pastor at San Pedro, Cal., soon after entering the college. He received his A.B. degree in 1903; his A.M. degree in 1908, and degree of D.D. in 1919. During the years he was perfecting his education, he was active in the minis- try. In 1903 he was selected as assistant professor of history in the University of Southern California, serving in this capacity until 1908, when he became the head of the history department. In 1919 he was unanimously chosen as the head of the College of the Pacific, the oldest institution of learning in California, which is, at the present time, enjoying a period of prosperity unsurpassed by any other col- lege in the state, and to Doctor Knoles is accorded the credit of the increasing popularity and success of the college. During the World War he toured the Pacific Coast states in behalf of the Liberty and Victory Loan drives; and his excellency as a "four- minute" speaker was unexcelled by any one.

The marriage of Dr. Knoles occurred August 23, 1899, united him with Miss Emily Walline, a daugh- ter of Peter and Jennie (Mascall) Walline, residents of Upland, Cal. Her father was a native of Sweden, coming to America and settling in Illinois when but a young man. His industry and thrift brought him a handsome fortune, although he had only the op- portunity to acquire but a meager education. After his retirement, he traveled extensively throughout 20

the United States and Europe. While on a tour of the country in February, he was stricken and passed away at Escondido, Cal., February 6, 1921. Doctor and Mrs. Knoles are the parents of eight children: Lorraine Isabel, a graduate of the Liberal Arts course of the College of the Pacific, June 22, 1921; Dorothy Anne, a student of the department of music, College of the Pacific; Peter Walline and Edith Ayleen, twins, are graduates of College Park Academy with the class of June, 1921, and now at- tend the College of the Pacific; George Herman, Gordon Elbert, Tully Cleon, Jr., are students, and Leslie Gay. All the children were born in Los Angeles.

Politically, Doctor Knoles is a Democrat of the stanchest party loyalty, casting his ballot for the Democratic presidential nominee since becoming of age. Fraternally he is a Mason, being active in the social life of the organization. He is a member of the board of directors of the Rotary Club of San Jose. He, with his family, are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the board of education of this denomination, and is a director representing the southern Pacific states in collaboration with the national membership mect- ing held annually in the month of December in New York City.

During Doctor Knoles' attendance at the Univer- sity of Southern California, he was active in ath- letics, being awarded four stars for football, baseball and track work. No doubt this experience has served to increase his popularity with the student body of the college of which he is the worthy and congenial head. Doctor Knoles is a profound thinker, making a deep and careful study of the questions of the day. Much of his time is spent in lecturing on European history and government, as well as the growth of the American nation, and his lectures have served to enlighten the public along these lines. On March 17, 1921, he spoke before the San Jose Chamber of Commerce forum on the subject the "Third Inter- nationale," which required fourteen months in prep- aration, gathering facts and material, which proved to be both interesting and educational. In speaking of Karl Marx' "Dos Kapital," Doctor Knoles said "Thank God, there has never been a condition in America out of which class consciousness might be developed." His entire life work has been of a con- structive character, being actuated by a spirit of ad- vancement in all that he does. Doctor Knoles and his family are widely and favorably known through- out the community, enjoying the warm regard of all with whom they have been associated.

CHARLES F. OVERFELT .- Among the breed- ers and raisers of fine draft horses in Santa Clara and San Benito counties, who by energy and indus- try have become successful, the names of Charles F. Overfelt and his brother Ed J. stand to the front. A native son, he was born in the rural dis- trict near Berryessa. Cal., July 28, 1858, the son of William C. and Mary E. (Pyle) Overfelt, both early pioneers of California, who are represented elsewhere in this history.

Charles F. spent his boyhood days on the farm, going to school a short time during the winter months. Being the oldest of the family, many re- sponsibilities were thrust upon him, as his father died when Charles was only seventeen years old.

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His first independent purchase of land was in Stan- islaus County near Oakdale, which he leased and sold eighteen years later. In 1891 he and his broth- er, Ed. J. purchased 430 acres six miles from Hol- lister in the Santa Ana Valley and engaged in the stock business and attained success as a breeder of fine horses. They owned some of the best prize stock of Belgian draft horses in America, showing them at the State Fairs and the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco and carrying away many premiums. He and his brother now own 970 acres in the San Juan Valley, San Benito Coun- ty. In 1860 W. C. Overfelt started operating a threshing machine and from that year until 1910, with the exception of two years, threshing outfits were sent out from the home ranch, C. F. Overfelt carrying on the business for forty seasons.

Mr. Overfelt was married in San Jose in 1899 to Miss Rosine Lenz. a native of California, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Geizwein) Lenz. Her father conducted a draying business for many years in San Jose. They are the parents of two children: Dorothy L. and Charles Harold, graduates of San Jose high school. Both are now students at Stanford. In 1919 Mr. Overfelt came to San Jose and now lives retired. His life has been one of toil, and characterized throughout by industry, persever- ance and progressiveness and the prosperity which has come to him is well deserved, for the principles which have governed his conduct throughout his en- tire life, are founded on the Golden Rule.

EDWARD D. CRAWFORD .- An energetic, suc- cessful, representative and influential dealer in land and insurance broker, who also has the advantage of being an attorney-at-law, is Edward D. Craw- ford, who came to Gilroy in the late nineties, when there were no paved streets nor concrete sidewalks here, and business in general was very slack in this part of the Valley. Being naturally, however, a far- seeing poincer, Mr. Crawford perceived in Gilroy its roseate prospects, and decided to locate here. He was horn at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, on February 3, 1859. the son of Rev. Samuel P. Crawford, who was for years a pillar of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and continued active public work in the ministry of that organization until failing voice led him to re- tire. In the declining year of his life. however, he lived in South Minnesota, where he was again active as a church leader and rounded out a life of great use- fulness at the age of sixty-two years. This profes- sional occupation and standing of the father of our subject afforded him advantages from the start; and he was able to attend the Evansville Academy, in Indiana, at which he began to show his native abil- ity as a writer.

Edward Crawford carly desired to become a law- yer, and the opportunity to satisfy his ambition was presented soon after he left school, when he went to Colorado and joined his brother-in-law; who was a successful attorney. Under his able guidance he read law; and in 1883 he was admitted at Republican City. Nebr., to the practice of law in that state. For three years he followed legal practice, and he also edited and published the Republican City Topics. During his journalistic career, he was a reporter of court proceedings and he proved one of the veritable "live wires" of the staff. On coming to Denver in 1880. Mr. Crawford entered the employ of the Denver Rio

Grande Express Company, as clerk in the auditor's office, and it was during this time that he read law with his brother-in-law. In 1892, he came to San Francisco, and there he joined the staff of the San Francisco Chronicle. On coming to Gilroy, pressure was brought to bear to induce him to devote him- self entirely to the practice of law, and hence he gave up juornalistic pursuits.

Mr. Crawford was appointed by the mayor and council the city attorney of Gilroy, and one of the results of his taking that office was a complete re- vision of the law statutes. Several large bond issues were also carried, with the subsequent acquiring of the gas works and provision of a water system. Ever since that date Mr. Crawford has been identified with ideal legislation for the city, although he retired years ago from all public offices and civic service. As a Republican, he has been prominent in the coun- cils of that great party, has often been a member of the Republican State Committee and of the County Central Committee, and has served as chairman of the latter organization.

After opening his offices in Gilroy, Mr. Crawford began to afford a superior service in real estate and in- surance brokerage; and so well did he succeed, that he was able to train one after another assistant, each of whom has since established himself independently, all working, however, to the mutual benefit of every- one concerned. in October. 1919, Wellburn Mayock, a promising young attorney, joined Mr. Crawford in forming the law firm of Crawford & Mayock, and this firm has been retained as the attorneys of the Gilroy Branch of the Garden City Bank & Trust Company. In addition, the firm does a splendid busi- ness in underwriting insurance, effecting loans and in caring for estates. When Mr. Crawford came to Gilroy in the fall of 1897, he acquired by purchase the Gilroy Gazette, then owned by B. A. Wardell, the father, now deceased, of J. S. Wardell, the In- ternal Revenue Collector of San Francisco; and this carly identification with the life of the growing town, through journalistic activity, has enabled him easily to keep in close touch with the community, and to exert an enviable influence. During the World War, Mr. Crawford practically gave up his practice and devoted his entire time to war work as chairman of the War Work Committee, which had charge of all the drives, and did valiant service.

In 1879, Mr. Crawford was married at Sedalia, Mo., to Miss Claudia Blair, the daughter of Milo Blair, deceased, a prominent newspaper man and a politi- cian, of Sedalia: and she died at Gilroy, mourned by a wide circle of devoted friends, in 1913. The next year, at San Francisco, Mr. Crawford married Miss Lillian Hilton, a native daughter of Gilroy, whose father was Thomas Hilton, a prominent and well-to- do orchardist of Santa Clara County. One child, Miss Esther Crawford, now a pupil of the Gilroy school, blessed this second union. The family enjoy a very desirable estate, with a fine residence and a well-improved orchard of about twenty-five acres of rich creek-bottom lands, and other acreage, situated in the Bodfish Creek district, west of Gilroy, and there, to a large circle of devoted friends, they dis- pense a generous hospitality. Mr. Crawford is not only prominent as a Mason, but he enjoys the esteem of all who admire him for his ambition to do the work he sets out to do.

Wärmer Hutton

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

WARNER HUTTON .- A resident of California for almost three score years and ten, Warner Hut- ton came to California with his parents in 1854. Born in New York City, March 9, 1842, he is the son of Henry and Eleanor ( Foster) Hutton, also born in New York City, who on coming to the Coast first settled in San Francisco. During the year of 1870 the father bought a ranch on the Quito Road in the vicinity of Saratoga and improved it to orchard and lived there in peace and plenty until he passed away in his eightieth year, while his widow survived him and died at almost 100 years old. Warner's preliminary education was obtained principally in the schools of San Francisco. As a boy he was always interested in engineering and his desire was to run a locomotive, but to learn it thoroughly in those days meant for him to go back to New York and his mother would not consent to his going away. He was employed in San Francisco until his parents moved to the ranch at Saratoga, when he also came here and assisted in setting out the orchards and caring for them.

When Mr. Hutton's father passed away, the home place became his and he has developed it to such a degree that it brings him a good income each season. Mr. Hutton is a Republican in his party affiliations and spends much time in the great out- doors hunting and fishing when opportunity affords. He has always been interested in the growth and prosperity of Santa Clara County and especially in Saratoga and vicinity, and aids in progressive move- ments looking to the upbuilding of the community which has so long been his home.

RICHARD GALLAGHER .- Widely known as a highly respected citizen of Santa Clara County, Rich- ard Gallagher is among the prominent pioneer farm- ers of the valley, contributing much to the growth and prosperity of his native county and state. He was born in Santa Clara County, August 10. 1863, the son of Andrew Thomas and Maria Remonda ( Martin) Gallagher, the former a native of New York and the latter of Scotch descent. An- drew Thomas Gallagher was the son of Andrew Thomas Gallagher, a native of Ireland, but came to America more than a century ago. The boy- hood of Andrew Thomas was spent in New York where he was educated and where he learned the trade of tailor. During the year of 1848, he em- barked on the steamer John W. Cater, for a voy- age around Cape Horn to California. Arriving in San Francisco on the 14th day of March, 1849, he soon made a purchase of the launch Mary and Catherine. After making a few trips to Sonoma, he sold the vessel and entered the mines in Tu- olumne County, but only remained there for a few months, when he began teaming between Alviso and Santa Clara, at the same time transporting freight between San Francisco and Alviso, having pur- chased the schooner Catherine Miller, using her in this trade, and a part of the time commanded the vessel himself. He spent some two years in this line of work, and then made a complete change, taking a clerkship in one of the warehouses in Alviso. Meantime he had purchased a half-section of land in the Alviso district and devoted it to the raising of hay and grain; later forty acres were planted to orchard. He also excelled in the culti- vation of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

having at one time some thirty-six acres devoted to the raising of small fruits. The mother was the daughter of John and Vaclecia Bernal (Ortega) Mar- tin, her father, a native of Scotland, coming to Cali- fornia in 1829 as ship's carpenter in the English naval service. Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are now living. Both parents have passed away.

Richard Gallagher was educated in the public schools of Santa Clara County, and during vaca- tion time assisted his father on the ranch and thus became well versed in agriculture, and he and his brothers still farm the old homestead near Alviso.

The marriage of Mr. Gallagher united him with Miss Elizabeth Stelzer, and they dispense hospital- ity at their comfortable home at 146 South Four- teenth Street, San Jose. Politically, Mr. Gallagher is a Republican, but locally gives his support to progressive, constructive legislation, regardless of party lines, supporting the best men and measures.

GRANVILLE L. SAVAGE .- An orchardist whose life-story of persistent, intelligent industry, is Granville L. Savage, who lives in Sunnyvale and operates an orchard one-half of a mile to the south of said city. Coming as a mere boy to the Golden State, even as a boy he had a rich pioneer ex- perience such as many seeking adventure might envy, and which others, wishing to know life as it really is, might desire. He was born at Ottawa. Ill., on March 29, 1855, the son of Captain William E. Sav- age, of Bangor, Maine, who made many a trans- atlantic trip from New York to Liverpool with the best steamers of his day. He married at Povidence, R. I., Miss Elizabeth E. Kennedy, after which, with his wife, he migrated westward to Ottawa, Ill., where he took up farming. The worthy couple had eight children, among whom our subject is the fourth in the order of birth and the third son.

When five years old Granville accompanied his father and two brothers to California, leaving their farm of 700 acres, and outfitting with mule-wagons. horses and cattle at Ottawa, from which place they set out. They had mule-wagons, also horses and cattle. and joined a train made up of fifty-six wagons, captained by William E. Savage. On their way they had several battles with the Indians, but they pulled up at Sacramento at the end of a six months' jour- ney, in the early winter of 1859. They remained at Sacramento for a year, and then moved into San Joaquin County, where they settled about two and one-half miles from Lodi, and there Captain Savage became an extensive raiser of wheat. He also en- gaged in freighting, owning and operating many teams in freighting, and he drove thirty-two mules on freight wagons all through the mining country.

Meanwhile Granville attended the school in the Houston district until he was fifteen, when he left off studying and went to San Francisco for his first tussle with the busy world. He obtained a job as clerk in Bowen Bros. grocery store on Pine Street, where he worked from six a.m. until five p.m., and then he attended evening school until ten o'clock at night. In addition, he took a couple of hours of lessons on Sundays. Then he entered the service of a San Francisco commission house, handling general produce, and at the end of two years, he became a commercial drummer, traveling up and down the

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coast, and at times representing as many as five dif- ferent wholesale houses. He worked very hard, at- tending strictly to business, and saved his earnings, and he made as much as $12,000 per year. Naturally gifted as a salesman, Mr. Savage had no difficulty in entertaining his patrons with stories from actual life. In crossing the plains, for example, the emi- grants found the Indians not only hostile, but very artful. Their game was to stampede the trains, and then to rob and steal the cattle, horses, mules and wagons. Captain Savage was equal to the emer- gency, however, he engaged two trappers, who formed the wagons into circles, when the emergency arose. kept them moving, and thus stood off the In- dians and saved the train. After the battles they found that several Indians had gone to more distant hunting grounds. Getting established in the Golden State, Mr. Savage saw the completion of the Central Pacific Railway, now the Southern Pacific Railroad, from Stockton to Sacramento, with all the interesting incidents growing out of the great, momentous un- dertaking. He made his first trip to San Jose with his father in 1862, and he was at Gilroy in 1868, at the time of the earthquake.

After an experience of ten years as a traveling salesman, Mr. Savage went to New York City in 1890, and commenced the manufacture of brass goods such as valves, faucets, etc., and these he shipped to all parts of the United States, Canada, Europe and South Africa. He succeeded so well that he became well-to-do, but his health broke down, and his life was even despaired of. Then he acted on the reso- lution to come back to California, and once more in this salubrious climate, he bought a twenty-acre orchard devoted to the growing of prunes, peaches and walnuts, which is under a high state of cultiva- tion. There he leads the outdoor life, and applies the same intelligence and energy to the management of his orchard that he formerly spent in his manu- facturing enterprises. He has regained his health, and has been materially rewarded for all his efforts.

At Pt. Arenas, in Mendocino County, in 1877, Mr. Savage was married to Miss Emma V. Antrim, a native of Healdsburg, and a charming, gifted woman, and their union has been blessed with the birth of three children, one of whom, Gertrude, grew to maturity. She graduated from the high school in New York City, then attended the Horace Mann School, and afterward pursued the courses of the Pratt Institute at Brooklyn and the Art Institute in Chicago, and also the Hopkins Art School at San Francisco. During the World War Mr. Savage served on the Federal Grand Jury for the Eastern District of New York from January 6 to May 8, 1918, and assisted in investigating several noted bomb plots, and indicting various spies and the criminals involved in blowing up the Welland Canal, or at least trying to destroy that waterway. From youth to manhood inspired with patriotic zeal, Mr. Savage has never shirked the duty of a citizen having confi- dence in the future and being ambitious of seeing the land or locality of his choice come, and come speedily and richly, to its own.

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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 84

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