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 85

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 85

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It is a matter of congratulation to Sunnyvale that Mr. Savage selected that favored spot for his resi- dence, after his extensive business experience and wide travels. He has seen and transacted business

in every state of the Union, Europe, Canada and Alaska. He is the orchardist member of the San Francisco Rotary Club from Sunnyvale, and is al- ways ready to boost and make a concerted pull for Sunnyvale and California.

MRS. CATHERINE F. BRATTAN .- Since the entrance of women into the active eivic life of the community during the past generation, so gradually and naturally have they worked to bring about much-needed reforms, that only by comparison with another day can one judge of the forward strides that have been made. Especially is this true in the hundreds of cases that come under the jurisdiction of the courts, particularly where the lives and fu- tures of young people are concerned. Numbered among San Jose's public-spirited women whose in- terests are ever on the side of the community's welfare is Mrs. Catherine F. Brattan, who has been connected with the probation work of Santa Clara County since its inception.

Catherine F. O'Donnell, as she was known in maid- enhood, was born in Northern Pennsylvania, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (MeCarton) O'Donnell. She was educated in the public schools of her native state and Ovid Academy, N. Y. Com- ing to California in about 1886, she entered the Sac- ramento Business College, where she was graduated, after which she continued with the institution as a teacher and then served as a court reporter. In Sacramento she became the wife of G. J. Brattan. a native of England. During the year of 1895, Mrs. Brattan came to San Jose where Mr. Brattan was associated in business with the Globe Carriage Works and was thus engaged for thirteen years. During this time Mrs. Brattan did much volunteer social serv- ice work and particularly in the line of children's welfare work. This brought her into prominence, so that when the probation commission for the coun- ty was named by the judge of the Superior Court she was appointed a member. In 1910 she was ap- pointed probation officer and since then has served continuously. She is probably the first woman pro- bation officer in California and has served under six judges. It is a difficult matter to estimate the amount of good she has accomplished along these lines; her love for the work and the interest she takes in the welfare of the children who come un- der her supervision has borne good fruit and her influence and efforts for the betterment of mankind places her to the front as a county official. Since her appointment no less than 5000 children and 300 adults have passed through the court and all the children have been made better by having known her for she takes great joy in the work of help- ing the unfortunate catch a vision of the higher plane of living.

Mr. and Mrs. Brattan are the parents of one son, Joseph G., a graduate of St. Joseph's high school; he also attended Stanford for a time, Santa Clara College and the University of California agricultural school at Davis, and is now a rancher and packer in Chico. Mrs. Brattan is well fitted by training and temperament for this important post, and has been the means of accomplishing untold good. While deeply interested in her work, she is public spirit- ed in all that concerns the upbuilding of the com- munity and ever ready to lend a helping hand. She is a regular communicant of St. Joseph's Church.

Catherine H. Brattau

Nib Johnson

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

NILS JOHNSON-A public-spirited citizen of San Jose who dates his residence in Santa Clara County since 1879 is Nils Johnson. He was born on the southern coast of Sweden, near Engelholm, Skane, on April 6, 1860, and is the eldest son of Johannes Swenson and Christina Johanson, both na- tives of the same place, who were successful farmers. In younger days the father was a ship carpenter and a cabinet maker.

Nils Johnson received his education in the public schools of his native land, and at the age of fourteen was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He continued working in the farm for his maternal grandfather until nineteen, and in 1879 started out to make his own way in the world and set sail for America, the Mecca of his ambitions. Upon his arrival he made his way to San Jose, California, where he located. He immediately went to the ranch of his Uncle Nils, and was employed there for a short time; then he removed to Bisbee, Ariz., and spent two and a half years in the mines. This was in early days when things were wild and woolly. Then he made his way to Socorro County, N. M., engaging in prospecting. but did not find any pay streak. When his money was gone he returned to Bisbee and continued working in the mines two years, and then returned to San Jose. He then started then in the hotel business.

In 1893 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Hilma L. Peterson, also a native of Sweden, who had come to San Francisco with her sister. Mr. Johnson then continued in the hotel business in San Jose, operat- ing the Scandinavia Exchange on Post Street for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of five children; Hilding is an ex-service man, serv- ing overseas in the World War; Helen is the wife of Charles Kelley, and they reside in San Jose; Nar- rine is the wife of Charles J. Freedman, of Palo Alto; Eben Bertel served in the California National Guard on the Mexican border and now resides in San Jose; George is deceased. Mrs. Johnson passed away Sep- tember 26, 1900.

Soon after arriving in America, Mr. Johnson com- pleted his citizenship and his loyalty to his adopted country is a matter of pride to him. For over thirty- five years Mr. Johnson has been a member of the Odd Fellows, being initiated in Bisbec, Ariz. He is now a member of Observatory Lodge I. O. O. F .. San Jose, and his political affiliations are of the Re- publican platform. He owns valuable real estate on the Almaden Road and is now living retired from active life on this ranch. He is planning still more improvements and will build additional houses to rent. Living retired as he does now, he can look back upon a clean, industrious, well-spent life, and whenever or wherever possible has given his aid toward the pro- gress and building up of his locality.

WALTER L. BACHRODT .- Active among the educators of California fortunate in an excellent record in the past and now giving the greatest promise for the future may well be numbered Walter L. Bachrodt, the newly-appointed superintendent of schools of San Jose. A native of the great Hawkeye State. Walter Bachrodt was born at Des Moines on April 22, 1890, the son of H. C. Bachrodt, a substantial merchant and assistant postmaster at Des Moines, who died when our subject was a mere boy. Four children made up the family, and three are still liv- ing; the others being a sister, Frances, who has be-

come the wife of Fred Doerr, dealer in electrical supplies at San Jose, and a brother, A. L. Bachrodt. who resides in Nevada, where he is the manager of the Pilt Mill & Elevator Company.

On Washington's Birthday, 1892, Mr. Bachrodt came to San Jose with his mother, and there at- tended the Lowell Grammar School; and later he entered the San Jose high school, from which he graduated in 1907. His next four years were spent in Nevada, where he worked for both the South- ern Pacific Railroad Company and the Verdi Lum- ber Company; and on returning to San Jose he entered the Normal School in 1911, and was grad- uated with honors from that excellent institution in 1913. For five years he was a teacher in Fresno County, and during that time he became principal of the Oleander School.

In 1918, Mr. Bachrodt, responding to naturally patriotic sentiments, enlisted from Fresno County for service in the World War in defense of his country; and he was made sergeant of Company G., Thirteenth Ammunition Corps, and in February, 1919, he was honorably discharged.

Once more enabled to take up the occupations of peace, Mr. Bachrodt entered Stanford University, where he majored in pedagogy and followed educa- tional courses; and in December, 1920. he was granted the Bachelor of Arts degree, and the following year was made a Master of Arts. His standing en- titled him to Phi Bata Kappa, and he was also made a Teaching Fellow of Stanford University. On May 24, 1921, Mr. Bachrodt was appointed superin- tendent of the city schools at San Jose and his juris- diction extends over the nine elementary and the one high school in the city. In national political affairs an independent, Mr. Bachrodt is essentially non- partisan when it comes to supporting heartily the best local measures and men.

In August, 1916, at Fresno, Mr. Bachrodt was married to Miss Edna M. Clark, of Fresno, who is, with him, a member of the Congregational Church. He belongs to the Blue Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M .. of San Jose, and he is also a member of Selma Chapter No. 119, R. A. M., at Fresno. Mr. Bach- rodt's grandfather died from wounds received while he was a soldier in the Mexican War, and he keeps up his military associations by membership in the American Legion. He is a man of fine presence, a winning personality, and will not fail to carry on to high attainment the far-reaching work in which he is so successfully engaged.

GEORGE A. LEVIN .- Among the successful dairy farmers of the Mountain View district is George A. Levin, who owns sixty-one acres on the Charles- ton road two and a half miles north of Mountain View. A native son of California, he was born March 19, 1882, the son of Joel and Mary Elizabeth (Swall) Levin, early settlers of Mountain View. The name was originally spelled Le Vine, but several generations ago was changed to Levin. Joel Levin was born in 1824 in Calhoun County, Ill., the second child and only son in a family of eight children. The paternal grandfather, George Levin, was a native of Germany and immigrated to the United States at an early age, and engaged in farming pursuits in Calhoun County, If1. In 1852, Joel Levin was induced to remove to California, and the start was made on May 7. overland with ox teams, and the following August the party arrived in California.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

On account of his health, he removed to Santa Clara County and engaged in farming pursuits and within two years was able to save enough to pur- chase the land which he had previously rented. His marriage occurred in Mayfield, California, and united him with Miss Mary Elizabeth Swall, who was born in Illinois, and she passed away in 1901. There were four children in the family, Anna, Ulysses, Mamie and George, the subject of this review.

George A. attended the Whisman grammar school, and later the San Jose Business College. He helped his father on the large ranch, which contained half a section, but since the father's death has been divided up among the heirs. His marriage occurred Sep- tember 6, 1904, and united him with Miss Anita Kifer, and they have one child, Shelby. Mr. Levin is the daughter of Shelby and Isabella (Smith) Kifer, the father born in Kentucky and the mother a native of Nova Scotia. In 1853 Shelby Kifer came over- land with his parents to California and as two of his sons had preceded him to the Golden State, he made his home with them for a while, but afterward located on the Murphy ranch, later settling on a farm of seventy-five acres, two and a half miles south of Mountain View. Mr. and Mrs. Kifer were the parents of five children. The Kifer Road, in Santa Clara County, was named after this early and esteemed pioneer.

Mr. Levin has 100 head of cattle on his ranch, with fifty-four milch cows, and has a lucrative and growing business. A conscientious Republican, he casts his vote for the candidates selected by that party. He and his family are popular residents of the Whisman district and have the esteem and confidence of the entire community.

CORNELIUS Y. PITMAN .- All who have had to do with the assessor of Santa Clara County and have come to be familiar with the almost perfect organization of that office at San Jose, will realize to what an extent Cornelius Y. Pitman, the present incumbent, has contributed toward the enviable repu- tation enjoyed by California as a model state for the transaction of public business. This gentleman was born in Santa Clara County on June 16, 1859, the son of Andrew Jackson Pitman, an American pos- sibly of English extraction. He first came to Cali- fornia by way of the Horn in 1848, and settled at Marysville in the '50s, having previously been mar- ried in the East to Miss Armenia Lewis, whose forebears came to America with the French Hugue- nots. Mr. Pitman was a farmer, and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. They had seven children, six boys and a girl, and our subject is the third of the six still living. He attended the local public schools in Santa Clara County, and then pur- sued an excellent course at a business college in San Francisco, after which he embarked with his father in the milk business; and having spent his early years on the home farm, he did not find it difficult to make a success of the enterprise. Next he took a position as purser on a steamboat plying between San Francisco and Alviso, and so enjoyed a change from his land experience.

In 1914 Mr. Pitman was elected, on the Demo- cratic ticket, assessor of Santa Clara County, and from the first it was evident that he could not fail to make good. The truth is that, by his conscien- tious application to duty and his interest in and de-

sire to help all having occasion to communicate with his bureau, Mr. Pitman gave such satisfaction that he was reelected to the responsible post and is now serving his second term. He has made numerous improvements in the matter of up-to-date, economic methods; and being a good student on conditions pertaining to his field, he is in the best position to render the public the most efficient yet saving service.

At Alviso Mr. Pitman was married to Miss Nellie Martin, the daughter of Captain John Martin of Al- viso, one of the early pioncers; and having come of such excellent American stock, Mrs. Pitman has proven of great aid to her husband. Two children blessed this union-Daphne E. is now Mrs. D. En- triken of San Jose, and she is a graduate of San Jose high and the State Normal; Hayden, who graduated from the San Jose high school, and a student at Santa Clara University, enlisted as an officer when he was only eighteen years of age and served for three months in the World War. The family have always been Presbyterians. Mr. Pitman is an Elk, and proud of his birth in the Golden State he also belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West.

CHARLES DOERR .- A highly-esteemed citizen of San Jose who, after a strenuous, successful and most useful life, has been able to retire in comfort, is Charles Doerr, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, where he was born on February 2, 1840. He attended the schools of his city, and when eighteen years of age he left home, to fight his way alone in the world. Depending solely upon himself, he gradually rose to affluence and independence-a splendid example of what a young man handicapped in various ways may do when blessed with courage and determination.

The city of Baltimore was the landing place of our subject, the day before Christmas in 1858, and there Charles remained for one year, during which time he learned the bakery trade. In 1860, he came to San Jose, and for three years worked as a baker for his brother, Philip Doerr, who came here in 1853; and then, in almost the same location where he later conducted for years the New York Bak- ery, he established himself in business. He came to know just what folks wanted, and he took the trouble not merely to give they what they asked for, but to anticipate their needs; and so he grew in popularity, and his modest business expanded until he retired in 1915.

In San Jose on March 13, 1870, Mr. Doerr was married to Miss Minna Bertlesman, also a native of Germany, and their union was made happier by the birth of four worthy children, all sons-the late Henry C. Doerr and Carl, who died in infancy, and Frederic and Lonis Doerr. Mr. Doerr belonged to the San Jose Turn Verein, and he is also a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Red Men, and a charter member of the Germania Verein. He was a Democrat in politics but for several years has been independent, voting for the best men and measures. He served in the city council 1895-96.

Progressive and public-spirited to a commendable degree, Mr. Doerr has done good work in the Cham- ber of Commerce, and he also served in the Fire Department for ten years, so that he is now an exempt fireman. San Jose cannot fail to feel very kindly toward this estimable pioneer couple, Mr. and Mrs. Doerr, and this esteem and good will flow

ASaich

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

very naturally toward their family. Mrs. Doerr passed away at the family home on August 19, 1920, aged seventy-two years. They had lived to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary before she was called to her final rest.

ANTON SAICH .- Through industry and a natural intuition to foresee the progress that Santa Clara County was destined to make, Anton Saich, by buy- ing and improving orchards at the opportune time, has been very successful and thus he has become in- dependent financially and a man of influence. Born October 11, 1863, he is a native of Golubinica, Dal- matia, the son of Anton and Mary ( Anticevich) Saich. The senior Saich was occupied with farming, and was a seafaring man, making trips on sailing vessels to different portions of the world. The family consisted of three children, John, Peter, and Anton, the subject of this sketch. Anton attended school in his native town and worked on farms at home until he was twenty-five years old, then in July, 1889, he came to Philadelphia and immediately came to California. He worked in San Francisco in the hotel business for one year, but that kind of work was not to his liking. so he again took up farm work. For about one year he worked on ranches near Watsonville and Capi- tola: then came to Santa Clara County and settled near Cupertino, working for wages for a time; then in 1900 he bought twenty-two and a half acres, all set to prunes, on the Stevens Creek Road. From time to time he has purchased additional acreage until he now owns 110 acres of fine orchard, set to prunes, peaches, apricots, cherries and grapes. His ranch is well equipped with wells for irrigating and the water is piped to all parts of the ranch. He has rebuilt his house and farm buildings and all are now in fine shape; he has pulled out and reset about forty-five acres, so it is now one of the valuable or- chards in the district.

For many years Mr. Saich was engaged in buying and drying fruit, which he sold to packers, while he was also engaged in shipping cherries to the eastern markets. However, about three years ago he found the management of his large ranch and the curing and sale of the fruit on his place occupied all of his time, and he discontinued the business of fruit buyer to devote all his time to his own place. Mr. Saich was first married in Santa Clara in 1901, being united with Miss Annie Kucer, a daughter of Steve and Kate (Kristicevich) Kucer; the father, a contractor and builder in Dalmatia, was accidentally killed by a fall while working on a building. She was born near Mr. Saich's native place and came to Santa Clara with her brother. Their union, however, was broken by her passing away, August 5, 1902, leaving him her infant son, born thirty-five days before his bereavement, whom they had named Anton, Jr., and whom the father tenderly cared for and reared, and he is now his father's right-hand man and able as- sistant in his horticultural enterprise.

Mr. Saich some time afterwards married a second time, to Miss Teresa Brajenvich, who was born in the same vicinity as her husband, a daughter of John and Frances Brajenvich, the father being a farmer in his native Dalmatia. By his second marriage Mr. Saich has four children, Mary. Frances, Anna and John, all under the parental roof, dutiful and obedient children, a credit to their parents. A believer in pro- tection for Americans and proud of being a natural-

ized citizen of his adopted country, Mr. Saich is a stanch Republican. A substantial and successful man, he is enterprising and liberal and can be counted on for support to worthy movements and progressive measures that have for their aim the upbuilding and improving of the county and enhancing the com- fort and happiness of its people.

JAMES SUMNER McGINNIS .- An attorney of San Jose whose career as a successful practitioner is of exceptional interest is James Sumner McGinnis, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on October 31, 1863. His father, John F. McGinnis, a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer there, had married Miss Susannah Dotts, also born in that state. When James S. was six years old his parents removed to Lucas County, lowa, and there the mother passed away in 1871. John F. McGinnis served in the One Hundred Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry during the Civil War and was prominent in the ranks of the G. A. R. in lowa, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1895. Besides James S., the eldest of the family, Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis were the parents of a daughter, Minerva, who became the wife of Clem T. Smith and now resides at Steam- boat Springs, Colorado.

In the pursuit of an education, James S. McGinnis attended the public schools of his locality and later studied at Western College, at Toledo, Tama County, Iowa, and when he was well equipped for such work he taught school, and also farmed for a couple of years. In 1886 he entered the office of McMillan and Kindall at Onawa, lowa, where he studied law, and four years later, in Nebraska, he was admitted to the bar, having removed to that state a short time before. Being ambitious, he had acquired much facility in the use of shorthand entirely through his own study, while attending school, so that when he began the study of law he found it very helpful to him. After practising a short time in Nebraska, he came to California in 1891, and a few months later he located in San Jose, where he established himself in the legal profession, in which he has made such a success, enjoying a large clientele and a highly lucrative practice. Not being an office seeker, he has devoted all his energies to the interests of his growing body of clients, with consequent satisfaction to all desirous of unselfish, watchful service.

At Santa Cruz, on September 1, 1891, Mr. Mc- Ginnis was married to Miss Edith Forrest of that city, an accomplished and charming lady, and they have had two children, Viola Forrest, a graduate nurse of St. Francis Hospital, San Francisco, where she now holds a responsible institutional position, and Sumner D. McGinnis, a student at Stanford University. The quiet of domestic life and the pleas- ures of gardening have alway attracted Mr. Mc- Ginnis; and when wishing a change, he has found it in the mountains, along the streams, or in the circles of the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and other societies. He is a Master Mason and has belonged to the Knights of Pythias for thirty-six years. A Republican in his preference for national party plat- forms, he is independent in his devotion to the in- terests of his adopted state. During the American participation in the World War, the president of the County Bar Association, of which Mr. McGinnis is a member, appointed him to assist drafted soldiers in preparing their questionnaires, and he gave much of his time in fulfilling this patriotic service.

5.24

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

DE PHONZO GIBSON PAUL .- Among the old settlers of Santa Clara County whose industry and business judgment have aided in the community's progress, is De Phonzo G. Paul, who resides at the old family homestead in San Jose, established over thirty years ago. Born in Delavan, Wis., October 24, 1856, he is a son of Sylvanus S. and Sophia ( Gibson) Paul. Sylvanus S. Paul came to Califor- nia in 1881, settling at Berryessa, where he pur- chased land and planted to apricots and prunes. He was born near Rochester, Monroe County, N. Y., March 4. 1828, the ancestors coming to America in colonial days and members of the family served in the Revolutionary struggle. The Paul family came from Scotland to the U. S .; John Paul Jones, the founder of the American Navy, was from the same family as history tells how John Paul's name was changed to John Paul Jones after he came from Scotland to Virginia. Sylvanus S. Paul was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools. When but nineteen years of age, he started in life for him- self, and located in Walworth County, Wis., upon land which his father had purchased and given to him. For a number of years he followed the occu- pation of farming, and by industry and good man- agement succeeded in his undertaking. In 1853, while on a visit to Ohio, he met and married Miss Sophia Gibson, the daughter of Prof. John Gibson and Sarah (Cushman) Gibson, natives of Massa- chusettes. Professor Gibson was a prominent mu- sician and composer and Sophia Gibson was a tal- ented vocalist and a well-known lyric soprano, and with her sister, George Baker and others, traveled, giving concerts throughout the eastern cities. Hav- ing a pleasing personality and a beautiful voice, she gave much pleasure to her audiences. Two sons were born to her union with Mr. Paul, De Phonzo G. alone growing to maturity. Mrs. Paul passed away April 4. 1860. The second marriage of Mr. Paul occurred in 1862, uniting him with Miss Elizabeth Green, a native of New York. In 1881, Mr. Paul leased his Wisconsin farm and made a visit to California, and was so well pleased with the coun- try that upon his return to Wisconsin he sold most of his interests and returned to the Santa Clara Valley and purchased the home which is now the residence of his son, De Phonzo G. Paul. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church and fraternally a Mason. In his political views, he was a strong Republican. He passed away at the fam- ily home December 12, 1896, and Mrs. Paul dicd in 1914. A sister of Sylvanus S. Paul, Charlotte Paul, became the wife of Henry G. Smith and they had six children, the next to the youngest of these is Frank Smith, known as "Borax Smith" of Oakland. Frank (Borax) Smith and De Phonzo G. Paul have been warm friends since their boyhood.

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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 85

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