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 88

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

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Before settling in Mountain View Claude Red- wine was employed at the Watsonville Garage in Watsonville, Cal., for five years, and thoroughly learned the automobile trade and became a first- class garage man and machinist, able to handle all kinds or repair work. He removed to Mountain View in 1913 and purchased the Mountain View Garage from C. N. Higdon, and through hard work and giving first-class service his business grew and expanded so that the next year, needing more capital and a greater capacity for handling his business, the firin was enlarged by taking in his father, S. L. Red- wine, and his brother, L. Clyde Redwine, the old name being retained. The office and sales force consist of nine persons and the firm has a large, well-equipped and up-to-date machine shop, with good machinists, ready and able to do all kinds of auto, truck and tractor work on short notice. They deal in the Ford line of autos, trucks and tractors, John Decre and Oliver plows, harrows and cultivators; also tires and tubes, batteries, acetylene welding, oils, gas, greases and a full line of Ford and Ford- son accessories and extras. The business of the Mountain View Garage has increased to such an ex- tent that a larger building was erected in 1918. The new, well-equipped garage and machine shop, 75x150 feet, is a very busy place, and enjoys a large patron- age. The senior Redwine has full charge of the office, while Claude and L. Clyde Redwine attend to the sales department and have charge of the shop.

Mr. Redwine returned to Texas in 1918 and mar- ried Miss Jeannette Martin of Clarendon, Texas.

They reside at 483 Hope Street, Mountain View, and are the parents of one child, June. Mrs. Red- wine is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Redwine was first elected and served as a mem- ber of the board of trustees of Mountain View in 1918, and served for the two-year term, and in 1920 was reelected under the new law, which provides for a four-year term, and was chosen chairman of the board. Ever busy and efficient, he brings his best efforts to bear for the good of Mountain View, which has its own municipal water works, the water being pumped from three wells by means of steam and electric power; it also has its own library and city hall, and a volunteer fire department with two fire trucks. Next to Palo Alto, it has the lowest rate of city taxation of any city in northern Santa Clara County, one outstanding feature being that street paving is paid for out of the general fund, and the city's bonded indebtedness is very low, being only six per cent of the assessed valuation as against fifteen per cent allowed by law.

THOMAS COUCH .- The old, ever-interesting and stirring story of the toil, sacrifice and accomplish- ment of the builders of our Republic is recalled in the life of the sturdy and highly-esteemed pioneer, Thomas Couch, who came to California in 1868, a native of Cornwall, England. He was a miner and on coming to the United States followed mining for a short time in Michigan and then came to Cali- fornia, being employed first as a miner at the New Almaden mine and after that he mined in Grass Valley and different parts of Nevada and Utah until he became manager of the Boston Montana Com- pany, having charge of both their mines and smelter at Great Falls. He then came to Oroville, Cal., and was the first to start dredging on the Feather River, constructing the first boat for the purpose. While building the second dredger he was taken ill and died at Lane Hospital, San Francisco, in 1901. He had married in Goshen, Utah, December 28, 1874, being united with Miss Rachel Webber, who was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, a daughter of John and Margaret ( Richards) Webber, who brought their family to Nevada when Rachel was five years old, and later they moved to Utah, where the parents spent their last days.

Mr. Couch had become interested in cattle raising in Montana, having purchased a ranch near Great Falls, where his family resided. They had eight children: Mary died at two years and nine months; Thomas and Edward and Fred M. are cattlemen on the Conch ranch: Rachel M. the wife of Lee M. Ford, a banker at Great Falls; Albert C. was a soldier in the World War, serving overseas and was wounded during the battle of Chatean Thierry; he now resides in Palo Alto; John D. served in the Engineering Corps overseas as a lieutenant; he also lives in Palo Alto; William. an exceptionally fine specimen of young manhood, who had trained as an aviator, was in the aviation section of the U. S. Army and was on his way to the conflict overseas but died aboard the ship just before the boat reached England. After her husband's death, Mrs. Couch having a residence at 657 Webster in Palo Alto, moved hither, and it has since been her home. Mr. Couch took a keen interest in civic affairs and as a Republican worked and voted with those of the party of Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley.

a.D. Oauth.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

CHARLES D. SOUTH .- A member in high stand- ing of the fourth estate who has done much to mold public opinion, an efficient and popular public official, well known in the newspaper fraternity and the country at large through his literary work, Charles D. South, the postmaster of Santa Clara has done his full share in putting the now famous Mission town of Santa Clara on the map, and incidentally to advance

the degree of culture in the new commonwealth. A New Yorker by birth and a Californian by adoption. Mr. South was born at Plattsburg, in the Empire State. March 24, 1864, and came to California with his family in 1876. His parents were Capt. Joseph and Catherine South, and the father gave his life for his country, falling in the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., March 24, 1864. Mrs. South was a woman of un- usual charm, possessing high poetic and linguistic ability, and from her Mr. South doubtless inherited much of his literary inclination and talent.

As a youth, precocious and gifted in expression, he was early headed for editorial work and a literary career. After completing the courses in the grammar and high schools, he pursued a literary course at the University of Santa Clara, and his Alma Mater has honored him with the degrees of A. M. and Lit. D. Mr. South was for some time on the staff of one of the Bay City's great dailies, the San Fran- cisco "Call," first as exchange editor and then literary editor and editorial writer, providing a broad scope for his talents. After the San Francisco fire he re- turned to Santa Clara and became editor of the San Jose "Morning Times." When the portfolio of the post office at Santa Clara was offered to him in 1914, he accepted the appointment as postmaster under President Wilson, continuing ever since as the effici- ent incumbent of this office. It was then a more modest proposition, but in keeping with the growth of the nation and its great federal organization, and under the able administration of Mr. South and his corps of able assistants the business of the office has doubled and the parcel post has been notably de- veloped. A fifty-mile rural route now encircles the rich fruit district to the north and northwest and a motorcycle delivery of parcel post has been installed. The Santa Clara post office sold $100,000 worth of War Saving Stamps during the 1918 drive, and thus went over the top magnificently. a fine testimonial to the patriotism and wealth of the fruit section. Mr. South served on the War Council and received governmental approbation for his services as a four- minute speaker.

Accepting the newly established chair of journalism in Santa Clara University. Mr. South took up his new duties on September 3, 1907, and the following comments from the press will be found interesting. A news article in the San Jose "Daily Mercury" reads as follows:

"Charles South Accepts New Chair at College- Well Known Special Writer to Give up Newspaper Work for Teaching. Charles D. South, who has been a valued special writer on the "Mercury," has accepted a position as a member of the faculty of Santa Clara College. He severs his connection with the "Mer- cury" this week. The faculty of the college has es- tablished in connection with its literary course a department or school of journalism, and Mr. South has been appointed professor in charge. The new department is designed to furnish a practical course 28

in both newspaper and magazine work, according to the best standards and models. An idea of the prep- aration which he brings to his new task may be gained from a statement of some of the positions which Mr. South has held. He was for a time assist- ant editor of the Seattle "Telegraph." Later he was Sunday editor of the San Francisco "Call." He also served as editor of the "Weekly Call," and as ex- change editor and editorial writer on the "Call." In the latter capacity he was under John McNaught. He has done considerable special work for the "Bulletin," having received some of the more im- portant assignments on that paper. Contributions, both poetry and prose have found their way into the San Francisco weeklies, notably the "News Letter." Mr. South has also done a great deal of Sunday special work, and has written many magazine articles His standing in San Francisco and San Jose and the years of preparation presage well for his success in his new field of endeavor.

"It is with regret that the "Mercury" chronicles his departure from this newspaper. He has been a very useful special writer. his fund of available in- formation being remarkably large, and his faculty for writing finished English in an interesting way being rather unusual in a newspaper writer. He is a courteous gentleman, and has won the undisguised friendship of his fellow-employees in the "Mercury" office. They regret his departure, but are glad that there came to him an opportunity which he has desired. He will be given time from his duties in the college to do some magazine work which he has in mind, and which the busy round of work in a newspaper office would not permit him to take up."

In the San Jose "Times" of the same date, its editor and manager, Charles M. Shortridge, pays the follow- ing tribute to Mr. South's work:

"Charles D. South has been appointed professor in charge of the department or school of journalism, newly established in Santa Clara College. The im- portance of the new specialty in collegiate education has been already recognized by the leading uni- versities of the East. The object is to furnish a practical course in both newspaper and magazine work, according to the best standards and models. The mere announcement that the University of Santa Clara has undertaken to teach the art of newspaper and magazine writing is sufficient guarantee that there is sufficient demand for this branch of educa- tion and likewise a guarantee that no college in the country will equip more thoroughly and under better influences, the student of journalism, than the Santa Clara College. The selection of Mr. Charles D. South is also in accord with this spirit of thorough- ness and carefulness, and we predict that the chair to which this close student and finished scholar has been assigned will soon rank among the very first of the chairs of the old college.

"We have known Mr. South for years. While we were editor of the San Francisco "Call," Mr. South had full charge of the magazine department of this paper and likewise a supervision of the weekly issue, which furnished him a fine opportunity to dis- play his wide and apt knowledge of journalism. Mr. South is also a young man of excellent character, therefore aside from his fine literary abilities he will instill into the student of the great art of rhetoric. as applied to newspaper work and magazine work,

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

high and lofty ideals of the spirit which should actuate the journalist in his every effort in his chosen profession. We predict that the new chair will be- come a most popular one, and that the name of Charles D. South will prove to be one of the bright- est ornaments of the college which bears among its alumni many of the most forceful and brilliant men who have ever served in the literary or public life of the Pacific Coast."

While in San Francisco Mr. South did much dramatic work as a side issue. He finished "Con- stantine," a Roman drama, while at the University of Santa Clara, and this play was produced at the university with brilliant success in 1909 by a cast of two hundred actors-students and professionals. In recognition of the composition of the play of "Con- stantine." and its production under the auspices of the institution, the faculty of the University of Santa Clara presented Mr. South with a magnificent gold medal, set with diamonds and appropriately inscribed in commemoration of the initial production at the university auditorium -- a literary event in the history of the famous school. Mr. South is the author of "Captain Blunt," a comedy, "Santiago," a drama of the Cuban War, and of a drama, "Longwood," deal- ing with the career of Napoleon the Great. He has also written a number of clever short stories for newspapers and magazines and he now has in press a volume of poems. In the "Morning Times" of October 26, 1913, appeared a page of editorial com- ment signed by Mr. South, containing facts of pecul- iar historical interest; for there he reviewed, as per- haps no one before him had done, the history of the San Jose press, with its financial ups and downs, its motley assortments of politics, its able, upright or adventurous journalists, and the long line of head- stones in the newspaper graveyard founded with the California commonwealth. This review of the pioneer journals and scribes, made while it is yet possible to reach back and grasp the fast evanescing data, is of such historical value that general appreciation has been accorded to Mr. South's comprehensive essay.

At San Francisco, Mr. South was married to Miss Jessie R. Barrington, a young lady of artistic talents and charming personality, who was born and reared in that city, a member of a prominent pioneer family. Three children have blessed their union. William B. South, Charles D. South, Jr., who was commissioned a first lieutenant in the late war, and Warren J. South, all engaged in business pursuits. A Democrat of the progressive type Mr. South has always taken a live interest in politics, and he is a leading spirit in all local, as well as general progressive movements. He is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 879, K. C., having served as grand knight for several terms.

W. K. ROBERTS .- A highly-esteemed, and there- fore, very influential, progressive and public-spirited gentleman, who is inspired with broad humanitarian sentiments and, although not wealthy, is able to ac- complish much for others as well as for himself, is W. K. Roberts, newspaper man, editor and justice of the peace at Sunnyvale. He was born at Mexico, Mo., on January 22, 1856, and when eighteen mi- grated westward to the Rocky Mountain States, try- ing his fortune first in Colorado, then in New Mex- ico and Colorado, and afterward in Texas. From there he came to San Francisco, where he spent five years in the drug trade; and next he crossed the Pa-

cific to Hawaii. He was there while King Kalakaua was on the throne, and he met him, attended several of his feasts, and later met Queen "Lil," as she was popularly called. William T. Roberts, the father of our subject, was a native of Kentucky, who married Miss Fannie Sims, a native of Virginia, thus blend- ing English, Irish and Welsh blood.

Growing up under poor schooling conditions, Mr. Roberts led a kind of cowboy life for some time. after leaving home, owing to disagreement with his father, who was a Mexican War veteran. He first came to California in 1881, and in the Bay City ob- tained work as a clerk in W. Mayhew's drug store, 144 Fourth Street, and attended evening schools to pursue general studies. He studied surgery under Dr. L. C. Lane, and took a commercial course at Heald's Business College. In 1886, he went to Ha- waii, and the following year pushed on to China, en- tering the Imperial Maritime Customs Service, and for fifteen years was in the employ of the Chinese Government. He had the honor of serving under Sir Robert Hart, who was then Inspector General of Customs for the Chinese Government; and while not becoming a Chinese subject, he attained to man- darin civil rank of the fourth class. He was thus employed for fifteen years at Canton, Swatow, Shang- hai, Nanking, Kiu Kiang, Han Kow, Shasi, and Chungking, the latter city being fifteen hundred miles up the Yang-tse-Kiang River. He learned to speak and write the North China language. During the Boxer War he was in charge of the Port of Shasi and held it for the Manchu Government during the period of hostilities.

Having obtained two years' leave of absence, Mr. . Roberts returned to California; and at Sonoma City, in 1903, he was married to Miss Ethel Hunter, a Sonoma County girl. He also bought a ranch near Sonoma, and in 1905 returned to China; and soon after he resigned his position at Shanghai and came back to Sonoma County. Mrs. Roberts had remained in California, where her first child was born.

From Sonoma County Mr. Roberts moved down to Sunnyvale and bought the Sunnyvale Standard, which had been founded by J. H. McCarthy, who had sold it to G. B. Tuley, who in turn disposed of it to our subject; and this newspaper he ran as a six- column, four-page weekly, from 1907 to 1921-ex- cept for three years, when it was managed by R. S. Crowl. On August 21, 1921, Mr. Roberts relin- quished control as both publisher and editor, handing over the reins to the new proprietor. A. T. Fetter. During this period of journalistic activity, Mr. Rob- erts served as Sunnyvale's first justice of the peace, first taking office through appointment by the county supervisors. In 1914, he was regularly elected jus- tice by his fellow-citizens; and four years later he was reelected. He is also the town recorder, and is the first and only occupant of that office, having commenced when Sunnyvale was incorporated in 1914. Mr. Roberts not only invested in the "Stan- dard" and its office building, but he bought residence and other property, including a number of vacant lots, and had worked hard, through his newspaper, in favor of incorporation. He has been equally as- siduous in forwarding the commercial and general development of the town, and for years he has been, as he still is, the efficient secretary of the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce.

Horatio W.Gr.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

During Mr. Roberts' first leave of absence from his post in China, in 1895, he joined the International Colonization Society, whose offices were at Birming- ham, Ala., and made a voyage to Liberia, on the West Coast of Africa, as assistant medical officer on the ship "Laurada," which carried over 360 Afro- Americans to that colony; and he wrote, as the re- sult, "An African Canaan for the American Negro." Since then he has written several other works. As a confirmed apostle of the theory and practice of right living, he wrote "Health From Natural Foods," and he is also author of a treatise on "The Mongolian Problem," and a book entitled "Divinity and Man." In matters of religion he prefers the Unitarian form of faith; and in national political affairs, he works as an Independent Republican. His pen has also done good service in helping to organize the South Shore Port Company, for the development of a south bay port near Sunnyvale, which is to be available for decp-water ships.

Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have two children. Wilma M. is a junior in the Santa Clara high school; and Alexander H. is a pupil in the eighth grade of the grammar school. Mr. Roberts has been an active member of the Pomona Grange, and is now serving his third year as its chaplain.

HORATIO W. ORR .- A prominent resident of Palo Alto whose wide experience. thorough knowl- edge of realty conditions, and valuable connections make him invaluable as a representative, influential dealer in real estate, is Horatio W. Orr. a native son of Santa Clara County, having been born at May- field on January 21, 1867. His father, Horatio Orr, was born in Vermont; and having come out to Cal- ifornia by way of Panama in 1859, he first located at San Francisco. where he married Miss Mary G. Pickett, a native of Ireland of Scotch descent. From the Bay City he came to Mayfield. and in 1862 he rented land from Mr. Seale, the acreage being the site of South Palo Alto. He bought the first town lot sold in Mayfield, and in going in and out between San Francisco and the new town, he traveled over an old Spanish horse-trail. For many years he en- gaged in farming and dairying, and he spent the last years of his life at Mayfield, dying in January, 1920. at the age of eighty-three. He was always an active member of the Methodist Church, and having long marched with the Republican party. he eventually joined the ranks of the Prohibitionists. Four chil- dren had been granted this worthy couple. Horatio WV. Orr is the subject of our review; Electa is the wife of Joseph Birkett and lives in Grass Valley; James Orr lives at Mayfield, and Newton in Colorado.

Horatio W. Orr attended the public schools of May- field, and studied for a year at Stanford. Then, until 1897. he engaged in contracting and building, still re- siding at Mayfield, but carrying on his extensive op- erations in Palo Alto and other towns as well. Then he removed to Palo Alto and opened an electrical establishment; and for ten years he continued therc in that field of activity. In 1907, he embarked with T. J. Floyd in the wall paper and paint trade; but in December, 1917, he sold his interest to Mr. Floyd, and he is now engaged exclusively in buying and selling real estate. With his long residence and continued activity in one line or another having to do with the development of this section, Mr. Orr is particularly

qualified to advise the person seeking either town or country property.

Mr. Orr was married at Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County, on August 10, 1904, to Miss Julia F. Tompkins, a native of Santa Cruz County and a step- daughter of Joseph W. Peery, who died at Boulder Creek, March 14, 1910, being one of Santa Cruz Coun- ty's most honored pioneers and business men. He had been very active in building up the tannery, the saw mill and the shingle mill at Boulder Creek. He was born in Caleb County, W. Va., (then Virginia) Oc- tober 2, 1830. His father, Hiram Peery, was in the War of 1812, and at its close engaged in farming in West Virginia, later moving to Kentucky, when he became a planter. In 1850 Joseph W. Pecry crossed the plains and tried his luck at mining, but in 1853 returned to Missouri. In 1859 he went to Nebraska and in 1862 returned to California and spent three years at Stockton, then removed to Santa Cruz County. In 1869 he settled at Boulder Creek and bought out the sawmill and became a large land owner. Mr. Peery's first wife died crossing the plains in 1862. His second marriage in Santa Cruz County, united him with Mrs. Alvira Mercy Tompkins, who had seven children by her first husband, Daniel D. Tomp- kins: Willis E., Josephine, Jennie, Walter, Julia, Alice and Elmer. She died at her home at Boulder Creek in her sixty-sixth year.

Mr. and Mrs. Orr have one daughter. Dorothy Jane. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Orr is a Royal Arch Mason and a Native Son of the Golden West.

W. W. HARTLEY .- An excellent example of the results of an active, well-directed life will be found in W. W. Hartley, who at the age of seventy-three is still active and heads the Hartley Hardware Com- pany at Mountain View. Throughout his useful life he has been active in promoting measures for the general good of the community, and his natural gift of leadership places him among the leading business men of his locality. Born in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, he first saw the light of day near Fredericton, situated on the beautiful St. Johns River, August 18, 1849. His father was Edward W. Hartley and was a farmer of New Brunswick. The ancestors on both sides were either from England or were of English descent. Mr. Hartley's carly boyhood was passed in his native province up to twenty-one years of age, and he received a sufficient education to be duly licensed as a teacher, and he taught school for several terms. Upon his removal to the United States, he was first employed by the Borden's Milk Condensing Company at Elgin, Ill., but this line of work was not to his liking; his next move was to Brainerd, Minn., arriving during the year of 1870. just at the time the Northern Pacific Railway was in course of construction. His ability and leadership was instantly recognized and he was elected county auditor; and in addition to this was appointed clerk of the court; and at the same time was probate judge, register of deeds, coroner, de- puty treasurer of the county, deputy sheriff, and justice of the peace; later he served one term as police judge. It was largely through the efforts of Mr. Hartley that Senator W. D. Washburn received his first nomination for Congress. Mr. Hartley went to the convention at Minneapolis as the delegate from five counties, Crow Wing, Cass, Wadena. Itasca and

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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 88

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