History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 102

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934

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Louise Guerraz was a little girl when she crossed the plains, but well she remembers the many in- cidents of the trip, the wonderful, strange sights of the wilderness and then in Hangtown she saw many more wild and interesting incidents. After coming to Santa Clara County she received a good education at Notre Dame College. She was married here to Socrates Kirk, a native of Ohio, also an intrepid pioneer who had crossed the plains in 1850 and was one of the pioneer grain farmers of San Jose. Be- coming interested in horticulture, he set out orchards until he had a large acreage devoted to raising prunes, peaches, apricots, and cherries, one of the finest and largest orchards in the county. Mr. Kirk was an energetic and ambitious man, and while he did well for himself, did much to improve and build up the county. He was never idle, but always look- ing to see what he could do to improve his place and assist in making the community more prosperous and a better place in which to live. At the time of the earthquake, April 18, 1906, he was a very ill man. The shock proved too much for him and he passed away the morning of April 19, 1906, at the age of seventy-four years, a man highly esteemed and hon- ored, who was deeply mourned by his family and friends. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk were the parents of six children, three of whom are living: Mrs. W. S. Goodenough, Eva S. and Bert T. Kirk.

Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Kirk has continued to live in their beautiful home they had erected on their ranch at the head of Hicks Avenue, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. In national politics, like her husband, she is a Republi- can and they were both devoted members of the First Methodist Church in San Jose, in which she is still active and in whose benevolence she has always taken an active part.

Polar Co. Lee

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

PROFESSOR ROBERT A. LEE-Listed among those professional men who are interested in the education of this generation of the twentieth century is Professor Robert A. Lee, who for the past twenty years has occupied the office of principal of the Lowell School, San Jose, California.

Robert A. Lee was born at Lewis, Essex County, New York, April 26, 1870, and is the son of Lebbeus and Hattie (DeLong) Lee, both natives of New York, having been born in Essex County. The father was born August 12, 1828, a son of Timothy Pitkin and Sarah Leason (Pratt) Lee, while the mother was born November 17, 1837. Professor Lee is the seventh generation removed from John Lee, who came to this country from England and was one of the founders of Hartford, Conn., in the year 1634. His descendants held important offices, both civil and military, members of the family having served with distinction during the Colonial and Rev- olutionary Wars. John Lee's ancient gravestone still stands in a Connecticut cemetery; beside it is an imposing modern monument. Lebbens Lee be- came a judge of the justice court, and later associate judge of Essex County. He migrated to San Jose in the year 1872, and here conducted the Granite and Marble Works until the year 1882, and then entered the field of horticulture, becoming prosperous as an orchardist from the start. His ranch was located in The Willows, adjacent to San Jose and here he re- sided until he passed away in 1908, being survived by his widow who died in 1917. Of their six child- ren, four of whom are now living, Robert is the fourth oldest.

Robert A. Lee attended the Lowell Grammar School and the San Jose High School, and then became a student at the San Jose State Normal School where he was graduated in 1890; after this he took special courses at Stanford University and the University of California and has followed the profession of teaching since 1895. He first entered upon the work of his profession in Winters, Yolo County, and later in Fresno. In 1900 he was offered the principalship of Lowell School, the school he attended in his boyhood days, and here he has been its head for more than twenty years.

Mr. Lee is married to Orlena B., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley H. Arnhart of Kent County, Mo. In 1874 Mrs. Lee removed to Woodland, Cal., with her parents who were pioneers of Yolo County and the parents of seven children, six of whom survive, a brother having recently been killed in an auto- mobile accident at Petaluma. Both Mr. and Mrs. Arnhart have passed away within recent years.

Professor and Mrs. Lee have one daughter, Veva, a graduate of the San Jose State Normal School, who is now the wife of George Lyon Cross, a grad- uate of the University of California and now resident auditor of the Folsom State Prison, having held this position since 1916. He is giving perfect satisfaction to the state administration, being noted for his ability in curbing leaks and cutting down expenses.

Professor and Mrs. Lee have their home at 740 South Eighth Street where they have been residents for some years past and here they extend a hearty welcome to their many friends. Professor Lee was made a Mason in Friendship Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M., in which he is a past master, and now is secretary; he is a member of Howard Chapter No. 14. R. A. M., San Jose Council No. 20, R. & S. M., and

San Jose Commandery No. 10, K. T. He is also a charter member of the San Jose Bodies of A. & A. Scottish Rite of Freemasonry-of the 32nd degree, Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., a member of San Jose Pyramid No. 9, A. E. O., Sciots and Hatim Tai Grotto, M. O. V. P. E. R. Professor and Mrs. Lee are members of San Jose Chapter No. 31. O. E. S. and Rose Croix Chapter, Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, in which they are officers. Professor Lee also holds membership in Observatory Lodge No. 23, I. O. O. F., Barnes Encampment No. 77 and Alamo Camp, W. O. W. He was instrumental in assisting in the recent organization of the DeMolay Order for Boys. This organization is for boys be- tween the ages of sixteen and twenty-one and is supported by the Scottish Rite, and San Jose Chapter of the Order of DeMolay was the first organized in the state, January 1, 1921.

Mr. Lee has served as president of the San Jose Normal Men's Club and has acted as secretary since 1902. He was elected president of the grammar school division of the California State Teachers' Association and presided at the session held during the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco in 1915; he has also served as secretary of the State Teachers' Association and as a member and secre- tary of the advisory council of that body. In national politics, he is a stanch Republican, and votes in accord with the principles of that party.

REUBEN D. CLEARWATERS .- In the year 1885 Reuben D. Clearwaters took up his abode in San Jose. He was born at Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa, July 21, 1867, a son of Reuben and Catherine (Dunivin) Clearwaters, natives of Indiana and Tennessee, and were married in Indiana, and then moved to Iowa. The father became an extensive landowner in Iowa, having braved the hardships of the early frontier days there, and also in the state of Kansas, whither the family removed when Reuben D. was but two years old. Here, with his parents, Reuben D. spent his boyhood days, amid the delight- ful surroundings of the country, assisting his father in whatever was to be done. Later the father and mother removed to San Jose, where the father passed away during the year of 1911. Mrs. Clearwaters died here in 1894.

In 1891 Mr. Clearwaters was married to Miss M. Caine, who had been a resident of California since 1884, and they became the parents of three children, Rolland D. served three years in the U. S. regulars, and also in the World War, he has a wife and one child; Eva is the wife of George Hanson, and the mother of two children, they live in Portland, Ore .; Mrs. Winifred D. Carter resides in San Jose. For a short period of time, Mr. Clearwaters was a resi- dent of Los Angeles, but came to San Jose in 1885. During the year 1898, Mr. Clearwaters was engaged in the furniture business, but later disposed of his business and entered the employ of the San Jose Fire Department, where he has served well and faith- fully, counting among his warm, personal friends the late Chief Brown. In 1912 he was appointed captain of Chemical House No. 1, Market Street, and in 1917 he assumed charge of Fire House No. 3 and is acceptably serving as captain of same.

A second marriage united Hr. Clearwaters with Miss Selena Wells, who has resided in California since 1876, and in San Jose since 1888. Fraternally,

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Mr. Clearwaters is connected with the Moose and Woodmen of the World, and also an active member of the "Pastime Club" of San Jose. In his political views he is a Republican, advocating keeping politics out of all departments of city government. Mr. Clearwaters was instrumental in organizing the Civil Service Association of San Jose. His activities have been wisely and carefully directed and he has consistently adhered to high standards of manhood and citizenship.

E. M. CUNNINGHAM .- A man of pleasing per- sonality, charitable and of great kindliness, E. M. Cunningham has aided in building up the Saratoga section and has become a successful horticulturist. He is the owner of a splendid orchard half mile north o- Saratoga, which he has brought to a high state of productivity. He was born near Moberly, Mo., May 31, 1857, the son of Joseph Cunningham, a native of Tennessee, born near Nashville, February 11, 1820. Grandfather William Cunningham was a native of North Carolina, but moved to Tennessee, locating near Nashville. He married Narcissa Jenkins and both died in Missouri. Joseph Cunningham came to Missouri when a young man with his parents, locat- ing on a farm near what is now Moberly, Randolph County. He was married the first time to Margaret J. Hannah, who died soon after the birth of their first child. In 1846 he married a second time, being united with Mary Jane Gooding, born in Randolph County, Mo., July 2, 1827, a daughter of Judge Gooding, who served as judge of Randolph County. In 1849 Joseph Cunningham had become so interested in the gold excitement in California he determined to set out for the El Dorado so he crossed the plains in 1849 in an ox-team train, walking most of the way. He followed mining until 1852, then returned via Isthmus of Panama to his home place in Missouri, where he farmed until 1863, then sold his belongings and brought his family across the plains, being outfitted with mule teams and also brought a herd of loose mules. He located in Solano County, and for eight- een years engaged in raising grain in the Suisun Val- ley. In 1881 he came to Saratoga, where he purchased a ranch and this he began setting to orchard. Joseph Cunningham was a member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church for forty-six years, while his wife be- longed to the same church two years longer. This worthy pioneer couple had nine children, of whom E. M., our subject is the fifth in order of birth. He came to California, crossing the great plains with his par- ents in 1863, and thus it came that he had his sixth birthday on the desert on the overland trail. His schooling was in his home district in Solano County.

On October 22, 1879, at the home of the bride's mother near Rockville, in Suisun Valley, occurred the marriage of Mr. Cunningham and Amanda C. Russell, who was born, reared and married at the home place, a house constructed of lumber shipped around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel, all framed and ready for construction. Mrs. Cunningham was the daughter of Henry and Adeline (Alford) Rus- sell, natives of Ohio and Virginia, respectively. Her father came to California in 1846 across the plains when a young man, while her mother came over- land with her parents the same year, when she was a girl of thirteen. Grandfather Andy Alford brought his family across the plains, being outfitted with ox-

teams. They passed the Donner party, whom they traveled with for a few days and came through by the old trail safely to California. He settled in So- lano County, where he became a large landowner and influential man, and gave the five-acre site for the old stone Methodist Church at Rockville; he served in the Mexican War, being stationed at Benicia Bar- racks. Henry Russell was also in the Mexican War, serving in Southern California; later his parents joined him and they located on a farm near what is now Fairfield. After the marriage of Henry Russell, lie purchased a part of the Alford farm and then en- gaged in farming and teaming. He set out the first commercial apple orchard in that section, comprising twelve acres, and this was a landmark for years. He teamed to the mines at Virginia City, Nev., and it was from exposure on these trips he contracted the disease that resulted in his death in 1864. His widow later married G. H. Pangburn and resided on the old Russell place until her death at the age of seventy- six years. By her first marriage she had seven chil- dren, three living, Mrs. Cunningham being the fourth child; by her marriage to Mr. Pangburn she had six children, five of whom are living. Amanda Russell had the advantages of the public schools and when children, she and Mr. Cunningham knew Edwin Markham, all being reared in the same vicinity. After his marriage, Mr. Cunningham rented land and engaged in raising grain, but in the fall of 1881 he gave it up and in November of that year located at Saratoga, where he purchased eight and a half acres, the richest piece of land he could find. This he im- proved and set to orchard, raising the trees for the purpose as rapidly as he could. At first he had up hill work and many discouragements, but by perse- verance and the aid of his good wife, they added to their holdings until they now have twenty-one acres, all bearing orchard and as productive a place as can be found in the valley. In fact the fertility of this soil was well known by the Indians, for they had their village close by and raised their crops along the fertile banks of the creek. Mr. Cunningham is a believer in cooperation and is a member of the Cal- ifornia Prune & Apricot Growers' Association, the Fruit Growers' of California, Inc., and the California Walnut Growers' Association. They are the parents of two children; Florence R. is a graduate of the San Jose State Normal and also of the San Francisco National Training School for Christian Service, and assists her mother in presiding over the home. Charles N. completed a three-year special course at the Uni- versity of California and has charge of the home farm, as well as his own orchard. He was married to Miss Eva Lipscomb and has three children -- Charlotte M., Helen E., and Charles Newton, Jr. Mr. Cunningham served as trustee of the Saratoga school district for many years. In national politics he is a Democrat.

In 1875 Mrs. Cunningham became a member of the old stone church in Rockville and has been affiliated with this denomination ever since. Mr. Cunningham joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in April, 1881, and both were charter members of the Saratoga Methodist Episcopal Church and have been active in its benevolences ever since. Mr. Cunningham has been trustee all these years, as well as superintendent of the Sunday School many years, while Mrs. Cun- ningham has been a steward since its organization.

EMlemmingham

amanda C. Cunningham

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

They are both liberal and enterprising and are pleased to aid in the growth and development of this favored garden spot of the world.

CAPTAIN EGIDIO G. ZEIRO-A leader among the ltalio-American population at San Jose, where he is very popular and where he has lived since 1868, is Egidio G. Zeiro, coming from a family who at one time were among the nobility of Italy, but when the government was overthrown at the time of Napoleon the First, they lost their titles. He was born on January 23, 1854, in Genoa, Italy, and was the son of Giovanni Maria and Caterina (Basteri) Zeiro; the father was a lawyer and both parents have passed away. Captain Zeiro, as he is familiarly called by all who know him, studied at the University of Parma in Lombardi, with the intention of taking up the profession of medicine, but instead he enlisted in the Italian army when eighteen years old, enter- ing the engineer corps, and after four years in the army, he met a friend who was about to set out for the New World and decided to accompany him to California. He and his friend landed at San Fran- cisco about forty-five years ago, and subsequently he became the editor of L'Indipendente, a semi- weekly publication in San Francisco, which was pub- lished in the Italian language, and which is now called the L'Italia, meanwhile studying diligently to perfect himself in the English language. He was en- gaged in newspaper work for eight or ten years, and after that did some work as local correspondent for Italian-American papers at San Francisco. About thirty years ago he came to San Jose and now main- tains offices in the Auzerais Building, where he is engaged in legal work for the Italian-American citizens, and also loans money, and translates legal documents and at times acts as court interpreter, and is perhaps consulted by more clients among the Ital- ians than any other person in San Jose. He has helped build up and is prominent in the Italio-Amer- ican societies and social circles and is president of the Italian Benevolent Society, a new society capital- ized at $60,000. Mr. Zeiro has been one of the prin- cipals in instituting every Italian society in San Jose. He organized the San Jose Hussars, a military com- pany, the equipment of which cost about $8,000. This company was at the Mid-Winter Fair in San Fran- cisco and also has made trips on special trains to important festivals and celebrations in Los Angeles, Stockton and Sacramento. Mr. Zeiro trained them and has been their captain since the organization of the company. In 1896 Captain Zeiro was appointed Italian Consul for the district of San Jose, serving for many years. He has traveled over the state a great deal and so acquired a wide acquaintance all over California.

Mr. Zeiro's marriage, which occurred at Berkeley, Cal., united him with Miss Catherine De Pauli, who is a native of California, having been born in Bear Valley, Mariposa County, where her father was a pioneer and became a large merchant; and her brother, James de Pauli, was a merchant in Kern and was president of the Bank of Kern. Mrs. Zeiro was a graduate of Notre Dame Convent, in Berkeley, and is a cultured, talented woman, and their union has proved a very happy one. They are the par- ents of one child, Azalia, the wife of Earl L. Alder- man, who is the head of the Earl P. Alderman Com- pany, real estate, loans and insurance. Mr. Zeiro

was president of the building committee that erected The Holy Family Church in San Jose and he and his wife have always been active members. Mr. Zeiro's residence is at Fifteenth and San Fernando streets, and here he has made his home for a number of years. He is a member of the Druids and is its district deputy and has served as its president for twenty years. In national politics he is a Republi- can, prominent and active in county conventions.

URBAN A. SONTHEIMER .- A worthy repre- sentative of a well-known pioncer family who has himself attained to an enviable position in the bustling community of which he is an influential part, is Urban A. Sontheimer, the popular Justice of the Peace of San Jose township. A native son, very proud of his association with the great commonwealth along the Pacific, Mr. Sontheimer was born at San Jose on August 23, 1888, the son of J. J. Sontheimer, who came to San Jose from Wisconsin in 1869, and ten years later married here Miss Anna Kreig, also of an early family. He was engaged in educational work and taught school many years in San Jose. Mr. Sontheimer was then County Clerk, and he gave such satisfaction in the efficient and conscientious discharge of the duties of his office that he served his fellow-citizens three terms in that capacity, after which he followed the busi- ness of a realtor. He was also a member of the board of school trustees of San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Sontheimer had three children, and Urban was the youngest in the family.

He attended both the grammar and the high school at San Jose, after graduating from the latter in 1907. and then a year later he entered Stanford University. In 1912 he was graduated from the pre-legal course with the A. B. degree, and in 1914 he was made a Juris Doctor by the same institution There- after he. practised law in San Jose until he was appointed to his present position in 1916, to succeed Judge John T. Wallace, and in 1918 he was elected for a four-year term. In national politics a Republi- can, Mr. Sontheimer is too good an American to allow partisanship to interfere with his wholehearted support of whatever is best for the locality in which he lives, works, and prospers. He is much interested in all Santa Clara County, and ready and anxious to do all that he can to hasten the day when it shall come to its own.

At San Jose, on August 3, 1919, Mr. Sontheimer was married to Miss Mabel I. Allen, born near San Jose, the daughter of L. S. Allen, who had come to California with his family in 1869. Judge Sontheimer belongs to San Jose Parlor No. 22, Native Sons of the Golden West, being a past president and is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 522, B. P. O. E., serving as exalted ruler from April, 1919 to April. 1920. He was made a Mason in Fraternity Lodge No. 399, F. & A. M., San Jose, is a member of Harvard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., and of San Jose Commandery No. 10, Knights Templar, and is also a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco. He is naturally an enthusiastic member of Santa Clara County Bar Association. At Stan- ford we find him a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, the "Order of the Coif," the scholar- ship law fraternity, and Acacia Masonic Fraternity. During the World War Judge Sontheimer was a member of the legal advisory board for Santa Clara

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County and had active charge of all its work, in- cluding the preparation and supervision of all the questionnaires that were returned from this county. He was one of the four-minute men and a member of the war work councils, taking an active part in the Liberty bond, Red Cross and war drives.

MISS AGNES EMMONS HOWE .- What one woman of high ideals and scholarly education may achieve not merely in professional success, but in be- ing able to accomplish much toward the advancement of a great movement for the benefit of humanity, is well illustrated in the life and career of Miss Agnes Emmons Howe, the experienced and efficient county superintendent of schools, whose popularity through- out Santa Clara County attests to her enviable status in the educational world at large. She was born at Rockford, 111., the daughter of Lafayette and Mary (Tisdale) Howe, and was the eldest of six children. She enjoyed a thorough grammar school training, at Owatonna Minn., and afterwards, an excellent high school course.

In 1885 she came to California and for seven years taught school in Ventura County. Then in 1892 ma- triculated at Stanford University; and in 1897 she was graduated with the A. B. degree. Then she went to the San Jose Normal School as a teacher, and she re- mained there in that capacity for twenty-one and a half years. during which time she had two years' leave of absence. She did graduate work at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, which in 1913 conferred upon her the degree of Master of Arts. Half of this period of absence Miss Howe devoted to travel, throughout the United States and Europe, thereby still further enlarging her breadth of vision.

When Miss Howe left the San Jose Normal School in 1918. she was elected for four years to the respon- sible office of county superintendent of schools, and thus made officially a leader in the movements for popular education and intellectual uplift in Santa Clara County; and during her term of office she has specialized in the extension of home agricultural pro- jects and in the bettering of the courses of studies for rural schools, promoted through her by frequent conferences with teachers. Having always the wel- fare of the latter, as well as that of the pupils at heart, it is natural that Miss Howe should be able to procced rapidly and effectually with these improve- ments and extensions on account of the cheerful and sincere cooperation given her by the teaching body at large. Miss Howe is as much interested in Santa Clara County as if she were a native daughter, and finds inspiration and pleasure in inspiring others with civic pride and rational patriotism. In politics she is a Republican.

Miss Howe has been an active member of the Na- tional Educational Association for years, and she also belongs to the California Teachers Association, and to the State Federation of School Women's Clubs, and she is also identified with the Civic League of San Jose, the Women's Club, the Parent-Teachers Association. League of Women Voters, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the Chamber of Com- merce, the Eastern Star and the Royal Order of Am- aranth. In cach of these organizations the influence of her mind and personality is felt as the power of a good woman, and one of particular gifts; which may explain her acceptability as both a school official and a representative citizen.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 102

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1934

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934