History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 105

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

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VALENTINE DAVID NICHOLS .- The record of the life of Valentine D. Nichols, now living in re- tirement in San Jose, is a striking exemplification of the truth that industry, perseverance and determina- tion, reinforced by the sagacity resultant from con- tact with the business world, is uniformly rewarded by success. Born near Wolcottville, La Grange County, Ind., October 26, 1845, he is the son of Nelson Irvin and Keziah (Waltman) Nichols, the latter born in Huntington, Pa., and coming to La Grange County, Ind., as a bride in 1834. Both paternal and maternal grandparents were prominent in the early history of New England. The father was an early pioneer of Indiana, was prominent in the development of the public school system of In- diana, and was a leader in all advance movements for the betterment of his local community.

On September 17, 1862. Valentine D. Nichols en- listed in the Twenty-third Indiana Battery, com- manded by Capt. James H. Myers, and received his training at Camp Noble, which is now included in the present site of Indianapolis. While in training at this camp, his battery was called out to stop the raids of Morgan's men. The following year Mr. Nichols' battery went to East Tennessee, and was under the command of Burnside until he went East. Extreme hardships were endured by the soldiers, never stopping to establish winter quarters, but al- ways in active service, and in 1864 found Mr. Nichols with the Schofield Corps under General Sherman in his famous Atlanta campaign. Mr. Nichols has the remarkable record of being through twenty-seven skirmishes and coming out without a wound; among

the battles in which he participated were Resaca. Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Franklin, and Nashville. Altogether Mr. Nichols served three years continu- ously, lacking six weeks; was promoted to the rank of corporal, for gallantry in action, and was mus- tered out on July 2, 1865, at Indianapolis, returning to his home on July 4, 1865. For a time he was employed at farm work, and during the winter months attended the academy adjacent to his home town and taught one term in Indiana and later several years in Minnesota. In 1868 he migrated to Douglas County, Mich., settling on a homestead of 160 acres 104 miles from a railroad. By dint of hard work, economy, and industry, he acquired a farm of 400 acres. He specialized in white York- shire hogs; also raised wheat, flax, oats, timothy, and

red clover. His standing in the community as a successful agriculturist and an influential citizen is shown by the fact that for thirty-four consecutive years he presided over the justice court at the town of Brandon. In the organization of the township of Brandon, Mr. Nichols used his influence, and was rewarded by being elected clerk of the board, which position he filled creditably for fifteen years; he served as a school director for twenty-five years. Mrs. Nichols was also elected a school director, and has the distinction of being the first woman elected to such an office in Douglas County; she also served as treasurer of the board for a number of years. Politically, a stalwart Republican, he was a member of the Republican County Central Committee; also serving as a state delegate. He was a member of John Reynolds Post No. 51, G. A. R., of Alexandria, Minn., and he served as commander of this post two years, or until his removal to California. His life has always been actuated by the highest principles of integrity, which has been used in the service of his community, and wherever he has resided, the community has been greatly benefitted.

The marriage of Mr. Nichols on December 24. 1877. united him with Miss Katharine Landa, a daughter of Albert and Mary (Kaiser) Landa, natives of Bohemia, who migrated to America in 1855, set- tling in Iowa for nine years and then went to Minne- sota. They were stanch admirers of their adopted country and both lived to a good age, the mother being eighty-four and the father seventy-five when they passed away. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nichols: Ethel, now Mrs. Elmer Riley, resides in Monterey County; Benjamin, a rancher at Butte, Mont., is married and has two children; Kezia is the wife of James Duncan, they are the parents of six children and reside in San Jose; Marcus, a rancher, also of Butte, Mont., has a wife and four children. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols had two grandsons, Marcus J. and Valentine David Ukestad, both from North Dakota, serving in the World War, the latter still in the U. S. Navy. In fact, from the early In- dian and Revolutionary wars to the present time, members of the Nichols family have been partici- pants, with the exception of the war with Mexico.

Mr. Nichols came to California in 1903, settling in San Jose and bought a place in College Park, at 854 Elm Street, content to reside here for the re- maining years of his life. Since locating here three of Mrs. Nichols' sisters have located in San Jose on account of the climate. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have made a number of visits to their old home in Minne-

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sota, but they prefer the milder climate of California for their permanent residence. Mr. Nichols is an honored member of the Col. A. G. Bennett Post G. A. R. of San Jose, and a life member of the Union Veteran Legion, serving as colonel of Camp 160, San Jose. In the years past, while a resident of Minnesota, Mr. Nichols was extremely fond of hunting and fishing, and this sport was both pleasant and profitable, as the streams of Minnesota abound with fish, and the forests were full of wild game.

ORVILLE BENJAMIN HART .- A native son who displayed much business ability and became very successful in the business life of Los Gatos was the late Orville Benjamin Hart, a native son of this great commonwealth, born near Gilroy, Santa Clara County, December 26, 1871. His father, I. B. Hart, was a native of New York and was an early settler of Santa Clara County, becoming a successful and prominent rancher in the Evergreen district, where he spent his last days, passing away May 2, 1922. aged eighty-three years. His widow, who was Miss Helen Cottle, is a native of Missouri. Of their five children, Orville B. was the second oldest, being reared on the farm to habits of industry and useful- ness while he attended the public schools. After completing the local school he entered a business college in San Jose, where he was duly graduated. He then engaged in ranching at Hollister until 1909. when he came to Los Gatos and purchased the Ford agency, to which he gave his undivided time, build- ing up a large business with a complete repair and service station, but his health became impaired and he was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors, for he was cut down while still comparatively in the prime of life, passing away on March 11, 1922. He was a truly good man, liberal and enterprising, who always willingly aided all movements that had for their aim the building up of the community. His taking away left a void not easily filled, he was mourned by his family and many friends. He was a popular member of the Odd Fellows and the Elks, as well as the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Clara Valley Auto Trades Association. Politically he was an ardent Republican.

Mr. Hart was first married in San Francisco to Miss Matilda Prusch, born in San Jose; she was a graduate of the San Jose High School and the San Jose State Normal, and was a teacher until her mar- riage. She was a woman of much literary ability and many of her poems appeared in the Short Story Magazine, but owing to the time and care she spent with her two children, Haven and Jean, she was un- able to give much time to literary work, as she would otherwise have done. The short poems from her pen, published from time to time, told of Nature's charms and human emotions in language that had the inspiration of the true poet. She passed away April 16, 1912, mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Hart's second marriage united him with Mrs. Susie (Mason) Dietrich, the ceremony being performed in San Jose, April 16, 1919. She was born near Fort Bidwell, Modoc County, the daughter of Eli and Susan (Thomas) Mason, natives of Kentucky, who crossed the plains in an ox-team train to California in pioneer days. Mr. Mason was an early settler of Modoc County and later moved to Lakeview, Ore., where he served as county judge for many years, resigning his office to return to his ranch in

Modoc County, and there he resided until his death, twenty-five years ago. He was a popular Mason. His widow now makes her home in Chico, the mother of nine children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Hart, the youngest of the family, was graduated from the Lakeview high school. Her first marriage was to Dr. Adolph Dietrich, a practicing physician of Pitts- burg, Kans., where he passed away December 12, 1912, leaving a son, Leo Oliver Dietrich, who was graduated from the Los Gatos high school, but was called to the world beyond in September, 1920. Since her husband's death Mrs. Hart continues to reside at the old home, looking after the interests left by Mr. Hart and caring for and seeing to the education of his two children, Haven and Jean. Fraternally she is a member of the Rebekahs and Royal Neigh- bors, and the Delphian Club of San Jose.

GEORGE DOUGLAS COTTON .- Identified with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company for over thirty-one years as general yardmaster, George Doug- las Cotton is a native of Illinois, having been born in Chicago on July 6, 1867, a son of Edward and Eliza Frances (Carey) Cotton. His father, for years a traveling salesman, was born in New York State and was descended from English ancestry, the family being among the Puritan settlers of Massachusetts. Patriots in every generation, his ancestors served in the War of 1812, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, as well as the Spanish-American War and the World War. Mrs. Cotton was born in Troy, N. Y., a daughter of Harvey and Jane ( Russell) Carey, also of an old New England family and Revolutionary stock. She died in Oakland in 1914, Edward Cotton having passed away in 1888. Of their three children, George is the eldest and was reared in Erie, Pa, the Cotton family having moved to Pennsylvania when he was a young lad, and thus, he was educated in the public schools of that state, and in the city of Erie, as well as an advanced school under Professor Diefenbaugh. When he became sixteen years of age, he joined the ranks of the Pennsylvania railroad sys- tem and here he was employed in yard service for three years; he then went to the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad and was in their train service for a period of one year and then going with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Com- pany, he worked in the same service with headquar- ters in Minneapolis, Minn., until he came to the coast, in 1890. He was employed in the Oakland yards as general yardmaster for the Southern Pacific railroad, and during his stay in Oakland built a resi- cience on Thirty-seventh Street near Telegraph; then in 1907 he was transferred to San Francisco in the same capacity and continued there, with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company until 1914 when he was transferred to San Jose, having in all served this company for thirty-one years as general yardmaster.

Mr. Cotton's marriage in Oakland united him with Miss Harriet C. Hunter, a native daughter of Cali- fornia, having been born in Ukiah; her parents were easterners who crossed the plains in pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Cotton are the parents of two children, Har- riet and Geraldine. Mr. Cotton was very active dur- ing the World War in the war drives, taking part in the Liberty Loan, Red Cross and other war drives. He is a Mason, a member of Alcatraz Lodge No. 244, F. & A. M. and Alcatraz Chapter No. 82, R. A. M., both of Oakland; and a member of the Brother- hood of Railroad Trainmen, having been secretary

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of the local order for many years and a member for thirty-five years. In national politics he is a stanch Republican, but in local matters he is very liberal in his views, voting for the men and the best meas- ures and always on the side of progress and the up- building of his community.

LESTER H. HELWIG .- Among the firms that have their origin in San Jose is that of Sheehy & Helwig, chartered accountants and income tax con- sultants, who have several branch offices over the state of California, where they offer great advan- tages to Internal Revenue taxpayers in compiling reports of income tax, excess and war profits taxes, estate and inheritance taxes, capital stock and state taxes, accurately and according to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Department. The junior partner of the firm, Lester H. Helwig has been con- lected with both State and Federal service since 1904 in different capacities both in Washington and California.

Mr. Helwig was born in Nevada County, Cal., on February 2, 1880, and was the son of John H. and Emma (Bishop) Helwig. The mother is a native daughter of a '49er, her father Alexander Keith Bishop and wife having crossed the plains twice with ox team and once by the way of Cape Horn, while her husband, John H. Helwig, also crossed the plains at the age of nineteen, arriving in California in the year 1849. After mining for a while, he engaged in the wholesale meat busniess in North Bloomfield, Ne- vada County, the town that contained the largest hydraulic mine in the world. The father passed away in 1909 but Mrs. Helwig, who was born at Chinese Camp in 1855 is still living and makes her home in San Jose. This worthy couple had six children, five of whom are living, our subject being the fourth child of the family. He was reared in Nevada County and attended school there until he reached the age of seventeen, at which time he came to San Jose, where he graduated from the Santa Clara High School in 1900. He then attended Stanford University for three years after which he took a course in Falkenaw Mining School, San Fran- cisco, for a year and then worked in the mines in Nevada and Sierra County in different positions. He worked as an assayer in Searchlight, Nevada, and was superintendent of the cyanide plant of the Search- 1:ght Milling & Mining Company for three years. He also spent one year as superintendent of the Pine Grove Mining Company in Amador County. He held the position of U. S. storekeeper in the em- ploy of the government off and on for a period of ten years and then took charge of the Internal Reve- nue Office for another three years at a plant in Wash- ington where ethyl alcohol was manufactured from sawdust. On coming back to California, he resigned from the Internal Revenue Service and accepted the charge of the San Diego office of the Commercial Fisheries Department of the California State Fish and Game Commission.

In 1919 the present partnership with P. G. Sheehy was formed as chartered accountants and income tax consultants, as Mr. Helwig had been associated with Mr. Sheehy as a deputy collector in the San Jose In- ternal Revenue Office during the income tax work it 1917 and 1918 when the excess profit law was first passed. During this time he took another course in business training and higher accountancy and so is thoroughly trained both in income tax and accoun-

tancy work. In 1919 he received the degree of char- tered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the State of California.

Mr. Helwig's marriage in Nevada City united him with Miss Ethel Landsburg, born in Nevada County, the daughter of James S. Landsburg, one of the pioneers of Nevada County, and they are the parents of two children, Naida and Barbara. He is a Knights Templar Mason and also a member of Islam Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco and of the 100 Per Cent and Commercial clubs of San Jose.

VICTOR DORNBERGER .- One of Santa Clara County's prominent residents well known through his educational activities, is Victor Dornberger, a native son of Santa Clara County, born September 4, 1865. His father, Lambert Dornberger, was a native of France, born in Alsace, France, April 3. 1828, and was for a few years employed in the dairy- ing business in his native land. On June 9th, 1850, he left his native country and journeyed to the United States and by way of the Isthmus of Panama arrived in San Francisco in the year 1854; in 1856 he moved into Santa Clara County, settled on a ranch at the head of Stevens Creek, back of Los Altos; in 1869 he moved the family to Mayfield, Santa Clara County. His marriage, in 1861, had united him with Miss Anna Kleinclaus, also a native of Alsace, and seven children were born to them, six sons, all living, and one daughter, Mrs. Julia Ross, now deceased. The father passed away in 1910 and the mother in 1900.

Victor Dornberger received his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools of Mayfield, later supple- menting it with a full course at the State Normal at San Jose, graduating with the class of 1885. His first teaching experience was for seven years at Mayfield, the family home town; then in December, 1894, he went to Wadsworth, Nev., where he re- mained as principal for four years; then to Lovelock, Nev., for five years; then returned to Mayfield, Cal., where he taught for seven years. In the year of 1911 he took charge of the Lincoln School, San Jose, where he is still instructor, and to his efforts are due much of the great progress and development which have characterized the public schools of this city.

His first marriage united him with Miss Susie M. Beeson, who passed away in 1917; one child, Victrine Suzette, was born to them. His second marriage was to Miss Mary F. Corkery, daughter of an old pioneer family. While principal of the school at Mayfield, Mr. Dornberger served on the town board and for one year was chairman of the board. Dur- ing the recent war, gave active assistance in all the drives; assisted the physicians with the physical and mental examinations of the soldiers and sailors. He has rendered valuable assistance in maintaining the standard of excellence in educational affairs in his vicinity, and he may be relied upon at all times to support measures which have for their object the betterment and progress of mankind. He is a con- sistent member of the Catholic Church and is a mem- ber of the California Teachers' Association and the National Educational Association, and he has taken lecture courses at the Teachers' College as well as in Nevada, while a resident there. Of the original ranch purchased by Lambert Dornberger, consisting of 1,300 acres, 800 of it is now owned by Victor and his twin brother, Albert L. Dornberger, and known as the Dornberger Ranch.

G.S. Cox.

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GEORGE W. COX .- Foremost among the pio- neer ranchers and farmers in Santa Clara County is George W. Cox, a native son of Santa Clara County, who has contributed his share in the up- building and in the growth and progress in the neighborhood of Saratoga. He was born at the old Cox homestead. November 23, 1861, the son of Wil- liam and Dicey (Baggs) Cox, both natives of Ohio, and pioneers of Santa Clara County, whose interest- ing biography is found on another page in this his- tory. George W. Cox was educated in the Moreland public school, where he gained a good education. From the time he was a small boy he assisted his father on the farm, and while still quite young made a hand driving the big teams in the grain fields. In 1884 he began working at the carpenter's trade, and followed it off and on from 1884 till 1892, except the time he spent (in 1885-'86) attending the Garden City Business College, then held over the Farmers' Union Store in San Jose, in charge of Prof. H. B. Worcester. After he was graduated from this insti- tution he again resumed his trade. In 1887 he as- sisted his father when he began setting out his ranch to orchards, as well as helping to set out other early orchards in this section. In 1892 he gave his time to the care of the home orchards, and in 1895 he married Miss Emma Walter, who was born near Mountain View, a daughter of Mathias and Carrie (Krause) Walter and a sister of H. C. Walter.

After his marriage Mr. Cox located on his present place and built a pleasant home, and in 1900 he built the present commodious residence. His home place comprises twenty acres on Cox Avenue, set to orchard as early as 1891, and he also owns a fifteen- acre orchard on Saratoga Avenue, all devoted to the culture of prunes. In 1913 he bored a deep well and obtained a good flow of water, having an electric pumping plant with a capacity of 750 gallons per minute, sufficient not only for irrigating his own orchards but several of his neighbors. He has given much thought to his orchards and they are culti- vated in a scientific and intelligent manner.

Mr. Cox was bereaved of his faithful wife, who passed away January 7, 1916, leaving a son, Ivan, who is ably assisting his father in his ranching en- terprise. He married Miss Florence Plaskett and they are the prond parents of two children, Robley and Alode Elizabeth. George W. Cox's second mar- riage occurred March 29, 1920, when he was united with Mrs. Margaret (Faletti) Morello, the widow of Frank Morello and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Faletti. By her first marriage Mrs. Cox be- came the mother of four children: Theresa, Charles, Joseph and Frank. Mr. Cox is a believer in co- operation as the best method of marketing the fruit, and is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Growers' Association.

LORENZO V. SLAVICH .- A resident for many years of Santa Clara County, who has demonstrated his admiration for his adopted country, by fostering and promoting every movement for the advancement of the community in which he makes his home, is Lorenzo V. Slavich, who was born on October 30, 1857, in Dalmatia, Jugo-Slavia, Austria, on the Isle of Brazza, town of Mirce, a son of John and Katherine (Nizetich) Slavich, well-to-do farmers, and manu- facturers of olive oil and wine. The father and mother of Lorenzo V. Slavich were members of the Catholic Church, and the father served his local

community as town trustee; he lived to be eighty- one years of age and passed away in his native land, honored and respected by all. The mother also lived to be eighty-one years old.

Lorenzo V. Slavich attended the public schools of Mirce until he had reached the age of fifteen, when he sailed for America. His uncle, the late George Slavich, proprietor of the Union Restaurant. the oldest business of the kind in San Jose, had written for him to come to California, but was taken seri- ously ill, and just before the arrival of Lorenzo, had moved away, and the restaurant was disposed of, and it was three years before he saw his uncle. When Lorenzo arrived the only thing left for him to do was to seek employment elsewhere, and he found a position that paid ten dollars per month. Within three months he accepted another position at a wage of twenty-five dollars per month. Thrilled with the stories of the wealth to be found in mining, he went to Amador County, where he entered the employ of the Plymouth Consolidated Mining Com- pany, working in their mill; later he removed to Eldorado County, where a large flume was in the course of construction for carrying water for placer mining. He worked there for some time, but on account of the closing of .the California National Bank of San Francisco, the company was forced to quit and Mr. Slavich obtained only a small part of the money for which he had labored so hard. He be- came. an American citizen while residing in Eldorado County. He was now twenty-one years old, and concluded to return to San Jose. He conducted a billiard parlor for a time during 1882, but sold out and invested the proceeds in a restaurant in Gilroy, which proved to be a wise move, and which netted him liberal profits during his five years there. How- ever, he disposed of this business and returned to San Jose and became manager of a restaurant, where he remained ten years.

In May, 1897, Mr. Slavich purchased a restaurant business on West San Fernando Street, and after spending about $7,000 on improvements, the res- taurant was opened for business on June 25, 1897. Friends came from all parts of the state to enjoy the special program, and to bestow good wishes for success and prosperity on the enterprise. His ven- ture proved a profitable one, and for many years his establishment has yielded a handsome income, and was known throughout the northern part of the state as a place where one was sure to procure an excellent meal. Very recently, on account of failing health, Mr. Slavich has been forced to relinquish his activity, and has turned over the business to his son-in-law, John V. Slavich, who served as manager of the restaurant for twenty-one years.

The first marriage of Mr. Slavich united him with Miss Annie Winegarden, a daughter of one of Santa Clara County's pioneer families, born and reared in San Jose, in a house which formerly stood, and where now stands the Federal building, on the cor- ner of Market and San Fernando streets. Her father. William Winegarden, was a merchant in the early days. He married Miss Marie Messa. who was born in Sausalito, a daughter of a very okl Spanish family of Northern California. Mr. and Mrs. Slavich had three children: John dicd when two and a half years old; Katherine married John V. Slavich of San Jose and she died September 5. 1921, leaving a dangh- ter, Gwenny; and Celestina Olga, the wife of Gus

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 105

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