History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 107

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

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JOHN M. LORDS .- An enterprising, experienced and successful rancher, whose prosperity has spelt something toward the advancement of agricultural interests generally in California, and whose trim farm is well regarded as one of the show-places of Santa Clara County, is John M. Lords, a native son born in Sacramento, on February 6, 1865, and now com- fortably settled south of Alviso. His father, Walden Lords, was a native of Ohio, and he married Mrs. Mary Houston, whose maiden name was Mary Slat- tery, a native of County Kerry, Ireland. She became the mother of one child by her first husband, Mrs. Delia Emerson, widow of the late pioneer black- smith, O. P. Emerson, and she resides on Fourteenth Street, in San Jose. Walden Lords came across the great plains in 1850, driving his cattle with him. and he went into the mines, later settling in Sacra- mento County, where he lived for a number of years.

When our subject was ten years old, his parents removed to Santa Clara County, and for a year his father ran the Alviso Hotel. Then he went to San Jose and lived there until 1884, when he purchased the ranch of seventy-five acres on the Alviso Road. just out of Alviso, with which the name of Lords has been associated in such a pleasant manner. John attended the Alviso and San Jose public schools, and then struck out for himself. He went to the San Joaquin Valley, and in time became a partner in a firm owning a ranch of 400 acres near Woodbridge. tor the growing of grain. He remained at Woodbridge orly two years, however, and then he came back to Alviso and helped run the seventy-five-acre ran h. At present, there are three persons interested in this estate, which includes some thirty ares in fruit- half in pears and apples-while the rest is devoted to pasturing and the raising of hay. An ornate and comfortable residence stands on the ranch, built in 1892, and the ranch is irrigated by a pumping plant.

At San Rafael, on March 27, 1912, Mr. Lords was married to Miss Mary E. Hanaford, a native of Devonshire, England, a charming lady and devoted wife, who died on October 19, 1919. Two of his

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sisters are living-Mrs. O. P. Emerson and Mrs. W. W. Jennings, both of San Jose. Mr. Lords is a member of the Modern Woodmen, enjoying there an enviable popularity, and for years he has patriotic- ally done his duty, as a public-spirited citizen, in serving on the board of trustees for Alviso.

GEORGE OSMER .- A wide-awake, thoroughly progressive merchant, whose industry and enterprise have entitled him to the success he enjoys, is George Osmer, the dealer in general merchandise and post- master at Alma, where he has been among the leaders in working for the permanent growth of the town. He was born in Bremen, Germany, on November 5, 1868, the son of August A. and Dorothy (Haake) Osmer, and came with his parents to the United States when he was fourteen years old. They located in New York, and there conducted a restaurant; and in that city the mother died. The father spent his last days with Mr. Osmer, passing away at Alma. George was the youngest of six children and enjoyed the foundations of a liberal education obtained in Bremen, Germany, spending one year in high school before coming to New York City. On his arrivel he accep- ted clerical work in an office in New York and re- mained there for seven years. In 1887, he came West to San Francisco, where he engaged in retail mer- chandise business for two years and removed to Alma. Here for a couple of years he clerked in the general store already established, when he bought a half-in- terest in the establishment and the firm became Bohme & Osmer; five years later he bought Mr. Bohme's in- terest, and since then the business has been known as the George Osmer General Merchandise Store.

Mr. Osmer carries a complete line of general mer- chandise, and he also sells auto supplies and tires, and he maintains an oil station; he tries to have on hand everything which anyone has ever asked for in Alma, and he even goes a step further in antici- pating his patrons' wants. Thousands of travelers, local and long-distance tourists, know the genial pro- prietor of this store on the highway to Santa Cruz, and they appreciate his unselfish endeavors to help them out on many an occasion. Mr. Osmer has built several residences at Alma and also has a ranch at the Summit, devoted to orchard and vineyard.

At Alma, in 1896, Mr. Osmer was married to Miss Margaret Stewart, a native daughter, born in Peta- luma, whose father was Henry Stewart, an early resi- dent of Alma, and they now have three children: Bessie, Mrs. Sinclair of Alma, Marion, and George Osmer, Jr., associated with his father in the busi- ness. Mr. Osmer belongs to the Masonic order, hav- ing been made a Mason in Los Gatos Lodge No. 292, F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Woodmen of the World. Public-spirited and thoroughly Am- erican, Mr. Osmer has been postmaster at Alma since 1890, and a very popular official he has proven to be, giving satisfaction to everybody. In national politi- cal affairs, he is a Democrat.

ALEXANDER DUNCAN CAMPBELL .- Few men have done more to place trade in real estate and insurance in California on a stabile, respectable and assuring basis that Alexander Duncan Campbell, of 661 South Sixth Street, San Jose, to which city he came in the middle nineties, with no thought at the time of remaining permanently. He was born and reared on the home farm near Toronto, Canada, on October 16, 1860, and since the local school was

some seven and a half miles distant, he enjoyed but very limited educational advantages. His father, Duncan Campbell, was a native of Toronto, became a farmer, and then, leaving his family in Canada, migrated to California in 1872, where he entered the mines. He acquired a fortune; but he was later overwhelmed by reverses, and he was never heard from again until 1886. He had married Miss Mary Carmichael, a native of Scotland, who accompanied her parents to Canada when she was only six months old. On the mother's side, the ancestors were professional men.

A. D. Campbell was the eldest of five children, and at the age of only twelve, the burden of re- sponsibility for the support of his mother and sisters fell upon him. He was very plucky, and being re- sourceful, and determined to make something of him- self and to get out of debt, he fitted himself for salesmanship. He was first employed by Bradley Garrett's publishing house, and went ont into the field as a solicitor, and was soon very successful; and when the opportunity was presented, in 1886, to make a trip to British Columbia with a cousin, he refused the flattering terms of the publishers to stay, and set off for the Northwest.

There he had charge of some 250 men on con- struction work for the Canadian Pacific Railway, and he soon had the best chance to show his ability and to find favor with the contractor; but although he got along splendidly during the three and a half months he was so engaged, he was haunted with the desire to find his father, from whom nothing had been heard for years. The month of November, 1886, therefore, found our subject in San Francisco, where he had cousins, to whom he applied, hoping that they would be able to give some information; but failing in that, Mr. Campbell traced his father from place to place, and late in December of that year he found him on a homestead near Fresno. Both were overjoyed. The father had become dis- heartened after years of hard work, in which he had made and lost three fortunes, and he was making the last stand to make his fourth fortune, which he did, when the reunion took place with his family, the son returning to Canada to settle up the estate, and bringing the folks back to California with him. For ten years our subject remained at a ranch in Fresno County engaged in farming.

At San Jose in 1895 Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Lilly Tressler, who had been a resident of the Santa Clara Valley for three years prior to that date, her brother, Dr. Tressler, having founded the Eng- lish Lutheran Church at San Jose. He is now a professor at Springfield, Ohio, in a theological semi- nary. Four children blessed this union: Allister B. is a very resourceful young business man; Victoria is a student at the University of California; Irene is a graduate of the San Jose State Normal School, and has recently been chosen principal of the Loyal- ton Grammar School in Sierra County; Paul Scott Campbell is a student in the San Jose high school.

In 1912 Mr. Campbell sold out his fuel and feed business, which had been steadily growing ever since he had started at 651 South First Street, and he in- vested in lands and real estate. For a short time he was also the Pacific Coast distributor for the Snell Water Filter Company, with headquarters at San Jose, but this last venture demanded his absence from home, and on this account mainly he disposed

Geo Osmer

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

of his interests after eight months of successful operations. At present Mr. Campbell is the mana- ger of the city department of Crother's Realty Of- fices in San Jose, dealers in real estate and insur- ance, and he is a live wire in the San Jose Realty Board and the San Jose Chamber of Commerce. He prefers the platforms of the Republican party, and the family attend the First Presbyterian Church.

DANIEL RAYMOND .- Coming to San Jose in 1904 with a very small capital, the initiative spirit and marked executive ability of Daniel Raymond have enabled him to develop a business of extensive proportions and he is now vice-president and mana- ger of the largest pottery plant on the Pacific Coast. He was born in Wellsville, Ohio, October 31, 1868, a son of John and Caroline (Fell) Raymond, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Baden, Germany. The father was a butcher by trade and his death occurred in 1871, while the mother passed away when fifty-four years of age.

Daniel Raymond, the youngest of fifteen children, had very limited educational opportunities, attending school only until he reached the third grade, when he was obliged to secure employment in order to aid in supporting the family, having made his own way in the world from the age of eight years. When a young man he took up the potter's trade, serving an apprenticeship under the firm of Knowles & Tay- lor of East Liverpool, Ohio. He afterward followed his trade in various parts of the country and in 1900 Iccated in Washington, becoming foreman of the Clayton Pottery Company of Clayton, that state, which position he filled for one year. He then em- barked in the pottery business on his own account in that locality, but trade conditions were unfavorable and in 1904 he left that place and came to San Jose, arriving in this city in March with but very little capital. He obtained a loan of $100 on an insurance policy, to which he added sixty-five dollars, and with this amount built his first kiln, at the corner of Park and East streets. He at first did all of the work himself, but as time passed he prospered in his under- taking and expanded his interests, organizing in De- cember, 1904, the Garden City Pottery Company, Imc. The company erected its buildings at 540-560 North Sixth Street and began operations in April, 1905, giving employment to eight workmen. In 1908 the company trebled their capital and plant and now employs thirty men, turning out all kinds of com- mon store ware and red unglazed flower pots of vari- ous sizes. Mr. Raymond's expert knowledge of his trade and enterprising methods have enabled him to build up a business of large proportions and the com- pany's output now approximates 125 carloads per year. Deliveries are made by auto truck in a radius of 200 miles. Mr. Raymond has a twenty-acre vine- yard in Yuba County and also owns a home at the corner of Hensley and Second streets, San Jose.

Mr. Raymond is a veteran of the Spanish-American War, enlisting with the Washington Volunteers and becoming a member of the First Washington In- fantry. He saw active service in the Philippines under Generals King and Lawton, receiving his hon- orable discharge at the end of two years.

In San Jose, on April 15, 1906, Mr. Raymond mar- ried Miss Danilena Bloise, who was born in Santa Cruz County, a daughter of J. B. and Elizabeth (Lively) Bloise, who still reside upon the old home place. The father is a native of Nova Scotia and a

member of an old Canadian family of French descent. Mrs. Raymond was reared and educated in Santa Cruz County and by her marriage she has become the mother of two daughters, Helen and Evelyn. In politics Mr. Raymond maintains a nonpartisan atti- tude, voting for the man rather than the party. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen of broad views and kindly nature, and charitably inclined. A self-educated and self-made man, through the wise utilization of his innate powers and talents he has risen to a foremost position in manufacturing circles and while attaining individual prosperity he has con- tributed to the industrial expansion of this city.

WILLARD L. PRUSSIA .- The kind of substan- tial business energy best appreciated in the West finds expression in the life of Willard L. Prussia, president and manager of Prussia & Co., the exclu- sive woman's wearing apparel store located at 127-133 South First Street, San Jose, and one of the most energetic, cautious, and progressive men who have elected to profit by the resources of this community. He was born at Dansville, N. Y., February 2, 1867, the son of Jesse B. Prussia, also a native of Dans- ville, born in 1825. His mother was a native of Scot- land, but removed with her parents to New York when a girl of twelve years. She is now eighty-five years of age and resides with her son in San Jose, the father lived to be eighty years of age. Mr. Prus- sia's paternal grandfather was also a native of Dans- ville, born in 1797, his family coming over from Eng- land in an early day.

Willard L. Prussia received his early education in the public schools of Dansville, where, for forty-two years his father was engaged in the millinery busi- ness, and it was in his father's store that Willard be- gan his business training, working after school, Satur- days and during vacations. Recognizing his ability as a salesman, he was solicited by H. C. Taft, of the drygoods firm of Taft and Pennoyer, who own and operate a big store in Oakland, Cal., and he went there in 1884. Then he was for a time in San Diego, later went to Los Angeles, and while there made the acquaintance of I. Loeb of the firm of I. Loeb & Company, who owned the San Jose Dry Goods Company, and Mr. Prussia was engaged by Mr. Loeb in 1891. During this period he became acquainted with S. M. Goldberg, and this acquaintance developed into friendship and later into an important business association. Mr. Goldberg maintains a large office and business in New York City, employing a large force of buyers, who are sent to all the principal drygoods and suit centers of the world.

The firm of Prussia & Company was incorporated in 1909 under the laws of the state of New York; they have large and commodious quarters, fine show win- dows, beautiful interior decorations, well-lighted and finely-equipped with every modern convenience, and enjoys a large patronage of the best people in this city. Mr. Prussia is also vice-president of Harry Fink & Company, Los Angeles; Willard's of San Francisco, and J. F. Donovan & Company of Stock- ton. S. M. Golberg is the president of the four stores. and manages the buying of all the goods throughout the world. Mr. Prussia's optimistic spirit has sus- tained him all through the trials of his earlier years, and brought him to the present era of prosperity.

The marriage of Mr. Prussia in 1891 united him with Miss Minnie Compton, a resident of Hamilton. Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Prussia are the parents of one

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son, Leland S., who is at the present time connected with Willard's in San Francisco.

Fraternally, Mr. Prussia is a Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and of the Shrine in San Fran- cisco. He is also a member of the Elks and is a char- ter member of the Rotary Club. He is also active in the Chamber of Commerce and he served as president of the park board of San Jose under three mayors. Because of his perseverance, industry, integrity and faithfulness, he has steadily progressed in his chosen line of work, until his success is fully assured. He is a progressive citizen, and a potent factor in all move- ments that lead to the further development of the community in which he resides.

MRS. MARGARET E. BAKER .- An esteemed representative of one of the best-known pioneers in the California electrical field, is Mrs. Margaret E. Baker, the widow of the late Terry E. Baker, whose gifted sons, taking up the progressive work where he was compelled to lay it down, have also contributed much in placing electrical devices, and the wonderful utility of electricity, at the disposal of thousands. Mr. Baker was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in Septem- ber, 1856, the son of Terry J. and Sarah Baker. His father was interested in race horses, and when he came to California in 1862 he settled at San Francisco and had a race track at Sausalito across the Bay. He was always interested in standard and thoroughbred horses and stock of all kinds, and when he passed away in San Francisco he was mourned by many, especially by the old-timers fond, in their pioneer life, of the turf and other sports.

The husband of our subject attended the Horace Mann school in San Francisco, and when only a young man took up railroad work with the Southern Pacific Railroad. He went to Los Angeles, and was one of the first men to be sent over the Tehachapi route, then by way of the Newhall tunnel. He was a conductor on Huntington's road, and was one of the popular officials of his day. At the time of the great railroad strike in 1894, Mr. Baker went to Arizona and became interested in the mines at Clifton. After the strike was settled, he went back to railroad work, and was in Bakersfield with the Southern Pacific Rail- road until 1903, when he came to San Jose and gave up railroading.

In 1902, Mr. Baker with his sons, entered the elec- trical field, and opened up a store with electrical fix- tures, at the same time that they contracted to do wiring of all kinds. Now these sons have so ex- panded the business that it extends throughout the Valley. They have the Santa Clara County agency for the Blue Bird clothes washer, and they also sell a full line of useful electrical appliances.

At Los Angeles, in September, 1874, Mr. Baker was married to Miss Margaret Wilson, a native of Chi- cago and the daughter of William and Mary (Bass) Wilson, born in Montreal and Chicago respectively. The former was of English descent while Mary Bass was of Scotch forebears; her father, Capt. Wm. Bass, was a sea captain and when he located as a pioneer at Ft. Dearborn, now Chicago, he sailed the Great Lakes for many years. Later he was a foreman for the Heath-Milligan Co., paint contractors in Chicago, and in 1873 he brought his family to California and settled at Orange. After making his home there for two years, he came to San Jose After leaving Or- ange, he had a paint shop in Los Angeles, and there the family lived until Mrs. Baker was married. Four

sons were born of this union: Lewis E. is the capable manager of Messrs. T. E. Baker & Sons, and George W. is also with the same company; William T. was killed in motorcycle races at San Jose in 1913; Ed- ward M. is associated with his brothers in the con- duct of the business. Mrs. Baker is happy as the grandmother to four grandchildren. Richard is the son of Lewis E. Baker; Jeanette is the daughter of George W. Baker; and Donald and Ned are the two attractive children of Edward M. Baker. Mr. Baker passed away April 27, 1915. He was an independent in politics, above petty partisanship; Mrs. Baker is a strong Republican, and her sons follow her lead The eldest son is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Islam Temple of San Francisco. Mrs. Baker belongs to San Jose Chapter No. 31, O. E. S., and also to the Saint Claire Court, No. 31, Royal Order of Amaranth.

WILFRID F. ROBIDOUX .- A public-spirited man who is very well thought of in various parts of Santa Clara County is Wilfrid F. Robidoux, the expert blacksmith of Alviso. He was born at St. Etienne Beauharnois near Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, on November 12, 1869, the son of Moise Robidoux, the representative of an old Canadian fam- ily, who was long engaged in hotel enterprises and was a commission merchant dealing in livestock. He had married Filanise Emard and they had sixteen children; six of these died in infancy and the ten that grew to maturnity were: Filanise, who resides at Beauharnois; Azilda, who died at the same place; Alphonsine, who lives in Montreal; Moise, died at an age of thirty-five in Modoc County, Cal .; Domina, who lives in Montreal; Joseph resides in Santa Clara. but is employed in San Jose; Wilfrid, the subject of this sketch; Isabella died in Stockton; Louisa died in Montreal; Florentine lives in Montreal.

Wilfrid attended the grammar school in his home town, and when fifteen years old began to learn the blacksmith trade at Howick, Province of Quebec. After three years of apprenticeship, he left home, entered the States, and settled in Franklin County, N. Y., where he worked at his trade for wages until 1889. In that eventful year, soon after the general awakening along the Pacific Coast, he came out to Seattle and worked for a ycar and a half.

On June 5, 1891, he landed in Santa Clara County and worked for H. E. Holthouse in his shop at Milligan's Corner, continuing with him, on a wage scale, for ten years; and in 1902, he bought out the tools in Mr. Chisholm's blacksmith shop in Alviso and with them started up in business in the old shop right south of this present location. The old shop, however, did not satisfy him very long, and he built a new shop, 1913, which he equipped with modern machinery, including a band saw, a rip saw, a planer, an electric forge, emery wheels, an outfit for acetylene welding, and whatever else in his judgment that he needed to enable him to do not only all kinds of first-class smithy work, but the most expert automo- bile repairing. This shop he still owns and occupies. It was not long before Mr. Robidoux had made for himself a reputation for absolutely dependable work. and this reputation he has casily maintained, with the result that he enjoys the patronage not only of his town, but of many residents of Santa Clara County who appreciate the best workmanship. His general" position, as a man of affairs, in the community is at- tested by the fact that he is chairman of the board of trustees of Alviso.

Jemy Baken

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

At Santa Clara, on April 25, 1897, Mr. Robidoux was married to Miss Mary E. Holthouse, a native of Taylorville, Plumas County, Cal., and the daughter of the late E. H. Holthouse, a native of Hanover, Germany, elsewhere mentioned in this work, who had married Mrs. Elizabeth (Madden) Ratcliff, a native of Ireland. The father crossed the plains in 1852, and settled in the Rush Creek mining district, where he panned for gold. When Mary Holthouse was four years old, her father moved to Alviso, and she attended the Braly School. Now, two of her brothers are ranching near Mountain View, Mark and J. Fred, sketches of whom also appear elsewhere in this work. Another brother is Herman E., and still another, Huge N., who is deceased; there is also a half brother, W. P. Ratcliff, of San Francisco. On October 20, 1915, Mrs. Robidoux died, being the mother of two very promising children: Joseph Ar- mand, looking forward to the priesthood, is a student at St. Michaels, at Hillyard, Wash., and Moise Henry, who is studying to become a lawyer at the University of Santa Clara. Mr. Robidoux is a Republican, and a member of both the Woodmen of the World and the Foresters of America.

PETER D. LANDON .- An industrious orchard- ist who has materially advanced husbandry in Cali- fornia is Peter D. Landon, whose success has en- abled him to retire in comfort at 4 Broadway, San Jose. He was born at Mountainville, Hunterdon County, N. J., on April 11, 1849, the son of Calvin Columbus Landon, a contractor and builder of bridges and large frame work, who plied his trade so expertly that much of his work is used to this day throughout New Jersey and New York.

When only ten years of age, Peter, fortunate in the love of a devoted mother, whose maiden name was Charity Ann Everett, set out to try to do for himself, with the result that even his elementary schooling had to be neglected, and all prospects of his ever being an advanced student faded away. At the age of twenty, he migrated west to Illinois, and for two years he worked on a farm near Washington. in Tazewell County. It was not what he wanted, but he accepted the situation philosophically and prepared to take the next important step.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 107

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