History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 108

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

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In 1872 he progressed further West and reached California, and it was not long before he had dis- covered the wonderful attractions of the Santa Clara Valley and had begun to take up ranch work for others in the Valley View district. Eight months later he rented a grain farm in the Evergreen dis- trict, and for two years he farmed on shares, raising grain and hay. In 1877-78 he was in Dallas, Texas, but he returned to Santa Clara County more satis- ficd than ever that here was the opportunity for young men willing to work. Accordingly, he set to work with a harvester, and for ten years he con- tinued successfully harvesting grain. In 1888, he became an orchardist, renting acreage for a few seasons until he could buy land and start anew; and from that time on until he retired, after selling his orchards near Campbell some two years ago, he never knew failure.

In San Jose on September 6, 1888, Mr. Landon married Mrs. Sarah Cordelia (Cottle) Hight, the eldest daughter of the honored pioneer, Royal Cot- tle, now deceased. She was born near Albany, Ore., on December 15, 1848, and when only eight years old was taken to San Jose by her parents, who were

the first orchardists in the Willow Glen district. Nine children were born to this union: Alice is a teacher in Montana; Metta Cora is now the wife of David Yarbrough of McKittrick and the mother of three children; Leslie is an engineer and the father of two children and resides with his family at Mayfield; Bert married, became the father of three children, and died, leaving a widow who resides at Kernville; May is also deceased. The sixth in the order of birth is Charles, and the next younger is Etho, now Mrs. W. W. Loyst, they have two children and reside on Lupton Avenue, Wil- lows; Vernon D. is also married and resides with his wife and two children at Oakland; and Ray- mond Everett, a chiropractor, is also married, has one child, and maintains his home at Boscobel, Wis.

Raymond enlisted in the United States Army for service in the World War, and made an excellent record. He left home October 5, 1917, left America on December 14, 1917, arrived in England ten days later, and reached France on January 18, 1918. He was wounded at the battle of Cantigny, on May 28, 1918, took part in the battle of St. Mihiel, which raged from September 12 to September 15, and in the Meuse-Argonne drive, on October 4, he was wounded a second time, and was in the hospital for three months. After serving as a private in the First Division he left Bordeaux on the twenty-ninth of June, arrived in America at Newport News, July 10, and reached San Jose on July 28, 1919. In 1920 he graduated from the Palmer School of Chiroprac- tic, Davenport, Iowa, and now he has a lucrative practice at Boscobel, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Landon are deservedly proud of their family-nine children, eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

JOHN A. COROTTO .- For many years a resi- dent of Santa Clara County, John A. Corotto has prospered in his business, the manufacture of wine. He was born on January 28, 1870, in San Jose, the son of Angelo and Mary (Raggio) Corotto, who came to San Jose in 1869 and then went to Hollister, San Benito County, in 1874, and here they made their home. Mrs. Corotto's people were also pioneers of California, having come here in 1861; both of her parents passed away some time ago.

John A. attended the schools of San Benito County, but received a. limited training as he left school at the age of fourteen to help his father on the ranch, where he lived until he was in his seven- teenth year. He then came to San Jose to work and became employed by Raggio Bros., who were com- mission merchants. After working here for two and a half years, he bought a half-interest in this concern and after three years sold out and engaged in the manufacture of wine.

Mr. Corotto's marriage united him with Miss Catherine Sturla of Gilroy, the daughter of James Sturla, and they are the parents of one child, Gene- vieve P. Mr. Corotto was very active in all the war drives, especially among the Italian-American Club, and as an appreciation he received a letter of thanks from James K. Lynch of the Federal Reserve Board of San Francisco, and one from John H. Cal- kins of the U. S. Treasury Department, for the good he had accomplished during the war drives, while he was on the Liberty Loan Committee. One of his cousins, Virgilio Corotto, lost his life in the World War. For three years he served as secretary of the Italian Benevolent Club and is past presi-

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

dent of San Jose Parlor No. 22, Native Sons of the Golden West, in which he has been a member for twenty-five years. He is also a member of the Red- men, B. P. O. Elks, the Eagles, the Pastime Club, Chamber of Commerce and the Camels. He is a di- rector in the Bank of Italy, San Jose Branch. He is a Republican, serving on the county central commit- tee and a delegate at large at one time.

CHARLES W. CUTLER .- Halest and heartiest of octogenarians in Santa Clara County today, Charles WV. Cutler, the well known pioneer enjoys life as one should who in his day has contributed so much, and in many ways, partly as a path-breaking pedagogue, to the upbuilding of each section in which he has lived and toiled. He was born in Wayne Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio, on January 23, 1838, in the same congressional district claiming the birth or later activity of such eminent anti-slavery leaders as Joshua Reed Giddings, V. F. Wade, James A. Garfield, and others. He spent his boyhood on his father's farm, while he also attended the most primitive of country schools. His father, Elijah T. Cutler, born in Con- necticut in 1796, was an extensive land owner, miller and lumber manufacturer in Ohio and was descended from one of two Englishmen of the same name who sailed from England in 1637 and arrived at a port in Massachusetts on the Rose of Yarmouth. Thus well established, the family in time became distinguished through several members who took high positions in Massachusetts and other parts of New England. Elijah T. Cutler was married three times and Charles W. was the son of his union with Miss Olive Wal- worth, the daughter of Charles Walworth.

Mrs. Cutler died in Ohio in 1839, and Charles Cutler was reared by an aunt, Maria Walworth, a younger sister of his mother, who afterwards became his stepmother and kind guardian. Elijah Cutler died on June 25, 1860, and in that year Charles W. went in company with a brother to Bernardston, Franklin County, Mass., and there entered Powers Institute, later enrolling in Oberlin College, at Ober- lin, Ohio, where he began his academic experience and laid the foundation for some especially useful work in life. In 1862 he went to Elkhorn, Walworth County, Wisconsin, where he engaged in teaching school, resigning the principalship of the Elkhorn schools on May 16, 1864, to enlist in Company F, Fortieth Wisconsin Infantry, but was soon made a clerk of the special inspector of cavalry, with head- quarters at Memphis, Tennessee. He received his honorable discharge on September 30, 1864, at Madi- son, Wisconsin, and becoming more interested than ever in what he believed to be his life work - that of teaching - lie again became principal of the public schools at Eikhorn, Wisconsin, in the fall of 1864, filling that position to the satisfaction of everyone for several years. He was also principal of the schools at Burlington and Green Bay, Wisconsin, serving a year in each place and leaving behind an excellent record and many friends.

On April 15, 1867, Mr. Cutler was married to Miss Helen Morse, and two children were born to them, both of whom died in infancy. On April 1, 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Cutler came out to the Pacific Coast, and, once here, he gave up his professional work and for fifteen years was active in various commercial enterprises, becoming prominent in San Francisco, where he remained until he came to the Santa Clara Valley in 1886. He invested in a fine ranch home in

The Willows and has ever since been more or less active in both horticultural and educational circles in Willow Glen district. In 1893 he helped organize the Willow Glen Fruit Union and for part of the ten years in which he was a stockholder, he per- formed the duties of secretary and manager. On June 6, 1896, Mrs. Cutler passed away, lamented by a wide circle which had come to appreciate her sterling and admirable qualities.

On October 20, 1897, Mr. Cutler was remarried, taking for his wife Miss Isabella McBeath, a descend- ant of interesting Scotch parentage, the ceremony occurring at Chicago. During 1903-04, Mr. and Mrs. Cutler made an extended tour of the British Isles and continental Europe, which they greatly enjoyed. They visited many places of note, among them Geneva, Naples, Rome, Paris and London, and they also spent some time in Edinburgh at the homes of relatives of Mrs. Cutler. In 1915 they made a trip East via the Canadian Pacific, revisiting Wis- consin, where both had lived in former years. They took in the cities of Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Urbana, Ill., in all of which places they had friends, after which they proceeded to Mr. Cutler's old home in Ohio, thence on to Boston, Mass., from which place they visited Springfield, Northampton, and then spent Thanksgiving with Mrs. Olive W. Peet, Mr. Cutler's sister, at Salem, Mass. On December 15, 1915, they came via New York and Philadelphia to New Orleans,. La., and from there sailed to Havana. crossing Cuba to Fort Batabano, where they took a steamer for the Isle of Pines, and there they had Christmas dinner with Mrs. Snodgrass, a sister of Mrs. Cutler. Returning to New Orleans, they came by the Southern Pacific via Los Angeles to San Jose, after a delightful and interesting six months' trip. Since then, buoyed up by pleasant memories of these and other delightful experiences in life, Mr. and Mrs. Cutler have lived in quiet enjoyment of their home, Mr. Cutler at eighty-three finding much for his hand to do in his beautiful garden. He is a veteran Odd Fellow and can look back with particular satisfaction on his experience as past grand of the lodge with which he has been connected since March 5, 1875. He is also past commander and for seven years served as adjutant of Sheridan-Dix Post No. 7, G. A. R., while Mrs. Cutler is a member of the Sheridan- Dix W. R. C. and of the San Jose Woman's Club.

A standpat Republican, fond of the traditions of his party, Mr. Cutler has never aspired to public office, but has been willing to do his part as a loyal citizen toward elevating civic standards. He belongs to the Congregational Church of San Jose, has been a trus- tee and is at present a deacon, and has vigorously supported every movement for local uplift and public morals. Santa Clara County may well be proud of this record of one of the "first citizens" of San Jose.

LOUIS CHARLES DE CARLI .- Emphatically a man of energy, Louis Charles De Carli is one of the enterprising and active men of Santa Clara County, giving substantial encouragement to every plan for the promotion of the public welfare, and has been identified with Santa Clara County since 1881. Mr. De Carli was born in Auressio, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on March 5, 1866, and was the son of August and Caroline (Bistacchi) De Carli. The mother is still living there at the age of eighty-four years. The father came to California in 1874 and

C. W. Cutler

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

never returned to Switzerland, having passed away in San Jose in 1916, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was a contracting lumberman and road builder and lived most of his life in the Saratoga hills, following the life of the ancient Helvetians, hunting, fishing and always living the outdoor life. Longevity is a characteristic of our subject's ances- tors, his great-grandmother, Hellena Bistacchi, living to be 109 years of age.

Louis spent his boyhood days in Switzerland, where he graduated from the Swiss grammar schools, becoming proficient in both French and Italian. When fifteen years old, he came to the United States, arriving in California and went direct to Saratoga in 1881 and began as a farm hand, milking and doing general farm work. He has been in Santa Clara County ever since this time, except the four years from 1891 to 1895, that he spent with the Wellington Coal Company at Victoria, B. C. It was during this period that he was united in marriage with Miss Christine Geddes, who was born in Aber- deenshire, Scotland, and they became the parents of two children, Ethel Marie, who is now the wife of Lawrence Arnold, a fireman of San Jose, and Louis A., who was born and reared in San Jose, graduating from the grammar school. Ethel was born at Vic- toria and the little family came to San Jose in the year 1895. Mr. De Carli again engaged as a farm hand, but being capable of speaking several languages fluently, he later became court interpreter in Santa Clara County. This was hard work, for it meant night study for fifteen months in the San Jose high school, but he is now able to interpret Italian, French and Spanish in all courts. During the four years, 1904 to 1908, he served on the police depart- ment of San Jose as patrolman and won one of the cleanest records of any officer in this city. By a special request of the victims of the Black Hand (Mafia) and the better element of the Italian citizens of San Jose and the Bay Cities, he entered the office of the district attorney of Santa Clara County as an investigator and detective in the year 1914 and served until 1917, he and William Drieschmeyer, also of that county, putting an end to the depreda- tions of the Black Hand band, also the arson gang, a notorious band of outlaws, fruit thieves and such malefactors as were jeopardizing the safety of the inhabitants of this fair city. Upon the completion of this work, the arson department of the Board of Fire Underwriters of the Pacific took Mr. De Carli into their employ to travel through the Pacific Coast district to stamp out the arson gangs and incen- diarism. During the war period he cooperated with the Government, aiding in the repression of the I. W. W.'s and other public enemies, serving until 1920, when he was taken with a severe attack of the influenza while located in Tehama County, and his health became so impaired that he had to quit this strenuous life, so he returned to his home and took up his business which had been handled by his son and wife. For ten years Mr. De Carli was in the transfer business and then engaged as a dealer in furniture under the firm name of De Carli and Son; his place of business is located at 174 South Second Street, San Jose. They started this business at 212 West Santa Clara Street and in 1910 moved to 192 West Santa Clara Street and in 1918 to 154 West Santa Clara Street, where they stayed for eight months and then, March, 1920, came to 28

North Market Street, where they remained until 1921, when they moved to the present location, where they are doing a good business. It is very interesting to know the origin of the name of De Carli. A homeless orphan, who had taken refuge in one of the orphanages of Switzerland, was given the name of De Carli by the government of that country, Carli meaning orphanage, the name, there- fore signifying, "the child from the orphanage." The late Judge W. G. Lorigan, who was at one time Justice of the Supreme Court, was a very inti- mate friend of Mr. De Carli and was instrumental in our subject's receiving the position of interpreter in his court and after he had occupied this place for awhile, none other in the judge's estimation was so capable. Naturally of a studious disposition, Mr. De Carli is a great reader, and has added much to his store of knowledge in his leisure moments. Benevo- lent and generous, he has been a veritable Good Samaritan in San Jose and many is the family he has rescued from want or starvation, taking the hard-earned dollars from his own pocket for his benefactions.

IRA COTTLE .- Whenever the historian shall essay to relate the stirring history of Santa Clara County, he will not fail to revert to the interesting life-story of one of her sturdiest pioneers, Ira Cottle, who estabished his home as far back as 1858 on what later became Willow Avenue, near its junction witlı Minnesota Avenue, and so bccame one of the found- ers of the picturesque community known in early days as The Willows. Ira Cottle was born in St. Charles County, Mo., October 10, 1819. His father, Oliver Cottle, had come from Ver-

mont, and his mother, who was Miss

Charity Lowe before her marriage, was a native of Tennessee. His parents settled in Missouri when it was known as the Louisiana Purchase; and later they removed to Texas. The move, however, was productive of disaster, for Mr. Cottle was seized with yellow fever and died, and Mrs. Cottle and her family had to make their way back to Missouri. In 1833 they moved once again, this time to Iowa; and located in Des Moines County, where Mrs. Cottle passed the remainder of her days.

In all the vigor of young manhood, Ira set out for Southern Wisconsin, and for eleven years he fol- lowed lead mining in Grant County. In 1846 he took for his helpmate Miss Mary Ann Baker, a native of Indiana, and three years later he established himself as a farmer in Clayton County, Iowa. By 1854 he had a family of two children, and in that year he brought his household to California, traveling by the Overland Trail with ox teams, six months en route. For a while he found what he wanted for general farming and stockraising in the Coyote district, Santa Clara County, but in 1858 he removed to the ranch he continued to occupy until his death, April 8, 1907. He bought 125 acres of the Narvaeze Grant, for which he paid $2,500. He devoted the land to the raising of grain and hay and was an enthusiast in the matter of tree planting.

Mrs. Cottle, who was esteemed by a wide circle of friends as a neighbor and friend, passed to her eternal reward on August 5, 1873, the mother of six children, two of whom are living, and in 1876 Ira Cottle took to himself a second wife, Mrs. Joseph Smith, a talented lady popular as Miss Clara C. Chase before her first marriage. She came from

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Rochester, N. Y., to California in 1860. Formerly a Henry Clay Whig, Mr. Cottle lived to see the Re- publican party well established, and to have the satisfying consciousness that he had done his full duty in helping support it in its most trying days.

JUDGE FREDERICK BENJAMIN BROWN .- A gentleman versed in jurisprudence and prominent in the civic and social life of San Jose is Judge Fred- erick Benjamin Brown, the present incumbent of the office of Judge of the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for Santa Clara County, who pos- sesses an enviable reputation for sterling character. judicial and business ability of a high degree, which has been made fully apparent in the impartial manner in which he deals out justice. He is filling the respon- sible position with the utmost satisfaction to his con- stituents and credit to himself. He is a native of Illi- nois, having been born at Galva, Henry County, on February 13, 1861, a son of Jeremiah J. and Catherine (Protsman) Brown. His father was born in New Hampshire, coming when sixteen years of age with his parents to Peoria County, Ill. where he grew to manhood and engaged in farming, acquiring 160 acres of government land, which he' cleared and improved. The Brown family is traced back to England, coming to New Hampshire in 1636. Great-great-grandfather Capt. Joseph Brown, of Kensington, N. H., served in the Revolutionary War; while Grandfather Ben- jamin Brown was a captain of New Hampshire militia. On his maternal side the family is traced back to Germany where Grandfather Frederick Prots- man was born, but disliking the military oppression he ran away from home when thirteen years of age. going to Holland where in time he married; later he came to the United States, locating in Illinois in 1843.

Mr. Brown is the fourth oldest in a family of nine children, and received his education in the public schools of his home district and in the Galva high school, from which he was graduated in the year 1881, after which he matriculated at Knox College, Gales- burg, Ill., where he was duly graduated in 1885 with the degree of B. S. He proceeded to Grant County, Kans., where he took up a homestead of 160 acres; he also preempted a tree claim, making a total of 480 acres, which he improved according to law and re- ceived a government title to the land. While thus engaged he was county superintendent of schools for a period of five years. Disposing of his interests in Kansas, he came to California in 1893 and located in Santa Clara County, making his home at Saratoga. Here he began the study of law under Judge Welch and in 1895 was admitted to the California bar. Forming a partnership with Allan Brant he con- tinued with him for. a time when they dissolved part- nership and Mr. Brown continued the practice alone. In 1902 he was appointed city attorney, holding the office for two terms of two years each, until January, 1906, when he was appointed, by the board of super- visors, justice of the peace to fill a vacancy until the fall of 1906, when he was a candidate for the office and was elected, filling the office to the entire satisfaction of the community. In 1910 and 1914 he was elected to succeed himself without opposition, and again in 1918 was reelected. He became very popular and his decisions were well received, as they were made fairly and impartially. In 1920 when he announced him- self as a candidate at the county primaries for Supe- rior Judge he was nominated and at the November election was elected by a fine majority. He then re-

signed as justice of the peace and took the oath as Judge of the Superior Court in January, 1921, and is filling the position with much credit, all his work be- ing done with the same fairness which has character- ized all of his public service. Mr. Brown has also been very prominent in civic and commercial circles. As early as 1902, he was elected a member of the board of directors of the San Jose Chamber of Com- merce and was reelected each term until 1921, when he declined being a candidate for reelection. During this time he served as president of the organization for one term during the year of 1915.

Mr. Brown's marriage occurred in Rock Island, Ill., on March 29, 1888, and united him with Miss Mary L. Miller, a native of Georgia, and they are the parents of four children: John Miller, a rancher residing in San Jose; Sewell Solon of Los Gatos; Victor Forrest is with the Standard Oil Company; and Paul Winston passed away at the age of three years. Fraternally, Mr. Brown is very popular and active. He was made a Mason in Fraternity Lodge No. 399, of San Jose. and is a member of all the Scottish Rite bodies in San Jose, as well as Islam Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco; and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star and the White Shrine, he being a past patron and Mrs. Brown a past matron for the former order; he is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Sciots, the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, and Modern Woodmen of America. In local club circles he is a member of the Union Club and was a charter member of the Lions Club of San Jose and was the first president of the latter organization. In national politics he is decidedly Republican. Judge Brown has always stood for clean government and. been to the front in all matters for progress and up- building of the community. His independence of character, his integrity, honesty and capableness enables him to make a most excellent record as Superior Judge. Liberal, kindhearted and sym- pathetic, while justice of the peace, he was a friend to the widows and neglected children and let no opportunity pass of righting the wrongs by invoking the aid of the law where his own magnetic person- ality and pleading were in vain, thus making a better world because he understands and demonstrates the real meaning of justice.

HON. GEORGE S. WALKER .- A distinguished, popular public official, whose enviable record for efficiency and fidelity would have established him permanently in any commonwealth, is the Hon. George S. Walker, the State Building and Loan Commissioner, who counts himself among the resi- dents of San Jose, and maintains his domicile at 556 North Sixteenth Street. As a former Senator of California he has long enjoyed a wide acquaintance and extensive associations enabling him to exert an effective influence; and this influence has been used, time and again, to advance the best interests of the people at large, and to hasten the day when the Golden State shall come to its own in the perfect development of its unrivalled resources.

George S. Walker was born on September 21, 1874, at Santa Rosa, the son of the late William S. Walker, who passed away in 1907, in his sixty- seventh year, prominent among the brainmiest and most enterprising citizens of Los Gatos, and widely known in journalistic circles. A son of William H.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 108

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