History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 110

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

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ALEXANDER ROSE COELHO .- All Milpitas, as well as other parts of Santa Clara County, unite in honoring the memory of Alexander Rose Coelho, now deceased, who founded a prosperous family for years well-to-do and enjoying the priceless blessings, the esteem and good-will of everybody. Mr. Coelho was born at St. i.ucia, Pico, in the Azores Islands on March 6, 1848, the son of Matthew Rose and Mary (Jacqualine) Coelho, and when twenty-two years old came to California and settled at Hayward, in Alameda County, and there he engaged in farm- ing on leased land. He remained at Hayward for one year, and then he came to Alviso, in Santa Clara County, near which town he farmed for three years. His next move was to Milpitas, where he purchased 120 acres of land about two miles to the east, on the Calaveras Road; and after that he continued to add to the area of the ranch until it comprised, at the time of his death, in 1910, some 400 acres. Twenty- five acres of this land he had set apart as an orchard, and there he raised the finest prunes and apricots, while the rest of the land was devoted to farmning.

On December 7, 1871, Alexander R. Coelho was married at San Francisco to Miss Matilda Adelaide Macedo, the daughter of Manuel and Francisca Macedo and a native of beautiful Fayal in the Azores; and their union was blessed with the birth of thirteen children: Mary is Mrs. Joseph Smith of Berryessa, the wife of the well-known orchardist; Manuel is in Campbell; Julia died at the age of twenty-six, and Alexander at the age of thirty; Matilda is Mrs. Manuel Picanco of San Lorenzo; Matthew was thirty-three years old when he died; Thomas is on the home ranch; Emma attained to her twentieth year when she was called to the Great Beyond; Frances is Mrs. Harry Francisco of Berry- essa; Cyrus lives at San Jose; Lucy is the wife of William Borge, an orchardist, and they make their home at Milpitas; John C. Coelho is also an orchard- ist, and lives on the Stevens Creek Road; Anne en- joys the comforts of the parental home, which was huilt by Mrs. Coelho on the Calaveras Road in 1913.

Hh Stough

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Eight grandchildren also have honored these worthy progenitors: Ernest is the son of Mrs. Mary Smith; William the son of Manuel; Zelma is the daughter of Alexander, who is deceased; Alexander is the son of Matthew; Thomas married Miss Emma Borge, and they have two children, Ellis and Melba; and Evelyn and Lorraine are the names of Frances' two children. Miss Anne, the youngest daughter, who remains at home, the valued companion of her mother, took a musical course at the College of Notre Dame, from which institution she was graduated with honors in 1921.

JOHN WILLIAM STOUGH-A well-known and worthy representative of the real estate interests of San Jose is John Wm. Stough, a prominent agent for California lands, who has been associated in this line of business for the past seven years. Although Mr. Stough has traveled extensively throughout the Union, he is firmly convinced that no part of the civilized world can compare with California as a permanent place of residence, its healthful climate and rich soil surpassing those of all other sections of the globe in point of excellence.

A son of Edward and Elizabeth (Welch) Stough. John Wm. Stough was born, January 21, 1872, in Burlington, Kansas; his father was born in the rural district adjacent to Gettysburg, Pa. His parents were married in Pennsylvania, later taking up their resi- dence in western Kansas. The paternal grandfather, Rev. Samuel Stough, was a native of Holland, and a Lutheran minister, who came to Pennsylvania and was engaged in his chosen profession for a number of years. Our subject well remembers the great bands of Indians on their raids throughout Kansas; also the swarms of grasshoppers that devastated the country. He was the oldest of a family of seven children, and at the age of twelve was required to make his own way, which he did not hesitate to do. Three brothers and three sisters are also residents of California; his mother passed away at Hanford, Cal., after which the father returned to Pennsyl- vania, where he passed away.

Bill Stough, as he is familiarly known by his many friends from his railroad days, entered the employ of the Santa Fe railroad out of Ottawa, Kansas, as a newsboy; his lessons of economy and thrift help- ing him to save his money, which he sent to his mother. For six years he was thus engaged, and during that time made the acquaintance of many public men, among them being the railroad officials, professional men, and professors of the University of Kansas, also of the Baldwin University, located at Baldwin, Kansas. He has the record of working as newsboy on every train running out of Kansas City. When he reached the age of twenty, he re- moved to Denver, and was engaged in the same line of work on the various lines centering in that city: however, he returned to Kansas City and followed railroading for some years.

The marriage of Mr. Stough, in 1893, united him with Miss Eva Gertrude Coulson, a native of Chan- ute, Kans., where she was reared and educated. Mr. Stough was later employed by the various railroads throughout the north and west, spending about one year running as conductor on the W. P. R. R. out of Stockton. During all the years of service with the various railroad companies, he had managed to accumulate a considerable amount of money; which he invested in mining property at Salmon, Idaho,

and where he had the misfortune to lose all his hard- earned accumulation of years. In 1905 he removed to San Jose and established a restaurant, and in time he owned and operated three restaurants on Bassett Street, adjacent to the depot, which brought him ample returns for his industry and toil. He began with a capital of $87, but by strict economy was able to save considerable, which he invested in Fresno County unimproved land. He was engaged in the restaurant business ten years, and during this time he was able to hold his land in Fresno County, later trading it for apple orchards in the vicinity of Wat- sonville. He has been amply rewarded for his indus- try and frugality, until he now owns several apple orchards, with an output of 30,000 boxes of apples in a single year. Eight years ago, in 1914, he established his real estate business, dealing in California lands, making exchanges of all kinds. His success has been almost phenomenal, as he has handled more than a million dollars since taking up his residence in the Santa Clara Valley.

In 1921, Mr. Stough, with Hans Sumpf, of Coal- inga, purchased 394 acres in Coalinga and organized the South Coalinga Oil Company, capital $500,000, in which he is a director and active in its develop- ment. Here they are drilling and operating, this being a splendid location, as there are producing oil wells on both sides of their property.

Mr. and Mrs. Stough are the parents of two daugh- ters: Mrs. Vera Travis, residing in San Francisco, and Enez, a student in the San Francisco high school. The family reside in San Francisco, where Mr. Stough spends his week-ends. He also owns valu- able real estate in San Francisco, one building being an apartment house. Politically he is a stanch Re- publican. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Ma- sons, having attained to the 32nd degree, being both a Knights Templar and 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Oakland. Mr. and Mrs. Stough are popular members of the local chapter of the Eastern Star. Mr. Stough is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Real Estate Men's Association of Santa Clara County and Commercial Club, and is still a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

ALEXANDER L. CRABB .- A public-spirited man such as every community sooner or later needs, and one who has amply demonstrated his dynamic value to Santa Clara County through his consistent and never-flinching advocacy of the conservation of water for irrigation purposes, is Alexander L. Crabb, a na- tive son proud of his identification with the great Pacific commonwealth, who was born at San Lean- dro, in Alameda County, on November 7, 1869. His father, Manuel E. Crabb, was a native of the Portuguese mainland, and when he was only seven years old he went to sea; and for years he remained a seafaring man, shipping here and there on ocean-going sailing vessels. It thus happened that in 1852 he came into San Francisco; and having enjoyed the attractive, if decidedly primitive Bay City and environs and discerned something of the future possiblities of the new Western country, he made for the inland and turned his back upon the sca. At first, he went to the gold mines, but after an cx- perience of forty-eight hours with pick and shovel be concluded that he could find a mine of another kind of gold elsewhere, and so came to San Leandro, where he took up farming. He married Miss Rose Con-

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stancia, an exceptionally worthy woman, and their union was blessed with the birth of three sons, Manuel, Jr., Alexander and Antone.

When Alexander Crabb was eighteen years of age. he started to make his own way in the outer world, and so became a messenger at San Leandro in the service of the Western Union Telegraph Company. In 1891 he was made station agent at Milpitas, and twenty years later, when the Bank of Milpitas was opened, he became the first cashier, and he has held that responsible position, to the satisfaction of every- one dealing with the bank ever since. His genial per- sonality has rendered him approachable, and his val- uable connections have given him and the important financial institution he represents many legitimate ad- vantages in the transaction of noteworthy business and the building-up of a patronage whose increase means something to the town as well as to the bank.

Mr. Crabb is the owner of two ranches near San Leandro-one a farm of six acres, the other an eleven- acre tract devoted to the growing of cherries and currants. This land was unimproved when Mr. Crabb purchased it, and to him is due the credit for setting it out to fruit trees, and to further developing its re- sources. Meanwhile, he has found time to do some- thing for the town as well as for himself; he has long been a member of the board of school trustees of Milpitas, and was formerly chairman. In politics, he endeavors to keep himself independent of party limitations, while he recognizes the great value of social relations, and heartily maintains an active mem- bership in the F. & A. M. of San Leandro, the Royal Arcanum and Templars of San Jose, and the Islam Temple at San Francisco.

At San Francisco on September 25, 1894, Mr. Crabb was married to Miss Mary F. Little, a native of San Francisco and the daughter of James H. and Sarah Little. Her father was a pioneer of San Francisco, where he was well-known for his development of the local transfer business and both parents are now deceased. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crabb. Alexander James is an automobile dealer in Milpitas; Irving M. is with the Milpitas Lumber Company; Ethel has become Mrs. Stevens of Stock- tion; Ruth and Herbert are at home. Alexander J. Crabb married Miss Aileen Volkers of San Jose, and they have had three children, Madaline, Helen and Alexander; and Mrs. Ethel Stevens has two chil- dren, Leland and Helen.

JOHN PANCERA .- Among the many men of foreign birth who have been successful to a marked degree is John Pancera, an early resident of San Jose who was for some time engaged as a merchant but who is now retired from the stress of business life. He was born in Novara, Italy, on March 13. 1858, the son of Joseph and Lucy (Martinetti) Pan- cera, who were large farmers of that province. Mr Pancera has worked hard all his life, beginning early in life on a farm and later became a stonemason. He attended the common schools of Italy and grew up in the Piedmont country, on the boundary line of France, Italy, and Switzerland, and as Mr. Maz- zini, his employer, contracted in all three of these countries, Mr. Pancera learned something of the French language.

When in his seventeenth year, Mr. Pancera bade goodbye to his parents and friends and came to America, being the first of his family to immigrate to this country, leaving two brothers and four sis-

ters. He sailed from Havre, France, and reached New York in March, 1875, and came on direct to Eureka, Nev., where his first employment was burn- ing charcoal, and he continued in this work for a year. Then going to San Francisco and later to Santa Cruz, he worked at whatever he could find to do. He arrived in San Jose in the latter part of 1876, and went to work for a wealthy resident on the Alameda, taking care of the garden, orchard, lawn, and the stock, receiving fifteen dollars for a month's wages, and as he had to pay the employment agency five dollars for the position, it was not encouraging for a newcomer. He then went to work the next year for the Delwick Restaurant on Santa Clara Street, in San Jose. In 1879 he opened the Eureka Chop House which was located on Market Street, and the next year disposed of it and went to Denver, Colo., where he worked for Barklow Bros., propri- etors of the depot hotel and restaurant, for three years. On June 12, 1884, he came back to San Jose, and started a general merchandise business on the Milpitas and Berryessa Road, two miles north of the San Jose post office, successfully operating this busi- ness for fifteen and a half years. In 1903, he bought the property on Reed and South First streets, and opened up a grocery and general merchandise store on April 24. He bought and remodeled both the store building on the corner and the residence immediately north of it, and here conducted his business until November 16, 1920, when he closed it out, and sold the property in February, 1921. He owns forty acres of unimproved land at Ducor, in Tulare County. Mr. Pancera also built a residence and store on the Milpitas Road which he later sold. He has made three trips to his native land to see his mother, and in 1900, while on one of his trips, accompanied by his wife and daughter, he visited the Paris Exposition, Naples, Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan and Bologna. His second visit was in 1903, and in 1912 he made a third trip. His father passed away in 1895, his mother surviving until the year 1912, when she had reached the age of seventy-seven years, passing away soon after Mr. Pancera had returned to America.

Mr. Pancera's first marriage, which occurred No- vember 23, 1879, united him with Miss Mary Shalvey, who was born in Ireland, and they became the parents of two children: Rosa (deceased) and May L. Mrs. Pancera died in 1902, and a year later, in 1903, Mr. Pancera married Miss Susie Shalvey, a sister of his first wife. Mrs. Pancera was born in County Cavan, Ireland, and was the daughter of John and Mary (King) Shalvey, farmer folk, who lived and died in that country. Mrs. Pancera was educated in the National schools of Ireland, was reared in the Cath- olic faith, and came to Amercia when twenty years of age, settling in San Jose in the year 1891. She is a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Mr. Pancera is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, having been a member for over thirty years and a trustee for over twenty years, he has also been treasurer since 1900. The family now live at 743 South First Street, where they are enjoying all the good cheer of the California climate in their comfortable home. They are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of San Jose. Mr. Pancera's first vote was cast in favor of Hancock and English, in 1880, but he now votes with the Republican party.

Georges Roberts

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

GEORGE ROBERTS-Distinguished as one of the foremost Spiritualists of the West, George Rob- erts, with his devoted wife, had the honor of as- sociating San Jose in a somewhat permanent man- ner with psychic science, now and for years past a subject of intense study by some of the noted intellects in every country. He was born in New York Mills, near Utica, on May 22, 1832, attended school near Utica, and when he was nineteen years of age engaged in farming and other occupations. Dissatisfied with the opportunities there presented, Mr. Roberts in 1860 set out for California; and so it happened that the most fruitful part of his life has been identified with the Coast.

His father, John Roberts, was born in England, March 19, 1807, and died in Clarks Mills, N. Y., February 7, 1890, while his mother, who was in maidenhood, Sarah Bowers, also a native of Eng- land, born June 16, 1804, died at Clarks Mills, June 10, 1854. In 1844 they removed to Osceola in Lewis County, N. Y. After a limited schooling George worked two seasons on the tow path of the Erie Canal. He afterwards drove a stage in New York City for 2 years. His father having died while he was a lad he was left to make his own way in the world. In 1851 he married Miss Nancy Green at Osceola, N. Y., and together they came to California in February, 1860. His first venture was in Nevada County, where with two other men he developed a prospect at Omega Camp, afterwards buying out his partners, but his mining operations were only partially successful. He then opened a general mer- chandise store at Omega which he conducted until 1869, when he came to San Jose.

He first bought twenty acres on the Almaden Road, about three miles from the city where he built a home. Farming was slow business for him after his years of activity in the mines, so he sold the farm and moved to town and opened a general store in the Archer building next to Kocher and Blauer's jewelry store. This also was slow business. He has often said that he sold more goods on a Sunday morning in the mines than he could sell here in a week. He disposed of the store and bought the Lick House, then located on the Ryland property. He sold the Lick House in 1874 and concluded to go on a camping trip through the southern portion of the state. At this time the Lompoc Land Colony scheme was beginning to at- tract attention. He heard it talked of when he reached Santa Cruz and bought two shares. While in Watsonville he heard nothing else talked of so he returned to Santa Cruz and San Jose and se- cured proxies from those who had bought shares and then proceeded to Lompoc, where the meeting to organize the colony was to be held.

The promoters of the scheme were mostly San Francisco real estate dealers who had no other in- terest in the colony than to sell shares and take their commission. Being fortified with these proxies Mr. Roberts was in a position to largely control the situation. Fred Adams was elected president 'and Mr. Roberts the secretary of the colony and as Mr. Adams was absent most of the time the greater part of the management fell upon the secretary. Mr. Roberts built himself a house and also the first store in Lompoc and gave his entire attention to the interests of the colony for a number of years.

He was instrumental in establishing the Bank of Lompoc and was its first president and also served as postmaster. He invested largely in city lots and country property and contributed several thousand dollars to bring the railroad into Lompoc. Crops were good, values increased and his investment proved a wonderful success. But they still loved San Jose, so returning to this city they built an ele- gant residence on Stockton Avenue where they lived for many years, Mr. Roberts still looking after his interests in Lompoc. Mrs. Geo. Roberts was a firm believer in a life after death and in her Stockton Avenue home she had a room set apart for seance purposes and spiritualists of forty and fifty years ago remember the wonderful manifestations taking place there. Room was limited in the house-she could not accommodate all who wanted to come-so in 1910 she induced Mr. Roberts to buy the prop- erty on the corner of Fifth and St. John streets where he built a modern home on the corner and the beautiful temple adjoining known as Roberts' Temple, at a cost of about $35,000. The building was dedicated to the cause of spiritualism and regu- lar services have been held there ever since. Up to the time of Mrs. Roberts' passing, November 26, 1916, the entire expense of all services was met by Mr. Roberts. No collection or offering was ever taken in the Temple. After his wife's death Mr. Rob- erts felt that he would like to be relieved of the responsibility of the management of its affairs and so deeded the property to the Sleeper Trust.

While on a trip to his old home in Nevada County in the fall of 1910 Mr. Roberts met with an accident from which he never entirely recovered. He passed away October 8th, 1920. He was a kind-hearted man, little given to talk, but was a profound thinker. Of his immense fortune he had left little. He pro- vided magnificently to every relative and many friends while he was yet able to see that it was done right. No one ever did George Roberts a kindness who was not rewarded for it.

In 1851 Mr. Roberts married Miss Nancy Green, the ceremony taking place at Osceola, N. Y., a good woman, who left the world better for her having heen in it, when she passed away on November 26, 1916, aged eighty-six. Mr. Roberts was a Republican but he was too broad-minded to allow himself to meet local issues in any spirit of partisanship, and hence he was one of the first to pull with his neighbors, regardless of party, for the best men and the best projects for the community's progress.

The last year of his life was brightened as well as lightened by his niece, Miss Edna Sayles, who came at his invitation to care for and minister to his comforts and thus the life of this grand old pioneer passed out in his eighty-eighth year.

WALTER R. PEACOCK .- An esteemed citizen prominent in fraternal circles, Walter R. Peacock has a record of nearly half a century of profitable and pleasurable activity in the mystic halls of the I. O. O. F. He is a Republican in matters of national politics, as he is also a veteran soldier; but he is too good an American to allow partisan politics to cloud his vision, and he endeavors to discharge his civic duties according to the broadest possible platform. He was born in Philadelphia on October 9, 1856, the son of S. J. Peacock, a native of New Jersey, whose family dates back to the days of the Revolution. His

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great-grandfather lived in New Jersey, and his grand- father was a Methodist minister there. S. J. Pea- cock married Miss Elizabeth B. Roselle, and her family came from England, and she was born in the British Isles. The worthy couple had five children; but today only our subject and a brother, living at Newark, N. J., survive. The father served his full three years as an apprentice to a carpenter and after that he served four years as an apprentice to a stair- case builder-in those days a trade by itself.

Walter Peacock attended the local grammar school and then for a year went to the high school, and since his thirteenth year has made his way in the world. He went to work in the iron and sheet- metal works in Philadelphia, and served three years in learning that trade. He continued to follow that occupation until, on December 5, 1873, he joined the U. S. Army, in which he saw thirty years and twenty- six days of active service, being retired on December 31, 1903. He enlisted as a private, and was retired as ordnance sergeant. During the Spanish-American War, he served under various generals, including General Cook, when he was stationed at Fort Apache, Arizona. During the earlier part of the war, he was in the Arizona department, and during the latter part, he was in the Colorado department. In the late World War, he again gave his services to the United States, and he served as sergeant major from March 28, 1918, to August 31, 1919, when he was at Stanford University and was an instructor of the R. O. T. C. From October 1 to December 15, 1918, he served as an instructor, with the rank of sergeant- major, of the S. A. T. C. at Stanford; and from May 24 to July, 1918, he served, with the same rank, in instruction work at the Reserve Officers' Training Camp at the Presidio.

In 1903. after having been retired from the army, Mr. Peacock came to San Jose and retired from active life. The next year, he joined the Ancient Order of Foresters, and he has been a member since. He entered this order in the Mount Hamilton Court, but a few years later this was absorbed by the Gar- den City Court. On December 28, 1878, Mr. Pea- cock joined the I. O. O. F., and the next year he went through the chairs of the order, and he is now a past grand. He has been secretary of San Jose Encampment No. 23 since May 16, 1907, and he is a past chief patriarch of the San Jose Encampment No. 35. He is also a member of Canton No. 9.

On August 28, 1885, at Pierre, then in Dakota Territory, Mr. Peacock was married to Miss Bertha Bergen, a daughter of Gust Bergen, a native of Germany who was born not far from Berlin and when fourteen ycars old came to the United States. He canie West to the Dakota Territory, obtained land and there lived many years; and as he was a good musician, he was widely popular. Five children and seven grandchildren have sprung from this for- tunate union. Bertha H. is Mrs. Clift, a widow living with her father in San Jose. She was born in Dakota, and has one daughter, Bertha Lillian. Walter J. lives at Vallejo, Cal. He was born at Madison Barracks, N. Y., and the rest of the family were also born there. Walter married Miss Hattie Baker of San Jose, and they have one daughter, Alma M. D. G. Peacock lives at 515 Twenty-eighth Avenue, San Francisco. He has been twice married, and had two children by his first wife. For his second wife

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 110

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