History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 113

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

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George J. Haun received the best of educational instruction in the local schools and later at Wash- ington College in Alameda County. After complet- ing his schooling he engaged in teaming and was rural mail carrier for a number of years. He is now serving his second term as justice of the peace of Saratoga and for the past five years has been en- gaged in the real estate and insurance business. He las also been postmaster of Saratoga for five years and carried over during the Wilson administration. As a Republican he has sought to elevate civic life standards; he is particularly interested in the growth and prosperity of his local community and spares neither time nor means to aid its progress.

JOSEPH M. BELLEW .- A rancher whose varied and valuable experience, and whose pro- nounced success have enabled him, so much the better, to serve his fellow-citizens in an important public trust, is Joseph M. Bellew, the efficient, just and popular justice of the peace at Milpitas and owner of some 200 acres as finc as can be found anywhere in Santa Clara County. He is particu- larly fitted for the discharge of the responsibility just referred to, for he is not only a native son, but a native of Milpitas, and so from birth has been identified with the community in which he lives and presides. He was born into the family of Michael and Elizabeth E. (Kinney) Bellew on March 1, 1872, the son of a native of Ireland who came to California in far-away 1872, making his way west- ward via the Panama route. He was not long in choosing Milpitas as the most promising spot in the Santa Clara Valley, and as a practical, progressive farmer he acquired about 800 acres of land, which he devoted to the raising of grain, the cultivation of fruit, and the management of a first-class, sanitary dairy. The worthy couple had five children: Wil- liam Milpitas; John H., now deceased; Mary E., whose has become Mrs. Richard McCarthy of Wayne Station; Kate, now Mrs. L. E. Barber; and the subject of our review.

Joseph M. Bellew was sent to the district school at Milpitas, and growing up, remained with his

father on the home ranch, where he continued after the latter's death, in 1911, so that he was in charge of the farm when his mother breathed her last, in 1913. Now he has about 200 acres of the old Bellew ranch-150 acres of which are devoted to the grow- ing of beets, and 50 acres to pears and other fruit. The soil is well irrigated, and under the skillful work- ing of Mr. Bellew, yields generously.

Unlike his father, who was a stanch Democrat and a much-sought leader in the councils of that party, Judge Bellew is a Republican, and he has been the judge of the Justice Court of Milpitas Precinct since 1913, performing his duties with rare level- headedness and a desire to mete out a square deal to everybody. One result is, besides that of giving general satisfaction, that law and order have been preserved, and Milpitas kept a decent community in which to live. The judge is equally popular as an Elk, and belongs to Lodge No. 522.

EDMUND B. FARNEY .- An interesting repre- sentative of a fine old pioneer family is Edmund B. Farney, the peer rancher living on the Alviso-Milpitas Road, who was born on the old Farney Ranch, at Coyote, in Santa Clara County, on February 14, 1862. His father was James Farney, and he did so much to open the road to civilization and to lay the founda- tions in Santa Clara County of many of the good things inherited and enjoyed by the present genera- tion. In this path-breaking, home-building work, he was ably assisted by his accomplished and devoted wife, who was Miss Mary Burke before her mar- riage. They were both natives of Ireland, who came to California in the early '50s, and settled in Santa Clara County about 1859. James Farney formed a partnership with a Mr. Fox, and at a point about three miles north of San Jose, they established one of the first nurseries in the county. Mr. Farney died in 1895, and his faithful wife breathed her last about 1901. They had ten children, and five of them are still living, all residents of Santa Clara County.

Edmund attended the Alviso school, and later pur- sted courses at the Garden City Business College, located where the Farmers Union Building now stands. Still later, he attended the Napa College, at Napa. Then, having successfully finished his studies, he returned to the farm, where he worked until he was twenty-one years of age. He next took up up- Folstering, and for a short time worked at the furni- ture-making trade at Merced and San Francisco.

In 1895 the father deeded the home ranch of 96 acres jointly to Edmund B. Farney and two of his sisters, one of whom died in 1921. This ranch is de- voted to the raising of pears, and such is the quality of the fruit produced there that both ranch and ranch owner are entitled to the highest credit in local agricultural accomplishment. At present, Mr. Far- ney is leasing out his famous ranch to others, who are fortunate in working one of the trimmest farms hereabouts. Mr. Farney is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, devotes himself from time to time to the great work of elevating the standard of Amer- ican citizenship-which standard, by-the-way, and doubtless because of the character of such residents as our sturdy subject, seems higher in Santa Clara County than the average, if it be safe to make any such comparison affecting the patriotic electors of the Golden State.

a. L. Erickson;

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ANDREW L. ERICKSON .- A first-class me- chanic who has done much to bring the automo- bile industry in Santa Clara County to the fore, is Andrew L. Erickson, the proprietor of the well- equipped and well-managed Erickson Garage at Los Gatos, and the worthy representative of one of the oldest families in this section. A native son fully in accord with the spirit of progress of the Golden State, he was born at Santa Clara on March 23, 1878, the son of John Erickson, who came to Santa Clara County in 1875, soon established himself as the most expert wheelwright in Santa Clara County, and has been here ever since. He married Miss Wendla Nordstrom, a talented lady, who has proven the most devoted of wives and mothers. John Erickson as a boy rode on the Monitor on its trial trip in Sweden and knew John Erickson, the designer and builder. Mr. Erickson passed away December 1, 1921, seventy- seven years old, survived by his widow. This worthy pioneer couple had six children all living and a credit to the various communities where they reside. Charles J. of San Francisco; K. H. resides in Oak- land: Andrew L. our subject; Josephine, wife of Carl Fogerlund of Los Gatos; Hilma of San Fran- cisco; and Hulda makes her home with her mother.

Andrew went to the public schools of Los Gatos, to which town the family removed when he was one year old, and later pursued a business college course, graduating from the Garden City Business College in 1898. Then he learned his father's trade, and he also took a course to prepare himself for automobile repairing and construction. Inheriting from his father both original genius, the capacity for hard work and plenty of it, and the habit of never doing anything by halves, but to always deliver first- class work thoroughly done, Mr. Erickson has come to be known as an expert who may be depended upon for workmanship such as many people knew in the good old days, and customers come to him from both near and afar, filling full his interesting shop, where he established the business for himself in 1906. He has been more than successful in keep- ing pace with the marvelous development of the au- tomobile industry in general, and has come to en- joy an entirely satisfactory patronage.

In San Jose, in 1906 Mr. Erickson was married to Miss Bessie L. Gratz, of San Jose, a gifted lady, who is of much value to him in his ambitious plans. Mrs. Erickson was a graduate of the Modesto high school and of San Jose State Normal and was en- gaged in teaching until her marriage, which has been blessed with four children. Elizabeth is in the high school; A. L. Erickson, Jr., and Luella are in the grammar school; and the youngest is Joseph Ewart Erickson. The family are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Erickson is a Republican, and is now serving a four-year term as city trustee of Los Gatos. He has been a member of the Volunteer Fire Com- pany in Los Gatos for twenty-five years and was assistant chief of the department for ten years, so it is but natural he should be selected chairman of the fire and water committee. Mr. Erickson was made a Mason in Los Gatos Lodge No. 292, F. & A. M. and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. He is a member of Ridgely Lodge No. 294 I. O. O. F., in which he is past grand, and he and Mrs. Erickson are members of the Rebekahs. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen, the Royal 34

Neighbors and that enterprising organization, the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce.

JOHN C. SILLIMAN, M. D .- The theory that few, if any, men or women of marked attainment may hope to rise high or accomplish great things unless they have had, at one stage or another in the development of their ancestors, such forebears as could bequeath to them exceptional talent or strength, would seem to be substantiated in the case of Dr. John C. Silliman, the very successful and well- known physician and surgeon, who maintains a suite of offices at 201 University Realty Building, and is pleasantly domiciled at the corner of Bryant and Kingsley streets, in Palo Alto. He comes from sturdy ancestors of Scotch-Irish and north of Ire- land blood, firmly grounded in the Protestant faith, and for generations hiv progenitors have been cul- tured, often college-bred folks. This branch of the Silliman family crossed the sea and then going down to South Carolina, they distinguished themselves both as planters and professional men.

The father of our subject, Dr. J. M. Silliman, was graduated from the Tulane University at New Or- leans, and in South Carolina was married to Miss Julia Chappel Coit, now deceased, an alumnus of Harmony College in South Carolina. She was a daugh- ter of the distinguished banker, John C. Coit, who won the enviable distinction of being the only banker, save one, namely. the State Bank of South Carolina, whose bank in that state remained solvent during the War of the Rebellion. He was a native of Massachusetts, and graduated at Yale, after which he went down to South Carolina, engaged in bank- ing, and became widely and favorably known as a financier. Doctor and Mrs. Silliman, Sr., moved West to Mississippi and settled in a new and un- developed portion of that state, and when the war broke ont. he was practicing in Mississippi. Enlist- ing in a Mississippi regiment, as regimental surgeon, he received the rank of captain and served as a Con- iederate Army surgeon for four years in Van Dorn's division. After the war was over, he went west to Palestine, Texas, and there John C. Silliman was born on February 8, 1878.

After her husband's death, Mrs. Silliman took her family to Charlottesville, Va., and there John grew up and attended Pantop's Academy, preparatory to entering the University of Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1900 with the A. B. degree. He then matriculated at Columbia Medical College, and in 1904 he graduated with the coveted M. D. degree. He then entered the employ of the Lackawanna Rail- way and the Lackawanna Coal Mining Company as the company's physician and surgeon, and was sta- tioned at Scranton, Pa., at which place he became house surgeon of the Moses Taylor Hospital. In 1906 Doctor Silliman removed back to his birth- place, Palestine, Texas, and there, for the next eight years, he was engaged in successful practice.

Like the rest of his near-of-kin, Doctor Silliman took a live interest in the activities of the Southern Presbyterian Church, especially in its missions and mission hospitals, and he was assigned to the duty of visiting, inspecting, and reporting on the condition of the missions and hospitals of that communion in foreign lands. He sailed from Vancouver, B. C., on a proposed tour of the world, took the northern

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route along the Alaskan Coast, and visited various missions in Japan, Korea and China. It happened that he was at St. Petersburg on this mission when the World War broke out, and it was with great difficulty that he obtained a passport, to travel by way of Sweden and Norway, and finally reached home in safety. His report was duly published by the Southern Presbyterian Church and has proven instrumental in bringing about reforms in the mission and hospital service.

While at Scranton, Doctor Silliman was married to Miss Bertha Olmstead, of Bloomsburg, Pa., and in 1914 he came with his family to Palo Alto, and he has since devoted his entire time to his profes- sion in such a manner that his painstaking, able and successful work has placed him in the front rank in the medical profession. During the late war he proffered his professional services and was assigned to the Twenty-first Infantry Camp at Camp Kearny, with the rank of captain. Doctor Silliman is a mem- ber of the American Medical Association, and the State and County Medical Societies, he is a Mason and a member of the American Legion, and he ren- ders valuable service in the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto.

CHARLES C. NAVLET .- The unbounded faith, industry, and good management of Charles C. Nav- let, carried from a small beginning to large propor- tions the floral industry, which has since made his name famous, and which has sent his products into every part of the United States and foreign countries where excellence of quality are sought and appreci- ated. Probably his early dreams of success in this line would have been regarded as exaggerated, the prospect of the establishment of stores in various cities of California, yet such is the case today, and the name of Charles C. Navlet is a guaranty of first class products.

The youth of Mr. Navlet was not singled out for special favors on the part of good fortune, and he is essentially a self-made man, depending always upon the natural and acquired gifts which have aided his ambition. A native son of San Francisco, he was born in the year 1867, a son of Victor Navlet, a native of France. When but a small boy, Victor Navlet had heard of the wonderful country across the waters, and when young manhood was reached he determined to seek his fortune in America and California, and embarked for the long and perilous journey around the Horn to San Francisco. This voyage always stood out with strange vividness in his memory, for it was attended with many dangers, owing to terrific storms which they encountered, but they finally turned toward the promised land, and arrived in San Francisco in the early part of 1848. Mr. Navlet's mother was Miss Eu Frazee, a native of Paris, France, who came to America as early as 1850. The senior Navlet was a man of great resourcefulness, and he very soon established his own business in San Francisco, that of manufacturing reed baskets, the first factory of this kind in the West. His busi- ness prospered and when he passed away in 1883 he had become a prominent figure in the commercial circles of the Bay City. He was survived by four sons, two of whom died in early manhood. Mrs. Navlet passed away in 1910. The subject of this historical review is the older of the two surviving sons, the other son residing in Oakland, Cal.

Charles C. Navlet's schooling was obtained in San Francisco, but the lessons of practical experience proved invaluable to him. At the age of eleven he began working in floral shops in San Francisco, among others he secured employment with H. Pottet, who was one of the first florists in San Francisco. and worked for him three years, and when he was sixteen he was in business for himself at Stockton and O'Farrell streets. Later he decided to learn the harness maker's trade, and worked at it for one year. However, he was not satisfied with this trade, and his thought turned again to the floral business.

In 1885 he removed to San Jose and rented a space eight by fifteen feet, a fine location for his business. One year later, at the age of nineteen, he opened the first real florist shop in San Jose. His equipment was limited and at the close of the first year, he found himself several hundred dollars in debt. It was about this time that the Pampas grass plumes were very much in favor and the large, feathery plumes found ready sale in the East, and by supplying the Eastern nurseries with the coveted plumes, he got a substantial foothold and success crowned his efforts from that time forward. During the years of 1889 and 1890 he acquired the appela- tion of the "Lilac King," because he had established a market for these fragrant blossoms in San Fran- cisco and was enabled to supply the great demand for them. His business grew steadily and he branched out as a nurseryman and a bulb importer. Outgrowing the quarters where his first store was established, in 1903 he erected a two-story building of his own, operating a three-fold business, a floral art display, retail seed and plant department and the mail order department. His success made it possible to open branch stores in Oakland and San Francisco. He leases a 20-acre tract on the Story road, where he has his nursery; he also has two and one-half acres in San Jose on Prevost Street which he uses for a sales yard, and he owns an orchard of twelve acres at Mt. Pleasant. He has invested his surplus capital in a number of residence properties in San Jose, among them being the fine home of one and a half acres in The Willows.

His mail order business has assumed large propor- tions. His first catalogue was issued in 1903, and now thousands of people all over the country await the announcement that the catalogue is ready for distri- bution. Mr. Navlet sustained a severe loss on account of the earthquake of 1906, but while feeling the loss keenly, it was an incentive to a greater store and a more extensive patronage.

The marriage of Charles C. Navlet united him with Miss Marie Indart, who was born in Tres Pinos, San Benito County, a daughter of Juan Indart, a pioneer of California, who came from the Basses- Pyrenees section of France, attracted by the glowing tales of the wealth to be obtained in the mines. He became a prominent stockman of San Benito County and Nevada, and when he passed away, his sons con- tinued the business. Mrs. Navlet's mother still resides at Tres Pinos, on the old Indart homestead, and has reached the ripe age of eighty-four years. Frater- nally Mr. Navlet is a charter member of the Elks and Native Sons, also a member of the Garden City Lodge, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican.

The floral business requires a working force of forty-five people, so great is the demand which Mr. Navlet has established for his products. By his

А. в. Тор

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

initiative and firm determination to succeed, he has educated the people to love flowers and plants to such an extent that it is with difficulty that he can produce sufficient stock to meet the demand of his patronage. He can always be depended upon to further with time and money any worthy enter- prise, and takes great pride in the advancement of California in general and Santa Clara County and San Jose in particular. The standard established by Mr. Navlet is being improved upon each year, and his name will be forever associated with this great and valuable resource of the West.

JOHN C. THORP .- Arriving in California in 1889 with assets consisting chiefly of a strong con- stitution, reliable character and a determination to succeed. John C. Thorp has made his own way and and is now among the leading contractors of the San Francisco bay region. He was born in Brad- ford, Yorkshire, England, January 15, 1866, and was the son of George and Eliza (Iredale) Thorp, who were natives of the same shire. They immigrated many years ago to Toronto, Canada, where the father was a contractor for many years, though he now makes his home in Buffalo, N. Y., his wife hav- ing passed away some years ago. The oldest of their children, John C. Thorp, was educated in the schools of England and it was also in his native land that he apprenticed to and learned the carpen- ter's trade under his father, who was interested in the firm of Thorp, Terry & Scofield (all cousins) owners of the Prospect saw mills in Bradford, Eng- land. It was there that John Thorp became an all- round mill man as well as a carpenter and builder. In 1881 he came to Toronto, Canada, where he was employed with John Fletcher & Sons in their planing mill until 1885, when he came west to Saskatchewan. Soon after this he came to the Pacific Coast and in 1889, to San Jose. He followed his trade for the first two years, and then began general con- tracting and building, entering upon a career in which he has become very successful.

Among some of the numerous buildings he has erected are the Imperial hotel, Russ hotel, Bank of Italy building, Market Street fire station and some of the finest residences in this city, among them the Harris home, Dr. Flemming's residence, the Leon home, Roca home and the Leet residence, all of which are very beautiful, artistically and architec- turally. He also built the large cannery for the Bayside Canning Company at Mayfield, the Alviso cannery and the one at Isleton, Sacramento County. Aside from the Santa Clara Valley he has had contracts for buildings all over California, having built dehydrators all over the state, after a method which he has patented.

Mr. Thorp's marriage occurred in Toronto, Canada, where he was united with Miss Janet McIntosh, who was born in London, England, of Scotch parents, who brought her to Toronto when she was four years of age. Her parents spent their last days in San Jose. Mrs. Thorp is a cultured, refined wom- an, who presides gracefully over her home that has been blessed with two children; George, who served in the U. S. Navy during the World War, learned carpentry and building under his father, and is now a foreman for him; Lilly, a charming young lady, a graduate of San Jose high school, assists her mother in presiding over the household. Mr. Thorp

is popular both in social and business circles, being a member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, the Maccabees and Uniform rank of the Knights of the Maccabees, and the San Jose Lodge of Elks; in politics he is a Republican. Mr. Thorp is now the second oldest contractor and builder in San Jose; when he began business here at the age of twenty-six years he was the youngest builder here, but his hard work, close application and well-directed energy have placed him in the front rank among the most enterprising and progressive men in California. He gives no small degree of his success to his estimable wife, who has always aided him and encouraged him in his ambition, thus doing all she could to assist him in establishing such an enviable position among leading Californians. A man of pleasing personality and kindliness of heart, living strictly to the Golden Rule, he is public spirited to a high degree and is at all times, for all things for the good of the Santa Clara Valley.

FIACRO JULIAN FISHER .- The Fisher fam- ily have been identified with the Santa Clara Val- ley since early pioneer days, and Fiacro Julian Fisher was born October 4, 189], in the beautiful modern residence his father had erected on the exact loca- tion of the adobe house which his grandfather put up in the pioneer days of the state. The father, Fiacro C. Fisher, was born upon the farm in Burnett township, Santa Clara County, August 30, 1850, the youngest son of William and Liberata (Cesena) Fisher, early settlers of California. The paternal grandfather was of English birth and a seafaring man by occupation. He came to the United States in young manhood, and in 1830 left his first location in Massachusetts for California, making the voyage as mate of a vessel. He located at San Jose, in Lower California, and owned a vessel which he navigated upon the Gulf of California. In April, 1842, he came to this state and bought the ranch known then as the Laguna Seca Grant, and four years later brought his family to Monterey. Upon this property he engaged in cattle and stockraising until his death, which occurred in 1850, at the age of forty years. The maternal grandmother, Liberata Cesena, was a native of Mexico and survived her husband many years. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters: Thomas N. and Cypriano, twins; William, deceased; Fiacro, Mary, the wife of Murphy Columbet, and Eulogia.

Fiacro C. Fisher received his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools of Santa Clara County, after which he entered and attended Santa Clara College for two years, as well as the high school of San Jose for awhile. He left school quite early to take up his chosen occupation, and that to which he had early been trained, being foreman for Dan Murphy until 1872. He then engaged in ranching for himself on the old homestead, giving consider- able attention to stockraising. In 1877 he went to Nevada to take charge of the ranches of Mr. Murphy and Mr. Hill, remaining in their employ as general manager until 1894. Since that time he turned his entire attention to the cultivation and improvement of his own property, which consisted of 300 acres located on the Monterey and Coyote roads, and 1,000 acres in valley land. In 1872, in San Jose, Mr. Fisher was married to Gertrude Hanks, a native of Califor-

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 113

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