History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 134

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

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Howard attended the Grant public school and later mastered an excellent course in a first-class business college; and owing to his rather delicate health, he took up laundry work with H. S. Kelley. He com- menced with the delivery wagon, which enabled him to remain outdoors, and at the end of six years in that field, he went to Fresno and during 1905-06 was with the telephone company there. Returning to San Jose he served the telephone company here for a time, then went with the St. James Laundry.

In 1912 Mr. Mabury started his present laundry embarking on the enterprise with partners, each of whom in time he brought out, so that now he is the sole owner of the institution which San Jose points to with pride. Only wet wash is handled, but there is enough of this to keep ten experienced men busy all the time. Public-spirited to an exceptional de- gree, and deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare of Santa Clara County as well as the city of

San Jose, Mr. Mabury so conducts his business enter- prise that it is in the widest sense beneficial to the community and its residents.

On April 18, 1905, Mr. Mabury was married to Mrs. Laura Billingsley of Visalia, Tulare County, an attractive lady who already had two children by her former marriage, Earl and Claude, both married. They resided in the same house on North Tenth Street until November, 1920, when they removed to 307 North Second Street, where Mr. Mabury lived when he was seven years of age. He belongs to San Jose Parlor No. 22, N. S. G. W., the Knights of Pythias and the National Union. As one of the sub- stantial business men of the city, Mr. Mabury also belongs to the Chamber of Commerce of San Jose, in which excellent organization he is always ready to discharge his full share of the responsibility. He also belongs to the Laundry Owners' Club of Santa Clara County, the Laundry Owners' Association of California, and the Laundry Owners' National Association.

HENRY M. KERR .- Fortunate it is for any city when it numbers among its citizens and active men of affairs such well-trained, highly-conscientious and experienced representatives of the professions as Henry M. Kerr, of the Kerr Abstract and Title Com- pany of San Jose, a well-maintained concern to which San Jose repeatedly turns for expert service. Mr. Kerr is the manager and under his leadership the company bids fair to expand and to prosper in keeping with the phenomenal growth of San Jose.

Henry M. Kerr was born in Iowa in June, 1862, the son of William and Sophia (Keck) Kerr, worthy and devoted parents, of whom only the mother is still living; and after finishing with the excellent public schools of his locality, he enjoyed all the ad- vantages offered by the up-to-date Elliott's Business College at Burlington. Having been raised on a farm, which developed in him an enviable hardihood, Mr. Kerr followed railroad work for twenty years with success, as agent, operator and traveling freight and passenger agent, and in 1901 first came to Cali- fornia. His wide experience enabled him to select with unerring judgment the city of San Jose as the most promising center for him, although he did not actually settle here until 1907; and in the following year he joined the Garden City Abstract Company, which had been organized in 1905. He had already had experience in this line in Butte County, where he located in the fall of 1901, and at once took up this work in Oroville, and he entered upon his work in San Jose as one of the clerks; and after having been vice-president of the progressive company, he was made manager in March, 1919. He continued in this position until it was sold in June, 1921, then engaged in business under the present title of the Kerr Ab- stract and Title Company.

While still in Iowa, Mr. Kerr married, at Don- nellson, Miss Mary E. Hill, a native of the Hawkeye State and an accomplished woman well fitted to be the companion and stimulation of a professional man; and their union has been rendered happier by the advent of two children, named Ruby M. and Hazel M. Kerr, both educated in San Jose, and Ruby M. is a graduate of Stanford with A.M. and A B. de- grees and a teacher in the Santa Clara high school. The family attend the Presbyterian Church of San Jose. Mr. Kerr supports heartily the work of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and is an adherent

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of the principles of the Republican party. He be- iongs to the Maccabees, and finds much of his recrea- tion in the mountains and in California's wonderful outdoors. His constant researches into the interesting historic past of the great Pacific commonwealth and the highly-favored Santa Clara County and Valley stimulate his interest in the California of the future, and it is probable that, although not a native son, he is second to no more optimistic citizen of San Jose and confidently believes that a wonderful fate is in store for this section of the state.

HENRIETTA REHOR KRIEG .- A native of Germany, Henrietta (Rehor) Krieg was born at Nas- sau, August 5, 1846, the daughter of Joseph and Louisa Rehor. The paternal grandfather was a Rus- sian, and went to Germany to fight against Napo- leon. The father, Joseph Rehor, was a foundryman and worked in the foundries of Nassau. Both par- ents passed away when Henrietta was a small child. She was educated in the schools of Nassau and re- ceived a very thorough training. In 1866 she em- barked for the United States and settled in Chicago, 111., and engaged in teaching the German language in private families and schools. During these years she studied and became proficient in the English language. During the great Chicago fire she lost all of her be- longings, and becoming homesick to see her native land she decided to visit her brother Frederick, in Metz, Germany. Within a few weeks after her arrival in Metz, her brother died, and again she set sail for the United States; later coming to Santa Clara Coun- ty, Cal., and on April 6, 1878, she was united in mar- riage to Jacob Smith, also a native of Germany, born March 25, 1825, a son of Jacob and Mary Smith, of French and Germany parentage, respectively. When he was four years old, his parents came to New York and located at Eden, about twenty-five miles from Buffalo and remained there four years, when they removed to Hamburg, Erie County, where they lived until they passed away. Jacob Smith, Sr., was a soldier under Napoleon I for nine years and was past ninety-eight years when he died. They were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters.

Jacob Smith's opportunities for schooling were lim- ited and he had to work during the intervals. In the fall of 1851 he traveled over Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and in the spring of 1852 returned to New York and came to California via Panama. He was stricken with the Panama fever and was laid up for a week, then left for San Francisco, arriving on June 15, 1852, and for six years he engaged in min- ing near Hangtown. In 1858 he settled on govern- ment land and lived on it until 1877, when he re- moved to Santa Clara County and bought 165 acres on the Homestead Road. Parts of it were disposed of until there are now only forty-six acres left, all being set to orchard and vineyard. Mr. Smith passed away on the home place.

From Mrs. Kreig's home she has a most beautiful view of the mountains and could not be happy away from it. Her second marriage united her with Engel- bert Krieg a native of Hesse-Nassau, Germany, who came to California in early days. Mrs. Krieg is active in Red Cross circles and has also done a great deal of church work and is a liberal giver toward the upbuilding of the community and can be counted upon to support all measures for the prog- ress and prosperity of her locality.

FRANK STOCK .- For many years on of San Jose's most successful business men, Frank Stock is now enabled to live in comfortable retirement as a reward of his years' of activity. He was born in Chicago, Ill., on June 26, 1854, the son of John and Susanna (Berg) Stock, and the nephew of Frank Stock, who broke the ground, so to speak, for the rest of the family in San Jose, by coming here two years after the admission of the state to the Union, when he started a small stove and household fur- nishing store and was the pioneer in that field in the city. John Stock followed in two years, arriving in December, 1854, and the brothers opened a store at the corner of Santa Clara and Market streets, a short time before Frank Stock bought the South First Street lot now occupied by Woolworth's Store and the Pellerano Drug Store. On that lot he erected the first brick building seen on that street and there the brothers removed as soon as possible.

In 1861, John Stock succeeded his brother as the sole proprietor, and until he retired in 1884, he con- ducted the business in his own name. In 1869 he acquired the lot and built the front part of the store now occupied by his sons, and when he laid aside active duties, he had the satisfaction of seeing his three sons, John L., Frank and Peter H. Stock, take hold of the helm together. John Stock died January 26, 1916, his wife having preceded him March 30, 1889. They were the parents of seven children: John L. died June 17, 1904; Frank is the subject of this sketch; Peter H. is the proprietor of The John Stock Sons; Clara is the widow of A. H. Marten; Helena is Mrs. J. P. Martin; Miss Elizabeth Stock and Mrs. Louise Dore, all residents of San Jose.

In addition to his public school studies, Frank Stock had the advantage of a period of study at Santa Clara College, but he said goodbye to the classroom when he was fifteen and for fifteen years he ran the finances of the store and such was his diligence and exactness that he would work at his desk until the wee sma' hours, if necessary, for it was his rule never to leave his desk until it was cleaned up. On February 1, 1884, when the father retired, the three sons became the proprietors, the firm then becoming The John Stock Sons. Frank Stock continued the management and the business grew steadily, new departments being added until they had the largest and most complete store in the county in their line. He remained actively in the business until 1917, when he sold out to his brother and retired. He is an original stockholder and di- rector in the Security Savings Bank of San Jose.

At San Jose, October 21, 1877, Mr. Stock was mar- ried to Miss Juanita F. Hinkelbein, a native daughter of San Jose, who received her education at Notre Dame convent. She is a daughter of Adam and Verena (Miller) Hinkelbein, who came to San Jose in 1855, where Mr. Hinkelbein was one of the early merchants. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stock: Susan is Mrs. W. H. Pomeroy; George passed away at the age of fourteen, while Nannie lived to be only eight months old. The family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mr. Stock is a Republican, has served as a library trustee, be- longs to the Knights of Columbus, in which he has taken the fourth degree, and was one of the organ- izers and directors of the Board of Trade, out of which grew the present Chamber of Commerce.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

IGNATZ KOHNER .- An indefatigable worker and an experienced fruit handler, who has very naturally become successful in one of the most im- portant fields of Californian agricultural industry, Ignatz Kohner is content to retain his splendid ranch for his homestead rather than to accept an advance of many thousands, in a proffered offer, for its sale. He lives on the Kifer Road, two miles to the North- west of Santa Clara; and even at that distance from town, the well-cultivated and well-managed rancho draws from afar those ever alert to discover the latest word in horticultural progress.

He was born in Bohemia on January 15, 1871, the son of Adolph Kohner, a drygoods merchant who had married Miss Mary Epstein; and as the fourth among seven children, he grew up in Bo- hemia. When he was twenty-one years of age, he left for America, sailing from Bremen on the North German Lloyd Steamship Line, and landed in New York; and for six years he stayed in Plainfield. N. J., where he clerked in a drygoods store. One winter he went back to visit his parents, and upon returning to the United States the next Spring, in 1897, he came direct to Santa Clara, Cal., and he has been here ever since.

He entered the employ of A. Block, a grower and packer at Santa Clara, and he worked there steadily for thirteen years while the Block concern was the largest shipper of green fruit in the Santa Clara Valley. He then went with the Pioneer Fruit Company, at San Jose, and for eleven years he was a trusted employe, shipping cherries, pears, apples, and the principal table fruits grown in the great Santa Clara Valley. He made a second trip to Bohemia in 1902, and visited his parents. Since then, his father has died, but his mother is still living. In New Jersey, he was naturalized, to the day. as soon as the law permitted; hence his re- turn, each time, to America was with a peculiar feeling of satisfaction. Now he owns an exception- ally fine pear and prune orchard of thirty-five acres, which he bought from Grandin Bray in December, 1919, and such is its appreciated value, that he has been offered more than $25,000, above its cost to him, should he care to sell. He now devoted all of his time to care and management of his orchards and carrying out his plans for the shipment of his fruit.

In 1906 Mr. Kohner was married at Santa Clara to Miss Olga Kohner, a lady of the same name, but of no relation to him, who was also born in Bo- hemia. She was the daughter of Phillip and The- resa (Hermann) Kohner, large farmers, and her father was a capitalist, connected with the Bourse in Vienna. Olga Kohner was educated in the city of Pilsen and was graduated from a ladies' semi- nary and business college there. Her uncle, Abra- ham Block, was a pioneer of Santa Clara, and she also had a sister here, Mrs. Max Kohner, so in April, 1906, she crossed the ocean and came here on a visit, where she met Mr. Kohner, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. They have two children, Herbert Walter and Helen Doris.

Mr. Kohner was made a Mason in 1900 in Liberty Lodge No. 299, F. & A. M .; he is a member of Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., of Santa Clara; and of True Fellowship Lodge No. 238, I. O. O. F. of Santa Clara, of which he is past grand, and is past chief patriarch of Santa Clara Encampment and 39

past captain of Canton No. 9, Patriarchs Militant, and with his wife is a member of Rebekahs. He also belongs to the Woodmen of the World, the Cali- fornia Prune & Apricot Association, and the California Pear Growers Association.

JOSEPH T. BROOKS .- In the front rank of those whose foresight, activity and optimism have meant much for the continued prosperity of the Gold- en State undoubtedly stands Joseph T. Brooks, a councilman of the City of San Jose, and also of the field department of the California Prune and Apricot Association. He was born at St. Louis, Mo., on Washington's birthday, 1865, the son of Johnston Brooks, who had married Miss Susan Briggs, natives of Ireland and Greenville, Ill., respectively. His father came to St. Louis, Mo., when a boy in his 'teens. He became a well-known contractor in that Missouri metropolis until his death there. They had four children, and Joseph was the youngest in the family. He went first to the grammar school, and then to the excellent high school in St. Louis, but perhaps he got the most, in his educational growth, out of the school of hard experience. At an early age he engaged in printing and publishing, and was fortunate to associate himself with J. H. Chambers at St. Louis. He then ran a branch office in Chicago for a year, and also for three months an office at Atlanta, Ga., and for five years he was a corre- spondent, with headquarters at St. Louis.

Coming out to Santa Cruz, Cal., in 1890, Mr. Brooks embarked in the hotel business, removing to San Jose in 1899. For two and a half years he managed the Vendome Hotel. His exceptional abil- ity as a good executive having become recognized, he was drawn into Chamber of Commerce work, and for thirteen and one-half years was the secre- tary of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce. He worked hard, with the single idea of building up that organization so valuable to the city, and his hard, intelligent work bore the best of fruit, the Cham- ber of Commerce expanded and grew by leaps and bounds, and now his services are recognized as most efficient in the field department of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

At Oakland on September 12, 1900, Mr. Brooks was married to Miss Estella B. Ede, a native of Plumas County. Cal., and the daughter of Stephen and Ellen Ede. Two children have blessed this union; and they bear the attractive names of Phillip and Bernice.

In May, 1920, Mr. Brooks was elected city coun- cilman, taking office in July, 1920, for a period of six years, and he is rendering very valuable serv- ice. He has made a study of traffic and traffic con- gestion and was the originator of the safety zone ordinance and also of the new parking ordinance which greatly relieves the congestion in the busi- ness district. Mr. Brooks championed, against much opposition, the advent of the Western Pacific into San Jose; in fact in all these years there has not been a movement that had for its aim the better- ment of the city and county but Mr. Brooks has had an active part in putting them over.

A Republican in national politics, Mr. Brooks is intensely patriotic, and was active during the late war in all bond and Red Cross drives, some of which he personally conducted. He was also active in the American Protective League, connected with the

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Intelligence Department of the U. S. government. As one fond of outdoor life and especially interested in agriculture, he has done much to advance the de- velopment of the horticultural, agricultural and com- munity interests not only of Santa Clara County, but of the commonwealth of California. He is di- rector and vice-president of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and is a charter member of the Com- mercial Club. He is also an active member of Ro- tary Club, the San Jose Grange and is repre- sentative of the Chamber of Commerce and the board of supervisors of Santa Clara County to the California Development Board. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco, and of the Elks and Odd Fellows, and in each of these or- ganizations enjoys a well-earned popularity.

GEORGE W. LYLE .- Exceptionally fortunate in her long line of wide-awake, intrepid sheriffs whose patriotism, intelligence, energetic aggressiveness and personal bravery have added so much to the superb stature of American manhood, California is at pres- ent to be congratulated because of a recent accession to the shrievalty officers' ranks in the person of the accomplished, public-spirited and popular sheriff of Santa Clara County, George W. Lyle of San Jose. A native of Missouri, he was born at St. Louis on August 14, 1885, and grew up in that bustling metrop- olis of the Louisiana Purchase at a time when the traditions of such men as Fremont, the Chouteans, Blair, Schurz, Shaw and Eads still inspired youth and infused life on the Mississippi with largeness of spirit. and when Pretorions, Francis, Lehman, Simmons, Busch and others were pointing the way to still great- er accomplishments. His father was Phillip Lyle, and his mother, before her marriage, was Ella Hansberry; they were blessed with three children, and among these our subject was the oldest child.

Having progressed through the usual courses of the excellent public schools in St. Louis, and finished the high school curriculum there brought to such a high standard by William Torry Harris, afterwards U. S. Commissioner of Education, George Lyle at- tended the famous Christian Brothers College in St. Louis, one of the finest Roman Catholic institutions in America, owing much of its material prosperity to the St. Louis philanthropist, John O'Fallon, who spent more than $1,000,000 for local benevolent pur- poses, gave to Catholic science $100,000, and, in his broad-mindedness, also gave liberally to the non- sectarian Washington University. Mr. Lyle was thus well-equipped to go out in the world; and it is not sur- prising that he succeeded in all of the several and varied enterprises into which, as a young man yet uncertain of his desired-for goal, he threw himself.

In 1902, he formed the lucky resolution to move West, and to move immediately; and the same year his bright star guided him into Santa Clara County. For twelve years he was constable, having been elected for four terms; and in 1918, he was chosen by popular vote for the more responsible office of sheriff,- his good record for faithful, unselfish serv- ice undoubtedly playing an important role. Indeed, his election was far more than an ordinary tribute, for he was supported in his candidacy on a nonpartisan ticket. He has always been a "man above party," and this may be one of the secrets of his unusual influence and success. In addition to the thorough

discharge of his official duties, Mr. Lyle is a live member of the Chamber of Commerce.

In June, 1910, Mr. Lyle was married at Santa Cruz to Miss Ora Van Curen, of Elmira, Solano County, Cal., a talented lady who has proven just the help- mate desired by a man of his landable ambition and temperament; and to this union have been born two children, bright, promising boys named, respectively, George and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle and family enjoy the highest esteem of all who know them in San Jose and elsewhere, and Mr. Lyle is not only popular with his associates in office, but he is a favorite in the circles of the Elks, Woodmen of the World, the Commercial Club and Chamber of Com- merce, in which organizations he is a member.

JAMES A. LAFFEY .- A ranch superintendent who is not only a man of valuable experience, but has proven an executive of exceptional foresight and initiative, is James A. Laffey, the superintendent of the California Packing Corporation's ranch at Milpi- tas. He was born at San Jose on August 15, 1880, the son of Michael and Elizabeth (McCormick) Laffey. and grew up full of the California spirit, his mother's mother, Ann McCormick, having come into the Golden State about the time of its entrance into the Union. She is still living at San Jose, at the ripe old age of ninety-two,-abundant evi- dence, if any were needed, of the beneficent effects of the California climate upon those advancing in years. Michael Laffey came to California from County Mayo, Ireland, about 1870, and as he was a butcher, he engaged with Gus Wendt, Sr., in the retail meat trade. He died in 1909, at the age of sixty-one, survived by his widow, who still makes her home at Sa Jose.

James Laffey attended the Orchard School, and then went to St. Joseph's College, and at thirteen years of age he started out into the world to do for himself. For five years he worked for the Ogier brothers on their ranch, and then he spent about an equal length of time in the R. D. Fox nursery, a ranch of some 300 acres devoted to the raising of fruit and ornamental trees. He then leased his grandmother Ann McCormick's place on the Gish Road and farmed for two years, where J. C. Mc- Cormick, his grandfather, had invested in the land and made his home.

In 1907, Mr. Laffey accepted a position with the California Fruit Canners' Association, with which company he remained until and after it became the California Packing Corporation. He worked on the Milpitas ranch, and for the last fifteen years he has been ranch superintendent for the company at Mil- pitas. This ranch comprises 1680 acres, and is the largest single acreage known in the world that is devoted exclusively to the growing of sugar peas for canning. The company puts up six sizes of peas, from the tiny sifted to the larger size. A Republican in matters of national political import, Mr. Laffey works for the stimulation and steadying of trade, and he also lends himself, in the most admirably nonpartisan manner, to the promotion of the best interests of the community.

At San Jose, on January 12, 1912, Mr. Laffey was married to Mrs. Winifred Monroe Lewis, a native of Sierra County, Cal., and the daughter of C. C. and Fannie (Chandler) Monroe, the father, late of the San Jose police force, while her uncle was Police Captain

Volney Averill

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

J. A. Monroe. Mrs. Lewis already had a daughter, Maude Frances Lewis, who graduated as a trained nurse from the Santa Clara County Hospital at San Jose, a member of the class of '21. Mr. and Mrs. Laffey make their home on a part of the C. P. C. ranch, and it is needless to say that where they re- side, there is true California hospitality. Fraternally, Mr. Laffey is a member of the Elks.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 134

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