History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 155

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

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DR. LA FOREST E. PHILLIPS .- A scholarly, expert surgeon of high scientific attainments, whose distinguished services in the cause of suffering and imperiled humanity-particularly during the recent crisis incidental to the epidemic of the influenza- have conferred an enviable lustre upon Palo Alto, the scene of his conscientious labors, is Dr. La Forest E. Phillips, the widely-known physician and surgeon whose splendidly-equipped offices are at 172 Univer- sity Avenue, while his handsome residence is at 337 Hamilton Street. He was born at Surry, Hancock County, Maine, on March 7, 1876, the son of R. F. Phillips, who is happily still living, retired, at 2526 Hilligas Avenue, Berkeley. He was long a lumber- man, actively and extensively engaged in that in- dustry in both Maine and California, and he married Miss Mary Frances Gaspar of the same place, both Mr. and Mrs. Phillips coming from very old New England families, long established in Maine. The Phillips family is of Welsh origin, and their hardi- hood is attested by the fact that there has not been a death in the circle for the past fifty years. Dr. Phillips has two brothers and two sisters. Agnes has hecome the wife of J. O. Davenport, a pioneer of Monterey and a member of the Davenport family hailing from Massachusetts, where for generations they were prominent whalers. They sailed around the Horn and came to California and Monterey in early days; and settling in California identified themselves with important industries. Mr. Daven- port is at present in the lumber trade at San Fran- cisco. A. R. Phillips is in the automobile business at Oakland. La Forest Ethelbert Phillips is the subject of this review. Rodney Forseth Phillips, Jr., is also in the automobile trade, in San Fran- cisco. Julia Josephine is the wife of Dr. Clarence Page of Berkeley.

In 1878. La Forest Phillips came out to California with his parents and settled in Mendocino County, where his father entered upon what was to prove an engagement of forty years as a very trusted employee with the L. E. White Lumber Company; and our subject grew up in Mendocino County, at Fort Bragg, later removing with the rest of his folks to Point Arenas. He attended the local schools, and in 1895 was graduated from the Mendocino high school. Then he took up serious study at the Cooper Pre- Medical School and prepared to enter the regular department, and having matriculated at the Cooper Medical College, of San Francisco, he was graduated with the class of '99, and is now an alumnus of the Medical Department of Stanford University.

Upon graduating, he accepted an internship as a house physician and surgeon in the San Francisco Hospital in 1901, and he then went to Jackson, Am- ador County, and hung out his shingle. During the World War, he volunteered to give his medical ser- vices, and he was in line for appointment to a respon- sible post; but the armistice interfered before the Government could call upon him. Now, having set- tled at this important center of scientific investiga-

tion and practice, Dr. Phillips does a general surgical and medical service, and gives his whole time and attention to the best and lasting interests of those en- trusting their difficulties to him. During the awful epidemic of influenza, Dr. Phillips had no less than 125 cases under his immediate charge, and he won the enviable distinction, as one of the most successful doctors in California, of bringing almost all his pa- tients safely through. He has a beautiful suite of offices and there, with every facility that could be de- sired, treats minor surgical cases. For major opera- tions, however, he takes his patients to the Palo Alto Hospital. Naturally, on account of his high stand- ing, Dr. Phillips is frequently called upon to consult with other physicians of eminent standing.

At San Francisco, on July 25, 1901, Dr. Phillips was married to Miss Bella Pierce, a native of San Francisco, and the daughter of the late Samuel J. Pierce, well-known San Francisco contractor and builder; and their home-life has been brightened through the gift of four children, each already speak- ing for itself in the world. Frances took a course in the Pre-Medical School at Stanford and is married to C. M. Jenks, a Stanford graduate, and resides at Merced; and La Forest, Jr., who is a student at Stanford University in the Pre-Medical Department. Alberta I. is in the Castellija School at Palo Alto, and Rodney Pierce is a pupil in the William War- ren Military Academy at the same place. Of ex- ceptionally bright mind, and a kind, considerate and helpful disposition, imbued with high ideals as to the conscientious performance of professional duty, Dr. Phillips has won the high regard of his fellow-citi- zens, while his accomplished wife and wide-awake children are justly popular and real favorites in Palo Alto and in Stanford University.

CHARLES H. PIERCE .- A popular city official of Gilroy, who is also a live-wire in the local Cham- ber of Commerce, is Charles H. Pierce, the chief of the Gilroy Fire Department, a native of Santa Cruz. He was born on July 15, 1871, when he en- tered the family of Henry and Martha (Liebbrandt) Pierce, citizens of Santa Cruz since 1850 and both now deceased. When only thirteen years of age, Charles was thrown upon his own resources; and then he entered the employ of Peter Branigan and worked for him in his blacksmith shop at Plato, in Monterey County. Having served his apprentice- ship, he established himself with his first shop at Alma, when he was twenty-nine years old and hav- ing had valuable experience, in part, some years be- fore, as a tool dresser for oil-well boring in that locality, he did not want for patronage. When he came to Gilroy, therefore, in 1915, after having had a forge at Plato, he opened a very modern shop; and such has been his success and growth that he em- ploys seven men and in rush times even more. While a resident of Alma Station, Mr. Pierce was a deputy county constable, clerk and fish and game warden, and also school director, for fourteen years; and at a meeting of the board of fire delegates, in 1921, he was nominated chief of the Gilroy Fire Department, with William Radtke as first assistant, and Gus Cruse as second assistant, and as there was no oppo- sition, the election ensuing was a matter of form.

At San Jose Mr. Pierce was married to Miss Ar- milda Frances Minter, who was reared in the Santa Clara Valley; and their union has been blessed

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through the birth of ten children. Martha married Carl Weppner, an expert mechanic, and they reside with their four children at Gilroy. Henry, who served in the World War, is a rancher and an or- chardist living near Gilroy. Jessie's husband, Wes- ley McCandles, is a garage owner at Gilroy. Maude is the wife of Reginald Holloway, an expert me- chanic and the garage owner at Gilroy. Bertha, the sixth in order of birth (after the daughter who died in infancy), assists her father in his business; and George, Roy, Albert and Leslie are still busy with their school books. Mr. Pierce owns the de- sirable property at the corner of Second and Mon- terey streets. He belongs to the Masons, is an Odd Fellow, a member of the Woodmen of the World, and in national political affairs, he is a Democrat.

ALFRED BREED POST .- An experienced fin- ancier of highest ideals, admirable integrity and en- viable executive force, is Alfred Breed Post, for many years one of the pillars of the Garden City Bank of San Jose, and now the efficient and accommodat- ing cashier of the bank of San Jose. He was born at Santa Clara, Cal., on February 4, 1873, the son of Alfred Breed Post, who came to California in 1870 from Indiana, where he was born at Logansport. His mother was a Breed, a descendant of the Breed family after whom Breed's Hill, the site of the his- toric Bunker Hill, was named. Another ancestor was Stephen Post, the founder of Hartford, Conn., both the Posts and Breeds being leading Eastern families. The Breeds fought at Ticonderoga, with Ethan Allen, while the Posts fought under General Washington in the Revolutionary War. The Posts and Breeds were Puritans, and therefore of English origin, although in 1056 the Posts came to England from Holland, having descended from Baron von Post. Thus the Post family existed in England for more than 400 years. They migrated to the Bay Colony in Massacheusetts, and from there went to Vermont, New Hampshire and New York, and thence moved westward.

The mother of Alfred Post was Adelaide Holmes, and she was born near Janesville, Wis., where our subject's father was a Presbyterian minister. He came out from Janesville to Santa Clara to preach, and died at Santa Clara when he was twenty-eight years old, three months before Alfred was born. Another child had already entered the family, a daugh- ter named Mary, who is now the wife of Dr. John J. Miller of San Jose. Mrs. Post removed to San Jose when Alfred was a young man, but he grew up at Santa Clara and attended the public schools there, topping off with some fine courses at the University of the Pacific at San Jose. In his sophomore year, however, his college career was cut short, and he entered the service of the Pacific Manufacturing Company, at Santa Clara, and for five years or until he was twenty-two years old, he worked for them as their cashier. He then entered the employ of the Garden City Bank at San Jose, and commencing as a receiving teller, he continued in their service for a quarter of a century, during which time he became assistant cashier, and for the last ten years cashier of that flourishing bank. In 1920 he severed his connection there and sold his stock in the Garden City Bank and came over to the Bank of San Jose, and became one of its stockholders. He is also a

stockholder in the Pacific Manufacturing Company at Santa Clara, and a director of the Bean Spray Pump Company of San Jose. He owns a ranch in the Santa Clara Valley, and has other important fin- ancial interests.

At San Jose, in 1902, Mr. Post was married to Miss Mary W. Giles of Chicago, by whom he has had three children: Alfred Breed, Jr., Janet Giles and Charles Truman Post, and they now reside in the handsome residence he built at 845 Hedding Street. He belongs to the Elks, the Masons, and is a Knight Templar. He is a member of the Bankers Association, and is the president of Group No. 3 of the California Bankers Association-one of the many honors and responsibilities in a very busy career.

ROBERT K. PATCHELL .- Among the enter- prising business men of Morgan Hill is Robert K. Patchell, whose continued success has been brought about by his thoroughness and faithfulness to the task in hand. He was born in Westchester, Pa., February 25, 1862. His father, John Patchell, is of Scotch-Irish parentage and married Miss Sarah Mc- Hurter of a well-known Scotch family. Robert K. was reared on a farm and at the age of seven years entered the district schools. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of Swift & Company in Chi- cago, serving the usual time as an apprentice, and in 1892 he resigned his position of superintendent and removed to San Francisco to become the general superintendent of their plant in that city. The work of building up the packing department was empha- sized and the business steadily grew to enormous pro- portions. When Mr. Patchell assumed control, the company employed 125 men, and in 1910, 360 men were employed; during the thirty years of his super- intendency he has had the satisfaction of systematizing the work until the factory runs like clock work.

Mr. Patchell's marriage, July 2, 1893, in Chicago, united him with Miss Clarissia Mae Crawford, a native of Lafayette, Ind., who was reared and schooled in that city. In 1898 Mr. Patchell bought fifty-seven acres of bare land in the Machado tract and began developing an orchard. In 1904 he set out 2240 French prune trees, the first set out in this district, which cost him six cents each. During 1909 he removed to the ranch and has since resided there. Mr. Patchell sold fifty-four acres of his ranch, re- taining three acres surrounding his residence. He erected a commodious residence in Morgan Hill High School Park. He has always been actively identified with co-operative marketing of farm prod- ucts and is at the present time the president of the Morgan Hill Farmer's Union store, a co-operative business owned and controlled by a number of local ranchers and capitalists. In 1920 this business reached the total of $300,000 for the year and in 1921 the business exceeded this amount considerably. Poli- tically he is a Republican and fraternally a promi- nent member of Lodge No. 463 of Morgan Hill, F. & A. M .; he also is a member of Howard Chapter, R. A. M., San Jose Commandery No. 10, K. T. and Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He has never failed to do his part as a public-spirited citizen and many are the projects that he has fostered that have helped to make Santa Clara County one of the hest- known localities in California.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

PHILIPPE PRUDHOMME .- Many European na- tions have made valuable contributions to California's citizenship, and Philippe Prudhomme, a prominent member of the French colony of San Jose, found in the vineyards of the Golden State opportunities for the attainment of success, of which he was not slow to avail himself, and now, after years of industry and earnest effort, he is living retired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He was born at Matha, Charente- Inferieure, France, March 1, 1857, the son of Jean and Josephine (Caute) Prudhomme, who were farm- ers in that locality, who passed away there leaving three children of whom Philippe is the second oldest and one of twins, his twin brother Stanislas, residing in the vicinity of the old home; Philippe acquired his education in the schools of his native province. He assisted his father in the operation of the home farm and the care of the vineyard and also assisted in making wine, an art in which for centuries the people of his nation have been unexcelled. Having com- pleted his military service, which covered fifteen months, he decided to seek the opportunities pre- sented in a newer country, and early in 1882, when a young man of twenty-five years, sailed for the United States. He arrived in San Jose on August 17, 1882, and soon afterward purchased a tract of 105 acres near Evergreen, which he devoted to the growing of grapes. His previous experience had thoroughly acquainted him with every phase of the industry. He named his place the Saintonge vine- yard from the province in which he was born, and the excellence of his wines secured for them a ready sale on the market. As the years passed he at- tained a substantial measure of prosperity and con- tinned active as a vineyardist until national prohibi- tion became a law, when he sold his ranch and pur- chased a six and one-half acre orchard and is en- gaged in raising prunes and apples. For nineteen years he had a wholesale wine and liquor store at 19 South Market Street, San Jose, which was sold when he disposed of his vineyard.

In San Jose, June 3, 1883, Mr. Prudhomme was united in marriage to Miss Mary Pellier, a daughter of Pierre Pellier, of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Prudhomme passed away in Evergreen in 1905. Four children were born of that union: Louis, who served as a member of Company B of the California Home Guard and passed away at the age of thirty; Helene, now the wife of Joseph V. Simon, a prominent resi- dent of San Jose; Madeleine, deceased; and George, who is married and resides in San Jose. In 1909 Mr. Prudhomme married Mrs. Marie (Vivier) Grosman- gin-Bonnore, who was born in Dieuze in the prov- ince of Lorraine, France, November 1, 1860; her first marriage was to Simon Grosmangin, a chocolate maker who had learned his trade in Paris. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Grosmangin emigrated to the United States and subsequently made their way to San Francisco, Cal., where for fifteen years they conducted one of the leading confectionery stores in the city. Owing to the ill health of her husband she assumed the burden of the business and has the distinction of being the first woman in Cali- fornia to manufacture the famous pure Parisian chocolate bonbons. She had learned the art in Paris,

France. They later engaged in the confectionery business in Portland, Ore., and took the first prize for the excellence of their candies, but her husband became ill and they came in 1888 to San Jose, where, a few weeks later, he passed away. She is a fine scholar and taught French to private pupils here as well as in the East. At the French celebration of the Fall of the Bastile, in Portland, she was selected as the Goddess of Liberty. She is a woman of marked strength of character and possesses a kind, genial and sympathetic nature, her life being a true exem- plification of the spirit of Christianity. Mrs. Gros- mangin was married a second time to P. Bonnore, also born in France; he was a vineyardist and died in San Jose in 1907.

Mr. and Mrs. Prudhomme reside in an attractive home at 785 South Fifth Street and theirs is a life of contentment and happiness. Mr. Prudhomme is a prominent member of the Foresters of America, being affiliated with Lodge No. 263, and for over twenty years he has been connected with the order. He deserves much eredit for what he has accomp- lished in a business way, for he has worked his way steadily upward through industry and determination, and in winning prosperity he has at the same time gained the respect and goodwill of the community.

CHARLES T. O'CONNELL .- An experienced, enterprising and thoroughly dependable leader in the local commercial world is Charles T. O'Connell, of Messrs. O'Connell Bros., who was born in San Benito County on March 18, 1876, and so commenced life with the fortunate environment of a native son. His father was the highly esteemed Thomas O'Connell, whose interesting life story is outlined in another part of this work. The lad attended the San Benito schools and when he was ready for the more ad- vanced courses, he became a student of the Santa Clara College.

Taking up the task of supporting himself, Charles first worked for J. W. Borchers for four years, and then for a short time he was with the Saratoga Meat Market, and also Woodward & Bennett. The next four years he was deputy superintendent of streets of San Jose, and following this he was appointed deputy city treasurer under Charles Lightston. In November, 1901, with his brother Frank, he took over the wood business which his father had con- ducted so successfully, and then, as the other brothers came of age, they also entered the firm, and on July 9, 1906, the business was incorporated as O'Con- nell Bros. That same year the firm erected their fine structure at Sixth and St. James streets, and there they have since been, conducting one of the best headquarters for groceries, meats, wood and coal to be found anywhere in the county. They aim to carry only the best of everything and are alert to meet and anticipate the wants of their customers. They also own 15,000 acres of land, twenty-three acres being in orchard, while the rest is devoted to stock raising, and are now putting in a dam which will furnish irrigation for over a hundred acres of the land. This ranch is near Coyote, convenient to the market, and is enclosed by over forty miles of fence. Mr. O'Connell is a member of the Journey- men Butchers Protective and Benevolent Association, having been secretary for twenty years, and it is

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needless to say that he does what he can to make that excellent organization what it is.

On September 21, 1910, Mr. O'Connell was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth M. Cunan, who was born in San Jose, the daughter of John and Mary J. (Dur- kin) Cunan. Their married life has been blessed by the birth of three children, Maurice R, Adrian E. and Clarice. The family attend St. Patrick's Cath- olic Church, and Mr. O'Connell belongs to the Knights of Columbus, in which he has attained the third degree. He is a member of San Jose Parlor, N. S. G. W., aud also belongs to the Foresters.

JOSEPH H. BONE .- A distinguished representa- tive of a very interesting, widely-scattered and numer- ous English family in America is Joseph H. Bone, the successful rancher to whom much credit is due for the formation, a few years ago, of the California Prune and Apricot Association. He was born at Portchester, Hampshire, England, near where both the Romans, and later the Normans, built a famous castle, and on September 25, 1862, he entered the family of Samuel and Emily (Combs) Bone. His father, who belonged to a family of not less than 1,000 representatives in the United States today, was a sub- stantial merchant, and lived to be sixty-five years of age, survived by his devoted wife about eight years. They had seven children: Emily, Mrs. Heal; Alice Katherine, now deceased; Joseph H., our subject ; Frances Emma, Charles Edmund, a substantial busi- ness man of Red Bluff, who died in August, 1920. and Edward, deceased.

Joseph attended a private school at Fareham, walk- ing two miles to reach the schoolhouse, after which he was an apprenticed hookkeeper, working for his board and lodging. Once a thoroughly-trained bookkeeper, he entered the employ of William Whitely, of Lon- don, popularly known as the Universal Provider; and afterwards he had charge of the books of a large re- tail dry goods establishment in London, prior to com- ing out to the United States in 1887.

On reaching the States, Mr. Bone went to Florida. and for a while settled near Ocala, where he acquired forty acres of land upon which he raised oranges, by means of excellent irrigation. At the end of twelve months, however, be came back to New York, and in the metropolis he found profitable activity for three years with a large lace-curtain house on Broadway. He then migrated to the Northwest, and pitched his tent at Seattle; this was the summer after the great fire. He had charge of the shipping and receiving de- partment for McDougall & Southwick, and later be- came chief bookkeeper to the Seattle branch of the Standard Oil Company. All in all, he spent ten years in Seattle. He next went to Minneapolis, Minn., and organized the Fraternal Industrial Cooperative Asso- ciation, but later entered upon five-year engagement with the National Biscuit Company there.

In September, 1906, Mr. Bone came to San Jose and took up vegetable seed production at Greenfield, in Monterey County, in which he remained for four years, selling mostly to the Barteldes Seed Company of Lawrence, Kans., and during this time he made his home at San Jose. When he sold his seed-farm and business, he bought the old Fleming Ranch of forty acres on Fleming Avenue, three-fourths of which was bare land, which he set out to apricots and wal- nuts: and after a while he sold half of this ranch, re- 44

taining the other twenty acres. In July, 1919, he purchased a home place of four aeres in Linda Vista district at the corner of Alum Rock and Kirk ave- nues. Mr. Bone belongs to the Grange. In 1915 he began the movement to reorganize the California Prune and Apricot Growers, Inc., and with the assist- ance of others this movement became a reality on May I, 1917, Mr. Bone serving as secretary and treas- urer for the first two years.

At St. Pancras Church, London, on June 6, 1886, Mr. Bone was married to Miss Phoebe Ellen Booth, the daughter of James Booth, a hotel man, and his good wife, Susanna; and this marriage was blessed with the birth of one daughter, Maude Emily, who was born in Florida and who is at present the wife of J. H. Waalkes of San Jose, and the mother of a son, John H. Waalkes. Public-spirited to a large degree, Mr. Bone is that much of a true patriot, that he always puts the issues at stake above the demands of partisan- ship, and so is able to exert a wider and more endur- ing influence for the elevation of politics and the ad- vancement of the public weal.

ALBERT F. O'CONNELL .- Proud of his birth- right as a native son of the Golden State, Albert F. O'Connell takes a keen interest in the development of Santa Clara County, where the greater part of his life has been passed, and in preserving the history and interesting landmarks of its early days. A son of Thomas O'Connell, the pioneer, whose life story appears on another page of this work, he was born at Hollister, San Benito County, February 22. 1887, but was reared in San Jose, where he attended the Grant School and the San Jose high school. From the time he was a boy he made himself gen- erally useful, assisting his father in his fuel and feed husiness mornings and evenings while going to school and during his vacations, and thus he formed the habits of thrift and industry that have become a most valuable asset to him.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 155

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