History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 162

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

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Texas, where she was married to the subject of this review. On December 13, 1918, she suffered a para- lytic stroke and on February 14, 1920, she passed away. Mr. Burton's son, Harry Elmer Burton, born in Yamhill County, Ore., June 10, 1881, is now assist- ant superintendent of the San Jose branch of the Peninsular Railroad. He was married at Gilroy to Miss Bertha Fine and they have become the parents of four children: Harold Heber, Raymond Dwight, Elmer De Forest and Adda Frances. One grandson, Harry Davis, participated in the World War, serv- ing in the Marines, and two nephews, Walter B. Anthony serving in the Aviation Corps, and Harry Williams was in the Infantry.

Mr. Burton is a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples and candidates of the Republican party, with which he has been identified since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a valued member of Sheridan-Dix Post No. 7, G. A. R., of San Jose, and is now serving as its commander. His has been an eventful life of varied experiences, and his course has been characterized by integrity and honor in every relation, commanding for him the respect and goodwill of all with whom he has been associated.

JAMES WILSON .- An estimable pioneer of the Santa Clara Valley, James Wilson has spent nearly fifty-six years of his life here, coming to California with his parents, William and Mary (Scott) Wilson, both natives of England, in 1866. They made the journey by way of Cape Horn in a sailing vessel, it requiring six months to complete the journey to San Francisco, and soon after landing there the family 'came to Santa Clara County, where the father secured employment in the New Almaden mines. While employed at his labor he lost his life by a cave-in; the mother also met an accidental death through a fall, and when she died, left four boys to mourn her loss, James, William, Joseph, now dead, and Robert, born in California, and the three live in Santa Clara County.

James Wilson was the oldest of the family and was born in Yorkshire, England, April 13, 1859. He at- tended school a short time in his own country and finished his school days in the public schools at Almaden. His first work was on a ranch; after that he went to Oregon, hoping to take up Government land, but did not like the climate, but meanwhile he made seven trips on a coastwise steamer between San Francisco and Portland, Ore., as a fireman. During the time he was in Oregon the first rail was laid for the Oregon Short Line railroad; also the Oregon City locks were built. Another frontier experience was his participation in the Modoc War. He was making a trip on horseback from Albany, Ore., where he made headquarters for two years, to Goose Lake, Cal., and he and his companion were surrounded by Indians; they had to protect them- selves, and so joined the settlers and remained in the fight until the Redmen were subdued and the chief- tains captured. Mr. Wilson received two bullets in his left leg during the encounter. After he left the sea he worked again on a ranch here, then was em- ployed as hoisting enginceer, helping in the construc- tion of the State Asylum at Agnew, also at the building of the San Jose State Normal School. Later he became a teamster and hauled all the sand rock from the quarry at Almaden to the railroad in San

James Wilson

Phillippa Wilson

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San Jose that was used in building the Union League Club building in San Francisco.

It had always been Mr. Wilson's plan to have a ranch of his own and in 1906 he was able to buy a place on Mcclellan and Regnart roads, and to this he has added until he now has fifty-one acres of fine orchard, prunes, apricots, peaches and a vineyard, having set out the trees and vines with his own hands and carefully tended them until now he has one of the best producing ranches in the county. He is a thorough and competent orchardist, studying the best methods of getting the most out of his land; and has put all of the improvements seen on the place after his own ideas of comfort and convenience. He is a charter member of the California Prune and Apricot Association; is always ready to assist every worthy cause for the betterment of local conditions; supports vigorously the good roads movement and other transportation facilities; believes in maintaining the schools to their highest efficency and is counted a man always to be relied upon at all times as a good citizen, friend and neighbor. In 1922, Mr. Wil- son added to his holdings twenty acres of land ad- joining his home place, set to prunes and apricots, and considered one of the best ten-year-old orchards in the county. This gives Mr. Wilson seventy-one acres in a body, excepting the right-of-way for the railroad.

The marriage of James Wilson, on May 1, 1884, united him with Miss Phillippa Tucker, who came from her native country, England, to California when she was a child. They became the parents of three children: Thomas, Mary and Richard, all born, reared, educated and living in Santa Clara County. Mrs. Wil- son and her husband shared their joys and sorrows together during the many years they were spared to each other, and her passing on January 9, 1914, was a severe loss to family and friends. Mr. Wilson has taken two girls into his home to rear and educate. In politics he is a Democrat in national affairs, and fra- ternally is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World. Besides his ranching interests he is also a stockholder in the Cerro Gordo Gold Hill Mining Company. It has been his privi- lege to witness the great transformation in Santa Clara County, and in fact the entire state, since his first settlement here fifty-six years ago. A loyal citi- zen, no one can say that James Wilson has ever shirked a duty and he has a host of friends through- ont the entire county.

MATTHIAS KNOEPPEL. - Faithfulness and reliability have been the factors in the life of Mat- thias Knoeppel which have finally resulted in his present responsible position of trust. He was born at Trier in Rhine Province, Germany, February 13, 1864, the son of Bernard and Maria (Linn) Knoep- pel, farmers in their native land. Matthias was edu- cated in the public schools of Germany, with no chance of a college education, his spare time being spent in helping with the work on the farm, being the eldest of a family of four. Thus he was em- ployed until he was old enough to enter the army of his country and for three years, from the time he was twenty until twenty-three he served in the German army. In 1888 he came to the United States and for two years he worked in the rolling mills of Pittsburgh, Pa., then went to Chicago and worked in the stockyards for a year and a half. In 1891 he came to California, settling in the Santa Clara Val-

ley, and for fifteen years was with the Santa Clara Valley Lumber Company, meanwhile residing on North Seventeenth Street continuously. He then was employed as superintendent of the Glenwood Lumber Company's yards on North Third Street, San Jose, and has continued with them up to this time. In September, 1905, he purchased a two-and-a- half-acre place on Jackson Avenne on which he con- structed a comfortable and commodious residence.

Mr. Knoeppel's marriage occurred in Pittsburgh, Pa., June 18, 1890, and united him with Miss Lonisa Barth, also a native of Germany born in Wurtem- burg, whose people also were farmers. She came to the United States in 1887 alone and worked in Pittsburgh until her marriage. They are the parents of four children, Matthias Jr., Lewis, Mary and Emma. Matthias Jr. married a Miss Ruby Eley and they have a son, Ross. Mary is now Mrs. Law- rence Henericks. Politically Mr. Knoeppel is a Republican. He takes great pride in beautifying his home place and the family enjoys the products of a fine home garden.

FRANK E. CHAPIN .- An experienced, conscien- tious and far-seeing railroad man who is able to make the rare and proud boast that during years of varied administration, he has never had a railroad strike to contend with, is Frank E. Chapin, the gen- cral manager of the Peninsular and the San Jose railroads. Fortunate at the very beginning of his career in first seeing the light in California, he was born in Tuolumne County on January 28, 1857, the son of Edward R. Chapin, who married Miss Ann Keech. They both crossed the Isthmus of Panama. and settled for a while in Tuolumne County, where Mr. Chapin established himself as a mining engineer. and when he removed to San Francisco in 1864. he soon made a name for himself as a building con- tractor. He died in 1869, highly esteemed for his progressive methods and his unfailing integrity; and his devoted widow has since passed away, beloved by all who knew her womanly virtues.

Frank profited from his public school and business college training, and in 1874 entered the service of the old Market Street railway system. Removing to Stanislaus County, he was employed by the La Grange Hydraulic Ditch Mining Company for four years, and when he came back he joined the Cali- fornia Street Railroad Company in 1879 as a con- ductor and also a grip-man. In time he was made starter and then assistant superintendent, which of- fice he held from 1882 to 1904; and in that year he came to San Jose as general manager of the San Jose and Los Gatos Interurban Railroad. This was incorporated into the Peninsular Railroad and then the company purchased all the city lines of San Jose and incorporated them under the name of the San Jose Railroad. Now Mr. Chapin is general mana- ger of both corporations, and an honored member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, of the Rotary Club, and of the Commercial Club.

Popular as a fraternal fellow, Mr. Chapin holds membership in the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows. the Encampment, the Elks and the Native Sons of the Golden West. He takes a deep interest in the welfare of the men under his employment and authority, and never lets an opportunity escape him to improve their situation and prospects; with the

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natural result that no railroad manager in all the world could enjoy a more grateful or heartier sup- port from the employes. This is a fortunate circum- stance for the public and may account for much of the excellency in the service afforded steadily by the two corporations mentioned.

Mr. Chapin was united in marriage in San Fran- cisco to Miss Josephine Walsh, daughter of Hon. Thos. Walsh of Eureka, Cal., where she was born. Mrs. Chapin passed away on March 26, 1922, having been in ill-health for the past two years.

ALPHONZO M. KELLEY .- Although not Californian by birth, Alphonzo M. Kelley has spent so much of his life in this state that he is thoroughly acquainted with its possibilities and intelligently con- versant with its history. He was born near Clinton, Ill., on January 5, 1860, and is the son of Dr. Thomas Kelley, whose long and useful life was spent in al- leviating the sufferings of others. His grandfather, Alexander Kelley, was born near Barboursville, Ky., a son of James Kelley, who immigrated from Ireland in an early day and settled in Kentucky, but later removed to Illinois, and he passed away in Clinton. The farm of Alexander Kelley was located six miles southeast of Lincoln, near Two Mile Grove, in Logan County, Ill., and there his oldest child, Thomas Kel- ley, was born September 18, 1836. In 1841 the family removed to Dewitt County, Ill., where grandfather Kelley engaged extensively in farm pursuits until his death. His paternal grandmother was Miss Lucinda Anderson before her marriage, who was born in Ohio. Her father was Joel Anderson, a native of Pennsyl- vania, of Scotch descent, and was a farmer by oc- cupation. At twenty years of age Thomas Kelley began to teach school in Dewitt County; later he took up the study of medicine under Dr. John Wright. On August 24, 1861, he enlisted as a pri- vate in Company K, Forty-first Illinois Infantry, and at Bird's Point, Mo., was mustered into the army of the Tennessee, with which he participated in the battles of Forts Henry and Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Shilolı, Hatcher's River, Coldwater, Miss,; siege of Vickburg, Jackson, Miss .; and the Georgia campaign from Resaca to the fall of Atlanta. While on the Jackson battlefield, Mr. Kelley was promoted to be first lieutenant of Company K, and there too he was wounded in the right thigh; he made his escape from the field and after his recovery rejoined his regiment and remained at the front until the ex- piration of his term of service and was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., October 8, 1864. He then en- gaged in farming and continued his medical studies under Dr. Wright and in 1868 entered Rush Medical College from which he was graduated in 1871; in the fall of the same year he came to California and set- tled in the Santa Clara valley. In 1875 he became a partner of Dr. Benj. Cory, a pioneer physician of San Jose, and remained with him for sixteen years. Most of his time was devoted to his professional duties, but he found time to engage in the fruit in- dustry. He purchased a tract of 150 acres in Tulare County, which was planted to orchard and vineyard, but was later sold. He married Miss Alice Lecds, a native of Batavia, Ohio, and she died in Illinois during the war. Our subject is the only son of that union. Dr. Kelley's second marriage united him with Mrs. Sarah A. Watkins, a native of Ohio.

who passed away in 1902 in San Jose. Three daugh- ters and one son were born to them: Mrs. C. H. Leadbetter, of Portland, Ore .; Mrs. B. B. Alexander, of San Diego, Cal .; and Mrs. F. A. Towner, of San Jose. Dr. Kelley was active in county and commit- tee work of the Republican party, and during the administration of President Harrison, in 1891, was appointed postmaster of San Jose and held the office for over four years; he served as county physician and was engaged as surgeon to the O'Connor Sani- tarium. He was made a Mason in Illinois. He passed away at the age of sixty-seven at the family home on Third and William streets, San Jose, on February 14, 1906.

Alphonzo M. Kelley was educated in the schools of San Jose and in 1884 received his A. B. degrec from the College of the Pacific and his A. M. in 1886 from the same institution. During his father's incumbency he served as assistant postmaster of San Jose. For a number of years he taught in the public schools of the county, and also was city editor of the Mercury during the last year of the ownership of Mr. Owen. In 1898 he purchased a tract of 160 acres situated on the Llagas road and has resided there since 1900.

Mr. Kelley has been married twice. The first mar- riage, in October, 1893, united him with Miss Meggie L. Robb, well-known as a teacher in the high school of San Jose. She died in 1898, and the second union occurred on March 21, 1907, and united him with Miss Janet Whitehurst, a daughter of the late A. Whitehurst, banker and lumberman of Gilroy, Cal. Politically Mr. Kelley is a Republican and has been on the county central committee from his dis- trict. His culture and social qualities draw to him many lasting friendships, and he is esteemed and respected for his true worth.

PONTUS OSTENBERG .- Among the alert young business men of San Jose is numbered Pontus Ostenberg, who is conducting one of the leading in- dustrial enterprises of the city, being associated with his brother in the manufacture of deep well pumps, and although recently established, the business has already assumed large proportions. Mr. Ostenberg was born in Des Moines, Iowa, June 3, 1886, a son of John A. and Amelia Ostenberg, who reared a family of five children. One of the sons, Zeno Os- tenberg, is a graduate of Leland Stanford Univer- sity and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a lieutenant in the World War, being in the Naval Aviation service, and was stationed suc- cessively at North Island, San Diego, and Pensacola, Fla. The father is a master mechanic and for sev- eral years was prominently identified with business interests of San Jose but now lives in Los Angeles.

Pontus Ostenberg remained in his native state until eight years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Vermont, where they resided for four years. When he was twelve years of age the family home was established in San Jose and he here attended the public schools. On lay- ing aside his textbooks he began working for his father, who was engaged in the building of engines, manufacturing the Ostenberg motor and also being the inventor of the Victory oil motor. His brother Neroy, who is also a native of Des Moines, Iowa, enlisted on June 27, 1917. He became a member

Kelly

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

of the Naval Reserve and for thirteen months was in training at the camp at San Pedro, Cal. He then went to Mare Island, where he remained for a short time, after which he was stationed at the submarine base at San Pedro. He entered the service as a second class machinist, and was furloughed to the Reserve on June 25, 1919, as a first class machinist.

In 1919, in association with his brother Neroy, Pontus Ostenberg opened a shop on West Santa Clara Street in San Jose, where they have since en- gaged in the manufacture of deep well pumps. Both are expert mechanics, having inherited their ability along this line from their father. They manufacture the Ostenberg deep well pump, which they have protected by patents. From its inception the busi- ness has been a success and their present yearly output is thirty pumps, which they expect to increase to 100 in the near future. In the conduct of his in- terests Mr. Ostenberg displays sound judgment, en- terprise and marked administrative ability and suc- cess in substantial measure is rewarding his efforts.

MRS. MELINDA C. PLANK. - A highly- esteemed woman who is particularly interesting as a successful manager of large affairs, is Mrs. Me- linda C. Plank, who was born in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, on October 12, 1847, the daughter of Charles Rich Conant, a native of Pittsford, Va., where he was born on December 5, 1807 a lineal descendant of the celebrated Roger Conant, the founder of Salem, Mass., and the first governor of that colony, contin- uing in office three years as stated in the Conant genealogy. Roger Conant was born in Devonshire, England, on April 9, 1592, and our subject is of the cighth generation of Conants in America. Roger was married in London, England, in November, 1618, and came out to Massachusetts in 1623 on the vessel named "Anne." Fort Conant, now known as Stage Fort, was named after him. In time, Charles Rich Conant moved to Putnam, Ohio, with his parents, and came in 1830, with the David Crockett party to Texas, later coming to Mexico, traveled through So- nora and at Buena Vista, in 1840, he married Miss Simona Maldonado, then settled at Guaymas. He became interested in both lands and mines in So- nora, Mexico, but in 1849 he rushed north to Cali- fornia at the news of the discovery of gold, return- ing the next year to Mexico to bring his family to California. He and his wife had six children, and they were named Charles, Thomas, James Francis, Mary Melinda,-the subject of our review; Simona Frances and Joseph Benjamin.

Charles R. Conant and his family settled at Stock- ton in the spring of 1850, living on the vessel Attila, which be partly owned, and for a short time the prospects were satisfying, and then he went to Stan- islaus County and there built a dam on the Stan- islaus River, intending to use the water for irrigat- ing land. But just as the dam was about com- pleted, a freshet washed it away in 1852. He then came back to Stockton and bought an interest in a foundry, which he conducted for years. He was really a physician by profession, as his father be- fore him had been, although he was interested in these various enterprises, and for sixteen years he had practiced medicine before coming to California, and during the early cholera epidemic he and Dr. McLean were the only doctors to fight the epidemic in Stockton. He had an interest in mines at Cop-

peropolis, Cal., but he died eventually near Alamas, Mexico, in 1863. His wife had died there eight months previously.

Miss Melinda Conant was married at Alamos, Mexico, on July 25, 1868, to Frederick Plank, a na- tive of Cold Springs, N. Y., where he was born on November 2, 1843 the son of Philip and Mary Plank. Philip Plank, a mechanic by trade, spelled his name Planque; and in 1851 Frederick accompanied his parents from New York to California by way of Panama, and later he and his father went to Sonora, Mexico, where Dr. Plank became interested in mining in the Alamos district. At the time of their marriage, Dr. Plank's father was chief engineer of the Mint at Alamos, Sonora, Mex., and he also was interested in mines in Chihuahua. After their mar- riage, Dr. Plank continued mining very successfully, in Bancari, and located many valuable claims, but in 1884, the couple moved back to California and lived at San Francisco until 1888, when they re- moved to San Jose. While here Dr. Plank bought the David Spence property on the Alameda, and also bought lots and several orchards, improved them and sold at a profit. Later still, they moved back to Lower California, engaged in mining near Los An- geles Bay, and stayed there until 1906, when they returned to San Jose. Dr. Plank then bought the Rudolf Spence home on the Alameda, and there the family lived until 1920, when they moved to 326 North Sixth Street.

Mr. and Mrs. Plank had a family of seven chil- dren: Frederick died, aged twenty-eight; William, at home; Francis died, aged thirty-one, leaving a son, Frederick Edmund; Amelia, Mrs. C. C. Coo- lidge of San Jose and mother of four children, Elea- nor, Frederick, Adele and Claire; Adela, wife of J. W. A. Pearson of Mexico City; Charles at home, and Mary Lucy who died in infancy. Dr. Plank passed away while in San Francisco on December 29, 1911, and is buried in San Jose. Mrs. Plank still has extensive mining interests in Lower Cali- fornia and lands in Sonora, Mexico, and still re- tains the old hacienda at Bancari.

WILBUR H. DRAPER .- A successful career is that of Wilbur H. Draper, a native son of San Jose, who has worked his way steadily upward until he now occupies the position of manager of the George B. McKee Paint Company and is most capably dis- charging the responsible duties which now devolve upon him. He was born August 2, 1887, a son of Edwin W. and Martha J. (Beck) Draper, the former a native of Jackson, Mich. In 1863 the father crossed the plains to California, first going to San Fran- cisco, where he lived for two years. He then re- moved to Livermore, purchasing a 200-acre farm in the Panoche Creek country and devoting his atten- tion to the raising of grain and stock. For eight years he operated that place, which he then sold, and coming to San Jose, he engaged in threshing grain for many years, having a Minnesota Chief thresher. He became well known in that connection, operating in the San Joaquin and Santa Clara Val- leys, engaging in threshing in the former locality for ten successive seasons and also going as far south as Salinas. In Centerville, Alameda County, he mar- ried Miss Martha J. Beck, a native of Missouri, and purchasing a five-acre tract in San Jose, he there made his home until his demise on December 24. 1918, this ranch being now occupied by the subject

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

of this review and his mother. In the family were three children: Wilbur H .; Edwin A., in The Willows; and Mrs. F. E. Whipple, who is residing in East San Jose.

Mr. Draper attended the grammar and high schools of San Jose and the Cox Business College and for four years assisted his father in threshing. In 1907 he entered the employ of the George B. MeKee Paint Company, starting in as an appren- tice and steadily advancing through merit and ability until he is now serving as manager. He thoroughly understands all phases of the business and this prac- tical knowledge, combined with his keen insight and sound judgment, has enabled him to so manage the affairs of the company that its trade has shown a steady growth. In his political views Mr. Draper is a Republican and is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.

ELIJAH M. SALEEBY-The vicinity of San Jose and surrounding country are fortunate indeed to have as able and conscientious a druggist to care for the physical welfare of its citizens as is found in Elijah M. Saleeby, who is the proprietor of the University Drug Company, located at 50 East Santa Clara Street. Mr. Saleeby was born in Mt. Lebanon, Syria, on April 8, 1878, and was the son of Mitry and Helena Saleeby, the father being the superin- tendent of schools of Mt. Lebanon. The Free Church of Scotland had sent ministers and missionary teach- ers to these schools to educate the youth, and Mr. Saleeby's father, who was an educator, had the direc- tion of these schools in his hands. The father lived to be an old man, having attained the age of eighty- two years when he passed away in 1920, his wife having preceded him many years ago.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 162

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