History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 167

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

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they were returned to Davenport, Iowa, August 31, remaining there until September 5, when the regi- ment was sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis. Dur- ing the months of October and November, 1862, the regiment marched 500 miles. The regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Seventh Army Corps, and later on in the war was transferred to the Thirteenth Army Corps. On De- cember 4, the regiment was ordered to reinforce General Blunt at Prairie Grove, a march of 118 miles, which was accomplished in three days of hard marching. Without any time for rest, the battle of Prairie Grove was fought December 7, the regiment doing gallant service during the battle. Mr. Ribble was painfully and seriously injured in the left breast, from which he suffered intensely, but he never left his command, and within a few months, was able to do active duty with his regiment at Vicksburg, Miss. thence to Yazoo City and joined in the march to the Black River, returning to Vicksburg July 22, 1863. A few days later the regiment was transferred to the Gulf Army, encamping at Port Hudson; later being removed to Carrolton, La., and on September 6, 1863 went to Fort Morgan, La., returning to Carrolton October 10 of the same year. Two weeks later the regiment was sent to Brownsville Texas, doing gar- rison duty on Mustang Isle for seven months, until July 29, going to New Orleans August 2, 1864; then were ordered to Fort Gaines, Ala., taking part in the seige and bombardment of Fort Morgan. On January 8, 1865, they were removed to Kennerville, La., and the following February they embarked for Florida, encamping at Florida Point until the cam- paign of Mobile, in which they took part, capturing Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. On July 8, 1865, Mr. Ribble was mustered out at Mobile, Ala., return- ing to Clinton, Iowa, remaining on the old home place for several years.

The marriage of Mr. Ribble occurred on March 20. 1867, at Bear Grove, Iowa, uniting him with Miss Amanda M. Welch, a native of Kane County, Ill., a daughter of William P. and Jerusha R. Welch. A farm property of 160 acres was purchased near Bear Grove, Gutherie County, and for four years, Mr. Ribble was engaged in farming, and then he moved to Vinton, Benton County, and followed the building business and farming. He came to San Jose, Cal., in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Ribble are the parents of eight children: Rosina, Mrs. William Short, residing in Iowa, and the mother of Harry, Clair, Ray, Stella. Nellie, George and Esther; Addie A. is the wife of Calvin R. Thompson, living in San Jose, and they are the parents of three children, Cadie, Pearl, and Carl; Eleanor Clarinda, now Mrs. Melville Smiley, living in San Jose and is the mother of five children. Harold, Herbert, Helen, Esther, and Arthur; John W. was married to Miss Clara Monroe, and with their three children, Charles, Bernice, and Edwin, lives in Des Moines, Iowa; Richard Herbert died in infancy; Horace Oscar married Miss Bonnie W. Stockdale and they reside in Colfax, Cal., and are the parents of two children, Dolores and Douglas; Rubie Matilda, now Mrs. Clarence Soden and the mother of Theo and Floyd, resides in Iowa; Charles Henry, residing in San Jose, married May Bowers and they have two children, Harry and Marian. Mr. Ribble has three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Ribble died at the age of thirty-three years, in 1883, at Bear Grove. Mr.

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Ribble was a charter member of Shelsburg (Iowa) Post. G. A. R., and after it disbanded he became a member of the Union Veteran Legion. After com- ing to California he joined A. J. Bennett Post No. 162, G. A. R., in which he is an officer. While all the days of his career have not been equally bright, his resolute spirit and energy have enabled him to overcome obstacles and difficulties and steadily ad- vance on the road toward prosperity. He has a large circle of friends throughout this part of the state, enjoying the high regard with whom social or busi- ness relations have brought him in contact.

JAMES F. McCAULEY .- Although one of the more recent additions to the building contractors of San Jose, James F. McCauley is rapidly develop- ing a good business, for long experience has given him an expert knowledge of this branch of activity and the excellence of his work commends him to the confidence and support of the general public. A native of Ireland, he was born in County Tyrone. November 5, 1877, his parents being Patrick and Margaret (Harrington) McCauley, the former of whom was a member of the British Embassy, being attached to the secret service. In 1883 the father was sent to Perth, in the province of Ontario, Can- ada, in connection with the work of that department, and there the family resided for one year, after which they crossed the border into the United States, taking up their home in Milwaukee, Wis. James F. was seven years old when he came to Mil- waukee, where he attended thet public schools.

When fourteen years of age he started out in life for himself, serving an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade with the Abbott Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minn. He remained with that company for six years and then went to St. Louis, Mo., where for two years he was connected with the Selden-Breck Construction Company as foreman. The next seven years he spent as a journeyman, following his trade in many states of the Middle West. In the spring of 1912 he went to Chicago, Il1., where he entered the employ of the John M. Griffith Company, working on the construction of their large office building and foun- dry, and in the following year he came to San Jose, arriving in December, 1913. He opened the Grand Restaurant on Lightston Street, which he con- ducted for two years, but the business did not ap- peal to him and he secured construction work with the Twohy Brothers, with whom he remained until 1917, when he took a position as carpenter, aiding in erecting the buildings at Camp Fremont. Cal. In May, 1918, he became assistant superintendent of the Producers Warehouse Company of San Jose and in 1919, when this firm was absorbed by the California Cooperative Canneries, he was made su- perintendent of plant No. 1. At the end of the 1919 packing season he took charge of the con- struction and maintenance work on the canneries for this company at San Jose, Modesto and Visalia, remodeling the former and building the last two. In September, 1920, he severed his connection with that company and embarked in the general building and contracting business in San Jose. In his build- ing operations he uses only the best of material and employs the most skilled workmen, while in the execution of contracts he is prompt and reliable, hence his business is rapidly increasing.

In San Rafael. Cal., on August 28, 1915, Mr. McCauley was married to Miss Beatrice George, a native of California, and a daughter of John and Eliza- beth George. Her parents came to this state about 1880, settling in Santa Clara County, where she ac- quired her education. In 1919 Mr. McCauley erected an attractive residence on Menker Street and the hospitality of their home is often enjoyed by their many friends. He has had broad experience in a business way and in the management of his inter- ests he displays sound judgment and marked execu- tive ability. Starting out in the world when four- teen years of age, he has steadily worked his way upward through close application and persistency of purpose and his progressiveness and strict in- tegrity have won for him the unqualified respect of all. with whom he has had business dealings.

DAVID P. FOUTS .- In various ways David P. Fouts has been identified with the development and progress of San Jose, and while now retired from active business life, he is still interested in the pro- gress and welfare of his community. Born in the vicinity of Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, January 19, 1835, he is the son of Henry and Fannie (Gable) Fouts, the two families originally coming from Penn- sylvania and were early settlers in Wayne County. They were the parents of nine children, David P. heing next to the oldest. The father was a farmer in Wayne County, and David helped his father with the farm work. The father passed away when David was a boy of fourteen, leaving a large family.

David P. Fouts began his early education in the common schools of Wooster; later attending Otter- bein University at Westerville. After leaving college, he spent several years in teaching school in Wayne County. On September 19, 1862, he enlisted for service with Company C, First Ohio Cavalry. His company was sent to Washington, D. C., and en- tered upon the Gettyburg campaign, as an escort to General Kilpatrick, who was in charge of three brigades in the campaign. On July first and second the companies were in battle at Hanover Courthouse, Pa., with Stewart's cavalry, and the following night again encountered him at Hunterstown. Following this, General Kilpatrick received orders to join Gen- eral Meade at Gettysburg, and was in the battle from July 3 until General Hood was defeated; on the morning of the Fourth of July, General Kilpatrick captured a rebel wagon train in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Monterey. The following spring David P. Fouts was granted a two weeks' furlough, at the end of which time he was to report back to General Kilpatrick, but the general was so badly wounded that he was disabled for active service, so his company reported to General Wilson at Nash- ville, Tenn., where he remained all summer. On September 19, 1865, he was honorably discharged. having served for three years. After the close of the war, he removed to Schuyler, Colfax County, Neb .. taking up a homestead. During the year of 1874 he sold out and removed to California, settling in Fres- no and was engaged in following his trade, that of painting, and was thus engaged for twenty years. He returned to Ohio during the summer of 1886 on a visit with relatives and friends.

The marriage of Mr. Fouts occurred in Novem- ber, 1886, uniting him with Miss Mary Siler, a daugh- ter of John and Mary Siler, early settlers and one of

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the founders of Muscatine, Iowa. Mrs. Fouts was educated in the public schools of Muscatine. She came with a sister and brother to California in early days. In 1904 the family removed to San Jose, where Mr. Fouts engaged in the contracting business until about five years ago, being nearly eighty years old when he retired from his activities. Mr. and Mrs. Fouts are the parents of one daughter, Florence, the wife of Mr. Ogier and they have one daughter, Dorothy, the family residing at Pacific Grove. Mr. Fout's course in life has been upright and honorable in every relation, winning him the confidence, good will and high regard of all with whom he has been associated. He is prominent in G. A. R. activities and was quartermaster of Atlantic Post at Fresno when it was organized, and afterwards was chaplain. He is now a member of Sheridan-Dix Post No. 7. San Jose. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and has ever believed in constructive measures.

JAMES FERRELL .- A self-made man who has hecome well known as a cement contractor of Santa Clara County is James Ferrell, having resided in San Jose for the past twenty years. Born at Morton, Delaware County, Pa., August 6, 1851, he is a son of James and Sarah (Coats) Ferrell. The father was a hutcher by trade, serving at his trade in Philadelphia, but living nine miles in the country at Morton. James Ferrell is the third child of a family of eight. He attended grammar school, but the opportunities for an education were very meager, as he was able to attend but three months each season. When he was eleven years old, he started out to earn his own way working on farms. In 1868 he removed to Rock Island, Ill., where he remained for a short time; he continued west until he came to El Paso, Texas, then to Phoenix, Arizona, then to Yuma, and on to California in 1871 remaining in Los Angeles but a short time. He then left the Southland and journeyed as far north as Lake County and for several years was engaged in driving a stage from Calistoga to the Big Geyser Springs in Lake County from the fall of 1871 till 1876. From Lake County he went into Humboldt County and drove a logging team in the lumber camp of John Vance on Mud River at Ar- cata. He then drove a logging team on the Salmon River at Table Bluff for Mr. Jones. In 1881 he came to San Joaquin County and engaged in ranching, raising grain, beans, and potatoes on the river bottom lands in San Joaquin County. He lived for a time in Stockton and did teaming between Stockton and the mining camps in the Sierras. In 1901 he re- moved to San Jose and engaged in cement work, doing sidewalk, enrbing. concrete foundation and til- ing Mr. Ferrell was married in Vallejo February 14, 1884 to Miss Frances Rule, a native of Vallejo, a daughter of Samuel and Isabel (Moffat) Rule, her father a pioneer of 1850 arriving in California after a long and hazardous journey around Cape Horn. He was engaged in the building business for the gov- ernment at Vallejo and Mare Island. He passed away in 1883. Frances Rule Ferrell was educated in the public schools of Vallejo. Mr. and Mrs. Fer- rell are the parents of nine children; Isabel, now Mrs. Harris, resides in Oakland; Samuel married Ethel Lee and they live in San Jose, where he is engaged in paving work; Sarah, a graduate of San Jose State Normal, is a teacher in the Oakland schools; Margaret died in infancy; Frances, also a

graduate of San Jose State Normal, is a teacher at Willow Glen; Lydia, now Mrs. Adoradio, resides in San Jose; James, now ranching at San Jose, was in an officers' training camp at Stanford University until taken sick with influenza; Charles is employed by the Bethlehem Steel Works, Oakland, as mechanic; Kenneth is a student in the high school in San Jose. The family have resided at 882 East Julian Street for the last seven years. Mr. Ferrell was bereaved of his wife October 6, 1915, a sad blow to the family and their many friends.

FRANK A. VON DORSTEN .- An experienced. efficient official is Frank A. Von Dorsten, the super- vising foreman of the Pacific Telephone & Tele- graph Company, with headquarters at San Jose, who is a native of Colusa County. He was born in Colusa on December 12, 1872, the son of Henry August Von Dorsten, who was born on February 17, 1832, and started to come to California in 1849 but was compelled to delay his journey until the fall of 1851. He first tried to cross the great plains in an ox train, and in doing so underwent some very severe hardships. The Indians broke up the emi- grants' outfits, and they were compelled to return home; and when they got through Mr. Von Dorsten made for the mines in Shasta County. There he was employed in a grocery store, and then he hauled supplies between Benicia and Shasta. He bought the oxen himself, and ran between the mines and Benicia. He leased sheep land near Stony Corrall west of Maxwell, and followed sheep raising for some years, and then he took up land and engaged in the growing of grain, adjoining Maxwell on the west. He then removed to Oakland, where he spent two years, and in 1884 he came to San Jose. In 1888 he engaged in orcharding, and having sold out his interests in Colusa County, he continued to special- ize in his new field until his death on October 15. 1915. He was a member of the Masons, and was buried with Masonic honors.

Mr. Von Dorsten had married Miss Frances Dun- lap, born at Concord, N. H., on August 13, 1836, who came to Colusa County in the early days, and she died on January 10, 1875, beloved by all who knew her. They had another son, Otto F. Von Dorsten, born April 16, 1867, and he is still living on the home ranch in Santa Clara County.

Frank A. enjoyed all the local educational advan- tages and attended first the grammar and then the high school, in San Jose, and after that he followed with success the courses of the San Jose Business College from which he was graduated in 1891. Then he joined his father and brother on the home ranch in 1891 and remained there until June, 1895, when he entered the service of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, then the Sunset Telephone & Telegraph Company. He has been with this con- cern ever since, and has occupied his present posi- tion for the past eight years. With his brother he owns the old Van Dorsten home ranch of 100 acres devoted to raising prunes and they are members of the California Prune and Apricot Association, and Mr. Von Dorsten is also vice-president and di- rector of the Home Union and a stockholder in the Security Bank. In San Jose, on January 29, 1902, Mr. Von Dorsten was married to Miss Bessie Dun- gan Rutherford, a native of Little Rock, Ark., and they have one child living. a daughter named Frances.

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He is a member of Fraternity Lodge No. 399, F. & A. M., Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., San Jose Council No. 20, R. & S. M., San Jose Com- mandery No. 10, and with his wife is a member of San Jose Chapter O. E. S. He is also a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco, and is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 522, B. P. O. E., and he also belongs to the Telephone Pio- neers of America.

Mr. and Mrs. Von Dorsten are fond of motoring and each summer they take long trips with their car enjoying the scenery of the Pacific Coast states, each year going into the high Sierras, where they have great pleasure and enjoyment in hunting and fishing.

FRANK ABERNATHY .- A representative or- chardist of Santa Clara County, Frank Abernathy was for twenty-one years the capable and efficient manager of the Sorosis Fruit Company, becoming well and favorably known as a horticulturist and manager of large affairs but is now looking after his own properties. He was born in Iowa in 1876 and is the son of William Watson Abernathy, a native of Ohio, born in 1851. The paternal grand- parents were Samuel and Lydia Abernathy and were farmers. His father was also a farmer and when William was twelve years of age, moved to Indiana and he lived there until he was twenty-one years old, when he returned to Ohio where he worked in a tile factory for two years. In 1873 William W. Abernathy was married to Miss Sarah E. Hodgell, a native of Ohio, born in 1853, and in 1880 they removed to California, and after residing in dif- ferent parts of California, finally settled in San Jose in 1901. Mr. Abernathy was in the fuel, feed and delivery business for several years and then he pur- chased his present place on the Saratoga Road, where he and his wife now reside. They are the parents of two children: Minnie, the wife of Frank R. Forrest, and Frank is the subject of this sketch.

Frank attended the public schools of Jewell, Kans., and then entered the State Normal at Emporia; later he taught school for two years in Jewell Coun- ty. In 1901 he removed to California and entered the employ of the Sorosis Fruit Company, owned by F. M. (Borax) Smith, and in 1908 became the manager for the company and occupied that re- sponsible position for six months after Mr. Smith sold it to the new owners. Wishing to give all of his time to the management of his own orchards he resigned this position in January, 1922. Since 1908 Mr. Abernathy has owned orchards, adding to his holdings by the purchase of full-bearing groves from time to time, until he now owns five different orchards in the vicinity of Saratoga, embracing 143 acres, devoted principally to raising prunes, although he also grows apricots, peaches, and pears. On his ranch at Congress Junction he is also engaged in raising White Leghorn poultry, having modern and well equipped yards for the purpose. His home ranch, known as the Bonney Orchards, is located on the heights above Saratoga, commanding a beautiful view of the Valley. His dry yards are located at the Congress Junction ranch, where he cures all of his fruit from the various orchards.

Mr. Abernathy's marriage united him with Miss Nettie Melone, a native of Illinois, and they have two children, Florence and Frances. Fraternally

Mr. Abernathy is a Modern Woodman, and with his wife is a member of the Christian Church of San Jose, being a member of the official board.

ADA SCOTT MORTON, M. D .- Prominent among the distinguished members of the medical profession in Santa Clara County, Dr. Ada Scott Morton is a well-known surgeon of San Jose, who has been able to exert a helpful influence in the ad- vancement of the practice of surgery. A native daughter, she was born at Stockton, a member of a family of physicians. Her maternal grandfather, a native of Alabama, was Dr. John Ferguson, and he was widely known in both Alabama and Arkansas as a successful practitioner. When he passed away, he also enjoyed the prestige as owner of an extensive plantation. Her paternal grandfather was Dr. Thomas Scott, and he lived and died in Kentucky. . Her father, Richard Scott, was born in Kentucky, was married in the East and crossed the plains in 1849 in a wagon train, locating at Stockton. He brought mules and cattle across the plains, as well as a large freighting outfit; and engaged in freight- ing between Stockton and the mines, as well as into the upper San Joaquin Valley. His brother, Dr. David Scott, and relatives, crossed the plains in 1857 and were killed in the Mountain Meadow massacre. Dick Scott, as he was familiarly known, was success- ful as a freighter. He went through some hazardous and harrowing experiences in those early days, hav- ing been held up and robbed more than once. Later on he engaged in ranching and became the owner of several farms and after he retired, leased them. He always made his home in Stockton until he came to San Jose, where he spent his last days with Dr. Morton, passing away in 1919. Her mother, who was born in Alabama, where she was reared and educated at a female college, is a cultured and refined woman, who makes her home with her daughter. Dr. Morton, at her home in Linda Vista, aged eighty- four. Dr. Morton's brother, Dr. C. L. Scott, is a practising physician at Hanford; another brother is Dr. W. P. Scott of Bakersfield.

The twelfth child in a family of thirteen, Ada Scott grew up in Stockton, where her father operated as a large grain farmer. She was born in Stockton, March 17, 1882, and graduated from the Tulare high school in 1900, and then took, first a pre-medical. and then a medical course at the California Medical School at San Francisco, after which she entered the medical department of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She was graduated on June 4, 1907, with the degree of M. D., and in the same year began her active practice, associating herself with her brother, Dr. W. P. Scott, at Bakersfield. At the end of the year, in May, 1908, she removed to San Jose and practised until 1911; then, during 1911-12, she pursued post-graduate work for eleven months at the Mayo brothers' celebrated clinic at Rochester, Minn., and each year she spends a month or two among Eastern clinics. Just before the outbreak of the World War, she joined the clinical congress of surgeons of the world in London. In January, 1914, Dr. Morton went to England and France, and while there attended clinics under different surgeons, among them being Drs. Warterhouse and Lane in the former country, and Hartman and Tuffier in the latter; and she was in France when war was declared; in fact. was in a surgeons' meeting, standing by the side of Dr. Tuffier when he received the message that war

Frank abernathy etrau

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was declared. When she was ready to return, their ship was chased by submarines.

In the early part of 1913, Miss Scott married Dr. A. W. Morton of San Francisco, whom she later divorced, and from three to four years she practised in San Francisco as surgeon for the Santa Fe Rail- road Company. On May 8, 1919, she was married to her present husband, Robert H. Frederick, popu- larly known in athletic circles, where he is famous as an athlete and wrestler, as Ed. "Strangler" Lewis, and they are the parents of one child, Bobada Lewis. He was born at Sheboygan Falls, Wis., in 1890, of German extraction, is six feet one and one-half inches tall, and weighs 240 pounds. He was educated at Louisville, Ky., and was the athletic instructor there. He offered his services to the U. S. government, was stationed at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill., and taught the soldier boys hand-to-hand fighting. He is now the world's champion wrestler. ' Dr. Morton retains her former name for professional reasons, and she enjoys an extensive practice as a surgeon.

CURTIS ELDEN HANGER .- Coming to Cali- fornia and the Santa Clara Valley in 1883, Curtis E. Hanger is counted among the successful horticul- turists of the county. He was born near Lafayette, Ind., on October 5, 1855, a son of M. M. and Ann (Ellis) Hanger. The father was born in Augusta County, Va., and came with his parents to Tippe- canoe County, Ind., where he was reared on a farm. In 1850 he came via Panama to San Francisco and followed mining for a couple of years then returned East again by way of the Isthmus. He was married in Indiana to Miss Ann Ellis, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Stoner) Ellis, of English and German descent, respectively. The Hanger, Ellis and Stone families were all pioncers of Indiana when there were Indians all around that part of the country. M. M. Hanger and his family came to California in 1881 and in 1883 they settled in Santa Clara County, where they bought and improved an orchard at the corner of the Union and Los Gatos roads. Here the mother died in October, 1900, Mr. Hanger passing away in September, 1902. They were the parents of four children: Curtis E. of this sketch; Edward E. lives in Indiana; Elizabeth died at the age of seven; Fred G. of this place.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 167

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