History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 171

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

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GEORGE E. ABEL .- A very successful and in- fluential rancher who has remained in the vicinity of his birth and become more and more identified with that region, is George E. Abel, a native of Milpitas, where he was born on January 3, 1882, a son of Henry and Margaret (Mulhern) Abel. In pioneer days, Henry Abel set out from Wisconsin for Cali- fornia, and he chose Milpitas as the best place in which to found family and fortune. He became a retail meat-dealer, and continued in that important trade for forty years. His shop stood on the same spot on which now stands the home of our subject, on the main street of Milpitas, south of the Catholic Church. When he quit his butcher shop and busi- ness, Mr. Abel went into farming, and he acquired a farm of 500 acres on the Trimble Road, southwest of Milpitas. Mr. and Mrs. Abel had a family of four children, and our subject was the youngest. William H., the first-born, resides on the Abel ranch in Ne- vada, near Winnemucca. The daughter, Miss H. Gertrude, lives at Milpitas. Arthur F. Abel is on the same stock-farm with his brother William. Henry Abel was an active member of the school board in Milpitas, and in that capacity served his fel- low citizens faithfully.

George E. Abel attended the public school at Mil- pitas, and then pursued a general course at the Santa Clara College, spending about fifteen years, in the meantime, with his father in the butcher business, and then following his father to the ranch. Henry Abel passed away on January 29, 1917, four years af- ter the death, on September 29, of his devoted wife, and since his death, George Abel has been managing the Milpitas portion of the Abel estate. The 500 acres are devoted to grain, hay, vegetables, and fruit, thirty-five acres being in pears, and the ranch is irri- gated by artesian wells.

While at Winnemucca, Nev., George Abel was married to Miss May Staunton, the ceremony taking place on September 29, 1914. The bride was the daughter of Michael and Jennie (Melarkey) Staun- ton, her father was one of Nevada's earliest pioneers who mined for years throughout California and Ne- vada, and later became a merchant in the Sage Brush State. They had four children, Michael D; Edward W; May and another daughter, Josephine, who be- came Mrs. T. P. Keating, of San Francisco. Mrs. Abel attended the public schools at Winnemucca, and later the Alameda high school, and finished her stud- ies at Mills College, in Oakland. Two children have

Mary E. Hansen

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blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Abel, George Staunton and Margaret. The family attend the Ro- man Catholic Church at Milpitas, and in that town recently Mr. and Mrs. Abel built their attractive home. In national politics a Republican, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus of San Jose, and a charter member of the lodge.

GEORGE WEBSTER TURNER .- A far-seeing, experienced official who has amply demonstrated ex- ceptional executive ability is George Webster Tur- ner, the president of the Los Gatos Telephone Com- pany. He was born at San Francisco on November 25, 1860, the son of Cephas Turner, Jr., a native of Hampden, Me., who had married Miss Vienna Bell Webster, a native of Sanborn, Me. One of the pa- ternal ancestors, John Turner, a native of England. came on the Mayflower, in 1620, to Plymouth, Mass., and founded the family that have since become prom- inent and leading citizens in every walk of life throughout the entire United States. On his maternal side, George W. Turner is descended from Major Samuel Nasson, who was of French Huguenot origin, and the family were also early settlers of New Eng- land, some of whom served in the Colonial wars, while Major Nasson served in the Revolution as major of a Maine artillery regiment.

Cephas Turner Jr., was one of the argonauts that left New England in 1849 for the California gold fields, coming as a passenger on the sailing vessel Harriette Rockwell, around Cape Horn, arriving at San Francisco in February, 1850. After following mining with varied success, he located in San Fran- cisco, where he rose to business prominence and be- came one of the leading manufacturers. In 1858 he returned to Maine by way of the Isthmus of Panama, where he married Miss Webster, and returned with his bride to San Francisco, where he resumed his business. He was prominent in civic and social affairs in the early days of San Francisco and was a citizen highly esteemed and much loved by all who knew him. He passed away about twenty years ago. His widow is still living, at the age of eighty-nine, and makes her home with and is tenderly cared for by her son, George Webster Turner.

Mr. Turner attended both the grammar and the high schools of San Francisco, but because of trouble with his eyesight, he was compelled to give up study- ing. He then engaged in the insurance business in San Francisco, and he has been active with insurance and real estate since 1876. In this field he has made an enviable reputation, both for valuable experience and integrity and dependability, and he has done what he could to stabilize insurance and realty in the Golden State. In 1908 he came to Los Gatos to make his home, and for the past eleven years he has been associated with the local telephone company, while for ten years he has been, as he now is, presi- dent. He served on the city council for four years, and for two years he was chairman of the board, and it was during his term of office that the city hall and the sewers were built, the streets paved, and many improvements effected.

At San Francisco, November 9, 1887, Mr. Turner was married to Miss Harriette B. Chapman, a native daughter, born in San Francisco, the daughter of Henry F. and Ann E. (Seed) Chapman, natives of

Connecticut and Yorkshire, England, respectively. The Chapman family were among the earliest fam- ilies of Connecticut and some of Mr. Turner's ances- tors served in the Revolutionary War. Henry F. Chapman was a '49er, locating in Sacramento until the flood of 1863, when he moved to San Francisco. He was a naturalist and was one of the founders of the Academy of Science in that city. Mrs. Turner was a graduate of the San Francisco high school. Two children have come to bless their union: Enid is the wife of Dr. Hans Lisser, a practicing physician in San Francisco and instructor in the Medical De- partment of the University of California. Ruth Bell Turner is at home. Mr. Turner was made a Mason in Occidental Lodge No. 22, F. & A. M., at San Fran- cisco, thirty-three years ago, and is a past master of the lodge, as well as one of its oldest and most hon- ored members. He is also a popular member of the San Jose Lodge No. 522, Elks, and the Royal Ar- canum, and of California Chapter, Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution, San Francisco, and was formerly a member of the Bohemian Club. He is proud of being a native son and deeply interested in preserving the old historical and pioneer landmarks in the state. Having accumulated a competence, he spends much of his time in scientific research and is particularly a student of ethnology.

WILLIAM EDWARD FOLEY .- Prominent among the attorneys of pronounced ability of Santa Clara County, whose reputation for fidelity to the best interests of his clients has become a valuable capital in itself, may well be mentioned William Ed- ward Foley of San Jose, in which city he was born, a native son, on December 12, 1879. His father, John Foley, came to the United States from Ireland in 1850, and for a while lived at New Orleans and worked on the steamboats plying on the Mississippi. Then he joined the U. S. Cavalry and saw service on the great plains for five years. After that, for two years, he was a pony express rider from Box Elder to Salt Lake City, and finally, in 1860, he came to California. Until 1863 he was at Virginia City, and on his return to San Jose, he sailed in steamer service from San Francisco to Panama. He married Miss Honora Fleming, an accomplished lady, the mother of our subject. John Foley died in December, 1916, but his devoted widow is still living. They had two boys and two girls, and one of the latter died in 1894. A brother and sister are living on the old home place with their mother, the lot of which was purchased by the wide-awake father in early days in the trade of a saddle horse.

The youngest of the family, William E., attended the local schools, and finally matriculated at Santa Clara College; but just as he was about to graduate, he had to give up his college course on account of a broken leg. Then he worked for the Farmers Union for eight months, and after that was in the real estate office of Jas. W. Rea & Company. Then, forming a partnership with Jas. W. Rea, he was for several years a member of the firm of Foley & Rea, widely known for their operations in realty. At first, Mr. Foley studied law privately, and in 1914 he was admit- ted to practice in the California courts. He was asso- ciated with Ed Rea in the practice of law for two years, and he then established himself in private prac-

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tice, which has grown rapidly and become notable in the history of the Santa Clara Bar. In national polit- ical affairs a Democrat, Mr. Foley has done good work as secretary of the Democratic County Central Committee for the past six years.

On October 22, 1910, Mr. Foley was married to Miss Alma Brelle, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., who was reared in Humboldt County, and their union has been blessed with two sons, James William and Wil- liam John. Mr. Foley is a charter member of the Commercial Club.

CHARLES O. SMITH .- A prominent representa- tive of most important industrial interests in Santa Clara County whose marked business ability and strength of character have made him well qualified for the position he holds and contributed to render him af- fluent and independent, is Charles O. Smith, of the Smith Manufacturing Company of San Jose. He was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, on November 12, 1878, the son of John S. Smith, whose native town was Went- worth, Nova Scotia. He was a piano maker and he mar- ried Temperance E. Fillmore, who was born at Am- herst, N. S. They were of Scotch and English descent, their ancestors early coming to New England; but being United Empire Loyalists, they removed to Nova Scotia and naturally helped to build up that prosperous country. In 1888, however, John S. Smith came into the States and brought his family out to California and Los Angeles; and a year later they migrated north to New Westminster and Chilliwack, British Columbia, where he engaged in manufactur- ing until 1900, when he returned to California and settled at San Jose. In 1903 he commenced to manu- facture supplies for orchardists and canneries, on West Santa Clara Street, and understanding both the science and art of manufacturing, he turned out only excellent machinery and appliances. His business grew steadily, and from time to time he had to en- large his plant. His son, C. O. Smith, joined him, and he continued in business until he retired in 1921, when our subject took over his important interests.

The eldest in the family of one son and seven daughters, C. O. Smith, from a lad, assisted his father in manufacturing, meanwhile himself attend- ing the schools of his locality. In 1900, he came to San Jose with his father, when they started their factory; but in 1906, when the mining boom struck Nevada, he determined to join the gold- seekers at Tonopah, afterwards going to Globe, Ariz., and thence to Sonora, Mexico, where he was with a land development company for three years. In 1912, he returned to California and became sales manager for the Patterson Ranch Company, owners of the Pat- terson Irrigated Farms, and he saw, as well as aided in the building up of Patterson, now a garden spot in the San Joaquin Valley. He continued in charge of their sales department until 1915, when he re- signed, to again enter into business with his father, in the Smith Manufacturing Company, started in 1903. Beginning with a capital of $200, they manufactured machinery for packers, canners and fruit growers, and as the business grew gradually, step by step, they en- larged it from time to time, until in 1916 they pur- chased their present location, 170 fect front on Stock- ton Street, at the corner of Alameda, where they have three large buildings, giving 51,000 square feet of floor space. The shops are well arranged. There is

a large wood-working department, a machine shop, a metal shop, a foundry, a pattern shop and a boiler- shop, and plans are under way to add some 19,600 square feet of floor space within the year 1922. Each shop and department is equipped with the latest ma- chinery and devices for the manufacture of their dif- ferent lines of products, 70 per cent of which is shipped outside of and beyond the valley, to domestic and foreign trade. Their goods are shipped to the Orient, South America, South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands, as well as to Europe.

As has been stated, Charles O. Smith in 1921 pur- chased his father's interest; but a year later, wishing still further to enlarge the enterprise, he formed the Smith Manufacturing Company, Inc., with a capital stock of $500,000, and he is the president and man- ager. Under his able direction the business has grown to be one of the largest in California. At San Jose, in October, 1905, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Julia S. Paige, a daughter of Elgin W. Paige, a pioneer rancher in this county. They have been blessed with three children: Alice Dione, Oliver Paige and Lois.

DAVID GARROD .- A well educated gentleman who spent about a quarter of a century as an educa- tor is David Garrod, a native of England, born at Halstead, Essex, November 14, 1846, a son of Rich- ard and Emma (Staines) Garrod of Halstead. The father was with "Courtaulds," a manufacturer of silk crepe of that place, for fifty-four years. David Gar- rod, the eldest of a family of eight children, was educated at Trinity Training School, at Halstead, after which he entered Battersea College, London, where he was graduated with honors, winning a Queen's scholarship, after which he became principal of schools. He was married in Petmarsh, England, August 20, 1878, to Miss Sophia Ann Creffield, born at the family home "Brookehouse," Petmarsh, Es- sex, England, the place being still in the possession of a member of the family. She was the second child of eight children born to Thomas and Jennina (Sycamore) Creffield, farmers, who spent their entire lives in their native place. Sophia Ann was educated at Trinity Training School, Halstead, then passed the examination in London and received a teacher's cer- tificate after which she followed the profession of teaching until her marriage.

Mr. Garrod served as principal of schools in dif- ferent parts of England and Wales until 1892. His health becoming seriously impaired, he was advised to seek a milder climate. Arriving in Santa Clara County, Cal., in May, 1892. Mr. Garrod located on the San Jose-Los Gatos Road, in the Cambrian school district until the fall of 1893. when the members of the family purchased the present ranch, four and one- half miles northwest of Saratoga. Here he and his son, Ralph W., have set out orchards and improved it until they have a splendid full bearing orchard of a variety of fruits, principally prunes. He has built a comfortable residence on a knoll overlooking the southern portion of the Santa Clara Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Garrod have three children: Ralph Vince, who is managing the Garrod ranch and orchards, is pres- ident of the state division of the Farmers Educa- tional and Co-operative Union of America, who, by his union with Emma Stolte has three children --

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Louise Sophia, Vince Stolte and Richard Ralph; Mary Creffield, a graduate of San Jose State Normal, is the wife of Henry Pfeffer, an orchardist, at Castle Rock Ridge on the Twenty-seven Mile scenic drive, and they have two children-Rose Mary and Dorothy. The youngest child, Harold, is in the importing department of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, with headquarters in San Francisco; he married Hazel Collins of Santa Cruz and has two children-Olga and Harold David.

Mr. Garrod took a prominent part in and was secretary of the Men's Village Club in Horringer, and was a member of the Odd Fellows at Benwick, Cambridgeshire. Mr. and Mrs. Garrod are mem- bers of the Episcopal Church, and Mr. Garrod was for fifteen years organist at Horringer and Ickworth.

WILLIAM DENNIS TAYLOR .- A man who left an enviable record as a progressive and enter- prising native son was the late William Dennis Taylor, who was born on the Summit, Santa Cruz Mountains, January 18, 1864, the adopted son of James and Margaret (Higgins) Taylor, born in Prov- idence, R. I., and New Jersey, respectively. Wil- liam Dennis Taylor's father was William Dennis, and his mother was Ann Tillman, early settlers of the Santa Cruz Mountain region, but the mother died when William Dennis was born, leaving this infant son and an older son, John, who resides in Oakland. William Dennis was adopted by James Taylor and his good wife, who reared the boy with tender care and showered their affections on him as if he were their own child, and William Dennis in turn loved them as a father and mother and would never leave them. James Taylor was born January 19, 1825, the son of James and Margaret (Ellen) Taylor, natives of Ireland and Scotland. When six- teen years of age James left home and began life for himself. In 1852 he started for California, leaving New York, February 2, on the clipper ship Kate Hayes, commanded by Capt. Moran, and sailed around Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco, July 3. He followed different occupations in that city until 1856, when he purchased a small farm in The Willows, near San Jose. In 1857 he sold it and located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where he owned three different ranches before he purchased the place the Taylor family still own. He moved on this ranch in 1864, and with the aid of his family he set out orchards and vineyards. In 1854 he mar- ried Margaret Higgins, who was born and reared in New Jersey. She crossed the plains in an ox-team train in 1845, consuming seven months en route. James Taylor and his wife were highly esteemed and his passing away in 1889 was a distinct loss to his family and to the community; his widow survived him until March 30, 1898.

William Dennis received a good education in the public schools and aided in cleaning and improving the orchards. On the death of his parents he inher- ited the Taylor ranch and engaged in orcharding.

He was married in San Jose, April 6, 1891, to Miss Anna Marie Biller, who was born in Kongsvinger, Norway, a daughter of Anders and Anna (Johansen) Biller, the father being a watchmaker and jeweler, and both spent their days in the native land. Of their seven children, six came to the United States.

Mrs. Taylor received her education in the excellent schools of Norway. She came to Wisconsin in 1887 and there became acquainted with Mrs. Nielsen, from Wrights, Santa Clara County, Cal., and she accompanied Mrs. Nielsen to her home, and it was there she met William Dennis Taylor.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Taylor con- tinued in horticultural work, and in time came to have splendid orchards. Deeply interested in having good educational advantages for the children, Mr. Taylor served acceptably as trustee and clerk of the Summit school district for many years. In 1912 his health failed to such an extent he turned the manage- ment of the ranch over to his son, William A., and located in East San Jose. He passed away March 25, 1919. He was a member of Ridgeley Lodge No. 294, I. O. O. F., at Los Gatos. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were the parents of four children: William A., is operating the home ranch; Clarence J., resides in Alameda; Carl E., resides in San Jose; Ida Margaret, is with the California Prune and Apricot Growers' Association in San Jose. Mrs. Taylor continues to make her home in San Jose and there, surounded by friends, is looking after the interests lett by her hus- band. She is a member of the Swedish Mission Church in San Jose, as well as the Ladies' Aid, and like her late husband she is a Republican.

F. H. HOLMES .- A successful, influential busi- ness man and rancher is F. H. Holmes of Morrill Road, two miles to the northeast of Berryessa. He is a native son and was born in San Francisco, March 15, 1865. His father, A. Holmes, a native of Maine, came to California and married Emily C. Foye, also a native of Maine. A. Holmes was the first princi- pal of the State Normal at San Francisco. Going to Rio Vista to farm when a boy, Frank H. Holmes started his big collection of birds and skins. In 1886, he moved to San Jose to farm his uncle's ranch which consisted of 160 acres which he developed to prunes and apricots. He was married to Hattie Lake in 1890 in San Jose, a native of the Golden State and the daughter of an Argonaut. His mother is still living in Palo Alto at the age of eighty-two. In 1899 Mr. Holmes owned his first automobile, a Stanley Steamer, one of the very first in the valley. It was in this machine he made the first trip into Yosemite Valley, the first machine in and out under its own power. In 1905 he started to manufacture Sunset automobiles in San Francisco. Being burnt out by the 1906 fire he moved his factory to San Jose, the latter being sold in 1912. In 1892 he started in the fruit packing business, increasing his business each year until in 1917 he packed out as many as 160 car- loads of fruit from the packing house during a sea- son. Though leading a busy life as a rancher, manu- facturer and packer, he devoted much of his time to collecting birds and to fishing, being a great lover of outdoor sports.

His two sons, William Roy and Ellis Holmes were born in 1892 and 1894. respectively. William Roy went first to Berryessa grammar school, then to San Jose high school and was graduated from the Uni- versity of California in 1906 with a degree in pom- ology. Ellis Holmes went first to Berryessa school, then to Lick Polytechnic in San Francisco and later spent a year in Santa Clara College, finishing off his

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

course of study in the agricultural school of the Uni- versity of California at Davis. Now he and his brother are the owners of a ranch of 160 acres near Fresno, 120 acres of which is being set to table and raisin grapes, while forty acres are in fig trees, all being sixteen years old. The brothers alternate in assuming the executive or superintendents offices. They also manage the orange grove at Terra Bella in Tulare County, owned by their uncle and father, con- sisting of fifty acres in Navel and Valencia oranges eight years old. They are also silent partners of the W. J. Benson Company auto distributors of the Stephens automobile for Northern California, Ne- vada and the Islands. Both are Elks, William Roy Holmes belonging to San Jose Lodge No. 522 and Ellis Holmes to Fresno Lodge No. 437. William Roy is also a Mason.

JOHN W. DINSMORE, D.D., LL. D .- A promi- nent minister of the Presbyterian Church and one of the most distinguished alumni of Washington and Jefferson College, Rev. John W. Dinsmore, D. D., LL. D., died at Los Gatos, April 2, 1922. Dr. Dins- more was born on the Dinsmore farm in Canton township, Pa., (now the residence of the sixth genera- tion of the Dinsmore family), March 13, 1839, a son of William and Rebecca (Anderson) Dinsmore. He re- ceived his academic education at Crosscreek Academy, was graduated from Washington College in the class of 1859, and from the Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny in 1862. He was licensed by the pres- bytery of Washington, April 25,, 186], and ordained June 28, 1863, by the presbytery of Winnebago. He was stated supply at Cambria, Wis., for one year; pastor at Prairie-du-sac, Wis., 1864-1870; Bloomington, Ill., 1870-1891; San Jose, Cal., 1891- 1901, and retired from the active pastorate in 1901. Dr. Dinsmore was moderator of the synod of Illinois. 1883; synod of California, 1904; a member of ten Presbyterian general assemblies; chairman of the gen- eral assembly special committee on judicial commis- sions, which framed the constitutional articles provid- ing for the supreme court of the Presbyterian Church in U. S. A .; was chairman of the permanent judicial committee; organized the effort, in conjunction with Archibishop Riordan of the Catholic Church and bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and se- cured the passage of the law exempting churches of all denominations in California from taxation; was an original member of the board of aid for colleges and academies of the Presbyterian Church, and member of the executive committee; director of McCormick Theological Seminary of Chicago; director of San Francisco Theological Seminary; and member of the board of visitors to U. S. Naval Academy and U. S. Military Academy. He had written much for the press, and was the author of the well known work "The Scotch Irish in America," a valuable historical work, the researches of whose author added materi- ally to the knowledge of this important part of our population.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 171

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