History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 174

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

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At Pleasanton, in 1885, Mr. Howes was married to Miss Kate Farr, and their union was blessed with the birth of one child, Charles E. Howes, Jr., the genial manager of J. E. Sloan at San Jose, himself the father of two children, of whom his granddad is properly prond. Mr. Howes is a member of the Elks, in which fine organization he has managed to be- come a natural leader without having the trouble to fill any office; while in politics he is, to employ his own characterization, a free lance. He was horn a Democrat, but jumped the party when Bryan first ran; and he kept on opposing him until he at length found himself within the pale of the Republican party. "I am the political boss of the first ward," he says very solemnly, "and prefer to handle the officers when once they are elected. I have no mili- tary record, very naturally, for 1 never did believe in fighting; I am too fat to run, and must halt the enemy to argue. Of course I believe in churches- when they are subject to police supervision and control; and as for San Jose and Santa Clara County, who ever lacked faith in them when once they had seen the most promising city and environs in all the Golden State?"

CHARLES E. HOWES, JR .- An experienced and highly efficient business man who has repeatedly demonstrated exceptional executive ability, is Charles E. Howes, Jr., the general manager for J. E. Sloan; a native son, having first seen the light at San Jose on January 24, 1888. His father is Charles Edward Howes, the well-known real estate expert, who was born at Downieville, Cal., in 1859, the son of Sam P. Howes, in his day highly-esteemed as a very conscientious and thoroughly dependable searcher of records. In 1885 Charles E. Howes mar- ried Miss Kate Farr, by whom he had one child, the subject of our sketch.

Charles E. Howes, Jr., finished with the grammar schools of his district, and then attended the high school of San Jose, from which he was graduated with the June class of '05. He then worked for his father for a couple of years, and next put in a year in the lumber business. Then he was assistant credit man in a large department store for a year, and after that he was accountant for the P. G. & E. at San Rafael.

In 1914 Mr. Howes came back to Santa Clara County, and associated himself with his present con- cern as a demonstrator; and the following year he became manager. In the handling of the Buick car and the White truck for both Santa Clara and San Benito counties, he has been more than successful. and the prospects are that with each year the estab- lishment under his excellent leadership will do an ever-increasing business.

At San Rafael on October 21, 1912, Mr. Howes was married to Miss Aida M. Duffy, of that attrac-

tive place, a gifted lady rich in friends; and their wedded life has been blessed with two children- Gordon and Allen. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Howes is a Republican, and he belongs to the Elks and the Olympic Club, as well as a charter member and director in the Commercial Club, and holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce, in all of which flourishing organizations he enjoys an enviable popularity.

EDWARD HALEY .- Among the native sons of California, who have given of their best energy and ability, as well as the best years of their lives in the service of the community is Edward Haley, who was born in San Jose, Cal., on May 5, 1858, the son of Martin and Bridget (Gallagher) Haley, natives of Ireland, where they grew up and were married. The young couple came to New York City and the father came to California in the year of 1851 coming around the Horn, the mother following a year later by the same ronte. Martin Haley at first engaged in mining and settling in San Jose about 1853, was employed hy the Cottrell Bros. distillers. Later he engaged in farming and also in freighting between San Jose and Alviso which was the shipping point to San Francisco and receiving point for San Jose until the Southern Pacific was built into San Jose. In time he came to own and improve several ranches. He died on his ranch on Storey road in 1907, his wife having preceded him many years, passing away in 1864, leaving him six children, four of whom are living. Edward being next to the youngest.

Ed. Haley, as he is familiarly called, was reared in San Jose and educated in the public schools, after which he assisted his father for a few years. He then learned the trade of painter and decorator un- der Mr. Hogan and followed this line of business until 1895, when he was elected constable and re- elected to the office, resigning in the middle of his second term to accept the office of chief of police of San Jose in 1901. One year later, however, he re- signed to engage in business for himself as contrac- tor, decorator and painter, continuing for six years. In 1907 he was again appointed chief of police, effi- ciently discharged the duties of that office for four years, when he resigned in 1910 to accept the office of chief of the fire department of San Jose to which he gave all of his time as head of the department until 1919, when he resigned to engage in ranching. He owns a twenty-two acre prune orchard on the Monterey Road nine miles south of San Jose. This he improved from stubble and set out the orchard, which is now full bearing. Since 1919 he has also been the manager of the American Dairy Company, the largest wholesale and retail dairy in the county. He makes his home at 187 South Market Street where he resides with his family. Mr. Haley from a boy served in the fire department; he was in the volunteer department with engine No. 1; then be- came a driver in the organization of the paid depart- ment, and drove a hose cart for eight years up to the big fire of 1892, when he resigned. During these years he was offered the position of chief at different time, but would not accept.

Mr. Haley's marriage occurred in San Jose in the year 1883, and united him with Miss Mary Cobb, who is also a native of California, having been born in San Jose and coming from one of the earliest families to settle in this city. Her father, Sam Cobb,

L.O. Echner

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

came here in an overland ox team train the first wagons to come through by the southern route; they started in 1848 and arrived in 1849. After mining they located in San Jose becoming large farmers, owning a ranch known as the Cobb ranch. Mr. Cobb passed away in May, 1906, at the age of ninety-two. His wife, Mrs. Mary Cobb, passed away in 1868, leaving three children, two girls and one boy, Wil- liam Cobb resides on the home farm; Mary is Mrs. Haley and Eliza is Mrs. Weaver of San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Haley are the parents of one daughter. Leta M. Mr. Haley is a member of the San Jose Parlor, N. S. G. W., in which order he takes an active interest. In national politics, he is an ad- herent of the Republican party. He is very fond of the outdoor life and takes delight in hunting and fishing, spending his leisure time in this way.

L. H. ELMER .- Among the California industries that have won world-wide fame are the nurseries owned by Elmer Bros., located at 78 South Market Street, of which L. H. Elmer is one of the owners and general manager. He was born on July 15, 1888, at Midland, Mich., the son of A. J. and Louvisa (Avery) Elmer. A. J. Elmer and his family came to Cal- ifornia in May 1889, and soon after engaged in the nursery business which he continued here until 1906, when he retired.

L. H. Elmer received his education in the grammar schools and San Jose high school, which was supple- mented with a course at Heald's Business College in San Jose. After graduating from that institution, he immediately selected the nursery business for his life work. He had been familiar with it from the time he was a youth, having assisted his father from the time he was a mere boy and thus he had acquired the experience and knowledge of propagating, grafting and caring for trees. In 1911 he started in business with a capital of sixty dollars and as the business grew he gradually branched out so it took in every department of the nursery business. In 1913 his brother, Walter M., joined him in the partnership of Elmer Bros., and since then they have worked har- moniously together, each having explicit confidence in the other, and they have built up five large nur- series, three being located in Santa Clara County and two at Loomis, Cal. During the busy season they employ 500 men and their stock is shipped all over the world. They have the largest budded rose nur- sery in the world and they handle several million fruit trees a year. Elmer Bros. Nursery is conceded to be one of the most valuable assets of the county and they are frequently spoken of as the nursery that made Santa Clara Valley famous. This success has been accomplished by persistent effort, close applica- tion to their task and honest and fair dealing. The original nursery was started with a capital of sixty dollars, so it is readily scen what a wonderful growth has been accomplished by these two energetic and conscientious young men, all their trees being propa- gated from selected buds. They introduced the apri- cot known as the Losse Blenheim, which has had a large sale. All their new varieties of fruit trees, as well as roses are tested ont on their own experimental grounds before they are placed on the market. All of their new varieties of roses are imported from all parts of Europe and arc of the finest stock obtain- able. Their headquarters and offices are located at 78 South Market Street where they own 68x210 feet and here they are planning to erect a large office

building. The enterprise of these young men places them in the front rank of the upbuilders of the county.

Mr. Elmer's marriage united him with Miss Edith M. Ames, and they are the parents of one child, Ames Elmer. Mr. Elmer is very popular in all the bigger undertakings for the betterment of both San Jose and Santa Clara County, and took a very active part in all of the war drives during the World War. Mr. Elmer is a past president of the 100 Per Cent Club and was chairman of the 100 Per Cent Industrial Exposition held in San Jose in 1920, which was a record breaker for being the largest ever held here. He is vice-president of the International 100 Per Cent Club and is charter member and director of the San Jose Commercial Club. Mr. Elmer is also a member of the Country Club and is past president of the Hester Improvement Club, and he is very active in the movement to make San Jose double its population. He is decidedly enterprising and progres- sive, and he is an enthusiastic member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce. Fraternally, he is a member of the San Jose Lodge No. 522 B. P. O. Elks, and in national politics gives his allegiance to the principles of the Republican party. The family reside at 75 Hanchett Avenue.

JOHN JACOB WAGNER .- A resident of Santa Clara County for over forty years, John Jacob Wag- ner lives on a highly improved ranch on the Calde- ron Road, near Mountain View, and is strong, bright and interesting at the age of eighty. He was born at Trevis, Germany, July 4, 1842, a son of Mathias and Anna Maria (Crondhaver) Wagner, both natives of the same kingdom of Prussia. The father was a farmer and mother passed away in 1854, aged forty- three. They were the parents of six children, John Jacob being next to the oldest. The only member of his family who came to America, he embarked from Havre, France, early in 1859 and landed at Castle Garden, March 28, 1859. He stopped in New York for a short time, then started on his western journey, working and traveling until he reached Texas in 1863, but the following August of the same year he removed to Helena, Mont., and was em- ployed in the gold mines there. On July 5, 1871, he left Montana and on March 2 of the following year he arrived at Gold Run, Placer County, Cal. Here he mined for five years when he took a trip back to Germany and remained there on a visit until March 25, 1878, when he returned to California, and went direct to Nevada County, where he worked in the placer mines.

Mr. Wagner's first marriage united him with Miss Lucy Strupp, a daughter of Peter Strupp, also born and reared in Germany. His second marriage oc- curred in Nevada County, and on March 5, 1885, with his wife and five children he came to Mountain View. He bought land, set it out to orchard, also worked in the lumber yards at Mountain View at different kinds of work. He first bought three acres and established his home, and it is still his home; later he bought five acres and improved them, but finally sold them. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are the parents of seven children: Lucy, died when two years old; Jacob, married Miss Teressa Hinch of Eureka, and they resided in Berkeley until his death three years ago; Annie, is now Mrs. Herbert G. Harvey, living at Grand Forks, N. D., and they are the par-

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ents of four sons; William, is married and resides in Stockton, employed by the Southern Pacific railroad; Lewis, is a druggist and proprietor of Wagner's Drug store, the leading drug store in Mountain View; Frederick, served in the late War in France and is now at home; Francis, died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Wagner is a naturalized citizen and is thoroughly American; he has led an industri- ous, useful and honorable life and has reared his family so that they are highly respected in the local- ities in which they reside.

MRS. SIERRA NEVADA HUBBARD .- A native daughter, Mrs. Sierra Nevada Hubbard was born in Mt. Gregory, Eldorado County, Cal. She is a daugh- ter of Hubbard and Betsey (Newhall) McKoy, natives of Vermont of Scotch and English descent. They removed to Wisconsin and from there Mr. Mc- Koy crossed the plains in an ox-team train in 1849, his wife with her two children coming via Panama to join him in 1852. Mr. McKoy first followed mining at Mt. Gregory, then was in the hotel business in Georgetown, after which he returned to Mt. Gregory and engaged in sawmilling until 1868, when he moved to Santa Cruz and engaged in the hotel business. Again he began lumber manufacturing and had a sawmill at Felton until he sold his lumber interests and retired. He passed away at Felton aged seventy- three. His widow made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Hubbard, but while on a visit to Santa Cruz she died, lacking only three days of being eighty-eight years old. She was active, hale and hearty till the last. A wonderful woman, possessed of a remarkable memory: her narration of early events of pioneer days in California were very interesting. She was the mother of five children as follows: Daudencio Hubbard, resides in Sacramento; Lil- lian Betsey, is Mrs. Hayes of Oakland; Sierra Ne- vada, is Mrs. Hubbard; Annie L., was the wife of Joseph Ball and passed away at Ben Lomond; Norma Cecelia, Mrs. West, resides in Oakland.

Sierra Nevada was the first child born after her parents location in California, being named for the region in which she was born, and was educated in the public schools of Mt. Gregory and at Felton. She was married at her father's home in that place, July 18, 1871, to Thos. Benton Hubbard, a native of Macon County, Mo., born November 14, 1840. His father, Daniel Campbell Hubbard, was born in Ken- tucky and became an early settler of Macon County, Mo., where he served as sheriff for many years. They were of that sturdy type of American manhood from which came that noble race of trail breakers whose deeds are yet reflected in the progress of the state. Thos. B. Hubbard crossed the plains by wagon in 1852, when twelve years old. Arriving in Eldorado County he soon began mining and pros- pered. In 1858 he removed to Woodland. After his marriage, in 1871, they resided in Woodland for a short time, but soon moved to Felton, where they engaged in the hotel business, and then began lum- bering with his father-in-law. Hubbard McKoy, run- ning a sawmill. The partnership continued tor a few years when McKoy sold his interest and retired. A few years later Mr. Hubbard established a lumber yard in San Jose and soon afterwards he formed a partnership with Daniel and Neil Carmichael to op- crate a sawmill in the Santa Cruz mountains. A mill

was also erected in San Jose to do the company's city work-and they built up a big business. Mr. Hubbard was the manager of the San Jose office and yards and was kept very busy and active until his death on November 23, 1917, and since then the business has been managed by his son, A. L. Hub- bard. Mr. Hubbard incorporated the Thos. B. Hub- bard Corporation, of which he was president till he died. He served as supervisor of Santa Cruz County.

Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard had three children; Albert Lester, manager of Hubbard & Carmichael Bros., is also a supervisor of Santa Clara County; lrene, Mrs. Grant, resides with her mother; Susie B., Mrs. Eaton, lives at Lawrence. Mrs. Hubbard is not only a native daughter but is now also one of the pioneers of California. She is active and helpful in matters that have for their aim the building up of the valley; is a member of the Flower Lovers' Club of Santa Clara County, San Jose Chapter No. 31, O. E. S., the White Shrine of Jerusalem, and of the Red Cross. Liberal and progressive she gives generously of her time and means as far as she is able to worthy enterprises. Her daughter, Mrs. Grant, is equally interested with her in civic and social circles being worthy matron of San Jose Chapter, O. E. S., is a member of the executive committee of the local chapter of Red Cross, and is past president of the San Jose Woman's Club.

FOSTER WOODEN CHASE .- Among the old and highly respected citizens of the Summit dis- trict, Santa Clara County, is Foster Wooden Chase, born at East Machias, Me., December 4, 1848. His father, Cyrus Chase, was also born in East Machias and was a lumberman. The Chase family is traced back to England when four Chase brothers came from England to Plymouth colony a few years after the landing of the Mayflower. Great-grandfather Ephraim Chase was born in Massachusetts, and was a pioneer of East Machias, Me., locating there in 1763. He was a millwright but became a lumberman. At the Battle of Machias he commanded one of the three schooners that captured a British sloop-of- war for which he received a commission as a com- mander in the Navy. The grandfather of our sub- ject was Levi Chase, a native of Maine, who mar- ried Lucy Foster, a daughter of Wooden Foster, who also came from Massachusetts to Machias, Me., where he was the pioneer blacksmith, and he, too, took part in the Battle of Machias and with his brother Jacob were the first to refuse to deliver lumber at the demand of the British sloop-of-war. Later on Wooden Foster was in the U. S. revenue service and commanded a revenue cutter.

Cyrus Chase married Sophronia Bagley, who was born at Eastport, Me., a daughter of John Bagley who came from New Hampshire and had served in in War of 1812. Cyrus Chase started for the Cali- fornia gold fields via Panama in 1852, but died on the way aboard ship. Later in life the mother joined . the children in California, where she spent the re- mainder of her days.

Of their nine children Foster W. is the next to the youngest and the only one living. After completing the public schools he entered Washington Academy for a short period, but he soon began working in the sawmill in East Machias, continuing from thirteen to cighteen years of age. His brother, Joseph W. Chase,

Sierract . Hubbard

J Bothutland

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

had gone to California in 1859, arriving via Cape Horn in San Francisco in the spring of 1860. He had a sawmill in the Santa Cruz Mountains, so when Foster Chase arrived in 1867, having come via the Golden Age from New York to Aspinwall and the Golden Gate to San Francisco, he came to the pres- ent ranch then owned by his brother J. W. In the spring of 1868 he took charge of his brother's lumber yard at Lexington until 1873, when the dis- tributing point was changed back to the Summit and he continued in charge until the lumber busi- ness was discontinued. Mr. Chase then took charge of the present ranch until he purchased it in 1890 and since then has made valuable improvements, having now a fine bearing orchard. He owns 180 acres on the Soquel Road, 36 acres of which is de- voted to the growing of prunes.

Mr. Chase was married at Lexington to Miss Nancy Howell, a native of Missouri who crossed the plains with her parents in 1852 when eighteen years old, their union proving a very happy one until her death in September, 1904. Six children blessed their union as follows: Maude resides in Soquel; Ralph makes his home on the ranch; Charles died at eighteen months; Walter lives at Modesto; Irma is Mrs. Ringold, a resident of this county; Chester, who for years was associated with his father in im- proving the place, is now operating the Chase ranch on his own account. Mr. Chase has a splendid record as a citizen and neighbor; his kindness and hospitality is well known and the younger genera- tion are also highly esteemed. Foster Chase has al- ways been a friend to the cause of education and served as a trustee of schools for many years.

HENRY C. DOERR .- An inspiring illustration of what a man may accomplish, both during his life and in the beneficent influence which such an active, well-spent and highly-useful life may leave behind, is afforded by the late Henry C. Doerr, one of the sons of the esteemed pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Doerr, of San Jose. He was born, a native son, in San Jose, on January 6, 1871, and all his days were more or less actively identified with the growth and increasing prosperity of Santa Clara County.

Having enjoyed the usual educational advantages, Mr. Doerr grew up to engage in trade, and at the time of his death was both president and manager of the Garden City Electrical Company, and also president of the San Jose Builders' Exchange. He belonged to the Merchants' Association, in which he was an active director, and he was also a director of the San Jose Cooperative Delivery System. He ever had the interest and the welfare of both the city and county at heart, and was constantly work- ing for the advancement of each, and was the in- stigator in having the car line extended to Alviso and the development of the harbor, so that his demise has been naturally very keenly felt.

Mr. Doerr was afflicted with sickness only a few weeks, and at first, in the hope of combatting his ills, he was taken to the O'Connor Sanitarium. Later, he was removed to the home of his parents, where everything possible that medical skill and profes- sional nursing could endeavor was tried in his be- half. Death came quietly at last on April 27, 1920, at the Doerr residence at 266 South Second Street.

Fond to a reasonable degree of social life and pleas- ure, Henry Doerr was one of the leaders in Ob- servatory Parlor No. 177, N. S. G. W., and he also belonged to the Elks and other fraternal orders. Whoever knew him, esteemed and loved him, and his memory will long and sacredly be cherished by more than one mourning circle.

ROBERT EDOUARD REGNART .- A native son of Santa Clara County, Robert Edouard Regnart was born in San Jose, October 26, 1876, a son of Robert and Emily (Keat) Regnart, born in London. England. Grandfather William Regnart was a wholesale butcher in London; he accompanied his four sons, William, Robert, Harry and Arthur, to California in about 1870. The four brothers pur- chased 160 acres in the Cupertino district on what is now Regnart Road. The brothers were also en- gaged in mining and for a time Robert Regnart fol- lowed mining in Arizona. The grandfather and two of the brothers, Robert and Arthur, eventually re- turned to England, but William and Arthur remained. honored old-time residents of the county.

It was in 1880 that Robert Regnart, accompanied by his wife and two children, returned to London, where he engaged in the butcher business, meeting with success. He kept the forty acres in Santa Clara county and had about six acres of orchard on the place. His wife died in 1900. Robert Regnart now resides in Godmanchester, England. The three chil- dren, born of this union, are: Robert Edouard, of this review; Louis, who lives in London, served in the English army during the World War and was on both the Italian and Western fronts; Edwin, also served in the English army and was in the Darda- nelles campaign and severely wounded-he is now in the government employ in Lancashire Hospital.

Robert E. Regnart was graduated from Tottenham College, but did not enter the university. He was em- ployed in the offices of Hope Brothers, London, but his desire to see the land of his nativity became so strong he finally decided to cast in his lot with the glorious state on the Pacific; so in the fall of 1897 we find him again in Santa Clara County. For a time he made his home with his uncle, Harry Regnart, in Santa Clara. Then he decided to improve the forty acres owned by his father in Regnart Canyon and devote his time to horticulture. There were only six acres in trees, so he set to work clearing the balance of the land and breaking the virgin soil. He set out prune and apricot trees and now has a full-bearing orchard of thirty acres yielding a nice income; also built a comfortable residence with the necessary farm buildings, including a dryer for the curing of the fruit.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 174

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