History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 182

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

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At San Jose, on June 7, 1888, Miss Wilson was married to Professor T. C. George, at that time a member of the faculty of the University of the Pa- cific. a native of Ohio who brought with him to the Coast the Ohioan's glorious inheritance of a love and respect for learning. He was a deep student of the natural sciences, especially astronomy, visiting all the great observatories in Europe, and in the United States. This travel and first-hand knowledge of ob- servatories and their work helped to make Professor George a very successful instructor in the department of astronomy. He had made his home in San Jose since coming to California in the '70s; and there he passed away, in 1895, the father of two children: Carolyn, who is now Mrs. William Huff of Kellogg. Idaho; and Charles M. George of San Francisco.

After Professor George's demise, Mrs. George took up work again at the State Normal School at San Jose, and soon became the dean of women; and for twenty years she continued in that eminent and re- sponsible position, traveling extensively throughout the world and giving much time to the development of human geography in the schools of California, until her resignation in 1919.

She now lives at Carmel Highlands, the center of a devoted circle in which are both affectionate chil-

dren and grandchildren. Mrs. Huff is the mother of two children: Elizabeth and Mary; and Charles M. George is the father of a son, Marquam Charles. Mrs. George maintains a keen interest in all that is going on in the world, and she is particularly interested in the elevation of politics, the promotion of higher civic standards, marching, as did her highly-esteemed husband with the Republicans, and never failing to give her full moral support to all that seems best for the community or region in which she lives.

M. J. ROCHE .- An enterprising rancher who has done much for the permanent and healthy devel- opment of the commonwealth of California is M. J. Roche, the successful farmer and stockman living on the Alviso Road, one mile north of Santa Clara, on the historic Donohue estate known as the Laurel- wood Farm which he leases and operates in sight of the eminent cross erected by Father Colligen to mark the spot where the first Santa Clara Mission, founded in 1777, was located. He was born in County Gal- way, Ireland, forty-nine years ago, the son of James Roche, the head steward and manager for Edmund J. Concannon, a lawyer of distinction and a wealthy land-owner; and in that capacity, our subject's father bought hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep, and conditioned and exhibited blooded cattle and sheep at the principal fairs in Ireland and England. He married Miss Mary Monroe, and they had eleven children, among whom the subject of our interesting story was the eighth in the order of birth.

The lad was sent to the Christian Brothers' school and then to St. Gerlet's College, in Tuam, and after that he worked at farming and stock-raising and trav- eled with his father, and bought live stock and at- tended many fairs. He may be said to have been born in the cattle and livestock business, and to have been in it all his life; so that on coming out to Cali- fornia, when he was less than fifteen years old, he had already received the most valuable training. Arriv- ing in the Golden State, where he was to begin to earn his own way in the world, Mr. Roche engaged with the California Powder Company, at Santa Cruz. and entered the office as a confidential employ of the company's president, the late Colonel Peyton, at the same time that he made a modest commencement in the cattle trade. During fifteen years' employment, he saved enough money to buy a stock ranch of 1500 acres in Monterey County and stock it; and ever since that he has been engaged in buying, raising and sell- ing cattle for beef and dairy purposes.

In 1904, he came to Santa Clara County and leased his present place, consisting of about 900 acres, and in addition he has leased hill land in Santa Clara County. At present he owns 500 head of cattle; but at times he has had four times that number, and he has leased hill and mountain range besides. In or- der to replenish his herd he has made trips to Nevada, New Mexico and Mexico and other places, to purchase cattle which he gathered together in train- load lots, and he shipped them to his home ranch and fed and later sold them. Mr. Roche also owns an ex- cellent farm at Milpitas devoted to a model dairy. He owns, too, other property in the Santa Clara Valley, and has prospered well. Many years ago, Mr. Roche became a citizen of the United States, and he belongs to the St. Clare's Catholic Church at Santa Clara, and to the Eagles at San Jose.

Smest French.

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ERNEST A. FRENCH .- Another wide-awake and prosperous representative of an interesting pio- neer family is Ernest A. French, who lives about five miles north of San Jose, on the Alviso-San Jose Road. He was born in San Jose, December 23, 1887, the son of Mortimer D. French and his good wife, who was Mary Gallagher before her marriage, and he was the third in a family of eight children. A more extended mention of the parents and grand- parents is found in the biography of Alden French, on another page of this history.

Ernest A. attended the Alviso grammar school and for three years he pursued the prescribed courses of the San Jose high school; and then, in his nine- teenth year, he struck out for himself. He took up the sheet metal trade in San Jose, and then, going to Montana, secured a homestead near Galata, but he stayed there only two years and then gave it up. He next returned to San Jose and became foreman on a part of the Gallagher ranch, where he worked for seven years bringing the estate to its highest de- velopment. About that time, he purchased six acres of the old Trinkler Ranch, which he retained for three years and then sold. This enabled him to buy twenty acres on the Alviso Road running to San Jose, and in 1920 he completed a pretty stucco bun- galow there. He devotes his land to apples, and his scientific, painstaking culture enables him to produce the finest variety and quality in enviable crops.

At San Jose, on January 5, 1915, Mr. French was married to Miss Elizabeth Kerr, the daughter of well-known California pioneers; and their union has been blessed with the birth of three attractive child- ren-Ernest, Virginia, and Walter. Mr. French is an Odd Fellow, and belongs to Lodge No. 238 of Santa Clara. He is also a Republican, but his en- thusiasm for the platforms of that party in their relation to national politics and problems does not permit him to assume any narrow, non-partisan at- titude toward local questions. He is a good booster, and the success of many movements has been due to the hearty support of Mr. French and his patriotic fellow-citizens.

FREEMAN L. HOWES .- Many native sons of California have been content to spend their entire lives in the Golden State, finding here excellent op- portunities for advancement, and to this class belongs Freeman L. Howes, a representative of an old and honored pioneer family and a leading horticulturist of Santa Clara County. He was born on the old homestead, in the Union district of California, Oc- tober 28, 1865, of the marriage of John and Eliza- beth ( Moyer) Howes, who were the first to settle in that locality. His education was acquired in the pub- lic schools there and later he attended the Garden City Business College at San Jose. When Mr. Howes was but twelve years of age his father died and on starting out in life for himself he took up the occupa- tion of farming. For fifteen years he had charge of the Lion ranch and then returned to the Union dis- trict, where he has since resided. He is the owner of a productive and well-improved tract of sixty-five acres, upon which he raises prunes and grapes, and has recently erected an attractive modern home on his property, which he has converted into one of the most desirable farms in the district. His ranch is

situated on the Los Gatos and Almaden Road and is operated along the most modern lines.

Mr. Howes married Miss Clara B. Place, of Los Gatos, who passed away on June 14, 1921, leaving two children: Ray L., a resident of Morgan Hill; and Ruby D. Ray served for four years in the U. S. Navy and during the World War was assigned to the battleship Florida. In his political views Mr. Howes is a Republican and fraternally he is identi- fied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His life has been one of diligence and determination and his genuine personal worth and activity have combined to make him one of the representative men of this section whose careers have been influential factors in horticultural development.

MATTHEW J. GLENNON .- A man who was identified with the hotel interests of Santa Clara County for many years is Matthew J. Glennon, a na- tive of Ireland, born on June 18, 1858, the son of Peter and Anna (Kelly) Glennon, both natives of the Emerald Isle, who lived and died there. They were the parents of eleven children of whom Mat- thew J. Glennon, our subject, was the sixth child in the order of birth. He was a student in the schools of Ireland until he reached the age of fifteen when he decided to come to the United States. Arriving in New York City, he spent a number of years in the hotel business and then came on to Chicago and accepted a position with the Palmer House. While there Ferdinand De Lesseps of France and General Grant were guests at the hotel. Afterwards he was with the Grand Pacific Hotel until he returned to New York where he continued in the hotel business until 1887, when he accepted a position with the Coronado Beach Hotel at San Diego, Cal. Eight- een months later he came to San Francisco, re- maining until 1892, when he spent some time in Detroit. During the World's Fair he was with the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago until the fall of 1893, when he came back to California and engaged in the hotel business in San Jose. He was with the Vendome Hotel for a year and a half and then was in the hotel business for nine years in Santa Clara and also in Agnew, retiring in the year 1908, a successful man who had made good entirely through his own efforts and now is enjoying the fruits of his labors.

Mr. Glennon's marriage, united him with Miss Fanny Ryan, who was a native of Detroit, Mich. During the World War, he took an active part in the different war drives, being chairman of his dis- trict in the Liberty Loan Drives. Prominent in the Elks, Mr. Glennon is also a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus. He has ever been prominent in all forward move- ments for the benefit of the Irish people and was chairman of the drive to raise money for Irish In- dependence.

GEORGE H. LE DEIT .- For many years the Le Deit family has been prominently identified with the meat business in Santa Clara County and George H. Le Deit is now at the head of a large enter- prise of this character, being numbered among the successful business men and progressive citizens of San Jose. He is widely and favorably known in this city, where he was born in March, 1889, his parents being Mathurin and Georgietta Le Deit. The father was a native of France and as a young man

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he came to California by way of Cape Horn, ar- riving in San Francisco in 1852, during an early period in its settlement, spending about twenty years in various parts of the state. He was a butcher by trade and dealt extensively in the buying and selling of cattle. In the early '70s he settled in San Jose and for a number of years successfully followed his trade, becoming recognized as an alert and enter- prising business man. The mother was a native of San Francisco, Cal.

George H. Le Deit acquired his education in the grammar schools of his native city and on starting out in life independently he followed in the footsteps of his father, taking up the trade of a butcher. Leav- ing San Jose, he worked in various sections of the state, finally returning to the city, where for some time he was employed in butcher shops. Through industry and economy he accumulated sufficient cap- ital to enable him to enter business circles independ- ently and in 1917 he engaged in the wholesale meat business, taking over the abattoir on Coyote Creek. He buys his stock in all parts of California, also going as far as Nevada, and he ships luis cattle to San Jose in carload lots. His average output is 200 beeves a month and most of his meat is purchased by the markets of San Jose, and he also has a large output of sheep and lambs. His abattoir is supplied with the most modern equipment and accessories and he has every facility for handling his extensive trade.

At San Jose, in June, 1911, Mr. Le Deit was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Bailey, a native of San Francisco, who came with her parents, Arthur and Mary (Lynch) Bailey, to San Jose during her child- hood and acquired her education in the grammar schools in this city. Two children have been born of this union, George and Arthur. Mr. Le Deit is a Republican in his political views and his coopera- tion can at all times be counted upon to further any project for the general good, and all who know him esteem him for his energy, his aggressiveness and his sterling integrity.

HIRAM COYE HUTTON .- A western man by birth and training, Hiram Coye Hutton is imbued with the spirit of western enterprise and progress that has been the dominant factor in the wonder- ful development of this section of the great West. He was born on Market Street, San Francisco, on the site of the old Baldwin Hotel, March 4, 1860, and was the son of Henry and Eleanor (Foster) Hutton, both natives of New York. Henry Hutton made four trips to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, coming first in 1849. He landed in San Francisco and went to work in the mines where he spent a short time, then came back to San Francisco where he engaged in building wharfs for a few years then was in the wholesale butcher business until he went on a farm back of Oakland. While there he drilled an oil well but the well was too small to make it profitable to continue development. In 1870 he removed to Santa Clara County and purchased 240 acres of land for twenty dollars per acre on the Quito Road and here he raised grain and hay, be- ginning in 1873 to plant fruit trees, and in 1886 he subdivided his place for the children. He passed away when eighty-four years old, in July, 1896, his wife surviving him until 1911, when she died at the age of ninety-four. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hutton were the parents of a family of seven children: War-

ner has an orchard adjoining our subject's property; Laura became the wife of Parker Kieth and they also reside on a part of the old home place; Hiram C. of this review; Ann, who became Mrs. Finley, died in 1914; Sarah was Mrs. Coye and died in 1912; Jacob A. died in 1895; George was accidently killed when a boy in New York City. Henry Hutton was at one time under sheriff in New York City.

Hiram Hutton attended the public schools of San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Saratoga, gaining a good education. When he began making his own way, he engaged in ranching and has continued in that line of work since. His marraige, which occurred in 1883, united him with Miss Flora Brandenburg, a native of Butte County, Cal., born in 1862, the daugh- ter of Charles and Sarah (Mullen) Brandenburg. The father was a native of Bulbrook, Ohio, who died in 1913, when eighty-three. Mrs. Brandenburg was born in Clairsville, Ohio, in 1834 and now makes lier home with Mr. and Mrs. Hutton. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg crossed the plains by means of an ox- team train in 1861 and located in Butte County, later moving to San Francisco and then to Santa Clara Valley. They first lived on the outskirts of Santa Clara, then in 1887 they moved to what is now known as the Brandenburg farm on the Quito road. Mrs. Hutton received her education at Santa Clara where she attended the public schools and graduated from high school and then attended the College of the Pacific. Her brother, Harry Brandenburg, lives on the old homstead.

Mr. Hutton's ranch of twenty-eight acres is most- ly set to prunes, with some apricots. They are the parents of one daughter, Alfaratta, who, after finish- ing her education at Stanford University, married George Schuyler and are living at the old Hutton home, which joins her father's ranch. They have two children, Alan and Douglas. About 1897 Mr. Hutton built a well drilling machine and with a part- ner, Thos. Springer, engaged in well drilling in this

county, continuing for fourteen years. One season was spent in Santa Cruz County drilling prospect wells for the Watsonville Oil Company. During these fourteen years they obtained some splendid results in securing water and proved to citizens that good wells for irrigating purposes could be obtained by deep drilling on the high lands.

Mr. Hutton has many friends and is highly es- teemed as one of the prominent orchardists of that section of the county. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a popular and active member of the Grange and with his wife and family is a member of the Congregational Church of Campbell.

FRANK H. O'KEEFE .- Few, indeed, are they who, fortunate in their birth in the Golden State, ever leave its borders to choose a residence elsewhere, as the lure of the land by the sunset sea outweighs all else. Among the native sons of California who have spent all their years here and have prospered is Frank HI. O'Keefe, a member of the Walsh-Col Company, wholesale grocers. Mr. O'Keefe is now retired from active business life and is now enjoying the fruits of his year of industry. He was born in Stockton, Cal., on November 3, 1861, and was the son of Patrick and Margaret (Keating) O'Keefe. The father came to California by way of the Isthmus in 1854 and settled in San Jose in 1863, where he engaged and prospered as a rancher. The father passed away in 1896, the

Do matury

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mother surviving him until 1898. Frank O'Keefe was educated in the public schools and high school of Stockton, and afterwards engaged in farming for a while. He then became interested in the wholesale grocery business and later helped to organize the well-known firm of Walsh-Col Company, where he spent many active years, and he still retains an inter- est in the business.

Mr. O'Keefe's marriage united him with Miss Mamie Haven, who was born in San Jose at the Auzerais House. Her father was a school teacher in the Milpitas schools in the year 1859; Mr. and Mrs. O'Keefe were the parents of three children: Gertrude, Marjorie and Frances. Mr. O'Keefe is very popular and is a member of the Country Club, which with E. K. Johnson, he helped to organize, and being a devotee of golf, he spends much of his leisure time on the links there. He is also a member ot the B. P. O. E. and the Garden City Gun Club and is a trustee of the San Jose Public Library. He has a deep interest in all that concerns the development of Santa Clara County and the city of San Jose, and can always be counted on to lend a hand.

FRANCIS J. McHENRY .- Not merely the Cali- fornia hotel world and its thousands of traveling patrons, but the citizens generally of Santa Clara and San Luis Obispo counties, will long mourn the departure of the late Francis J. McHenry, until his death the popular proprietor of the Montgomery Hotel. He was born in San Luis Obispo, September 25. 1876, the son of Patrick and Catherine (Coyle) MeHenry, who came to California in the early '60s, each unknown to the other, and were joined in wed- lock at the old Santa Barbara Mission. They are still living, happily retired in comfortable circum- stances. After completing his schooling in San Luis Obispo, Francis entered the hotel business, where he met with success. He was manager successively of three of the principal hotels of San Luis Obispo before coming to San Jose, and the Montgomery Hotel, whose directorship he assumed in 1911. While a resident of San Luis Obispo he was prominent in civic work and fraternal life there, being a charter member of the Y. M. I. of that city, as well as a charter member of the Elks Lodge, of which he was afterwards exalted ruler. This experience in civic work and natural aptitude for leadership made Mr. McHenry a valuable worker for the development of San Jose when he came here and displayed an in- terest in civic affairs. He early identified himself with the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, and at the time of his death was one of the directors in that institution. As manager of the Hotel Mont- gomery he was the ideal host, and there was a charm in his quiet welcome. During the war he took an active part in all programs and labored energetically and effectively on some of the most important com- mittees. As a Rotarian he lived up to the ideals of service emphasized by that organization, and he gave of his energy and time in assisting to solve some of the financial problems of St. Joseph's Church.

In 1902 Mr. MeHenry was married at San Fran- cisco, when he took for his bride Miss May Murphy, a native daughter of that city. Besides his widow, he left six children-Murphy, William, Katherine, Francis J., Jr., Elizabeth, and Patricia. He also left three sisters and a brother-Mrs. Margaret Brown and Mrs. Paul S. Roberts of San Luis Obispo, Miss

Kathryn MeHenry of the same town, and Patrick Arthur McHenry of Richmond.

At the time of Mr. McHenry's demise a friend published the following tribute, well deserving of permanent form: "It was the night," he said, "of the first banquet of the San Francisco Hotel Men's Association, on February 14, 1908, that we first met. Already the hundred odd guests had been seated about the long oval-shaped table at the St. Francis. A bell-boy tapped the writer on the shoulder and announced that a gentleman at the door wished to speak to me. Answering the call, I met a squarely- built, handsome young man of thirty-one. Intro- ducing himself, he said: 'I am Jim McHenry of San Luis Obispo, and I have come over two hundred miles to attend this banquet, so that I could learn something of hotel keeping. Now that I am here, I find that you have a lot of politicians as speakers. What do they know about the hotel business?' Such orators as George A. Knight, Rabbi Jacob Voor- sanger, President Benjamin Ide Wheeler of the University of California, Governor James N. Gillett, and Gavin McNab, the cream of the after-dinner speakers of the Pacific Coast, didn't satisfy this 'plain country hotel keeper,' as he termed himself. Jim McHenry was thirsting for knowledge about his business-that of hotel-keeper. The above incident was characteristic of the man. He was filled with pride for his profession, and no effort was too great for his tremendous strength to take up if it only promised to add to his store of knowledge of that line. That evening, eventful in many ways, marked the beginning of a friendship between 'Mac' and the writer that has never wavered for a moment since, and the memory of which will be always pleasant. No man who ever called Jim McHenry friend ever had reason to change his mind. McHenry's loyalty to his friends and his profession, and his deep love for his family were the traits that marked the man. Ever generous in his views toward others, he was always the first to forgive. In his untimely passing in the very flower of his manhood, the hotel pro- fession loses one of the grandest of its characters, and all of us who knew him will forever miss his genial, warm, loyal comradeship. For no friend ever called upon him for help or advice who did not receive more than he had a right to expect. Dur- ing the two years when Mr. McHenry was president of the Northern California Hotel Association. he was tireless in his efforts to uphold that organiza- tion. Day and night his mind was busy planning campaigns which, when completed, should cause its membership to recall his leadership as one of con- struction and improvement. There is a saying that those whom God loves best He calls first. His passing at the early age of forty-four seems to bear evidence to its truth."

G. C. STURA .- Coming to California to seek suc- cess, G. C. Stura is making good as owner and pro- prietor of an automobile paint shop located at 715 High Street, Palo Alto. He was born in the Province of Piedmont, Italy, on March 10, 1889, and is the son of Philip and Santina (Imarisio) Stura, who were farmers in the Piedmont district, and there his father passed away.

G. C. Stura attended the public schools of his na- tive province and at the age of twelve began to make his own way in the world and was apprenticed to

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learn the painter's trade. After completing his ap- prenticeship he worked at his trade until he was sev- enteen, then he set out alone for the New World. Sailing from Havre, France, he landed in New York City, and arrived at San Francisco August 28, 1906, settling at Oakland, where he soon found employ- ment at his trade; later he worked in San Francisco. In 1910 he removed to Palo Alto and entered the employ of Luscher & Huber and worked for them steadily for over eight years. Realizing the neces- sity of a speaking and writing knowledge of the Eng- lish language, our subject diligently pursued the study of the language in the night schools of Oak- land and San Francisco. Not being satisfied to work for others all his life, in 1919 he started into business for himself and purchased his present place of busi- ness on High Street.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 182

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