History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 183

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

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The marriage of Mr. Stura occurred in 1914 and united him with Miss Louisa Degiorgis, a native of the same province as her husband. They are the par- ents of two children, Lucile and Albert. Mr. Stura is a stalwart supporter of American ideals and can be counted upon to lend his aid to the support of progressive measures.

PIERRE C. POURROY .- A man who has done much to aid in the improvement and the building up of the orcharding interests of Santa Clara County, of which he has been a resident since January, 1887, is Pierre C. Pourroy, a native of France, born near Gap, Hautes Alps, November 11, 1866. His father was also named Pierre and was a farmer and stock- man as well as a successful dairyman, who had mar- ried in early manhood, Miss Celestine Espitillier, and they had a family of thirteen children, only three of whom are living at the present time. Besides our subject, a sister, Pauline, is in France and a brother, Eloi, who also resides in the Saratoga district. The father died at sixty years, while the mother was only forty-eight when she passed away. Pierre was the oldest son and from a young lad assisted his father in the grain fields and with the stock. His schooling was limited to winters, for during the sum- mers there was plenty of work to do, but he was studious, so obtained a very good education by read- ing and self-study. Having determined to try his luck in California, he left home in 1886, coming direct to Bakersfield, Cal., arriving in January, 1887. For three years he was in the employ of a sheep man. In 1890 he came to Santa Clara County and the first year he worked for Adrien Bonnet and next for Narcissus Aubrey, with whom he continued for four years. He then purchased forty acres five miles above Saratoga, where he built a residence.

In San Jose, May 30, 1891, Mr. Pourroy was mar- ried to Mary Aubrey, a native of Saratoga, a daugh- ter of Narcissus and Rose Aubrey; the father was a successful vineyardist and here the parents both died. Mr. Pourroy improved his ranch with trees and vines and as he prospered, he purchased land adjoining until he had over 400 acres which he im- proved, but after he lost his boys he sold 200 acres to Mr. Dyer, so that he now has 210 acres devoted to prune orchard, vineyard and hay. Thus by un- ceasing toil of himself and wife, he has acquired a competence and now owns a valuable ranch.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pourroy were born an interest- ing family of ten children, as follows: Pierre enlisted in the U. S. Army for the World War, but died while stationed at Phoenix, Ariz .; Marguerite re-

sides in San Francisco; John volunteered in the U. S. Army for the World War and died of influenza at Camp Lewis. Louis died in 1916, aged seventeen; Marie is Mrs. Sylvester of San Francisco; Mrs. Em- ily Zermuhlen resides in San Francisco; Lucile is attending the high school of commerce in San Fran- cisco; Marcel, Medard and Amelia. In accomplish- ing his success, Mr. Pourroy has been ably assisted by his estimable wife, who has worked hand in hand with him to gain their ambition and independence. They are kindhearted and free in their hospitality and are highly esteemed by all who know them. Fra- ternally Mr. Pourroy is an Odd Fellow, being a mem- ber of San Jose Lodge. He is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

JAMES N. CRAWFORD .- The enterprising proprietor of the Gateway Garage at Los Gatos, James N. Crawford, is a native of Shenandoah, Ia., where he was born on March 15, 1893, the son of Albert J. and Rebecca E. (McCalmon) Crawford; the former a farmer in Iowa prior to his coming out to Montana. At first, the family removed to Mon- tana, where James attended the public schools; but in 1914 they left for the Pacific Coast. They located at San Francisco, and while there James N. Craw- ford enlisted, in 1914, in the First Battalion of the Fourth Regiment, Thirty-fourth Company, U. S. Ma- rine Corps, in which he served for four years. He had served eight months in the Guard of Honor at the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco; then three months in Mexican waters on board the old San Diego, then at the San Diego Fair, in 1916, as Guard of Honor for three months; then to Santo Domingo, 1916, with his regiment in the expedi- tionary force to Santo Domingo. When America entered the World War he was sent to the Porto Rice wireless station and was in charge of trans- portation for eighteen months, when he returned to New Orleans, La., honorably discharged as corporal, permanent warrant, October 26, 1918. He also received the button of merit, given only to those who never had a mark against them. On leaving the service he came back to San Francisco, and in 1919 he went back to lowa on a visit and while there his father sold his Iowa holdings. In the fall of the same year, Mr. Crawford and his people removed to Los Gatos, and here Albert Crawford built the Gate- way Garage, centrally located on Santa Cruz Avenue, which was opened on July 3, 1920. His father, Albert J. Crawford, continued his interest in the business until his death, on April 9, 1921, and then James Crawford assumed charge as sole proprietor.

The Gateway Garage is a completely equipped re- pair shop with thoroughly modern machinery. The equipment alone costing over $5,000, and the whole establishment calls for an investment of about $20,- 000 and is a place of which Los Gatos may well be proud. It enjoys a steady patronage and keeps three first-class mechanics busy attending to the expert work called for. Mr. Crawford is a member of the Santa Clara County Auto Trades Association and his 'is the California State Automobile Association's official garage. He is also a member of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce and of Ridgely Lodge, I. O. O. F., Los Gatos.

On November 10, 1919, at San Francisco, Mr. Crawford was married to Miss Marjorie Pfiefer, and they have a little daughter, Mildred. Like Mr. Craw-

P. C. Pourroy

Mary Journey,

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ford, the family is fond of out-door life-just what Los Gatos in particular stands for; and Mr. Crawford finds stimulating diversion in politics, he himself being a stand-pat Republican.

LEONARD P. EDWARDS .- Numbered among the successful young men of Santa Clara County is Leonard P. Edwards, manager of the San Jose Ab- stract and Title Insurance Company. A native son of California, he was born in San Jose July 23, 1886, the youngest son of a family of five children of Thos. C. and Mary (Haven) Edwards. His maternal grand- father was James M. Haven, a pioneer of Oakland. His father, Thos. C. Edwards, who was one of the founders of the San Jose Abstract and Title Insur- ance Company in the year of 1891, has been active in the building up of the business, and is now pres- ident, making his home in Pacific Grove. Leonard P. Edwards was educated in the grammar and high schools of San Jose, later supplementing with one year at Stanford University. When nineteen years of age he quit his university course to enter the title business, and under the tutelage of his father he rose to his present position in 1912, and since then has devoted his time to the growing business. His pleas- ing personality and upright character has won for him the esteem of all who know him.

The marriage of Mr. Edwards occurred in San Jose, June 29, 1909, and united him with Miss Clara E. Donlon, and of this union were born three chil- dren, Martha Frances, Thomas C., Jr., and William D. Politically Mr. Edwards is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party and in fraternal circles is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O., N. M. S., of San Francisco Locally he is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce; besides serving in the capacity of manager of his own company, he is vice-president of the San Jose Coffee Club and a member of the Rotary Club, also charter member of the Commercial Club.

DANIEL LINDEN MCKEOWN .- Leaving his native land when he was eighteen years old, Daniel McKeown came to America with his sister, Lizzie, in 1873, and for three years he made his home in New York State. A native of Ulster, Ireland, Mr. Mckeown was born on May 5, 1856, the son of Ed- ward Mckeown, who passed away early in life, leav- ing a widow, Elizabeth (Linden) Mckeown, and nine children to fight their battles alone. As a conse- quence Daniel had a very limited opportunity for schooling, being thrown on his own resources when fe was a lad of eight.

In 1876 Mr. Mckeown came to California and located at Gonzales, Monterey County, where he worked on ranches in that vicinity until 1879, when he went to farming for himself on rented land near that town, raising wheat and barley. He met with good success and from time to time enlarged his operations, becoming one of Monterey County's pros- perous stock and grain farmers, continuing there until 1905, when he came to the Santa Clara Valley. Here he purchased a valuable tract of twenty aeres, devoted to a vineyard, the marketing of his grapes having been handled through the California Wine Association, until he joined the San Martin Wine Company, Inc., in which he has held membership for a number of years.

On November 7, 1884, Mr. Mckeown was married to Miss Annie Curran, who came to California to

wed Mr. McKeown. She was born at Jordan, N. Y., on August 9, 1858, the daughter of Michael and Mar- garet (Folk) Curran, the father a native of Ireland and the mother born in England. Both Mr. and Mrs. Curran are now deceased. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McKeown, Edward L. and Lillie May; the latter died aged three and one-half years. Edward L. Mckeown is a graduate in law from Stan- ford, 1911, and resides at Carson City, Nev, with his wife and one daughter; the former was in maiden- hood Donalda Pierre, born in Nevada of French par- entage; he is well known in educational circles, being principal of the high school and superintendent of the schools of Carson City. Now retired from stren- nous work on his ranch, Mr. Mckeown lives in com- fort at his home on San Martin Avenue, maintaining an active interest in the current events of the day. A loyal citizen of his adopted country, he received his citizenship papers at Salinas, Monterey County, and since that time he has been an adherent of the plat- forms of the Democratic party.

WARREN GODFREY TOMLINSON .- Promi- nent both in civic affairs and in the horticultural de- velopment of Santa Clara County was the late War- ren Godfrey Tomlinson who died at his residence in Saratoga, February 8, 1922. He was a native of Sherwood, Branch County, Mich., born November 1, 1861, a son of A. E. and Harriett (Studly) Tomlin- son, early settlers of Michigan, the father coming from England and settling in Branch County in 1837. The educational advantages of the rural district in which he was reared were limited, but he attended school during the few months each year and mean- time helped his father on the farm. He spent his youth and young manhood in the state of Michigan, and shortly after his marriage to Miss Cora E. Mason moved to Los Gatos in the year 1888. He did not remain there long, but went to work on the Wakefield ranch near Saratoga, where he was fore- man for six years. He then entered the grocery busi- ness first as a clerk, afterward joining in a partner- ship with Clarence Gardner under the firm name of Tomlinson & Gardner. The firm ran a store in Palo Alto as well as in Saratoga, but the members subsequently separated, Mr. Gardner taking the Palo Alto and Mr. Tomlinson the Saratoga business, which he sold to Corpstein & Metzger. He then opened a store at Sunnyvale, retaining his residence in Saratoga, and later establishing the grocery busi- ness in Saratoga, from which he retired because of declining health.

Mrs. Cora Mason Tomlinson died, and in 1904 Mr. Tomlinson married Mrs. Hattie E. Voyle, daughter of Lyman McGuire, an old resident of Saratoga. By his first wife he had four children: Harry A., now of Mill Valley; Walter L., of San Jose; Milder L. and Warren Norris, who are both living in Saratoga. With these children, the present Mrs. Tomlinson's daughter by her former marriage, Mrs. Ethel M. Sidensol of San Jose, was brought up, and to her Mr. Tomlinson was always an affectionate father. For the greater part of his life in Saratoga he was a member of the Christian Church, and was also a member of the Odd Fellows and the Rebekah lodges.

Mr. Tomlinson is greatly missed in Saratoga, where he had formed many strong friendships. He was a man of fine presence, of most agreeable manners, of a kindly disposition and excellent character. It was

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always a pleasure to meet him because of his un- failing courtesy, which was that of a true gentleman, and his own engaging friendliness which aroused a responsive feeling in others. He was enthusiastic over the progress that Santa Clara County had made and devoted much time and energy to the develop- ment of his particular locality.

GEORGE C. LAWRENCE .- An enterprising horticulturist who did much toward the development of the Summit district was the late George C. Lawrence, a native of Lee County, lowa, the son of Joseph Lawrence, who was a veteran of the Civil War and died from the hardships he experienced in that struggle. His widow married again and brought her children to California, locating on a farm in the Summit district, Santa Clara County; here Mr. Law- rence grew to manhood, receiving a good education in the public schools. Aside from farming, he en- gaged in teaming, hauling lumber and wood from the mills to the station. He met with success and, realizing that land is the best investment, he pur- chased an unimproved ranch on the Summit. About this time he made a visit back East to see his mother's people in Missouri, and there he met Miss Minnie Murray and the acquaintance resulted in their marriage at Edina, Mo., April 1, 1887. She was born near Ft. Madison, Iowa, a daughter of Hiram and Nancy (Martin) Murray, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Pennsylvania. They were farmers in Lee County, Iowa, until they removed to Knox County, Mo., where Mr. Murray purchased and im- proved a 160-acre farm. The parents died there, the old farm being now owned by one of the sons. Of the seven children born of this union, five are still living, Mrs. Lawrence being the youngest of the family. She was reared on the home farm near Edina, Mo., where she had the advantages of excel- lent public schools. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Lawrence brought his bride to his home in the Santa Cruz mountains, while he continued teaming for a while. He also improved the ranch, built a residence and cleared away the trees and brush and broke the ground. When he had the soil in good shape he set out a prune orchard and vineyard, and in time had a nice income. In all this Mr. Lawrence always gave much of credit for his success to his noble wife, who from the first entered heartily into his ambition and gave him every aid within her power that they might eventually obtain a compe- tency. However, Mr. Lawrence was not allowed to enjoy the fruits of his labors, for he was stricken by death June 5, 1908, at the age of forty-nine. He was in poor health, so May 1, 1908, with his wife he made a trip to Missouri to visit his old home, and while there he passed away on the above date; his body was interred in Los Gatos Cemetery. His death was a deep loss to the community where he was so well and favorably known. He served as school trustee and manifested much interest in the cause of education. Fraternally he was a member of the Los Gatos Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs. In politics he was a Republican.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Lawrence was blessed with two children: Lena, the wife of Dee Adams, who is a horticulturist and is operating Mrs. Lawrence's orchards; Roy is also engaged in orcharding on the Summit. Mrs. Lawrence, after her husband's death, continued to operate the ranch

with the aid of her son until she rented it to Mr. Adams. She is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Association and is an ex-president of the Summit District Mothers' Club.

ROBERT O. SUMMERS .- A well-trained, widely- experienced and thoroughly up-to-date general con- tractor, who has been effective in upbuilding Santa Clara County, is Robert O. Summers, who was born in Byron, Ontario, Canada, on October 21, 1871. the son of Robert and Esther (Sissons) Summers, both of English descent. The father was a contractor and builder and, in 1873, he brought his family to Cali- fornia and settled at San Jose, where he followed the same business endeavor until he retired in 1908. He died in September, 1911, honored for his high integ- rity and his enterprising methods. Mrs. Summers is still living. Of their six children Robert is the second oldest, and coming to San Jose in his second year, this is the scene of his first recollections. After attending school, he learned the carpenter's trade, mastering its every detail, and in 1905 he embarked in his present business of contracting and building, with offices at 17 North First Street. He has thus been able to influence public taste, and to add to this city some of the best specimens of modern architecture.

On April 28, 1897, Mr. Summers was married to Miss Mande Hyde, an accomplished lady, born at Marysville, and they have had six children. Robert died at the age of eight. The others are Esther, Frances, Jane, Phyllis and Bert. Mr. Summers is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason; he also belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters, the Lions, the Chamber of Commerce, and is a charter member of the Commercial Club of San Jose.

JOHN J. CUTTER .- Prominent in the formative days of Dakota Territory, where he was a large landowner and took an active part in its civic and political life, John J. Cutter brought with him con- siderable means when he settled in the Mountain View district, in 1893, where he then bought his home place. He is the owner of an excellent fruit ranch of twenty-three acres on the San Francisco High- way, sixteen and a half acres being given over to prunes, five acres to apricots, while the balance is occupied by the residence and barn yards. Ten acres were in year-old trees when he purchased the place, and the rest he has planted; he has brought it up to a high state of cultivation and it has become one of the valuable properties of that district. Mr. Cutter was born in McHenry County, Ill., December 1, 1850. His parents, Richard and Helen (McLean) Cutter, were natives of New York, born, respectively, in Tompkins and Richmond counties, and they came to Illinois in the early days. The father, who was a cabinetmaker, maintained a shop on his farm, so that early in life John J. had much of the responsibilities of the farm work on his shoulders. The father died in 1862, leaving the mother with eight children, of whom our subject was the third; of his three sisters, one died in infancy.

When sixteen years old, Mr. Cutter set out for himself, going to Mackinaw, Mich., where he spent one year among the fishermen. He has obtained a fairly good education, having attended his home dis- trict school and also a college at Rockford, Ill., so he next went to Missouri and joined a party of sur-

Geo. le Lawrence

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

veyors; his brother, Eugene, had already become a surveyor for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, and was later with the Kansas City, Memphis and Mobile Railroad. John J. did not continue in this work very long, however, returning to Illinois and passing through Chicago the day before the great fire that laid that place in ruins in October, 1871. The next spring he went to Sioux City, Ia., where he worked for a time in the railroad yards as a brake- man, and then started further west to Dakota Terri- tory, expecting to enlist in Custer's cavalry. He was taken sick, however, and instead he later joined a party of surveyors. Taking up a homestead of 160 acres and a timber claim of the same amount in Turner County, Dakota Territory, he proved up on them, meanwhile being made postmaster at Parker, in that county, being first appointed by President Arthur and reappointed by President Harrison. He served in this office with satisfaction to all the com- munity and became influential in the local councils of the Republican party. In 1893 Mr. Cutter came to Mountain View and purchased his present ranch, then a grain field, except for ten acres in young trees, and was joined by his family the following year.

In Sioux City, Ia., in 1874, Mr. Cutter was married to Miss Laura M. Edminster, the daughter of L. H. Edminster of Sheldon, Ia. Mrs. Cutter was born in Washington, Me., her parents being members of old down-east families of culture and education. She came with her parents to Appleton, Wis., when ten years old, and after attending Appleton College, taught for some time in both Wisconsin and Iowa. With her husband she passed through the common pioneer experience in Dakota Territory, when their crops suffered from grasshoppers, prairie fires, hail and blizzards, but she has always been a stanch and able helpmate. After her husband left for California, she was retained by the Government to run the post office at Parker, an office she ably occupied for about a year, until she joined Mr. Cutter at Mountain View. Mr. and Mrs. Cutter are the parents of two children, both born in Dakota Territory; Janet M., is Mrs. H. W. Reynolds of Fresno, and Lawrence E., is a professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford Uni- versity; he married Miss Lottie Deidrich of San Jose and they have one son, Richard D. Mr. Cutter is a stanch Republican, as is his wife; he belongs to the Masons at Mountain View, and both are members of the Eastern Star there.

WILLIAM w.

ANDERSON. - - Well known among the successful ranchers of Santa Clara Coun- ty, William W. Anderson, who resides at the corner of Sierra and Piedmont roads, enjoys the distinction of being one of the representative citizens in his own native district. He was born at Berryessa on July 4, 1871; and his parents were Phillip and Rebecca (Ca- hill) Anderson. His father was a native of Aber- deen, Scotland; and having migrated to Nova Scotia, he moved westward by way of the Isthmus, traveling from Amherst, N. S., to San Francisco; while his mother was a native of Nova Scotia, and the mem- ber of a family originally hailing from England, and she also came alone to California by way of the Isth- mian route. Mrs. Anderson passed away in 1888, survived for thirty-one years by her devoted hus- band. They had seven children, Margaret Alice of

Berryessa being the eldest, and our subject the sec- ond-born. Then came Mabel V., of San Francisco; Leslie C., who died in March, 1917; Roscoe A., of Los Angeles; A. Ray, of Berryessa; and Emily Oressa. Phillip Anderson, who was a blacksmith, came into Santa Clara County after the short stay of six months in San Francisco; and at Berryessa he opened a shop which proved of great service to the community, so that for years he reared his family from the products of his smithy labors.

William Anderson attended the Berryessa gram- mar school and later enjoyed the advantages of the high school at San Jose, and when nineteen years of age, he started to work upon ranches for wages. Then his father purchased a ranch of 252 acres in the hills some four miles east of Berryessa and along the Ber- ryessa Road, and this investment led to our subject associating himself, for many years, with his father in ranching enterprise. The farm was devoted to grain and stockraising, and at the present time Mr. Anderson has from 150 to 200 head of stock there. For the past three years, Mr. Anderson has been a member and clerk of the board of trustees of the Ber- ryessa School, and he belongs to the Alum Rock Camp No. 724, W. O. W.

On November 27, 1895, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Mamie J. Smith, also a native of Berryessa, and the daughter of Christopher Columbus Smith, her mother, Sierra Nevada Ogan, being the daughter of John Martin and Lucy Ann (Harris) Ogan. Mr. Ogan came to California in 1853, by way of the Salt Lake Route from Missouri, and settled at the same location-the corner of Sierra and Piedmont roads. He purchased 160 acres of an old Spanish grant, and found himself possessed of rich grain-farm land. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Ogan had a family of nine chil- dren, and Mrs. Smith was the youngest. Mary Ann Ogan, the eldest child, became Mrs. Campbell, and is now deceased. Pathena Katherine also married, taking a Mr. Wells for her husband, and is among the great silent majority. Zella Frances became Mrs. H. Verser and died. Thomas Dudly Ogan is de- ceased, and so is Euphemia, the wife of John Shuart. Higgeason Ogan is dead, and also Elizabeth Jane, who was Mrs. W. A. Smith. James Robert, the eighth in the order of birth, is residing at Reedley, and the youngest, as already stated, is Mrs. C. C. Smith, Mrs. Anderson's mother. Mrs. Anderson's grandfather, John Ogan, lived to be eighty years old, and his wife, Lucy Ann (Harris) Ogan, attained her sixtieth year. Mrs. C. C. Smith was born in Utah, en route to California, while the family was coming across the plains, and was therefore named Sierra Nevada; she is still living with Mr. Anderson's family, and with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson belongs to the Pioneer Society of Santa Clara County. Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Smith had seven children. Mrs. Anderson was the eldest; then came Charles T., who is now at Susanville; and the others are: O. J. Smith, of Ber- ryessa; Beede, who is Mrs. Nisbet, of Concord, Cal .; Euphemia, who has become Mrs. A. W. Mathew, of Fallon, Nev .; Robert R., who resides on Aum Rock Avenue; and Maud, Mrs. Arnold Gifford, of Berry- essa. Mrs. Anderson attended the Berryessa school and grew up familiar with and in sympathy towards this locality and its enterprising people.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 183

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