History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 186

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

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches > Part 186

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Robinson returned to Ireland in 1909 and there was married to Miss Jennie Stewart, the daugh- ter of William and Jennie Stewart. The father has since passed away but Mrs. Stewart still makes her home in County Antrim. January, 1910, they re- turned to Canada and in 1912 Mr. Robinson removed to California, settling at San Martin, where he had heen preceded by another brother, the late Henry Robinson. Here he acquired a fine ranch and vine- yard on Llagas Avenue, where he resides with his wife and mother, Mrs. Jane Cunningham Robinson, who at the age of eighty-three is still hale and hearty. Mr. Robinson spends his time superintending the care of his vineyard and as president and manager of the San Martin Wine Company, an office he has occupied since the death of his brother, Henry Rob- inson. He is also a member of the California Prune & Apricot Association. Mr. Robinson received his citizenship papers at San Jose and since then he has been an adherent of the Democratic party. A member of the Masonic Lodge at Morgan Hill, in religious circles he and his wife are prominent in the Presby- terian Church at San Martin, where he is treasurer and a trustee.

JAMES S. CARLYLE .- Coming of fine Scotch stock and numbering professional men on all sides, James S. Carlyle, one of San Martin's most ex- tensive orchardists, traces his descent back in direct line to that famous essayist and historian, Thomas Carlyle. His parents were William and Mary Jane (Crawford) Carlyle, the father a native of Dumfries, Scotland, who accompanied his parents to Ontario, Canada, while quite young, while Mrs. Carlyle was born in Ontario, Canada. There they were married, later taking up their home on a farm and here James S. was born on May 5, 1860, the third of a family of ten and is the only one in California.

In those early days, it was necessary for every one in the family to help provide for its support, so that James S. had a very limited schooling. At the age of twenty he set out for himself, going to Eastern Oregon in 1880, and soon after removing to Mendocino County, Cal. In 1881 he entered the employ of the Gualala Lumber Company and remained in their employ seventeen and a half years. He learned to be a sawyer and for thirteen and a half years was their head sawyer. Leaving there he was at Scotia, Humboldt County, then went to Crescent City, Del Norte County. He then spent eight years with the Northwestern Lumber Company in Men-

1200

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

docino County. In 1893, soon after the San Mar- tin Ranch had been surveyed and offered for sale in small tracts by C. H. Phillips, Mr. Carlyle pur- chased seventeen and a half acres, but it was not until 1911 that he gave up his responsible position with the Northwestern Lumber Company to locate on his property. As soon as the family were settled at San Martin, he began the improvement of his ranch, and from time to time he has added to it, so that he is now the owner of fifty-five acres, all set to prunes, now yielding an immense crop. It is one of the finest prune orchards in this district and it is now incorporated as J. S. Carlyle & Sons, and they are charter members of the California Prune & Apricot Association.

Mr. Carlyle's marriage united him with Miss Em- ma Louise St. Ores, born near Gualala, Cal., the daughter of George and Lonise (Rouse) St. Ores, descended from honored French ancestry. The par- ents came to California many years ago, via the Is- thmus of Panama, and settled in Mendocino County, where they engaged in farming and in the lumber business. Mr. St. Ores passed away in Mendocino County on August 24, 1906, at the age of sixty- eight; the father, who makes his home at San Jose, is now eighty-four. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle: Stella M. married Eugene Daney, a well-known attorney of San Diego, and they are both prominent in civic circles there; they have one danghter, Lucile; Cecil L., the assistant manager of the Gilroy branch of the Garden City Bank and Trust Company, saw over a year's service overseas in the Aviation Dept. as an officer. He mar- ried Miss Vera Carl of Gilroy and they have a son, James Howard; C. L. served in the U. S. Army during the World War; Clair H., who was in the U. S. Navy, in transport service, was on the San Diego when it was torpedoed, lives at home and is one of the firm of J. S. Carlyle & Sons; James St. Ores Carlyle is attend- ing Morgan Hill high school; all of the children were born in Mendocino County. For many years a stanch Republican, Mr. Carlyle was prominent in the cir- eles of his party when in Del Norte County, serving as chairman of the Republican County Central Com- mittee there, and during the war gave his hearty support to all the Red Cross and Government pro- grams. In fraternal circles he is a member of Keith Lodge, F. & A. M. of Gilroy, and the Woodmen of the World, and Women of Woodcraft, while Mrs. Carlyle is active in the Women of Woodcraft, and has had charge of the yearly drives of the Red Cross Auxiliary. A cultured, capable woman, she is the teacher of the Young Women's class of the Presbyterian Church at San Martin, and prominent in its home and foreign mission work, while Mr. Car- lyle occupies the office of elder.

J. WALTER BRETON .- An enterprising and suc- cessful rancher, J. Walter Breton is established upon his ranch of twenty-four acres near Morgan Hill, devoting the land to the cultivation of fruit. A na- tive of Racine, Wis., he was born March 29, 1859, a son of John Breton, a native of the Isle of Guernsey, thirty miles off the coast of France. His mother was Miss Margaret Brehaut and was also a native of the Isle of Guernsey. His paternal great-grand- father, John Breton was cited and given a medal for bravery, by the King of England, for piloting

a vessel of Lord Somards' fleet during the French and English War. The Bretons for a number of generations were seamen and farmers. Mr. and Mrs. John Breton came to America in 1857 and en- gaged in farming in Wisconsin, and in that state the father received his U. S. citizenship. Both parents passed away at Paradise Valley, Cal., the father at the age of eighty-eight and the mother at the age of ninety-one.

J. Walter began his schooling in Milwaukee, Wis., and when thirteen years of age removed with his parents to Sparta, Wis., where he finished high school in 1876. He then entered the employ of the Chicago & North Western Railroad as a telegraph operator and agent at different points in Minnesota and South Dakota. For twenty-two years he was located at Huron, S. D., as train dispatcher and was a charter member of the Train Dispatchers Associa- tion of America, the first organization of its kind in the world. During the year of 1893 he made a tour of the Western states, stopping at Paradise Valley and Morgan Hill, Cal., and was so impressed with the desirability of Paradise Valley as a permanent place for a home that he settled up his business in the East and returning to Santa Clara County pur- chased a traet of twenty-four acres, and in 1904 re- moved his family to California and settled on their ranch. Considerable determination and fortitude were required to make the change from railroading, which he had followed for thirty years, to that of ranching, but with never a thought of failure he set to work and success has come to him in good measure. For three years after locating on his ranch he followed railroading on the Southern Pacific Coast division, but in 1907 he retired from the service and devoted his full time to his farming operations.

The first marriage of Mr. Breton occurred in Sparta, Wis., and united him with Miss Lizzie P. Sawyer and they were the parents of two children: Walter Sawyer is married and resides in Sacramento and occupies a prominent position with Libby, McNeil & Libby. He and his father were interested in the Farmer's Union in Santa Clara County and was man- ager of the Farmer's Union Warehouse at Morgan Hill. W. S. moved to San Francisco and became state sales manager. Edith L. is the wife of A. F. Edwards, and they have three children and reside in Paradise Valley. Mrs. Breton passed away in Huron, S. D., in 1886. Mr. Breton was married the second time to Miss Gertrude Ward, adopted daugh- ter of J. Parmelee Ward, who had the honor of having named Paradise Valley, of which he was a pioneer settler. He was an Ohioan by birth, born October 23, 1834, and was descended from a well- known Massachusetts family, his great-grandfather being a soldier in the Revolutionary War. In 1878 Mr. Ward removed to Dakota Territory and took up a government claim near Parker, Turner County, and became identified with the public affairs of that locality. In the fall of 1893 Mr. Ward left South Dakota and spent some time in travel, going to San Francisco and through California and Mexico. He finally chose a place for a home, selecting Paradise Valley and in August of 1894 he removed his family to his ranch. His farm was a part of the Catherine Dunne estate, and upon it he built a fine residence and engaged extensively in farming and orchard pur-

R. UGanod Emma S. Garrod.

1201

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

suits. He married Orra J. Hulet, a native of Ohio, and they were the parents of two children, Wilbur H. and Grace; they also adopted two daughters, Gertrude B. and Ruth, and reared and educated them as their own. Mr. Ward was prominent in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in Dakota Territory served in the legislature two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Breton have had three children: Agnes, died in infancy as also did Vincent; and Vivian H. is married and resides in Corning, Cal., and she has two sons. Mr. Breton is a stockholder in the Farmer's Union store at Morgan Hill and is also a charter member of the California Prune and Apricot Association. For forty-two years Mr. Breton has been a Mason and now belongs to Morgan Hill Lodge No. 324, F. & A. M., and politically he is a Republican. He was a member of the Santa Clara County Water Conser- vation Committee, which had charge of the election in October, 1921, for the creation of irrigation dis- tricts and which conducted an investigation for con- servation of water for irrigation purposes in Santa Clara County. He is a practical, up-to-date rancher, interested in all that pertains to the development of his prosperous neighborhood.

RALPH VINCE GARROD .- A young man of splendid attainments who is devoting much time to the California Division of the Educational and Co- operative Union of America of which he is president, Ralph Vince Garrod is a native of England, born in Horrniger, Suffolk County, September 9, 1879, a son of David and Sophia Ann (Creffield) Garrod, educa- tors, the father being a graduate of Battersea Col- lege, London, the mother receiving her education at Trinity School, Halstead. Ralph Vince is the eldest of their three children, the others being Mrs. Mary C. Pfeffer and Harold Garrod. When twelve years of age, he accompanied his parents to New York, the family being bound for California on account of the father's ill health, but an accident aboard ship necessitated Ralph Vince stopping at St. Vincent's Hospital in the Metropolis until he could join his parents two months later, his arrival in Santa Clara County being July 7, 1892. He attended the Saratoga and San Jose schools and for a time the family resided on a fruit ranch between Campbell and Los Gatos. In the fall of 1893 the family purchased their present ranch of 146 acres at the head of Calabasas Creek, four and a half miles northwest of Saratoga. They moved on the ranch in the spring of 1894 and began the improvements that have finally made it a valuable property of full-bearing orchards of prunes, apricots, walnuts, pears, apples, peaches and vineyard. To these Mr. Garrod gives most excellent care and attention, cultivating the soil and fighting the orchard pests according to the latest and most scientific methods. Intensely interested in the calling of horti- culture, he is a student of the science and brings into practice the most modern and approved methods.

Mr. Garrod's marriage occurred at Oak Ridge ranch, the home of the bride, on the Twenty-seven Mile Scenic Drive in Santa Cruz County, April 3, 1916, when he was united with Miss Emma Stolte, who was born in San Francisco, a daughter of Cap- tain and Anna (Peters) Stolte, natives of Germany, who were early settlers of California, Captain Stolte being engaged in the coasting trade out of San Fran-

cisco until he located on Oak Ridge Ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mrs. Garrod has two sisters, Mrs. Charlotte Frahm and Mrs. Josephine Beatty. After completing her studies in the grammar school she entered Heald's Business College in San Fran- cisco, where she was duly graduated. They have been blessed with three children, Louise Sophia, Vince Stolte and Richard Ralph.

Mr. Garrod is a charter member and secretary and treasurer of Saratoga Local No. 82, Farmers' Educa- tional and Cooperative Union of America, being the oldest secretary and treasurer in years of service of any local in California. He was an active member of the state legislative committee of the above and afterwards vice-president of the state division. At the meeting of the state division of the Farmers' Educa- tional and Cooperative Union of America at Turlock he was honored by being elected president of the state division, December 7, 1921. He was for years a member of the Grange, and ever since he has been engaged in farming he has been active in all co- operative movements in relation to agriculture in California. Thus we found him a member of the California Prune and Apricot Growers' Association, the California Peach Growers' Association, a director in the Fruit Growers of California, as well as the Santa Clara Valley Growers' Association, a member of the California Cooperative Canneries, the Santa Clara County Fire Insurance Company. Fraternal- ly he is a member of the American Order of Forest- ers, the Odd Fellows, and Rebekahs, in Saratoga, and the Saratoga Improvement Club. He is an in- fluential Republican, having served four years as a member of the Republican County Central Commit- tee and was a member of the State Central Com- mittee for another four years. Mrs. Garrod has al- ways been interested in cooperative movements, serving as secretary and treasurer of the Lakeside local of the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America, and is also a member of the Rebekahs. Vince Garrod, as he is familiarly called by his friends, is a capable speaker and an able presiding officer-a successful leader of any move- ment to which he gives his support. In these co- operative and educational movements he is ably as- sisted by his gifted wife, who has also given these matters much thought and study and ably encourages Mr. Garrod in his work in behalf of the movement that has for its aim the bringing together of the pro- ducer and consumer to their greater benefit. With his family Mr. Garrod is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church of which he is church-warden.

JOHN GILLESPIE .- A well-trained mechanic with both a scientific and a practical knowledge of electricity and electrical conditions, who has kept pace with Twentieth Century progress and so has been in a position to bring San Jose into line with the leading municipalities of the Golden State. is John Gillespie, city electrician of San Jose, a native of Nevada, where he was born on May 2, 1865, the son of Archie and Agnes Gillespie. The father came to California in 1849, where he worked in the mines as a blacksmith; later he removed to Virginia City, Nev. In 1881, he returned to California; and in San Jose, amid pleasant surroundings, the parents died, honored as pioneers.

1202

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

John went to school in Nevada, and then, when it was time for him to prepare to earn a living, learned the trade of electrician; and he has been busy following that industrial line ever since, en- trusted with work of much responsibility and con- stantly adding to his experience. For fourteen years he worked in the department of which he is now head; and in October, 1919, he was appointed city electrician by Dr. Bailey, city manager. Part of his duty is to inspect the police telegraph and the fire alarm systems; and in other ways he is able to exert an influence to give San Jose the best of elec- trical service.

At San Jose in 1899, Mr. Gillespie was married to Miss Mamie Rife, a native of San Jose, as was her mother, Elizabeth Rife, who is still living; and with her husband she is deeply interested in Santa Clara County and especially in the future of San Jose. Mr. Gillespie votes the Republican ticket,- and he votes it "straight."

FRANK V. CASWELL .- Business enterprise at San Jose finds a worthy representative in Frank V. Caswell, the proprietor of the business known as the "Reliable Tire Repair Shop." He is a native of Summit, Jackson County, Mich., and was born there October 8, 1884, a son of Charles and Mary (Red- ner) Caswell, who were both born and reared in Michigan, Mrs. Caswell being a native of Grand Rapids. Mr. Caswell's father was engaged in farm- ing in Jackson County, and was also successful in the lumber business. For eleven years Frank V. lived with his parents on the farm, and in the public school acquired his education. While still but a lad, he set out for himself, taking up farm work. Not being satisfied to remain in this line of work, he journeyed to Albion and worked in the iron founderies there for some time, where he learned the trade of moulder. Not having settled on the line of work he wished to pursue throughout his life, and wishing to see more of the world, he enlisted in the Navy, entering the Newport Naval School in 1901. After ten months of intensive training, he was commis- sioned as third class petty officer. Traveling from port to port, for many years, has served to give him a varied education, and has contributed much to his present success in the business world.

Having served his country with credit, Mr. Caswell was released from service and upon his return to New York, he entered the employ of the New York Central Railroad as fireman, but very soon tired of this kind of work. so left their employ and went home for a visit to his parents in Jackson County. While there, he decided to take up the trade of vul- canizing, which has proved to be the line he is most fitted for, and he has been extraordinarily successful in this work. He was in charge of the vulcanizing classes at the "Old Reliable Tire Shop" in Detroit, Mich. During the year of 1917 Mr. Caswell came to the beautiful Santa Clara Valley. Although pos- 'essing but limited capital, with true pioneering spirit, he launched out in business for himself, and has been eminently successful.

In Detroit, Mich., Mr. Caswell was married to Miss Blanche E. Zeliff, a native of Chicago, Ill. Her education was acquired at Chicago, Ill., and in 1918 she removed to California. Mr. Caswell is ¿ctively identified with the Odd Fellows and the

Woodmen of the World, and also holds membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

MAXWELL BENNO HAASE .- Among the na- tive sons of California who have materially pro- moted the theater business of Santa Clara County may be mentioned Maxwell Benno Haase, who was born in San Francisco August 14, 1871, the son of Maxwell and Marie (Mosson) Haase. The father, Maxwell Haase, was a native of Boston, who mi- grated to the western coast in the early sixties, and had a wide acquaintance here through his business, that of traveling salesman. Both father and mother are deceased.

Maxwell Benno Haase was educated in the public schools of San Francisco, Fresno and New York, finishing the high school course. He first engaged in the theatrical business in San Francisco, and in 1917 he migrated to San Jose and became the lessee of the Victory Theater. By his continued industry, directed by genuine business acumen, the theater has become a paying proposition, and to him alone is due the success and patronage which the theater enjoys. During the past twenty years, many people have leased the theater and have attempted to make a success of it, but not until Mr. Haase took hold of it, did the current of public sentiment change, and has succeeded even beyond his expectations.

The marriage of Mr. Haase united him with Miss Eva Glass, a native of Portland, Ore. Mr. Haase is a stalwart adherent of the principles of the Re- publican party. Fraternally, he is a member of B. P. O. E. Council 161, Saratoga Springs. It is said that every busy person should have a hobby in order to keep in good health and spirits; the hobby of Mr. Haase is the gathering of antiques, of which he has a very interesting collection. His recreation hours are spent, as much as possible, in the great outdoors, which he enjoys to the fullest extent. He has at all times been a champion of progress and improvement and has recognized the opportunities offered in the growing west, using these opportunities not only for the benefit of his in- dividual fortunes, but as factors in the improvement- of the state and county.

HIRAM A. BLANCHARD .- A scholarly, experi- enced member of the legal profession who is ren- dering valuable service both to the profession which he honors and to the public at all times concerned with the accuracy of legal procedure and the cor- rectness of official documents and reports, is Hiram A. Blanchard, popular attorney, who was born near Marshall, Mo., on December 24, 1874, the son of George B. and Emeline (Payne) Blanchard. His father was a lumber merchant and stock raiser in Missouri, and coming West to California in 1893, he settled at San Jose and engaged in the hay business. He had the largest wholesale business in town, and his residence was at 875 University Avenue until his death. Mrs. Blanchard is still living.

Hiram A. Blanchard attended the grammar and high schools in Marshall, Mo., and then took a thorough course at the San Jose Business College; and for twenty years he was an official shorthand reporter in Santa Clara County. He studied law with Messrs. Richards and Jury, and later with WV. C. Kennedy; and he was admitted to the Cali- fornia Bar on May 1, 1897. Since then he has practiced alone.

It=g. brosk

1203

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

On August 1, 1900, in San Jose, Mr. Blanchard was married to Miss Henrietta Gardner, the daugh- ter of W. H. Gardner, a pioneer of California, and they have had two children, Vivian G. and Hiram D. Blanchard. The family belong to the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Blanchard is a director of the Y. M. C. A .; and he is also a leader among the San Jose Democrats. His official, no less than his personal associations and experiences, make him naturally keenly interested in Santa Clara County, and the entire Golden State.

Mr. Blanchard has been honored repeatedly with public trusts and the confidence of his fellow-citi- zens in periods when the whole-hearted support of great movements meant much to everybody con- cerned. He organized the College Park Sanitary district, and was a member of the board having the matter in hand. He was president of the Y. M. C. A. for eleven years and during the World War, and helped to raise the funds for the new building. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conven- tion in Denver in 1908, and also to many state con- ventions. He was the leader in the movement that resulted in the paving ot the Alameda, and the building of the Hester School, and also in financing the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A.

WILLIAM J. CROSS .- Interesting as one of the successful young men in Santa Clara County, Wil- liam J. Cross of San Jose is also worthy of attention as having in a very short time come to command in- fluence such as many, longer established, have sought in vain. He was born at Cheboygan, Mich., on June 30, 1882, one in a family of four children whose parents were William N. and Minnie B. (Wat- rous) Cross, the former a native of New York, the latter of Mississippi. His father, William N. Cross, early established his law office at that place and for many years served as county judge, which position he continues to hold. William J. spent his boyhood years at home attending public school, and in 1898 was graduated from high school, although for the last few months of the term he was absent, having enlisted in the Michigan Volunteers for service abroad. He was the youngest member of the Ex- peditionary forces in Cuba and made a very enviable record. He was finally invalided home, where he received his diploma from the board of education in reward for duties discharged away from school.

Later, Mr. Cross entered Yale University and in 1909 was graduated with high honors from the De- partment of Law. He then became the junior part- ner in the firm, Cross & Cross, with his father, but in 1913 gave up the active work of the office and court to engage in the law publishing business in Seattle, Wash., where he organized the Cross-France Company, pioneers in their line on the Pacific Coast, and publishers of legal publications. He founded and edited the Lawyers' Review, of which he became president and general manager, recognized as a reli- able and leading agency for lawyers in the North- west. In his work as editor, Mr. Cross made exten- sive tours through nearly every country of the world, studying and transcribing the comparative legal juris- prudence and compiling much interesting data.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 186

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