History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 190

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

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Elton Randall Shaw received his education in the public school of San Francisco, which on the advice of his father, he later supplemented with a course at the Art Institute of that city. During the sum- mer vacation in 1885, he journed to San Jose and was employed in the fruit industry, returning to San Francisco for the fall term. During the next season

he returned, and was employed in the first year of the Flickinger Cannery. Upon leaving the Art In- stitute he took up the study of mechanical and steam engineering, completing this course within two years. When but twenty-four years of age, he began the practice of his profession as construction engineer, and for a number of years he followed this line of work, in the mining industry of California and New Mexico. However the fruit industry, with its varied lines, appealed to him from its mechanical side, and in 1890 he became superintendent of a drying plant, gradually working into the fruit can- ning business, and later the preserving branch which now occupies his full attention as president and general manager of the Shaw Family, Inc.

The first marriage of Mr. Shaw occurred April 3, 1893, which united him with Miss Mary Suther-

MA. James

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

land, who died in 1913. She was the daughter of Spencer Sutherland, a resident of Saratoga. Three children were born to them, Mary Frances, Elton Sutherland and Marjorie, all living. His second marriage occurred November 7, 1918, in San Fran- cisco, uniting him with Miss Grace E. Russell of San Jose, a daughter of John H. Russell. For three years in early life Mr. Shaw was a member of the Second Artillery of the National Guard of California. During the years of 1914-15, he served as police and fire commissioner of the city of San Jose, and was city councilman from 1916 to 1920. Politically, he is an advocate of the Republican party. He is ac- tively affiliated with the San Jose Country Club, the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of San Jose. He is an ardent believer in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and with his family, holds memberships in church organizations in San Jose. Among his associates he enjoys the confidence born of well-applied industry, personal integrity, and devotion to the welfare of his city and state.

WILLIAM HENRY JAMES-Among the pio- neers who came to California to take advantage of the opportunities that were afforded in the new country, the James family have been identified with Santa Clara County for more than a half century and among the present representatives of these far-sighted people is William Henry James, who is keeping up the good characteristics of his forefathers, and is working for the development of his community.

Mr. James was born twelve miles southwest of San Jose on September 3, 1882, at Guadalupe Mines, Santa Clara County, a son of Charles H. and Jane (Tucker) James, who were both pioneers of Cali- fornia, having come to California in about the year 1865; the father was born in Penzance, Cornwall, England, and they were married in this state. He came to America and in time to California where he mined at New Idria and New Almaden. Thirty-five years ago he started the transfer business now man- aged by our subject. He and his estimable wife are both living here retired.

William H., the fourth oldest in a family of six children, received his education in the public schools of San Jose and when he grew up, he followed in his father's footsteps and learned the transfer busi- ness. In 1909 he became a partner in the business and took over the management. thus relieving him of the responsibilities, the firm being known as the City Truck and Transfer Company, and is one of the three pioneer transfer companies of San Jose. He has a large local business, such as freight and furni- ture and it has grown in volume until it requires five trucks and four teams to handle it. The firm owns the two-story building at 133 North Market Street in which they are located, which is .90x193 feet, and extends from Market to San Pedro Street, also having a warehouse on the S. P. Railroad with a switch from the main line. In addition to his trucking he does a large storage business.

Mr. James was married in San Jose, August 23, 1904, to Miss Effie Carper and they became the parents of three children: Raymond Charles, Wilma Maud, and Effie Estelle. Mr. James is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M. and also of Pyramid Lodge No. 9 of the Sciots and also San Jose Parlor No. 22, N. S. G. W. and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He is very active in the

Chamber of Commerce, and Merchants' Association, also the Builders' Exchange and the Drayman's As- sociation. The family reside at 162 Viola Street.

A. ATHENOUR & BROS .- The owners of a fine vineyard in the Los Gatos district, the firm of A. Ath- enour & Bros. have developed a splendid business, the products of their vineyard being shipped all over the country. Natives of sunny France, the three brothers, Albert, Henry and Leon, were born near Gap, Hautes-Alps. Their father, Jean Athenour, with his three brothers, started to California in 1852. but one brother died at Panama while they were en route. On arriving at San Francisco, Jean Athenour went to Placerville, where he followed mining, re- maining in California for eight years and becoming a citizen of the United States. In 1860 he returned to France and married, following farming until he brought his wife and four children to California in 1888. He first located in Los Angeles, then engaged in fruit raising on a ranch of 189 acres in Fresno County. In 1894 he came to San Jose and started a bakery on Post and Vine Streets and later a store on Post Street, near First, continuing in the business for ten years. He passed away in 1909, survived by his widow and four children: Clara, Mrs. Junqua; Albert, Henry and Leon. Removing to Los Gatos, where they owned a ranch on Redmon Road, the brothers later purchased a vineyard of 137 acres on Branham Road, formerly the property of Mr. Freis- lag. Both places are now devoted to fruit, and bring in a handsome income.

L. M. Athenour is the manager of the business, and with his brothers he gives all of his time and effort to its development. He was married on July 26, 1908, to Miss Louise Rispand of Saratoga, Cal .. and one child has been born to them, a son, Leon, Jr. Mrs. Athenour was born at Long Bridge, this county. a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Colpin) Ris- paud, a pioneer of Long Bridge, and she is next to the youngest in a family of six children.

Mr. Athenour is a Republican in politics and in fraternal life is affiliated with the Odd Fellows in San Jose, being past grand of Lodge No. 242 in San Jose and is past district deputy. Industrious and ener- getic, he takes a genuine interest in all neighborhood affairs, and can ever be found on the side of progress.

LELAND H. WALKER .- A native son of Cali- fornia, born at Santa Cruz, and later of Los Gatos and San Jose, Leland H. Walker is a citizen of ability and energy and as such has contributed his best efforts in the advancement of this community. Born November 5, 1888, his parents were William S. and Margaret R. (Montross) Walker; his father came to California in the early sixties, and was em- ployed in the mines; later he established the Los Gatos News, and then bought the Los Gatos Mail. He was engaged in the newspaper business all his life up to the time that he passed away in 1909. Mrs. Walker makes her home at Los Gatos.

Leland H. Walker attended the grammar school of Los Gatos and graduated from the Santa Cruz high school in December, 1906; in 1912 he received his A. B. degree from Stanford University and his J. D. degree from the same college in 1914. During the same year he began the practice of law in San

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Jose and has proven successful in his chosen work. Politically he is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party and fraternally he is a third degree Mason, being a past master of Los Gatos Lodge No. 292. His marriage on April 21, 1915, at Los Gatos, united him with Miss Marie A. Soule of that city, and one son, Harrison M., has been born to them. Mr. Walker belongs to the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and can always be counted on to aid in its good works. During the recent war he willingly gave his time to active war work; he is a popular and forceful addition to the business life of San Jose, and is regarded as one of its most promising, public-spirited and genial citizens. He belongs to Bar Association, is a director of First National Bank of Los Gatos, and a member of the Republican County Central Committee.

RICHARD P. VAN ORDEN .- An enterprising, progressive business man who has capitalized his ex- perience to the great advantage of his fellow-citizens as well as himself, is Richard P. Van Orden, the president of the Fruit Growers of California, Inc. He was born in Spring Valley, Rockland County, N. Y., on February 27, 1859, the son of Peter L. Van Or- den, a farmer, who had married Miss Euphemia Felter. His paternal great-grandfather, Peter S. Van Orden, acquired his farm from the government after the Revolutionary War, in which he had served; he was a native of York State of Knickerbocker stock, his ancestors having emigrated from Hol- land, his father and two brothers being early pio- neers of New York. Frederick Van Orden, grand- father of our subject, resided on the farm his father owned and here Peter L. was born, engaging in farming all of his life; during the Civil War he vol- unteered for service, but was rejected. Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Van Orden were the parents of four chil- dren, all living, the subject of this sketch being the oldest of the family and the only one in California; a brother, Silas D., now owns the old family home in New York. Both parents are now deceased.

Richard attended the public school at Spring Val- ley, N. Y., and when he became of age he first mi- grated to Minnesota in 1880, where he worked as a carpenter for two years in Rochester; he then re- moved to Las Vegas, N. M., for a year, and after that to Dakota Territory, where he liked it so well that he remained for twelve years, engaged in farm- ing. He purchased land at Lisbon, Ransom County, N. D., and engaged in raising wheat on a large scale. He took a prominent part in the movement of statehood in North Dakota and was deputy sher- iff for six years and county assessor of Ransom County for four years. In 1898, at the time of the gold rush in Alaska he made the trip to Telegraph Creek by way of Ashcroft over the Telegraph Trail, and established a store at Glenora, one hundred fifty miles inland from Fort Wrangell, on the Stikine River, and ran it until August of the following year, when he went to the new diggings at Atlin, B. C., and was engaged in mining and merchandising until the fall of 1890. He then returned to California and fol- lowed mining at Groveland, Tuolumne County, un- til 1904, when he removed to Santa Clara County and settled at Mountain View, where he still has sixty-eight acres in prunes and apricots; and there he has been exceptionally successful. On May 8, 1919, Mr. Van Orden and others organized the Fruit Growers of California, Inc., and from the beginning

he has been president of the association, which has been so well received that it may be said to be per- manently established and, considering its age, in a very flourishing condition. It is run on purely co- operative lines, handling and shipping the green and ripe fruit raised by the different members of the association, which has a large membership, extend- ing to the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Benito. Mr. Van Orden makes his home on his ranch, in the prosperity and growth of which he takes keen pride. He realizes marketing of products is vital and is giving much thought and attention to this branch of the industry. He be- longs to the Mountain View Commercial Club, and both in that body, and through kindred affiliated or- ganizations Mr. Van Orden has been working stead- ily for the advancement of the best interests of California horticulture. He was also one of the prime movers in the organization of the California Prune and Apricot Growers, Inc., and he is still one of its trustees. As president of his company he is a member of the California legislative committee that has been doing so much work in the line of re- search and obtaining of statistics for aid in the enacting of legislation beneficial and protective to the growers. In national politics a Republican, in local affairs more nonpartisan, Mr. Van Orden is first and last an American, and during the Spanish- American War, when he was a member of the Na- tional Guard of North Dakota, volunteered for for- eign service, but the company was not called for service. He was made a Mason in Cheyenne Valley Lodge No. 12, A. F. & A. M., Lisbon, N. D., and belongs to the Odd Fellows, and is also a member of the Ancient Order United Workmen. Locally he is a member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Club.

HARRY ELLSWORTH SMITH .- Another suc- cessful practitioner of law of whom the California Bar is certain to be prouder as the years go by, is Harry Ellsworth Smith, of San Jose, a native of England, but as enthusiastic a son of Santa Clara County, as if he had sprung from the local soil. He was born in comfortable-going Yorkshire, on July 29, 1885, and he came with his parents to California when he was four years old. His father, John E. Smith, had married Miss Eliza Bilton, and together they migrated to America, pushed on West to the Golden State, and located in Saratoga, where Mr. Smith became an orchardist. Both are still living.

Harry went through the grammar school at Sara- toga and the high school at Santa Clara, and was graduated from the latter in 1906; and after that he inatriculated at Stanford University, from which he was graduated with all the honors of that flourishing alma mater, in 1910. On November 8, 1911, he was admitted to the bar to practice law in California; and tor three and a half years he was located in San Francisco. No better field for experience of the most enviable sort could be found; and when he de- cided to remove inland, he had an asset in his Bay City practice such as anyone with sensible ambi- tions might have coveted.

In 1914 Mr. Smith came to San Jose, and ever since he has been increasing the scope and the im- portance of his practice. He has been associated with or in charge of many notable cases, and has thoroughly established his reputation as a well-

Chus . M. Gassin

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

posted, ethical advocate. Besides being active in the County Bar Association, Mr. Smith has found it possible, as a broad-minded Republican, to help raise the local civic standards.

At Berkeley, on August 14, 1915, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Amelia A. MacSwain, a most at- tractive lady, who did much good, and drew about her a circle of devoted friends, passing away, mourned by many, January 22, 1919, the mother of one child-a daughter, Winifred Jean. Mr. Smith is a Scottish Rite Mason and an Odd Fellow. He enjoys a personal popularity through the geniality of his optimistic temperament.

CHARLES M. CASSIN-A California attorney whose growing prominence enables him, more and more, to help elevate the status of the California Bar among the legal profession of the United States, is Charles M. Cassin, who was born at San Francisco on January 10, 1868, the son of Michael and Anna (Daly) Cassin, both of whom are now dead. He attended the public schools in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, and in 1888 was graduated from Santa Clara College with the B. S. degree. He also studied at the University of Notre Dame, and in 1891 was given the LL. B. degree by the University of Michigan.

At Santa Cruz Mr. Cassin opened his first office; and so easily did he demonstrate an exceptional knowledge of the law, and also show his tempera- mental fitness for tactful practice and the honest defense and prosecution of his clients' best interests, that he rapidly acquired patronage which might have kept him in that delightful Coast city all his life. He took a fancy to San Jose, however, removed here in 1913, and ever since has been numbered one of the most successful of the elder barristers of Santa Clara County.

On August 24, 1896, Mr. Cassin was married at Watsonville to Miss Catherine Sheeby, the daugh- ter of Jeremiah and Catherine Sheeby and a native of Watsonville; and their fortunate marriage has resulted in the birth of six children: Catherine, Charles, Marion, Gerald, Anna and Robert. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church, and Mr. Cassin is both an Elk and a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.

EMERSON H. WEMPLE .- A representative pio- neer settler of California, Emerson H. Wemple oc- cupies an honored position among the well-to-do re- tired residents of Santa Clara County. He has spent a busy and useful life, and many of the events of his career are worthy of record in this historical work. Born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., Novem- ber 17, 1853, a son of Harry A. and Betsy (Smiley) Wemple, who were both natives of New York, he is the third son of a family of six children; two brothers are deceased, three sisters still survive. Early in the year of 1860, his parents joined a company of a hundred people, who were determined to brave the hardships attendant upon crossing the plains; six months were consumed in making the journey in wagons drawn by horses. The family settled on the Sacramento River in Sutter County, where Harry A. Wemple owned and developed a 200-acre grain farm. There the mother died about 1870. In 1874 Harry Wemple located on a farm at Biggs Station, remaining until 1880, when he removed to Fresno and engaged in viticulture. Later he sold out and

retired and spent his last days with his son in San Jose, passing away at eighty years of age.

Emerson H. Wemple received his early education in the public schools of Sutter County and in 1874 he entered the San Jose State Normal with the in- tention of becoming a teacher, but at the end of two years he returned to the Sacramento Valley and in- vested in a 160-acre farm near Biggs, Butte County, and for two years farmed with considerable success, selling his wheat crop in 1877 for $2.271/2 per cental; but the wet years of 1878-9 drowned him out and he sold his farm and removed to Mendocino County. settling near Covelo, Round Valley, where he served as caretaker in charge of the livestock for the gov- ernment on the Round Valley Indian reservation for three years; looking after 5,000 head of cattle and several hundreds of horses, besides about sixty fam- ilies of Indians. Before going to Round Valley Mr. Wemple was married in Butte County in 1877 to Miss Dora Fisher, a daughter of Rev. J. S. Fisher, Methodist minister at Big Station, Butte County. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wemple: Ruby, the wife of George Rucker, and they reside on South Fourteenth Street, San Jose. In the year of 1882 Mr. Wemple removed from Round Valley to San Jose, and established himself in the grocery business in which he gave his undivided time. In 1901 the Wemple Grocery Company was incorpor- ated and he continued as president until he sold out in 1903, after twenty-one years in business.

From the very start, the business began to show signs of success, growing to such proportions that the company was forced to enlarge their store. For two years after selling out he prospected in the Sierras, and was fortunate in finding and developing a placer mine called Clipper Ship Mine, where he built a ditch and installed an hydraulic giant, and still retains a partnership in it. . Upon returning to San Jose, he again entered his chosen line of work, opening an attractive, modern grocery store. In this business venture he was assisted by his son- in-law, and the partnership of the Wemple Grocery Company was maintained until 1919 when it was dissolved. They were both active in the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Merchants As- sociation of San Jose. After the sale of the busi- ness in 1919, Mr. Wemple purchased a half inter- est in the Crystal Creamery Company and his son- in-law was made an officer of the corporation.

Mr. Wemple has always been actively identified with the advance movements of his community. He was a member of the city council for two years. then library trustee two years, and for six years he was a member of the board of school trustees, two years of the time being chairman of the board. Po- litically he is a stalwart Republican, and at one time served on the Republican County Central Commit- tee of Santa Clara County. Fraternally, he has been an active member of the Odd Fellows since 1895. being a member of Garden City Lodge, and is a member of the Rebekahs and is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.

In 1917, Mrs. Wemple passed away at the family residence at 409 North Fourth Street, where they had continuously resided since 1888. On December 25, 1919, his second marriage occurred, uniting him with Miss Marie Jakuillard, a long-time friend of the family. She is a graduate registered nurse of San Francisco, who had been for many years, special

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nurse to Dr. Ward in San Francisco. Mr. Wemple is fond of out-door life and spends much time in motoring. Although practically retired, he is a man of intense vitality, of conserved energy and great resourcefulness, and he takes a vital interest in all movements for the development of the re- sources of his community. His high general stand- ing, his genial and cordial manners, and above all the noble aims of his life have made him many friends.

JOSEPH CHARLES STILLWELL .- An effi- cient, genial public official of Santa Clara County is Joseph Charles Stillwell, the popular custodian of the State Normal School at San Jose, who enjoys a wide acquaintanceship throughout the county and beyond. His native town of San Jose, where he was born on June 26, 1879, a member of one of the liis- toric families of California, his grandfather having come here in 1846 as a member of the Donner party; his parents, who are happily still living, are Joseph M. and Josephine Stillwell, the former also a native of San Jose. The Donner party, it will be recalled, was part of a train which went its own way, in the hope of finding a shorter route, and being lost in the Sierras amid the heavy snows of the winter of 1846- 47, suffered so terribly that only a few survived. Fortunately Grandfather Stillwell was made of those enduring qualities which enabled him to weather the storms and suffer the famine and other privations, and eventually become one of the most influential builders of the Pacific commonwealth.

Joseph C. Stillwell attended the public schools of San Jose, and when he was through with the school- masters, he learned the painter's trade, which he followed for seventeen years. He then and there established a reputation for excessive conscientious- ness to work and duty, and this was part of his capi- tal when, in 1909, he was appointed by the president of the State Normal School custodian of that insti- tution. He soon demonstrated his fitness for this position and he has performed the responsible duties ever since. He is a Republican, when it comes to a preference for national party programs, and yet there are few, if any, more encouraging "boosters" of the city and locality, willing to throw aside all narrow partisanship and help the town and its en- virons, and particularly to advance in every way he ean the progressive institution with which he has the honor to be connected.

At San Francisco, and in 1905, Mr. Stillwell was married to Miss Mamie Miskel, a member of another old Santa Clara County family, and they have one child, Lorraine, to brighten their home.

EDWARD J. STOPPELWORTH .- An experi- enced, far-sighted realtor who has done much to stabilize land and property values in Santa Clara County, although a somewhat recent comer here, is Edward J. Stoppelworth, who was born in St. Louis on February 6, 1876, the son of Edward F. Stoppel- worth, an inventor. He married Miss Kate Huber, who proved just the wife for such an intellectual, ingenious man. Both of these worthy parents passed away in 1900.

Edward enjoyed the usual common school ad- vantages, and when he had a chance to do so, learned the ins and outs of a planing mill. In 1905 he first came to California, and in the fall of that year he

located in San Jose. He was for a year manager of the branch office of the W. J. White Company, at Campbell, and then he took the coast managership of the Luther Grinder Company of Milwaukee, and for two years traveled for them as their representa- tive. Then he entered the service of the San Jose I umber Company, where, for a couple of years, he was department foreman. Having decided to ven- ture into the more attractive field of real estate. Mr. Stoppelworth resigned from the lumber company's service, and has been very successful in this field, and such has been his good work as president of the Fifth Ward Improvement Club, that he became a candidate for membership in the San Jose City Council. A man above the restraints of narrow partisanship, Mr. Stoppelworth has been able to broaden local issues, and thus to render the greatest possible civic service.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 190

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