History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 214

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

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JAMES SHORT .- A rancher of unusual interest, first, because of his substantial results, and secondly because of the methods he employs to attain success, year after year, in his agricultural pursuits, is James Short, a native of Aghada, County Cork, Ireland, and now residing on Capitol avenue, south of Berry- essa. He was born on October 3, 1881, the son of Peter Short, a noted horseman, who had married Miss Ellen Mackey, and he died in Ireland in 1895. James is the second in a family of thirteen children, the others being Ellen, Margaret, Peter, Mary, Katie, Joseph, Thomas, Eugene, Richard, Thomas (second so named), John and Patrick. The first Thomas, Engene, Richard, and John are now deceased.

James Short attended the excellent public schools in Ireland, enjoying with his brothers the scholarship and the sensible, if rigid discipline of the old-time Irish schoolmaster, and he grew up to work on the farm. In 1902, however, he felt the call to the West- ern World, crossed the ocean and came out to Cali- fornia, and his father having died, he made his ven- ture into American life with his mother and the rest of the family. Arriving at San Jose, he entered upon what was to prove several years' service with the San Jose Street Railway Company, working on the street cars; but he also early purchased at Berryessa a ranch of ten acres on Capitol Avenue, just north of the Penetencia Creek Road, and eight acres of this ranch are now in apricots, and two acres in prunes. The little farm is fast becoming a show-place, and it is certain that, since it came under Mr. Short's skillful management, it has been the object of ad- miration, if not of envy, on the part of many who know what goes to make up a first-class ranch.

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Naturally a home-body, and not allured by even the attractions of fraternal society life, Mr. Short finds pleasure in the fact that most of his brothers and sisters are in California. Ellen has become Mrs. John Guerin of San Jose; Margaret is Mrs. James Healy and the wife of a popular member of the San Jose police force; Peter is at San Jose; Mary is living with her mother and our subject at Berry- essa. Kate is the wife of Michael Coyle, who is a valued employee of Lion's Furniture Store at San Jose; Joseph is at Menlo Park, Cal .; and both Thomas and Patrick live in San Jose. Of such valu- able pioneers as the Short family the unrivalled Santa Clara Valley has been built into the most desirable home-section in the world.

JOHN R. BROKENSHIRE .- It is almost impos- sible to imagine what would be the condition of the country without the development of its great min- eral resources and valuable indeed has been the con- tribution which mining men have made to the prog- ress of the world. Born at St. Day, Cornwall, England, December 15, 1867, John R. Brokenshire, the son of Mark and Mary (Roberts) Brokenshire, came of a line of mining men, his father being a mining superintendent. Both father and mother were natives of Cornwall. I His father was em- ployed by the Wiggin Coal & Iron Company for mining work in Africa and afterwards went to France. On account of the extremes in the climate of Africa. where the heat is so intense and then being trans- ferred to France where he encountered extreme cold, his health failed and he passed away in the moun- tains of France. The mother passed away at the old home in 1913.

John R. Brokenshire was reared and educated at St. Stephens near St. Austell, and after school days he followed mining. Upon coming to his majority, he embarked for the United States and settled at Ironwood, Mich., where he went into the iron mines, doing contract work. Here on May 28, 1892, he married Miss Mary Phillips, also a native of Corn- wall, England. Her grandfather was manager of clay works there and became very wealthy. She was the daughter of Daniel and Fannie (Truscott) Phillips and her father was the originator of a process of making vitrolite glazed brick. When but an infant, her mother died, and she was reared by a stepmother.

In the spring of 1894 Mr. Brokenshire came to California settling first in Amador County where he engaged in mining, then was for a short time at the Sutter Creek mines; after this seven years was spent in the Trinidad mines in Placer County, where he had charge of the mine and mill. Next he came to San Jose and here entered the employ, in the shops, of the Santa Clara Street Railway Company, but soon returned to Trinidad mine, taking a lease on it and made a success of the minc. A year later the company took it back and he returned to San Jose and entered the employ of the Southern Pacific and is now stationary engineer at the shops.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bro- kenshire: Lewis, deceased; Guy, a mining engineer, was a student at Stanford University before being employed at the Shasta copper mines; John R., Jr., before the war was a law student at Stanford, but at the present time is a reporter on the staff of the Mercury-Herald of San Jose; Wesley was a student

of the San Jose high school, then took a course on forestry at the University of Washington and is now in the U. S. Forest Service; Dwight is stenographer in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company; Lucille is presiding over her father's home since her mother's death; Roy is a student of the San Jose high school. For years the family lived at 105 Grant Street, but in October, 1919, a home at 79 Magnolia Avenue was purchased. Mrs. Broken- shire passed away in June, 1920, deeply mourned by her family and friends.

Three of the sons, Guy, Wesley and John R., Jr .. saw active service in France during the World War. Guy entered the service of his country on November 3, 1917. With Company A, Twenty- seventh Engineers, he trained first at Camp Meade, Md., for three months, then was sent to Hoboken from which place he set sail on February 28, 1918, landing at Brest, France, March 10, 1918. Here he trained at Langres for five months and was then sent into the Baccarat sector, thence to the St. Mihiel sector, where he saw active service, also in the Meuse-Argonne salient, and was stationed near Thiaucourt and Pont-a-Mousson during the active fighting there. After the signing of the armistice, he was stationed at Givet near Bar-Ic- Duc, from which place he embarked for the United States, March 7, 1919, coming to the Presidio where he was honorably discharged April 12, 1919, there- upon returning to his home in San Jose. Wesley, when eighteen, enlisted in Company M, Fifth Cali- fornia Infantry, N. G. C., at San Jose, serving at first at Fresno, guarding bridges. He then went to Camp Kearney, and was there for about one year, from there going to France with a detachment sent for replacement work. He was transferred to Company C, Thirtieth Infantry, Third Division, and saw ac- tive service as a corporal with this division at Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel and in the Meuse- Argonne drive. Shortly before the armistice was signed, he was stricken with the influenza, was sent to Bordeaux and returned to the United States on a hospital ship in December, 1918, and was discharged at the Presidio. John R., Jr., was disabled, on ac- count of the loss of an eye, for active service; how- ever, he took the civil service examinations and served as quartermaster's clerk in the railroad transport service at San Diego.

Politically Mr. Brokenshire is independent, believ- ing in the fitness of the man for the office. He is a consistent member of the Centella Methodist Episcopal Church of San Jose and fraternally is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. He has been a firm believer in the prosperity and development of Santa Clara Coun- ty and with the interest of a loyal citizen has watched its advancement and growth until it has reached its present high standard of civilization.

GUS A. ENGLAND .- A native son of Santa Clara County, whose father is now one of the coun- ty's oldest pioneer settlers, Gus A. England is the popular manager of the University Bowling Alley, Santa Clara. He was born at Milliken's Corners on February 24, 1870, the son of Beverly Allen and Jennie (Simpson) England, both natives of Mis- souri, who crossed the plains in 1853, though in different emigrant trains. Mrs. England passed away in . 1913, and Beverly A. England, now in his

John @ Brokenshire

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eightieth year, makes his home with his son, Harry England, at San Jose, and a sketch of his life and early journey across the plains will be found else- where in this work.

The eldest of the two children born to these pioneer parents, Gus A. England came with his parents to Santa Clara, and continued his studies through the high school there. In 1895 he estab- lished himself in business at Santa Clara, and since that time he has been identified with the upbuild- ing of this attractive city, which has experienced a steady, constant growth of late years. In 1908 Mr. England was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor Cramm, the ceremony being solemnized at Santa Cruz. Mr. England belongs to the Santa Clara Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and he is an enthusiastic admirer of the great Golden State. The characteristics which helped to distinguish his pioneer parents have largely become his, and he is always glad to contribute towards the further development of this great common- wealth of the Pacific.

JOSEPH C. AZEVEDO .- A dairy-rancher whose prosperity is the natural result of his foresight and unremitting industry, is Joseph C. Azevedo, whose trim farm is at the corner of Storey and King roads, in San Jose. He was born in Oakland, on March 31, 1896, the son of Joe and Catherine (Silva) Aze- vedo, natives of Pico, in the Azores Islands, who come to California in 1890. They settled in Oak- land, and had a dairy there. Five children blessed their union: Lida, who died in infancy; Evelyn. now Mrs. Fonti; our subject, Joseph C., of this sketch; Antone, who died in 1920 at the age of eighteen; the youngest passed away in infancy.

Joseph commenced his schooling in Oakland, and when he was twelve years old he accompanied his parents to Contra Costa County, where he finished with his books. Two years later, when fourteen, he set out to make his own way in the world, and commenced to work on ranches in Walnut Creek; and when he was eighteen years old, he returned to Oakland and for two years worked as a painter in the locomotive shops. After that he removed to San Jose and established himself in dairying; and he succeeded so well that he came to have sixty cows, continuing there for three years.

On October 13, 1917, however, he entered the service of the U. S. Army; and he was sent to Camp Lewis, where he joined the Three Hundred Sixty- fourth Infantry, Company I., Ninety-first Division, and in July, 1918, he was sent to France. He had qualified as a sniper before leaving America and on arriving in France, he was transferred to the auto- matic rifle squad. After training for two months he was in the reserves of the St. Mihiel drive, and took part in the Meuse-Argonne first offensive, and was then sent to Belgium, where he participated in the operations of the Ypres-Lys salient. When the armistice had been signed, he was sent to Her- zecle, Belgium, for a month, and then to France, and in March, 1919, commenced the return journey to America. In April he was honorably discharged at Camp Kearney and then he returned to San Jose. He is a member of the American Legion and a Republican in politics.

On February 14, 1920, Mr. Azevedo was married at San Jose to Miss Mary Texiera, a native of Sau- salito, and the daughter of Joseph and Rita (Lacer-

da) Texiera, experienced and successful dairy ranch- ers still living on the White Road in Santa Clara County. Mr. Azevedo is in partnership with his father and now they have about 240 head of cattle, 150 being milch cows and a very fine dairy ranch. His barns are modern and most sanitary and equipped with milking machines. He is a charter member of the San Francisco Milk Producers Association.

STEVE PASSELLI .- An experienced, successful and prosperous rancher who not only well knows what he is doing but is able, as he is always willing. to tell "the other fellow" how best to operate, is Steve Passelli, a native of Canton, Ticino, Switzer- land, where he was born on January 24, 1886, the son of Zaverio and Irmastina Passelli. His father was a man who labored hard, but he also worked in- telligently and faithfully for whomsoever he con- tracted to serve; he had two sons, and the brother of Steve was named Joseph.

Steve Passelli attended the grammar school until he was fourteen years old, and then he commenced to work in real earnest. He helped his father until he came of age; and then, desiring to profit by the greater opportunities in the New World, he crossed the ocean, came out to California, and started to work on a dairy farm near Gonzales, in Monterey County. He worked for six years on dairy farms, and then he leased a large dairy ranch for five years. After a year's experience there, however, he sold out to his partner and started a new dairy. He built this up until he had about 100 cows, and at the end of two years, he disposed of that ranch, also.

Mr. Passeli then made a trip home to Switzerland, where he stayed for ten months; and there he mar- ried, on November 18, 1920, Miss Paulina Barea, the daughter of John and Serafina Barea. Her father was a stone mason by trade, and he took a pride in send- ing his daughter to the excellent Swiss public schools. On his return 'to America with his bride, Mr. Pas- selli settled on Capitol Avenue, and on April 1, 1921. he started a model dairy on the Tuttle ranch. Now he has fifty-two cows and sixty-four acres in alfalfa, and he is able to send about 100 gallons of milk a day to the East Bay Milk Producers' Association. Mr. and Mrs. Paselli, who have become favorites with all who know them and are highly esteemed in the town and vicinity of Milpitas, have one child, a daughter named Elsie; and Mr. Passelli is a mem- ber of Soledad Lodge No. 167, of the Druids.

HENRY CATANIA .- A native son of California, Henry Catania was born in Los Angeles, Cal., June 7, 1888. the son of Joseph and Josephine Catania, both parents natives of the Province D'Palermo. Italy. The father, Joseph, came to the United States and settled in Louisiana when a young man and farmed near New Orleans one year and removed to California, but only remained one year, when he re- turned to Louisiana and for the next nine years was occupied in farming, after which he again returned to California, content to remain the balance of his days, and is now engaged in market gardening on his farm on North Thirteenth Street. San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Catania are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living: Joseph, Vincent. Henry, Frank, Nicholas, Rosie, Effie, and Jennie.

Henry was educated in the grammar school of San Jose and began to make his own way when quite young. He worked for four years for the Singletary brothers; for Henry Stelling for two years;

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then for two years he was with Charles Bocks, doing orchard work. He also worked on the farms of Frank Holmes and Ed. Johnson in the Cupertino district. He then was employed by the Singletary brothers as superintendent of their ranch on the Fre- mout Road, after having completed a two years' course at the agricultural school of the University of California, at Davis.

The marriage of Mr. Catania occurred in San Jose September 3, 1915 and united him with Miss Antonia Vassal, born and reared in Baldwin, La., where she received her education, and about twelve years ago she accompanied her parents to California. She is one of a family of four children. Mr. and Mrs. Cat- ania are the parents of a daughter, Josephine. In national politics, Mr. Catania is a stanch Republican.

FRANCISCO P. SOARES .- The subject of this review is the representative of a pioneer family of California, Francisco P. Soares, being the grand- son of Antone Soares who came to California in 1849 around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel. He was born in Flores of the Azores Islands, Portugal, October 31, 1872, the son of John and Victoria Soares. The paternal grandfather on arriving in California worked in the placer mines of Mono County; later he re- turned to his native land via Panama to Boston, thence across the ocean to Portugal. When our subject's father, John Soares, was sixteen years old he went to sea on a whaling vessel and after spend- ing four years on the sea, he stopped at New Bedford, Mass., expecting to meet his father, but upon arriving there found that his father had already returned to Portugal; he then secured employment on a sailing vessel and gradually worked his way back to his home; while at home he was married, b it soon left for America leaving his wife in Flores; for a time he was a sailor, plying between Philadel- phia and New Orleans, but when the Civil War broke out he remained in Boston. After the close of the war he went to San Francisco and wrote for his wife and family to come to California, but she did not like the account of the Indian ravages and thought California was uncivilized, so remained in Flores with their four children, Mary, Francisco, Joseph, and Emily. John Soares finally returned to his old home and lived there until he passed away in July, 1921; the mother is still living at the age of eighty-nine.

Francisco was educated in the schools of Flores and when he reached the age of seventeen he came to America landing at Boston and coming by rail to San Francisco in 1889. For eleven months he worked as gardener, then went to the sheep camps in the San Joaquin Valley and was engaged in herd- ing sheep for seven months at $25 per month; then he contracted to work for five years at $30 per month and at the end of the five years he had nothing, his employer having become bankrupt, Mr. Soares receiving but $50.00 for his five years' work. He then went to Reno, Nev., was with P. L. Flan- nagan, a stockman trading camp, for over seven years. At the end of this time he took a trip to his old home and was gone eighteen months, during which time he was married on February 4, 1903, to Miss Mary Gomez, also born in Flores, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Peireira) Gomez. Her parents were farmers. Mr. Soares remained one year in his old home after his marriage and in February, 1904, he returned to Nevada and again worked for P. L.

Flannagan. But before his wife could join him she passed away in September, 1904, in Flores, and the bereaved husband continued his employment with his former employer and worked for him over five years. He then went to work for Andrew Fran- zen, a sheep grower and later went into partnership with Mr. Franzen and Walter Sherlock. They pur- chased 2,700 sheep and within three years' time their flock had increased to 10,000. In July, 1917, the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Soares sold his interest for $30,000; then removed to Oakland and on December 4, 1917, was married the second time to Miss Anna Peireira, a cousin of his first wife, her father and the first wife's mother being twins. She is the daughter of John T. and Mary (Vascon- sellas) Peireira. After his marriage Mr. Soares bought fifteen acres on Pomeroy Avenue near Santa Clara, devoted to the raising of prunes, apricots and cherries. He has one of the finest orchards in the district. Mr. and Mrs. Soares are the parents of two children, Victoria Marie and John Francis. Mr. Soares is a member of the St. Antonia lodge, and Mrs. Soares of the U. P. P. E. C. in Santa Clara and the S. P. R. S. I. of Hayward. In politics they are adherents of the Republican party.

JOHN F. BEATTY .- Few men in Santa Clara County are more deserving the success attending their various efforts than John F. Beatty, the ex- perienced, far-seeing and enterprising butcher of Alviso, for in addition to his ability and industry, he has always led in public-spiritedness, and has been invariably an effective booster for Santa Clara County and all within its favored borders. A native son, he was born in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, on Oc- tober 14, 1878, the son of George W. and Emma Beatty. His father, who was a butcher in Santa Rosa, came across the great plains in 1851, traveling by ox team, when he was a mere child; and with his folks he settled in Sonoma County.

John attended the grammar school of Santa Rosa. and at the age of seventeen, he started to make his own way in the world. He had learned the butcher's trade under his father, and when twenty-one years of age left Santa Rosa and went to Lovelocks, Nev., where he worked as a butcher. From there he moved on to Pendleton, Ore., where he followed his trade. In 1904, Mr. Beatty returned to Mayfield, where he worked as a butcher for a short time, and he also worked in the shops at Mountain View and Sunny- vale; and in 1916 he came to Alviso and reopened a shop which had previously been unsuccessful. Thor- oughly understanding his business, he attained suc- cess where others had failed, and now he buys grain, feeds hogs, and butchers hogs and calves, and such is the popularity of his high-grade products, that his own cure of bacon is always in demand-far ahead of its being prepared. He has raised a drove of ninety head of hogs, and he has a large flock of turkeys, and it is his intention soon to engage in the raising exclusively of hogs and stock.

At Mountain View, on February 8, 1913, Mr. Beatty was married to Miss Adele Girard, a native of Santa Clara County, and the daughter of a rancher who was also engaged in the management of a hotel at Mountain View. Three children have blessed the fortunate union, Clara, Evelyn and Frank. In na- tional political affairs, Mr. Beatty prefers the plat- forms of the historic Republican party.

Eliza J. Farrell

Il Farrell

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M. FARRELL .- The genial treasurer of the Cali- fornia State Grange, M. Farrell, is a prominent figure in the affairs of his locality and his gift for leadership is appreciated by his fellow-citizens. He is of impos- ing stature, standing six feet four inches, and his cor- dial, kindly manner has won for him many friends and a substantial place in the community. He was born near Fond du Lac, Wis., at the landing known as Eden, May 1, 1855, a son of Ryan and Ann (Don- nelly ) Farrell. Making their way to New York in 1867, the family came via the Nicaragua route to San Francisco, landing there about June 1 of that year, the voyage consuming about a month. Settling at Los Gatos, the family purchased a farm and resided there until the father passed away in 1869; Mrs. Farrell spent her last days at Mountain View, her death oc- curring at the age of sixty-nine. M. Farrell was twelve years old when the family left Wisconsin, where he had received his elementary education in the public schools, and on reaching Los Gatos he con- tinued his studies there, meanwhile assisting on the home ranch. Upon the death of his father he was thrown on his own resources and began working out on farms, and so diligently did he apply himself that he became foreman of the Martin Murphy, Jr., ranch of 5,000 acres at Sunnyvale when he was but twenty years old, occupying this responsible position for seventeen years.

On May 20, 1880, Mr. Farrell was united in mar- riage with Miss Eliza South, a sister of Charles D. South, the present postmaster of Santa Clara, the ceremony being performed at San Luis Obispo. Mrs. Farrell was born in New York State and reared at Plattsburg. her parents being Captain Joseph and Catherine (McMullen) South, born in Ireland and Montreal, Canada, respectively. The father came to New York when a young man and although the head of a family when the Civil War broke out he enlisted, becoming a first lieutenant in the Ninety-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry. As senior officer of his company he was gallantly leading his men when he was shot at the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. Mrs. South spent her last days in California, passing away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Farrell. Mrs. Farrell, who was educated at D'Youville Convent at Platts- burg, N. Y., came to Santa Clara in 1876, and for four years was engaged in educational work as governess in the family of Martin Murphy, Jr.

For four years Mr. Farrell operated the Martin Murphy, Jr., ranch under lease, in the meantime pur- chasing a ranch of 120 acres north of Mountain View, which he planted to apples, grain and truck garden, and another place of 142 acres south of Los Altos, upon which was a thirty-acre prune orchard, the rest being devoted to hay, stock and grain. In 1911 he ac- quired the twelve-acre ranch on El Monte Avenue and Springer Road, known as The Elms, largely devoted to prunes, and here the family make their home. Mr. Farrell has always taken a live interest in the political affairs of the county, and has served on the Democratic Central Committee, attending the various state and county conventions. He is a mem- ber of San Jose Lodge No. 522, B. P. O. E., and San Jose Lodge No. 879, K. of C., also of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, having served as county presi- dent. Mr. and Mrs. Farrell were charter members of the Mountain View Grange, which was the largest grange in the state, and Mr. Farrell has held all the

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 214

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