History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 216

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

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Floyd O., the eighth of the family, received a gram- mar and high school education and in 1911, when seventeen years of age, assumed the responsibility of the operation of the home ranch, which he has since successfully managed. In 1919 he purchased the or- chard from his father and gives it close attention. He is deeply interested in all modern developments along horticultural lines and utilizes the most im- proved equipment, including an evaporating plant. He is thus independent of the sun for drying pur- poses and through this process obtains the maximum cf weight in the fruit. His time and attention are con- centrated upon his chosen life work, to which he gives much thought and study, keeping abreast of the times in every way. Mr. Bohnett, his brother, L. D. Boh- nett, and the inventor, H. E. Clauser, hold the patent right for the duplex interlocking building block, a new system of permanent construction of concrete build- ings. They are incorporated as the Duplex Construc- tion Equipment Company and manufacture the ma- chines and molds for making the above concrete bricks and are now introducing it into the various parts of the United States. It is as substantial as brick or concrete buildings and at the same time com- petes with frame construction in prices. Mr. Bohnett individually has the Santa Clara County rights and

has a plant for manufacturing the brick on his ranch. He believes in the cooperative marketing of fruit and is an enthusiastic member of the California Prune & Apricot Growers Association, the California Coop- erative Canneries and the California Walnut Growers.

Mr. Bohnett was united in marriage at San Jose with Miss Violet Morgan, born in this locality, and they reside in their large residence on the ranch, which has been, for many years, the home of the Bohnett family. They have two children, Joseph, Jr., and Thomas Morgan. In his political views Mr. Bolinett is a Republican and he is now serving as school trustee of the Cambrian district, the school that his mother and all eleven children attended. He was made a Mason in Charity Lodge No. 362, F. & A. M. at Campbell, in which he is past master; he is a member of all the Scottish Rite bodies in San Jose and he is also a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at San Francisco. His work sustains the enterprising spirit that has long been synonymous with the family name in Santa Clara County, for he has lived up to worthy standards, and his influence is always to be counted upon in the promotion of any measure looking to the improvement of the com- munity in which he lives.

ALPHONSE J. MAISONNEUVE .- Industry, frugality and perseverance have been leading traits of character in the career of Alphonse J. Maison- neuve, who has been engaged in the mill business in California for the past thirty years. Born December 16, 1871, in Kankakee, Ill., he is a son of Paul Maisonneuve, who also was engaged in milling. Both father and mother were natives of Montreal, Canada, removing to Illinois during their early married life. The mother, Julia Lougtin, passed away after their removal to Kansas, when Alphonse J. was a baby. The second marriage united him with Miss De Lima Paradise, who was also a native of French Canada and came to the states in the early '60s. She proved to be a mother to the orphan boy and his brother Paul, who now resides in Oakland.

Mr. Maisonneuve's early education was obtained in the public schools of Kansas, but as early as 1886, when only fifteen years of age, he set out for him- self to earn his own way in the world. His first job was in a large flouring mill near Marshall, Minn., and where he remained for two years. In 1888 he removed to California, settling in Ventura County, where he only remained for a year. In 1901 he set- tled in San Jose, establishing a home at 356 South Ninth Street, but now lives at 121 Vine Street.

In 1895 Mr. Maisonneuve was married to Miss Elizabeth Delaney, born in County Manchester, Eng- land, coming to America with her grandmother in 1883. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Maisonneuve: Aileen M. the wife of R. C. Ken- ter, residents of Santa Cruz; Joseph, an ex-service man, who served in the U. S. Navy during the World War, was second gunner's mate, and was for over three years in the Asiatic station; Elsie E .; Cecil, wife of Sheldon E. Crawford of San Jose; and Carmela. The children were all educated at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's schools. Fraternally Mr. Maisonneuve is an active member of the Woodmen of the World, serving as the manager of Alamo Camp No. 80 of San Jose, and is also a member of Eagles No. 8, Gowonga Tribe of Redmen and Neigh-

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bors of Woodcraft, and Millmen's Union No. 262. Politically he is a consistent Republican.

In 1914 Mr. Maisonneuve owned and operated the Fourth Street Planing Mill, and constantly employed sixteen men; however, in 1917, he disposed of his business with the intention of engaging in the ice and cold storage business, but on account of the restric- tions of the Government, he was unable to get a permit for such a business. He then assumed the superintendency for Shirley & Sons Planing Mill, who were formerly his partners. He has always been liberal with time and money for movements for im- provements, and is recognized as a progressive and enterprising citizen. He believes in the future of Santa Clara County, and has never had occasion to regret his determination to settle here.

FREEMAN H. KEMP .- A well-educated, genial gentleman, who is now living retired from active service, is Freeman H. Kemp, a Civil War veteran, who has led a most active and useful life. He was born on September 29, 1837, in Boston, Mass., and entered publie school at the age of six years. In 1855 he went to sea on a whaler, cruising in the South Pacific Ocean, then took a trip to the West Coast of Africa. On April 10, 1861, two days before the call of 75,000 recruits, he enlisted in Company C. Third United States Infantry, and his regiment served as bodyguard for General MeClellan for many months. During his service he was under Mcclellan, Burn- side, Hooker and Meade and remained in the Army of the Potomac during the entire rebellion. In April, 1864, the company in which he was serving was re- duced to twenty men and sent to New York on a recruiting expedition. He was honorably discharged at Fort Columbus, N. Y., but remained there only a short time when he reenlisted in Company E, Forty-second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and went to Fort Alexander, Va., across from Washing- ton, D. C. Five months later he was honorably discharged at Reedsville, Mass.

In November, 1865, at Independence, Iowa, Mr. Kemp was married to Miss Flora E. Root, born at Worcester, Mass., on December 1, 1848, who re- moved to Iowa in 1864 with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Kemp are the parents of three children: Charles Grant came West with his parents and passed away on June 30, 1920; Alice E. is the wife of A. J. Beaty and they have four children and reside at Paso Robles; Herbert Lincoln is married and has one child and they reside at Healdsburg.

Early in 1873 Mr. Kemp removed with his family to Knox County, Nebr., which was at that time a pioneer country and they took up a homestead and farmed until 1894. During the severe floods of 1881 he cared for sixteen of the sufferers and Mr. Root cared for twenty-four. His farm consisted of 120 acres and was devoted to the raising of grain and stock. In 1894 he removed to Paradise Valley and was one of the pioneers who bought a tract of un- cultivated land, covered with oak trees, which he cleared, developed and set to orchard, which he disposed of in 1919. On his forty acres, ten of which was in orchard, he developed a spring that never has ceased to flow. The family then removed to Morgan Hill and invested in several pieces of property. Mrs. Kemp is active in club life at Morgan Hill and belongs to the W. C. T. U. and the Civic Club.

In politics Mr. Kemp is a stalwart Republican and rejoices in the fact that he voted for Abraham Lincoln and was in attendance at his second in- auguration and was a member of the guard, one of the very few surviving members of that body; he was in Washington the night of Lincoln's assassina- tion. A brother, Stephen B. Kemp, served in the Tenth Massachusetts Infantry and was wounded seven times; another brother, George H., was on the Frigate Congress, destroyed by the Merrimae; Frank E. Kemp, the youngest brother, was wounded and captured and held prisoner at Libby Prison and later was removed to Andersonville, where he met death by starvation. It is not to be wondered at that Mr. Kemp loves peace and hates war with a vengeance. Of a sunny, philosophical, optimistic, common-sense temperament, Mr. Kemp is a good neighbor and a good friend, and is always appreciated by those who know his character and his conversa- tional powers as good company.

FRANK HUBBARD .- An enterprising, prosper- ous stockman so conversant with California condi- tions that he has set the pace for others in the same field of alluring endeavor, is Frank Hubbard, living about fourteen miles out of San Jose on the Mt. Hamilton Road, and esteemed and influential as perhaps the most extensive stockman near Halls Valley. A genuine Hawkeye, he was born near Council Bluffs, Iowa, on January 8, 1850, and his parents were Adam Clark and Abigail E. (Chase) Hubbard. His father was born in Ohio in 1820, and was reared in Wabash County, Ind .; and in 1852 he crossed the plains to California, and for a year remained in Eldorado County. In September, 1853, he came into Santa Clara County, and as a farmer he was located half-way between Evergreen and Jackson. On account of his health, he went up into the hills northeast of Mt. Hamilton, and there engaged in stockraising; but the drought of 1864 bankrupted him.

Frank Hubbard joined his father in the stock- raising business when a young man, and in 1882 came down to Halls Valley and bought 300 acres of land; and now he controls about 8,000 acres of range land and aims to let run about 500 head of cattle. He has set out some twenty acres to orehard, in which he has about 2,000 young pear and prune trees, and has also erected a fine dwelling and all the necessary farm buildings on his home-place. He follows up-to-date methods, so it is natural that he gets results of the kind that every ambitious ranchman is always seeking after.

At San Jose, on November 17, 1880, Mr. Hubbard was married to Miss Retta L. Brakefield, a native of Pettis County, Mo., and the daughter of F. F. and Elizabeth (Taylor) Brakefield-the former a native of Ohio, the latter born in Virginia. Two of her sisters came to California-Elizabeth and Sofronia, now Mrs. J. D. Guerraz, of Edenvale. Five children and two grandchildren have sprung from this marriage, a son, Frank L., married Miss Edna Strong, and they have two children, Lucretia Eliza and Ruth; Lewis Saxe lives in San Jose; Eugene Clark is associated with his father in the manage- ment of the ranch; John Augustus died on Novem- ber 1, 1911; William Elmore was killed by his saddle horse falling on him September 26, 1921.

Joseph Francolango

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JOSEPH FRANCALANZO .- Recognized for gen- erations as a profession of prime importance to the health of every community, the apothecary and the druggist have enjoyed an exalted status and re- ceived a large measure of honor. Joseph Francal- anzo, one of the successful pharmacists of San Jose, Cal., was born in the Province of Foggia, Italy, March 14, 1894, and was the son of Generoso and Vincenza (Diblasio) Francalanzo, who came to Amer- ica in 1896 when Joseph was but a small child. He received his early education in the parochial and pub- lic schools in San Jose, Cal., whither he came with his parents from Providence, R.I., in 1908. Ever ambitious, he secured a position as delivery boy for the Wagner Drug Store, and in 1913 began working for the Fischer and Pellerano Drug Store, and it was then and there that he resolved to become a pharma- cist. With this end in view he gained valuable prac- tical experience, and at the same time pursued a cor- respondence course. In 1916 he became assistant pharmacist, and in 1918 became a licentiate pharma- cist, having satisfactorily passed all required exam- inations. He came to his present position with the Patterson Pharmacy in September, 1920, which was then located at 207 South First Street; but in Sep- tember of 1921 removed to its present location, 251 South First Street, near the Hippodrome Theater. The Patterson Pharmacy carries a large and up-to- date stock and has one of the largest and most com- plete prescription cases of any drugstore in Santa Clara County. The Patterson drugstore has been a familiar place and a well-stocked pharmacy for several years, but is doing even a greater volume of business at the present time. Mr. Francalanzo's thorough knowledge of the business, and his per- sonal acquaintance with most of his customers, and above all his courteous and pleasing personality, has contributed largely to its success.

LEE R. LENFEST .- A notably successful career is that of Lee R. Lenfest, a prominent land developer residing in Santa Clara County, the owner of a val- uable ranch in the northeastern part of the city of San Jose, and a fine tract of land near Manteca, while the methods employed in the cultivation and development of these places are the expression of the latest scientific research along agricultural lines. A native of Maine, Mr. Lenfest was born in Knox County, September 27, 1859, his parents being Daniel and Elizabeth (Whitten) Lenfest. The ancestral record is traced back to Normandy, whence mem- bers of the Lenfest family migrated to the Isle of Guernsey, which was the home of the great-grand- father of our subject, the family name originally be- ing spelled Lenfeste. At the outbreak of the War of 1812 he was conscripted into the British forces, and when the ship reached a short distance from the American Coast, he jumped overboard and swam ashore. His son, Peter Lenfest, who was a farmer in Washington Township, Maine, married Margaret Campbell, a Scotchwoman, and they became the parents of thirteen children. The eldest of this fam- ily, Daniel Lenfest, removed to Clay County, Nebr., settling twenty-eight miles from Hastings, when the Indians, buffalo and elk were numerous on the plains. There he took up a tree claim and also preempted eighty acres; he was seven years in prov- ing up on these claims, which aggregated 240 acres, where he raised grain and stock, but he died soon after proving up on his land.

Lee R. Lenfest received few educational advan- tages, being obliged to walk a distance of four and a half miles to the nearest school, which he at- tended only during the winter months. However he was enabled to secure a certificate to teach a country school, which he did for a couple of sea- sons. The care of his mother and sister devolved upon him after the death of his father, about 1881, and he took charge of the home property, being among the first to grow alfalfa in that country. In 1894 he left Nebraska for Louisiana, settling at Lake Charles, where he turned his attention to the rice business, organizing a company which erected the second rice mill west of New Orleans. The venture proved such a success that the company enlarged its activities, purchasing a tract of 2,000 acres, which they planted to rice, irrigated by pump- ing plants with water from the river. They raised large crop's of rice, the entire development being made under Mr. Lenfest's personal supervision, but after twelve years spent in that state, failing health compelled the family to seek the more salubrious climate of California in 1905. The family home has been in San Jose since 1913, Mr. Lenfest retaining his property interests in Louisiana until 1915. They settled first at Los Gatos, where Mr. Lenfest pur- chased The Big Oaks Ranch, having forty-seven acres in prunes, apricots, pears and peaches. After improving this place, he disposed of it three years later and bought a ranch of 100 acres at Empire, Cal., near Modesto, on which he engaged in grow- ing alfalfa. At the end of four years he again sold, but in the meantime he had acquired a ranch of 143 acres north of Santa Clara, a part of the old Morse seed farm. This property being in a badly run-down condition, he made many improvements thereon, in- cluding the installation of a splendid pumping plant, and ninety acres he devoted to alfalfa. He wrought a great transformation in the appearance of the place, which he sold at the end of two years for $350 an acre, an advance of $150 per acre over the purchase price. He next bought 229 acres in the northeastern part of San Jose, of which 116 acres are now leased for dairy purposes and ten acres for vegetables. He has thirty acres in pears, and about fifty-five acres now being prepared for this fruit, the intention be- ing to set the entire tract to pears of the best va- rieties. When Mr. Lenfest sold his interests in Louisiana, he acquired 220 acres in Tulare County, which he developed to prunes and alfalfa, installing a pumping plant and pipe lines. He next bought 1,200 acres near Manteca, which he is highly developing along modern lines, and is putting out 400 acres to 'grapes and 600 acres in alfalfa. He brings to his work a true sence of agricultural economics, and never allows an acre of his holdings to be unproduc- tive, his enterprises being ably directed.

On September 6, 1883, in Clay County, Nebr., Mr. Lenfest was united in marriage with Miss Lillie E. Slawson, a native of McHenry County, Ill., and a daughter of Henry H. and Polly (Lake) Slawson. Originally residents of New York state, they became early settlers of Illinois, where the father engaged in farming, hauling grain to Fort Dearborn, the site of the present metropolis of Chicago, then but a trading post. Mr. and Mrs. Lenfest have become the parents of six children: Blossom married La- vergne Graves, an oil expert; they have three chit- dren and now reside in Texas. Ray is interested

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with his father as a partner in developing their ranch property. Nellie, Mrs. Samuel Worsley, is the mother of two daughters and lives in Providence, R. I. Bessie and Dora, the youngest child, are at home, while Jasper is attending the San Luis Obispo State Technical School.

In his political views Mr. Lenfest is a Republican and he keeps well informed on the questions of the day, as affecting the welfare and progress of the country. His life record illustrates the power of honesty, determination and diligence in insuring suc- cess, his labors ever having been of a constructive nature, and have resulted in placing him in the front rank of progressive agriculturists of California.

MANUEL S. BRAZIL .- An energetic, enthusi- astic and successful dairy farmer who has been able to retire on a competency through the assistance of his capable and devoted wife and as a result of their years of intelligent toil, is Manuel S. Brazil, who lives one mile north of Lawrence in Santa Clara County. Mr. Brazil was born on the Island of St. George, in Azores, fifty-three years ago and when eighteen he came to America, landing at Boston. He stayed in the Hub City only a few days and then migrated westward to Alameda County, Cal. For two years he worked for wages on dairy farms, mainly around Livermore, and then he started a dairy for himself in Marin County, where he met with exceptional success. In 1914 Mr. Brazil lo- cated in Santa Clara County and began farming. His ranch of 160 acres is situated on Lawrence Av- enue, about one mile north of Lawrence on the South- ern Pacific Railroad, a place he purchased that year, he has since devoted it to dairying, though at present leasing the dairy to others. This cele- brated place was developed by an Eastern million- aire, a race horse fancier named McInerney, who maintained there a race track and built the finest horse barns in the county and he also had erected there a palatial country residence. The barns have been remodeled by Mr. Brazil for dairy purposes and one alone of the several structures can accom- modate 100 milk cows.

On May 11, 1900, Mr. Brazil was married to Miss Marie Costa. a native of his own birthplace and a daughter of John M. and Marie Costa. Her father was a prominent teacher and educator, who passed away in that country and the mother then brought her children to San Rafael, Cal., where one of her older sons lived, arriving in August, 1897, and it was there that Marie Costa met Mr. Brazil, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage, a union that has proven very happy to them both and has been blessed with five children; Helen was edu- cated at Notre Dame College; John is a student at Santa Clara University; Marguerite is attending Notre Dame, and Manuel S., Jr., and Isabelle. All these sons and daughters are bright and interest- ing and such as would do credit to any family and are popular in their social circle. The family at- tend Saint Clare's Catholic Church in Santa Clara.

Mr. Brazil attributes no small degree of credit for liis success in life to his faithful wife, who has been his ready and able helpmate, for being a woman of much business acumen, she has aided him materially in achieving their ambition. Mrs. Brazil is very prominent in the S. P. R. S. I., a benevo- lent Portuguese order in the United States, she

being one of the founders, with her sister, Mrs. Anna C. Martin, while they were still the Misses Costa. It was in March, 1898, that this national Portuguese order was founded and it has grown to a very large membership. Mrs. Brazil was an of- ficer from its organization, serving five years as secretary of the financial committee, and is one of the past presidents of the Grand Council of the S. P. R. S. I. of California, serving in that capacity in 1915, and that year she travelled over Califor- nia visiting the 122 councils from Siskiyou to San Diego. The order is in very sound financial con- dition and has paid over a million dollars in bene- fits. Mrs. Brazil is also a member of the Y. L. I. and the Catholic Ladies' Aid Society, being an ex- treasurer of the latter. She is a cultured and re- fined woman and her influence has done much to improve the condition and establish high ideals among Portuguese-American citizens of California.

Having started dairying at San Rafael, Mr. Brazil also conducted dairies at Vallejo and Oakland, and in the latter city he was in the dairy business for seven years. He is a stockholder in the Portuguese- American Bank of San Francisco and also is a mem- ber of the San Francisco Milk Producers' Associa- tion, of which for a time he served as a director. Fraternally he is a member of the U. P. E. C. He is a liberal and enterprising man with a kindliness of heart and mind which enables him to assist worthy enterprises that are meant to advance the comfort and happiness of the people.

WILLIAM H. RESEBURG .- A capable rancher who has been identified with the Morgan Hill dis- trict for the past five years is William H. Reseburg, a native of Wisconsin, who was born at Thorp, Clark County, April 3, 1883. He is the only living son of the late William Reseburg, who was born in Ger- many, but as a small boy came to America and for more than forty years was one of the sturdy pioneers of Northern Wisconsin. He was an extensive farmer and prominent in political circles, serving for fifteen years as chairman of the county board of super- visors and wielding a beneficient influence in the public affairs of his community. The town of Rese- burg was named in his honor and he will ever be remembered here for his constructive work in the upbuilding of this district. Mrs. Reseburg was Al- bertina Theel before her marriage and she was also a native of Germany; she came to America when a small child and now resides with her daughter, Miss Anna Reseburg, in Los Angeles.

William H. Reseburg attended the public schools of Wisconsin until the family removed to Albany, Ore., in 1896, and there he finished his high school course. After a short business course there at Albany he started out for himself, spent two years at Pull- man, Wash., removing to San Jose in 1906, where he acquired an orchard property of twenty-five acres near Campbell, twelve acres of this being an im- proved orchard. Soon after this lic was joined by his father and the family, who decided to make their home in the sunny Southland. During the time he lived at Campbell he bought, improved and sold three different orchards. In 1917 Mr. Reseburg sold his orchard property at Campbell and removed to Morgan Hill, where he purchased thirteen acres on Dunne Avenue and two years later sold this and bought the old Hatch ranch on Dunne Avenue,

MS Brazil

mis This In. S. Brazil.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

consisting of twenty acres, and here he has made many improvements.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 216

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