History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 217

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

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On July 7, 1920, Mr. Reseburg was married to Miss Roberta Raitt, born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the daughter of William and Margaret (Oliphant) Raitt; the father was for eighteen years professor of mathematics at the Glasgow and West of Scot- land Technical College, having the degrees of M. A. and B. S., and died at Glasgow. After his death the family came to California in 1904, settling at Morgan Hill. Mr. Reseburg has entered heartily into the life of the community since settling here, and is a firm believer in cooperative movements, and is a member of the Fresno Peach Growers Asso- ciation, and a charter member of the California Prune and Apricot Association. He is a member and a trustee of the Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Republican.

FRED SINZ .- An expert painter who has be- come the leading contractor in his field in the north- ern part of Santa Clara County is Fred Sinz, of Mountain View, whose stock in trade, in addition to the fruits of a long and thorough apprenticeship, has always been his executive ability, of no mean order, his agreeable personality contributing to give satisfaction to all who have dealings with him. In his business affairs, transacted from his cosy resi- dence at 321 Bush Street, he is ably assisted by his accomplished and attractive wife, who also concerns herself to even anticipate the wants of patrons, and their wide circle of friends rejoice at their pros- perity. Mr. Sinz was born at San Francisco on July 19, 1887, the son of Ludwig and Mary (Pfeiffer) Sinz, formerly of the Bay City, but who removed to Mountain View in 1894, where they now live re- tired. Mr. Sinz was also a painter, but on coming to Mountain View he bought a ranch of twenty acres on the El Monte Road, which he improved by plant- ing, and recently sold. They have three children, all sons: Fred, the subject of our review; John runs the baking department in Spreckels' Market, San Francisco; Louis works for the United Motors Service Company at San Francisco, being an expert magneto repairer.

From his seventh year, Fred Sinz was reared in Mountain View, and having completed his grammar school studies, he went to work to learn the painter's trade. He profited greatly from an association with his father, but he also had the exceptional advan- tage of several years' work in San Francisco for Wagner Bros. and Henry Kern. He began contract painting in Mountain View in 1914, and now, em- ploying from five to ten men, he is the leading house painter in Mountain View. He also extends his operations to Los Altos, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, May- field and vicinities, and is ever in demand by those who are determined to have only the best.

At Mountain View, in 1916, Mr. Sinz was married to Mrs. Gladys Beardsley nee Page, a native of Al- viso and the daughter of George and Mary (Hutchin- son) Page, and the granddaughter of Robert Hutchin- son, a Santa Clara pioneer who was justice of the peace and a prominent man at Alviso in pioneer days. He was a sailor in early life, and made the trip around the Horn in 1849 from Maine. Mrs. Sinz has two children by her first husband: George F. Beardsley is in the Mountain View high school, and Edward Page Beardsley is in the grammar school. Mr. Sinz who is a Republican and swears by the

platforms of the G. O. P. with the natural ardor of an admirer of Lincoln, Grant, Mckinley and Roose- velt, naturally belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West at Mountain View, and he is also one of the popular members of the Masonic Order at the same place.

FRANK P. BARKER .- An efficient public official who stands high in the regard of a wide circle of acquaintances throughout Santa Clara County, where he has spent practically all his years, is Frank P. Barker, deputy county assessor. A New Englander by birth, he was born August 16, 1860, at Bangor. Maine, the son of Samuel Alphonso Barker, who was horn in Kennebec County, Maine, July 26, 1863. The first representatives of the Barker family in America were two brothers, Noah and Carr Barker, who came from England and arrived seven years after the landing of the Mayflower. Carr Barker, from whom this branch of the family is descended, set- tled in Maine while it was still a part of Massa- chusetts. The maternal grandfather was a Revo- lutionary soldier and while on the march to Canada under Arnold, he selected the tract of land upon which he afterward settled. and upon which a part of the city of Hallowell, Maine, is located. He was engaged in shipbuilding for a few years and then settled at Reedville, where he bought a farm, this land still being in the possession of his descendants.

Samuel Alphonso Barker was educated in his na- tive state and in 1854 began the study of law in the office of Josiah H. Drummond. In 1857 he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Maine. and for ten years he practiced in that state. Coming to California in 1867 to renew his health, he located at San Jose and resumed his legal practice but con- fined himself to probate, land title and commercial cases. He acted as attorney for the Garden City Savings Union and the Board of Trade of San Josc. and was a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of California and the United States District Court. While still a resident of Maine he was united in marriage, on April 5, 1858. with Miss Sarah E. Parshley, a native of that state, and three children were born to them: Charles is the acting manager of the Sainte Clair Club; Frank P., of this sketch; and Alfred, of the Associated Oil Company.

Frank P. Barker attended the public schools of San Jose, where he was reared from his seventh vear, and was a student in one of the business co !- leges when he left his books to accept a position as a deputy under County Recorder C. P. Owen Three years later he entered the commercial world and became a member of the firm of Brown & Barker, wholesale grain dealers, continuing in this business for five years. On selling out he entered the firm of Raley & Company as one of its members, this concern being engaged in the wholesale fruit busi- ness, handling green fruits. After seven years Mr. Barker located at Palo Alto, establishing a similar business under the name of the Palo Alto Fruit & Produce Company. Here he continued successfully for the next three years, disposing of his interests there to accept a position as deputy county assessor. an office he has since held to the satisfaction of everyone.

Mr. Barker's marriage united him with Miss Carrie A. Pease, a native daughter of California, and they

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

are the parents of a son, Samuel Richard, who served during the World War in the Forty-second Artillery, U. S. A. In fraternal circles Mr. Barker is a Mason, and he never fails to take a good citizen's part in all matters looking forward toward the advancement of the community.

NEILS ADLER NEILSEN .- A strong determina- tion to succeed has been the paramount character- istic in the career of Neils Adler Neilsen, and he is steadily attaining his desire. He was born in Man- dal, the southernmost city of Norway, November 3, 1872, the son of Neil Johanson and Tomine Neilsen, the father a ship carpenter by occupation. The father was only fifty-eight years old when he died, but the mother lived to be ninety-six years old, passing away in her old home in 1917. Neils Adler is the youngest of a family of nine children. Adolph Neilsen, as he is familiarly called by his friends, came to San Jose when he was fourteen years old, accompanied by his brother, Obert, who resides in Oakland at the present time. He first worked for wages, washing dishes in the Scandinavian Exchange; then was for two years at the Almaden mines; he then took up ranch work, working for John Dunn, and later he drove teams for George King; next he was em- ployed in the Guadalupe lime kiln; then worked for Joseph Cottle; after which he took up well drilling with Blabon and Barnett. These jobs of short dura- tion brought him to 1892, when he entered the em- ploy of Judge S. F. Leib on his ranch west of Cupertino, consisting of 160 acres, 120 acres in wal- nuts and forty acres in apricots. He has proven him- self a capable and conscientious foreman of the Leib ranch, a position he has held since 1893. In 1919 he purchased a sixteen-acre apricot orchard adjoining Judge Leib's ranch on the east, and in addition to taking care of the Leib orchard, he runs his own ranch profitably and well.

The marriage of Mr. Neilsen occurred in San Jose March 28, 1897, uniting him with Miss Millie Morri- son, born at La Honda, Cal. Two children were born to them, Cecil and Edla. Mr. Neilsen's second marriage was on April 10, 1902, at Reno, Nev., and united him with Miss May White, a daughter of David and Minnie White; a native of San Mateo County, whose parents came to California in an early day, In politics Mr. Neilsen supports the Socialist party; fraternally is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge No. 52 of Santa Clara, and is a past grand of that lodge; he is also a member of the Cupertino Woodmen of the World.

GEORGE CAMPBELL .- By hard work, strict integrity and common sense, George Campbell has established a place for himself among the citizens of Mountain View, where he was born, August 15, 1873. His father, the late James Campbell, came from his native land of Ireland to Mountain View in 1862. The railroad was just being built into Mountain View and he was employed in the grading work; he was also interested in farming, but continued to do excavating and grading work. He was married in Mountain View to Mrs. Margaret (Leonard) Burkc, born in Ireland, and she has two sons living in Mountain View, Edward and Dan Burke. For six- teen years James Campbell was a tenant on the Hale Ranch and was successful as a grain and stock- man. He next moved to San Mateo County and still engaged in ranching. During 1890 he returned

to Mountain View and built the Campbell home at 394 Franklin Street and there he died at the age of seventy-nine years. Mrs. Campbell lives at home surrounded by a number of her children. They were the parents of ten children: George, the subject of this review, being the oldest; Mary is the wife of Bert Hitchcock: James, Will, Tom, John, Maggie is Mrs. Peter Malone; Henry resides in San Fran- cisco Two children died in early childhood.

George attended the public schools until he was sixteen years of age, leaving school to work with his father in grading, teaming and farm work. He be- came an expert teamster, driving eight or ten horses with perfect ease. After his father's demise, he continued with the business and has done much reliable work, being well equipped with scrapers, wagons, farming and orchard implements, ten good horses, and one Yuba tractor. He ordinarily em- ploys five men, but in busy times many more. His reputation has been constructed on the foundation of efficient work and square and honorable dealing, and the year round is busy. He leases 150 acres in the vicinity of Mountain View which is devoted to hay and grain. He is a consistent member of the Catho- lic Church; fraternally he is a member of the Foresters and the Native Sons of the Golden West. He is well and favorably known in his locality and can be relied upon for good conscientious work.

EMIL SCHMIDT .- One of the most competent and capable machinists of Mountain View is Emil Schmidt, who is the proprietor of the Junction Garage, at the intersection of El Monte Avenue and the State Highway. He has steadily built up a fine husiness, and by honest work and efficient service is gaining many new customers. He was born at Argall, Switzerland, July 10, 1882, a son of Emil and Elizabeth Schmidt. The father was a shoemaker and ran a shoe store in. Argall, his native town. There are six children in the family, of whom our subject is the fourth; and both parents are still living. Emil was fortunate in being able to obtain a good education; first in the grammar and then three years in the high school; after that he was apprenticed to the Oll Machine Company and attended the Poly- technic Night School, and by unremitting application successfully passed all examinations; and all during his four years of apprenticeship displayed unusual ability in his line of work. The Oll Machine Com- pany were the manufacturers of gigantic printing presses, and employed 1,500 men in the shops. Emil learned to speak and write French, German and Italian in his native country, which served him well when he came to America. In 1904 he made his first trip to America to install a $25,000 printing press at Newark, N. J., and in 1906 he installed another of the mammoth presses for his company in Chicago. He became very much enamored with America and resolved to become an American citizen, so in 1909 returned to this country and settled in San Fran- cisco, and entered the employ of the Standard Union Mill Company as machinist; in 1910 he removed to Sacramento and worked in the Southern Pacific Railway shops for two and a half years. He then was taken ill with malarial fever and was obliged to change climate.

While living in Sacramento Mr. Schmidt was married to Miss Josephine Horeb, born in Switzer-

R. A. Meilen

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

land, and they are the parents of one child, Carl Emil, born in Mountain View. The family removed there in 1913 and at first Mr. Schmidt rented the Reliance Garage and ran it for several years. Dur- ing 1918 he bought the Junction Garage and he employs several helpers to take care of the growing business. He deals in Chalmers and Chevrolet cars, parts and accessories; and is the authorized agent for the Ford cars; besides dealing in oils, gas, etc. He is a member of the Automobile Dealers' Association of California. The location of the Junction Garage is a fine one and the ability and reliability of Mr. Schmidt makes his business a very prosperous one. Mr. Schmidt was naturalized in San Francisco and can be counted upon to be loyal to all progressive movements and gives liberally of his time and means to the promotion of measures for the general good.

CARL LINDHOLM .- An enterprising, success- ful contracting builder, whose specialty is up-to-date bungalow residences, five of which he at present has under construction, is Carl Lindholm, of Mountain View, who resides with his attractive family in a house of his own designing and finish at one of the most advantageous situations on Chiquita Avenue. He is in partnership with an uncle, and is the senior member of the busy firm of Lindholm & Nelson, and as a concern popular in other parts of Santa Clara County, they have erected more than fifty resi- dences, no two of which are alike. Mr. Lindholm is a capable, experienced architect and an accom- plished draftsman, on which account it happens that each of the buildings he has constructed has an individuality of its own.

Mr. Lindholm was born in far-off Finland, on April 19, 1878, of historic, heroic lineage, his family being closely related to the president of the Republic of Finland. His father, Carl Lindholm, died when our subject was only nine years old; but his mother. Edla Carolina Freiberg, is still living in Finland, at the age of seventy-five. Left with four children at her husband's death, she gave herself unreservedly to the bringing-up of her offspring, three of whom are still living. Aurora became a teacher, spent seventeen years of her life in educational work, and married Provst Castren of the Finnish National Church, of the Lutheran denomination. She is now a widow and resides in Finland. Carl is the subject of our story. Herman, the manager of a large man- ufacturing establishment, is a finished scholar, speak- ing seven different languages, and is a leading light in the newly-organized Northern Republic. Valde- mar. was the artist of the family-an accomplished musician and painter, who came out to Sacramento and accidentally fell from the scaffolding of a two- story house, thereby injuring his spine. He returned to Finland, where he died as the result of the in- juries received.

Carl Lindholm was brought up in the Lutheran Church, at the same time that he pursued the course of the common schools in his native country. He was reared at Eknes, Finland, and there served an ap- prenticeship of three years, learning the cabinet- maker's trade, and also pursuing the prescribed courses in the related manual training school, in the end receiving well-merited journeyman's certificate. Then, having reflected a good deal upon the condi- tions in his beloved native country and the future

prospects for those who should elect to stay there, he resolved to bid adieu to associations dear enough, and to seek his fortune in the New World.

From Hango, Finland, therefore, on April 19, 1902, our subject sailed, at a season when six feet of snow lay upon the ground; traveling by way of Copen- hagen, Hull and Southampton, and eventually reach- ing New York City, truly a stranger in a strange land, but safe and sound. He landed at Ellis Island on Saturday, May 3, 1902, equipped in part with his technical knowledge, in part with his honest resolve to earn, if possible, a living; and the third day of his life in New York City he obtained a job as ship's carpenter. After that, he worked in planing mills and at odd tasks, on the outside; and the first steady employment he had in America was on the great seventeen-story hotel then being erected at the corner of Fortieth Street and Tenth Avenue in New York City, where he labored steadily for three months. Then he found a good deal to do at Coney Island, and next he joined his uncle, Edward Nelson his present partner, the two doing expert joining or finishing work in New York City, and being stead- ily so engaged, with the exception of six months in 1904, when Mr. Lindholm went back to visit his mother in Finland.

Soon after his return to New York City, in 1904, Mr. Lindholm was married to Miss Karinne England, a native of Finland who, when sixteen years old, came to New York City, the daughter of Anders England, originally of Finland, but for twenty years a shoe-dealer on Third Avenue in New York. His wife was a convert to the Seventh Day Adventist faith, and in 1905 he also became a convert, and has ever since been a strict professor of that creed. On account of Mrs. Lindholm's health, it became nec- essary, in time, to seek another and more favoring climate; and inasmuch as her brother, Anton Eng- land, a tailor, was already in Mountain View, they turned their thoughts and finally their faces toward the Pacific Coast. In 1908 with their family they migrated westward and settled at Mountain View; and here Mr. Lindholm began to contract for build- ing in a small way. His uncle, already mentioned, worked with him, and a son, Henry Nelson, is the present architect and draftsman of the firm, whose business is rapidly expanding. Mr. Lindholm usually works for others; but he has built ten houses at his own expense and sold them after they were erected. In 1910, he designed and built two bungalows in Mountain View, and in 1912 he put up from his own designs the Seventh Day Adventist School in Moun- tain View, costing $20,000. He has also lately com- pleted a $20,000 annex to the main building of the Pacific Press Publishing Association's plant at Moun- tain View, and at present he has, all in all, ten buildings under construction. His building opera- tions are also carried on in Palo Alto and other communities.

Mr. Lindholm is fully in sympathy with the gov- ernment of his adopted city, state and nation; he is fully convinced that America offers greater advan- tages to those worthy, able and willing, than any other country; and with such patriotic sentiments, he and his family are among the dependable citizens such as Santa Clara makes it a practice always to welcome, and to appreciate. His children are Car! J., Evald, Elsie, Henrietta and Edith; and in prep-

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

aration for useful lives of real value to the world, they all attend the Seventh Day Adventist School in Mountain View.

MATEO J. PASETTA-Among the business men of Santa Clara County who represent the county's industrial and financial progress Mateo J. Pasetta oc- cupies a prominent position in the fruit-drying in- dustry. Enterprising, far-sighted, he is ever alive to the possible favorable opportunities for advancing his plans. A native of Dalmatia, Jugo-Slavia, town of Dubraunich, he was born January 20, 1865, a son of John and Madeline (Cusija) Pasetta. When but a lad of five years he suffered the misfortune of los- ing father, mother, grandmother, brother and sister, all within the space of a year. He was then adopted by his uncle, Mr. Kijunach, a well-to-do merchant and trader, who owned a number of sailing vessels plying the Mediterranean Sea. Mateo J. Pasetta re- mained with his uncle until he was seventeen years of age; he then determined to start out for himself. Hearing the alluring tales of wealth and opportun- ities to be found in America, he embarked for the Mecca of his ambitions. After a voyage of forty- five days, he finally landed on the shores of America, and made his way to California, arriving April 5, 1883, settling in Plumas County, where he was first employed in the mines at a wage of fifteen dollars per month, working fourteen hours per day at placer mining 'for gold. When the Eureka Gold Mining Company began operations, Mr. Pasetta was em- ployed and received forty dollars per month; here he remained for five years, and by thrift and econ- omy was able to purchase the Eureka hotel and livery stable in Johnsville. At the hotel Mr. Samuel Webb, present attorney-general of California, boarded with him, and he also knew Judge Goodwin and Judge Clough, who were his friends. While residing in Plumas County, he received his naturalization papers, and became a loyal citizen of the United States.

The marriage of Mr. Pasetta in 1896 united him with Miss Annie Buhalov, also born in Dalmatia, Jugo-Slavia, who was an old-time sweetheart. Coming to California, soon after her arrival here their mar- riage occurred, the happy culmination of the romance begun on their native shores. Mr. and Mrs. Pasetta are the parents of nine children: Madeline, the wife of John Simmons, a successful merchant of San Jose; Marian, John, Anna, Peter, Matthew, Eliza- beth, Nicholas and Daniel. About twenty-five years ago, Mr. Pasetta moved to San Jose and started, in a small way, in the dried fruit business, starting with 150 trays. From year to year the business has been steadily growing, and he new handles 5,000 drying trays, and during the busy fruit season cares for 400 tons of green fruit. His packing plant consists of seventeen acres, adjoining the property of the Pacific Manufacturing Company, adjacent to the city of Santa Clara, which is growing more valuable each day. His fruit drying business has not occupied his whole attention, as he found time to develop a fifty- acre orchard property, which he recently sold for a fine profit. The family reside in a commodious residence at 196 West St. James Street, San Jose. where their many friends frequently enjoy their hos- pitality. Mr. Pasetta still owns the old homestead in Jugo-Slavia, around which cling fond memories of days long past, and refuses to dispose of it. Fra- ternally he has been identified with the Odd Fellows

for the past twenty-five years, and politically is a stanch Republican. He is an ardent member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He is 100 per cent Amer- ican, ever ready to give of his time, influence and means toward any advanced movement of the city and county which has been his home for so many years, and has won the respect and esteem of his business associates by his integrity and upright busi- ness methods. He is a stockholder in the Growers Bank and is a charter member of the Jugo-Slavonian- American Benefit Society, giving his best efforts to the upbuilding and advancement of this order.

MANUEL A. MACHADO .- Successful beyond the measure of most men of his years, and with a tuture bright with promise was the late Manuel A. Machado, who was prominent in the financial circles of San Jose. He was born in the Azores on March 16, 1890, on the Isle of St. Jorge in the village of Calheta, the home of his parents, Joseph A. Machado, a farmer and stockman of the well-known family of ranch-owners, who had married Miss Elizabeth A. Mendonsa. Mr. Machado is known in his native country for his interest in public welfare work, espe- cially in the progress of his home community; and he and his good wife are there prominent members of the Catholic Church, through which he has given inuch to charity. The family circle included seven children, three sons and four daughters, and the beloved grandmother; and having favored education, Manuel was sent to the best private schools, after which, in 1904, he entered the college on the neigh- boring Isle of Terceira, where he studied for seven years in a seminary, expecting to become a secular priest. His intention was abandoned, however, when the Government took charge of the schools.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 217

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