History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 221

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

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Republican in his political views and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He is a member of the California Prune and Apri- cot Growers, Inc., and of the Associated Milk Pro- ducers of San Francisco, and is also identified with the U. P. E. C. and the S. E. S., while his wife is a member of S. P. R., S. I. and the Druids in San Jose. His genuine personal worth and his activity in a useful occupation have combined to make him one of Santa Clara County's valued citizens.

JOHN SVILICH .- A leading orchardist of the Santa Clara Valley, whose schooling was limited to seven days in his entire life, but who has succeeded far beyond many men more generously schooled, is John Svilich. He was born on the Island of Lissa, Dalmatia, November 30, 1861, a son of Martin and Victoria (Vidovich) Svilich, both born in Dalmatia. The father was a shoemaker and the family lived on a farm. There were two sons in the family: Vincent was a rancher in Santa Clara County until he became blind and now lives in Oakland, and John, the sub- ject of this sketch. Early in life John began to work on farms about the home neighborhood, and before coming to the United States he was in the Austrian army for four years. When he arrived in America, in 1889, he first settled in Portland, Ore., and re- mained there for six months, then came to Santa Clara County, Cal. Four months of each season he spent in Washington and Oregon fishing in the Co- lumbia River district and during the winter worked on ranches and five years was thus consumed; then for four years more he worked on ranches in various parts of Santa Clara County and by good manage- ment and economy accumulated sufficient money to lease a twenty-acre farm on the Boity Road, and was engaged in fruit raising for eight years. In 1906 he purchased a twenty-acre ranch on the Homestead Road about one-half mile west of the Collins School; then he added five acres to his ranch bought from Mr. Calvert; later purchased ten acres adjoining in the D. C. Milligan subdivision. In 1919 he bought the Wolff place of thirty-one acres, sixty-six acres in all, a full-bearing orchard devoted to prunes, apricots, peaches and cherries. He has his own irrigating plant and the water is piped to the different parts of his ranch, and with the best of cultivation, his ranch is paying a fine profit. He is also engaged in buying, drying and selling fruit to packers, while he ships cherries to Eastern markets.

Mr. Svilich was married in Lissa, Dalmatia, on November 15, 1884, to Miss Irene Mardisich, the daughter of Joseph and Frances (Bonomo) Mardisich, all natives of Dalmatia. Joseph Mardisich was a sol- dier in the Austrian army most of his life. Mrs. Svilich is the youngest of a family of three children: Mitchell, Antonette, who died in infancy, and Irene. She was reared and educated in her native place and has been an able helpmate to her husband, encourag- ing and assisting him to gain his ambition. They have five living children and there are seven grand- children: Victoria is Mrs. Mariani, the wife of a rancher in the Cupertino district, who are now visit- ing the old home place in Dalmatia, they have four children-Winifred, Irene, Matilda and Paul; An- tonette is Mrs. Labrovich, the wife of a rancher on Fremont and Saratoga roads, and they have three children- Mary, Irene and Archibald; Joseph and William are assisting the father, while Peter is going

to school. Mr. Svilich has devoted his time to the cultivation and beautifying of his ranch and has brought it to a high state of development.

C. G. SPARGUR .- For many years a leading stockman of Modoc County, Cal., C. G. Spargur, has recently purchased a fine ranch home near Moun- tain View and with his wife are a welcome acqui- sition to the community. A native of Carson City, Nev., he was born on February 24, 1872, and when but a year old, his parents brought him to Modoc County, Cal., where he grew up and received his schooling. While in his early manhood he became interested in the cattle business, and by steady ap- plication to this line of work, became a large stock- man and farmer of Modoc County, his acreage final- ly aggregating 1460 acres of land and for years he kept from 500 to 600 head of cattle, raising them and marketing them in San Francisco. By hard work and intelligent planning, he prospered well. In 1917 he sold his property in Modoc County and removed to San Francisco, where he resided until he purchased his ranch at Mountain View. Mrs. Spargur was Miss Dora Gray of Modoc County, and in September of 1920 they settled in Mountain View on their beautiful and highly improved twenty-acre ranch on the El Monte Road. There are ten acres in prune orchard and ten acres devoted to apri- cots and is located in one of the finest fruit and residence districts of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Spargur enjoy their beautiful country home, and enter heartily into the spirit of the community which is given to horticulture, rather than stockraising which they had engaged in in Modoc County, and find it an agreeable change. Mr. Spargur is a 32nd degree Mason, being a member of the lodge at Al- turas, Cal., and of the Consistory at San Jose, and with his wife belongs to the Eastern Star Chapter at Mountain View.

JULIUS H. RAINWATER .- As executive of the San Jose Council, Boy Scouts of America, Julius H. Rainwater is doing effective work in building up this branch of the organization, his natural qualifi- cations and broad experience well qualifying him for work of this character. He was born in Pittsfield, Pike County, Il1., December 2, 1887, a son of E. John and Anna (Foote) Rainwater. In the maternal line he is a descendant of Nathaniel Foote, who came from England to America between 1620 and 1625 and settled in the state of New York. The Rain- water family, also of English descent, originally settled at Savannah, Ga., later moving into Kentucky. During the Civil War the grandfather, E. J. Rain- water, espoused the cause of the Union, made his way north and enlisted in an Illinois regiment, and served in the Civil War; he was captured and while a prisoner his death occurred. After the cessation of hostilities his widow moved with her family to Pike County, 111., where her son, E. John, was reared and married.

In the acquirement of an education Julius H. Rain- water attended the grammar and high schools of Pittsfield, Ill., and Drake University of Des Moines, Iowa, after which he became a student at the Uni- versity of Chicago. When twenty-one years of age he became principal of the high school at Bondu- rant, Iowa, filling that position for two years, and in 1911 he was appointed by the South Park Com- missioners of Chicago as director of Ogden Park

John Swilish

Irene Svilich

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to which he gave his attention for seven years. In October, 1918, he was made field scout executive of the Chicago stockyards district, Boy Scouts of Amer- ica, in which connection he had charge of the activ- ities of forty troops of Boy Scouts, and in August of the following year he was transferred to the West Side district, being in command of 100 Scout troops. In October, 1920, he came to San Jose as executive of the San Jose Council, Boy Scouts of America, and is rapidly building up the organiza- tion here. At the time of his arrival there were four troops, with an active enrollment of 124, while there are now twelve troops and 425 Boy Scouts, all this being accomplished by Mr. Rainwater in less than a year and proving conclusively that nature has especially qualified him for work of this nature.

At Springfield, Ill., on September 6, 1911, Mr. Rainwater married Miss Florence Nitsche, a native of Chicago and a daughter of Fred C. and Laura (Tilling) Nitsche, the former a steam engineer. Mrs. Rainwater attended the grammar and high schools of Chicago and she is also a graduate of the Chi- cago Musical College. Three children have been born to them: Julius H., Jr., Genevieve and Ger- aldine. A man of high aspirations and ideals, Mr. Rainwater's ambition is to make the Boy Scouts a recognized department of prevocational education for boys and he is performing work of a most im- portant character, being connected with an organiza- tion which is instilling in the youth of the land a spirit of helpfulness, loyalty and patriotism destined to prove a great national asset in years to come.

JOE J. FERREIRA .- An experienced, successful orchardist who well represents the spirit of progress which has placed California in the lead in scientific agriculture, is Joe J. Ferreira, who was born on the Isle of Pico, in the Azores, on April 21, 1867. His father was Manuel J. Ferreira, one of a well- to-do family of farmers, stockmen and ranch own- ers; and his mother, before her marriage, was Miss Annie J. Rose. Of strong, moral character, Mr. Ferreira became a large factor in the building up of the fine home parish in which he died, full of years and honors, aged seventy-two, on March 24, 1888. Mrs. Ferreira came out to America and Cali- fornia and lived to a fine old age, passing away on August 18, 1916, at the home of our subject, while he still lived on Maybury Road.

Joe Ferreira had very little schooling, but he had the capacity to look far into the future, and with plenty of courage and faith in himself, he left home at the age of twenty-two and came out to America. Two brothers had preceded him hither, John E. having come eleven, and Manuel some seven years before. He at first made for Siskiyon County where he went to work in the mines for four years; and then he entered upon stockraising and general farming. Four years later, he returned to his Old World home to bring out to California the other members of the family; and on his once more set- tling in California, he purchased a farm in Sis- kiyou County.

On November 26, 1903, Mr. Ferreira was married to Miss Mary Noya, who was born on the Island of Flores on June 22, 1886, the daughter of Joseph Noya, a quartz miner, and his wife, Mary. Mr. Noya passed away on April 24, 1920, honored by all who knew him. Eight children sprang from this union. Mary and Joseph are students; then

come Helen and Annie. Margaret and Tony are twins; and George is the youngest born, of those surviving. The last in the order of birth was Min- nie, and she died when two and a half months old.

In 1904 Mr. Ferreira purchased sixteen acres in the Campbell orchard district in the Santa Clara Valley and removed to this county; and three years later he sold his ranch and bought twenty-six acres of orchard on the Maybury Road. In 1914, he ac- quired forty acres of excellent soil on the Mc- Kee Road, and twenty-eight acres of this he has planted to French prunes, nine acres to pears, one acre to peaches, one to apples, and one to alfalfa.

Mr. and Mrs. Ferreira and family are devout members of the Church of the Five Wounds, at East San Jose, to the support of which they have donated generously. Mr. Ferreira was made a citi- zen of the United States some thirty years ago, while a resident of Siskiyou County, and having joined the ranks of the Republican party, he has ever since held himself ready to support any measures for the upbuilding of the town and county. He is a strong member of the C. P. & A,, and he also belongs to the U. P. E. C. and the I. D. E. S .; while Mrs. Ferreira is a member of the S. R. P. S. I., and the Ladies' Society of the Church of the Five Wounds.

GEORGE W. RYAN .- An experienced, successful rancher whose long years of arduous, intelligent labor have enabled him at last to retire in comfort, enjoying the confidence and esteem of all who know him, is George W. Ryan, a native of Bethel, Clare- mont County, Ohio, where he was born on May 10. 1852. His father, Patrick Ryan, was a native of Ire- land, who came to the United States when a mere boy; he was a wagon-maker by trade, and he mar- ried Miss Ann Erwin, a devoted wife and an affec- tionate mother. Both died there.

George W. attended the grammar school at Bethel, learned telegraphing, became an operator and a sta- tion agent on the Wabash Railway, and afterwards studied at Oberlin College. At the age of nineteen he went to Shelby County, Illinois, and near Windsor he commenced farming. He raised excellent corn and stock, and continued there for eight years. In 1882 lie moved to Pembina, Dakota Territory, and there he owned a farm but engaged in the banking business, continuing altogether eighteen years, and established banks at Crystal and Cavalier in Dakota and Hallock, Minnesota. In 1884 he moved to Spink County, now in South Dakota, and there he home- steaded land, proved up on it, and returned to Pem- bina. In the eighteen years in which our subject re- mained in Dakota, he acquired several thousand acres of land, which he devoted to grain and flax. There, too, he reared his family.

In 1900 he sold out and came to California, and for six years he lived in the Sacramento Valley. In 1906 he removed to San Jose, and he has lived here ever since, engaging in the real estate, insur- ance, and loaning business until 1920. He owns 235 acres in Placer County, Cal., a ranch devoted to plums, pears, peaches and grapes. He also is inter- ested in about 600 acres at Atwater devoted to peaches, almonds, pears, and apricots. Both of his ranches are well irrigated.

At Fairmount, Ill., on December 1, 1881, Mr. Ryan was married to Miss Mary Short, a native of that place and the daughter of Thomas and Virginia

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

(Lanham) Short. She is a lineal descendant of the old Short family of Virginia, and is also related to the Lanhams. She was educated in the schools of Illinois, and has assisted in the education of three children of her own. Fred S. is a well-known phy- sician of San Jose, in the enjoyment of a large and constantly increasing practice. Clarissa Mand is at home, as is also Margaret C. Ryan.

Mr. Ryan is a Royal Arch Mason. He has today one of the finest homes of San Jose; but the reader will regret to learn that in 1920 he suffered a par- alytic stroke which has made it difficult for him to get about-a severe trial to one for so many years so active and industrious, and always so considerate of and attentive to the wants of others.

JOHN JAMES PEARD .- An honored veteran of the Civil War, with an enviable record for valiant service in that hard-fought conflict, John J. Peard has been a resident of Santa Clara County for close to half a century, witnessing its remarkable growth in the passing decades and contributing no small part to its development. He was born in New Brunswick. August 14, 1843, the son of Thomas and Frances (Lynch) Peard, natives of Ireland, who were Presbyterians in religion. The father was a shoemaker and when John J. was four years old the family moved to New York, which was the family home for a number of years. Later they came to California and here both parents died.

The youthful days of John J. Peard were spent at East Pembroke, N. Y., where he was educated in the public schools. When the Civil War broke out he was eager to give his services to his adopted country and left his books to enlist, September 5, 1862, in Company M, Ninth New York Heavy Ar- tillery, and served for three years; he was in many bitter engagements in that time, experiencing all of the hardships of warfare. Among the engage- ments in which he took part are the battles of Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Monocaey, Charleston, Ope- quam Creek, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, March 25 and April 2, 1865, Sailor's Creek, Appomattox, where he was present at the surrender of General Lee, April 9, 1865. He took part in the Grand Re- view at Washington, after which he was mustered out and honorably discharged, September 29, 1865, having attained the rank of second lieutenant. In 1866 he came to California, locating at Dunning, Yolo County, where he followed ranching for several years. Early in the '70s he came to Santa Clara County and purchased his ranch on Hamilton Ave- nue and he still owns five acres which are set to a fine orchard, devoted to prunes, cherries and apri- cots. This has been his home ever since and he is now one of the oldest residents in this section.

Mr. Peard was married at San Francisco in 1910 to Miss Jennie Brock, a native of Toronto, Canada, an accomplished woman, who was reared and educated in New York City. She presides gracefully over his home and has ever been an able helpmate. A stanch Republican, Mr. Peard has always taken an active in- terest in the affairs of that party, and he has been very prominent in the ranks of the G. A. R., being a member of Bennett Post, G. A. R., in San Jose. He is a past commander of both Sheridan-Dix and Bennett Posts.

MATTHEW FRANCIS MULCAHY .- A sehol- arly, painstaking and highly ethical attorney of whom Santa Clara County is naturally proud, is Matthew Francis Mulcahy, the distinguished lawyer of San Jose, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sep- 1ember 19, 1878, the son of Patrick and Margaret ( McDonald) Mulcahy, a worthy couple who came to the Pacific Coast in the year of his nativity and settled in California. For a while they lived in San Francisco, and then they moved to Santa Clara; and in both places they grew to be esteemed as citizens, neighbors and friends. Mrs. Mulcahy passed away in 1904, and her devoted husband in January, 1920.

Matthew went to the Mission Dolores School and to Santa Clara College, and then for six years he was clerk in the district attorney's office. He studied law privately and thoroughly, and in 1916 he was admitted to the bar. In the meantime he had taught school for a year in the Philippines, thereby greatly enlarging his knowledge of human nature; so that when, in 1916, he opened a law office in San Jose, he was successful in his practice and his growing list of patrons from the start. His conscientious de- votion to the best interests of everyone entrusting their affairs to him has been rewarded, as it natur- ally should have been, with more and more law work to do; and his idealistie methods in the handling of even doubtful cases have challenged the admiration of those sitting in judgment on the bench, and won for him the esteem and confidence of both superiors and colleagues. An evidence of this high regard is to be found in Mr. Mulcahy's election as secretary of the Santa Clara County Bar Association in 1920

In national political affairs a Republican, Mr. Mulcahy has never neglected an opportunity, while not seeking political advantage, to help raise civic standards and to increase the spirit of true patriot- ism. A member of the Roman Catholic Church, he has sought to further any good measure, or support any acknowledged leader in the great work, so neces- sary in such rapidly-building communities as those of Santa Clara County, of permanent upbuilding.

FRANK P. ALVERNAZ .- A rancher represent- ing the industry of the Azores and the spirit of progress of the American, is Frank P. Alvernaz, who was born on the Island of Fayal on Christmas Day, 1873, and now lives comfortably on the Mc- Laughlin Road near San Jose, the owner of seventy- three acres of constantly increasing value. His parents were Sego R. and Maria Madeline Alvernaz, also natives of Fayal, well-to-do dairy folk who enjoyed the esteem of their neighbors as stanch Christians who aided in the building up and direct- ing of the local church. They had seven children, among whom Frank was the third in the order of birth, while two of the sons, Tony and Joseph P., are also American citizens, the former a well-to-do building contractor at Providence, R. I., the latter a wealthy rancher and orchardist of the Jackson district, in the Santa Clara Valley, although for- merly of San Luis Obispo.

Following his brother, Tony, to the New World, Frank Alvernaz started from home when he was eighteen years of age, in 1891, and with ten dollars in his pocket he reached New Bedford, Mass., where he entered the employ of a dairy farmer, agreeing to work for five dollars and his keep a month. By 1896 he had made enough headway to permit him

Prof. Peand

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

to come to California; and setting out with a friend, he reached San Francisco in November of that year. He was eager to work and to save, and finding no employment open to him in the Bay City, he set out for San Luis Obispo County; and there, on a dairy ranch, he worked for eight years, milk- ing and making butter.

Later, in partnership with his brother, Joseph P. Alvernaz, he acquired by purchase a half interest in 400 head of fine stock. E. B. Biaggini was the other partner and this venture proved the first im- portant financial success in his career. To make possible a return trip to the Azores, however, his brother J. P. sold his interest in the business to Frank. He continued there six years and then sold out and farmed at Morrow. Meantime J. P. had returned from the Azores and the brothers bought a ranch on Coyote Creek, Santa Clara County. Prior to coming to Santa Clara County, Mr. Alvernaz was a leading figure in the Associated Milk Producers of San Francisco.

In 1918 Mr. Alvernaz moved to his ranch of sev- enty-three acres in the Mckinley district in this county, and here he has improved the place with building and is raising alfalfa, apricots and prunes. At Cayucos, San Luis Obispo County, he had mar- ried Miss Roselene Gourat, a native of Fayal, and on taking up their residence here, they both affiliated themselves with the Church of the Five Wounds. Since then Mr. Alvernaz has done much toward the support of his church and the splendid work done in this parish by Father Ribicro, one of the fruits of his activity being the carload of livestock collected by his efforts. This donation was made by the Portuguese farmers throughout San Luis Obispo County. His ranch is devoted to alfalfa and oats and prunes. He is a member of the Califor- nia Prune & Apricot Association, and is also a mem- ber of the U. P. E. C.

L. H. SONNICHSEN .- One of the outstanding meat markets of Palo Alto is that owned and op- erated by L. H. Sonnichsen, who has steadily ad- vanced to the front by hard work and strict at- tention to business. A native of that part of Ger- many which has since, the World War, gone back to Denmark, he was born in Schleswig, May 19, 1881. The father passed away when he was one year old, and one year later his mother died. The maternal grandparents took the family of children and brought them up at their home in Denmark. It inade a large family, but the children were given the advantages of the German school and learned to speak, write and read the Danish as well as the German language. Upon reaching his teens, L. H. Sonnichsen was apprenticed and learned the butcher's trade in Denmark, and according to the military requirements of the country, he served two years in the German army.

Mr. Sonnichsen was united in marriage with Miss Lorenza C. Hallum, a native of Denmark. The fame of America had penetrated the locality in which Mr. Sonnichsen lived, and sailing from Copenhagen, with two other families, they landed in New York in 1904 and lost no time in leaving for the Golden State and Palo Alto, where a brother, A. Sonnichsen, was already located. Being unable to speak Eng- lish, Mr. Sonnichsen began working with his broth- er, building roads, later working on the building of

the Catholic seminary. His first work in a meat market in Palo Alto was for George J. Curry in the Elite Market. He worked hard and saved his money until he had a sufficient amount to embark in business for himself and with Mads C. Laundsen started the Palo Alto Market and in 1919 Mr. Son- nichsen purchased the interest of his partner and is now the sole owner. The market is equipped with ice-making and refrigating machinery, excellent fix- tures and showcases, is clean and sanitary and attracts the best of Palo Alto trade. A force of six people are required to take care of the business. Recently Mr. Sonnichsen has purchased a store building on University Avenue and this is being re- modeled for his business.

The family resides on Newell Road and Mr. and Mrs. Sonnichsen are the parents of four children; Carsten and Jennie, and two deceased. Mr. Son- nichsen is a member of the Foresters and the Fra- ternal Aid. Coming to Palo Alto seventeen years ago, without a knowledge of the English language, Mr. Sonnichsen has diligently and industriously worked up until he is now well-to-do and is esteemed by all who know him. He is liberal and by his un- selfish cooperation has made a valuable contribu- tion to the prosperity of the community.

FRANK SILVEIRA CORREA .- A life of dili- gence and activity, is bringing a substantial measure of success to Frank Silveira Correa, who was born at Fayal, Azores Isles, February 19, 1881. His father, Antone S. Correa, also a native of the Azores, was a man of sterling worth to his community, and was extensively engaged in farming; his wife, Cath- erine Silveira, was born and reared in the same province. When but a lad of nine years, Frank left home and came to live with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. John Freitas, who resided on a ranch at Milpitas, Santa Clara County. The lad made the journey to California in 1890 and spent but six months in the public schools of Milpitas, then his uncle moved to Niles where he also attended school. When fourteen years of age he began the earning of a live- lihood, being employed as a gang boy in the nursery fields of the California Nursery Company at Niles, the working day being eleven hours and twenty minutes a day.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 221

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