History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 222

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

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Realizing the need of a better education, he con- tinued his studies at night and enrolling as a stu- dent with the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Pa., he finished a course in higher mathematics in 1889. He continued with the Cal- ifornia Nursery Company, working up in every de- partment until he was in charge of the ornamental tree department, remaining with them for twenty- four years, making himself a valuable employe. He then became a stockholder in the Ruehl-Wheeler Nursery of San Jose, also purchasing a home there.

On September 11, 1907, Mr. Correa was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Freitas, a native daughter of the Golden State. Mrs. Correa was born at Alvarado, Alameda County, Cal., July 9, 1886, and is the daughter of Joseph R. and Mary (Amaral) Freitas, who were pioneers of Alameda County. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Correa; Arnold Ed., who died at the age of eight years; and Charles Frank, who attends St. Mary's school. In 1919, Mr. Correa moved to San Jose with his family, where he became superintendent of the

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Ruehl-Wheeler Nursery; however, he only remained with them one year, when he was offered the place of general manager at San Jose for the California Nursery Company, and on November 1, he assumed his duties. He still retains his interest in the Ruehl- Wheeler Nursery, which he helped to organize.

Fraternally Mr. Correa is a Woodman of the World at Niles; also a member of the U. P. E. C. there. He rendered valuable service to the draft board of the U. S. Army and Navy during the World War and in every way supported all war measures, has proven himself a public-spirited citizen who has at heart the welfare of his community, county, state and nation.

JOHN FAWCETT POGUE .- A native of Ha- waii, John Fawcett Pogue was born on the Island of Maui, February 17, 1885, the son of William F. and Victoria (Saffery) Pogue. Grandfather John Fawcett Pogue was born in Wilmington, Del. He went to Hawaii and was a missionary for the Con- gregational Church; there he married Maria Whit- ncy, who was the first white girl born on the islands. Her father, Rev. Samuel Whitney, was born in Hart- ford, Conn., and was married to Mercy Partridge, born in Massachusetts, and they sailed on their honeymoon around Cape Horn to the Hawaiian Islands as the first missionaries to that country. They were sent by the Congregational Church and spent the remainder of their lives in that country. Rev. John F. Pogue died while on a trip to the United States and his wife spent her last days in California. Wm. F. Pogue was also born on Maui and was married to Victoria Saffery, also a native of Maui, whose father was an Englishman. William F. Pogue was a farmer and for years followed stockraising; later he was the manager of a sugar plantation and at the present time is manager of the East Maui Irrigation Company. He and his wife are the parents of eleven living children; William F .; John Fawcett; Hervey W .; Cory; Maria E .; Charles A .; Ruth E .; Henry B .; Fred M .; Jennie P., and Francis V. Pogue.

The father sent all of the children to California to be educated and John Fawcett attended the Hester school in San Jose and the Santa Clara public schools. Ever since he was sixteen he has made his own way in life. He first engaged as a press- man in the printing office of WV. G. Bohannan and was thus engaged for two years; he then took up the carpenter's trade, working for eight years, a good part of the time for Morrison Brothers, build- ers. As early as 1895 Mr. Pogue's aunt, Miss Jane K. Pogue, had purchased a ranch on the Los Gatos Road in the south part of Santa Clara County, where John F. made his home while attending school, as well as while working at his trade. In 1913 he quit carpentering and engaged in farming and horticulture, devoting his time to growing ber- ries, fruits and vegetables and also stockraising, spe- cializing in pure-bred registered Poland China swine and by close application and care he is making a success. Mr. Pogue is a Republican in politics, and fraternally is an active and prominent member of the Fraternal Brotherhood, having passed through all the chairs of this order. He is one of the sub- stantial men of his district, and is held in high re- gard by all who know him.

EDWARD NEWELL, M. D .- The last word of science and the spirit of helpful interest in suffering humanity are well exemplified in the arduous life and successful work of Dr. Edward Newell, the well- known physician and surgeon of San Jose, undoubt- edly one of the best representatives of the medical profession in California. He was born at East Hard- wick, Caledonia County, Vt., on September 30, 1873, the son of A. W. Newell, a substantial business man, who died there in 1893, aged fifty-seven. He had married Miss Lucy A. Hardy. Mrs. Newell came to California in 1894, and rich in a wide circle of friends, is still living. Edward attended the local grammar and high schools, and then matriculated at Colgate Academy, that famous alma mater for so many worth-while men, at Hamilton, N. Y. Then, for six years, he engaged in mercantile lines of trade, and in 1894 he came West to California. Here he continued high school and Normal school studies, while he acted as agent for the Mercury when it was owned by C. Wooster, and he, with Hugh De Lacy, originated and carried out the present system of distribution; and after that he enrolled in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in San Fran- cisco, from which he was graduated, with the M. D. degree, in 1904.

Doctor Newell then served for nine months in the city and county hospital as an interne, in San Francisco, then he was with Drs. . Howard and Amelia Gates for one year. He also profited by the opportunity to go to New York for post graduate medical work. Of recent years, Doctor Newell has practiced for himself. Naturally he is an honored member of the American Medical Association and also the State and County Medical Societies. In August, 1908, he was married in San Jose to Miss Ava E. Wilkin, of San Jose, an accomplished lady, the meet companion for a professional man with ideals and ambition; and their home life has been blessed by their son, Paul Fowler Newell. The family attend the Grace Baptist Church, and Doctor Newell adds to the influence of the Republican party. Doctor Newell belongs to the Y. M. C. A. and is an enthusiast for both basketball and golf.

RICHARD V. BRESSANI .- A scholarly, experi- enced and very successful attorney who has had the advantage of several years of work in the county clerk's office, is Richard V. Bressani, a native son of California, who was born at San Jose on Febru- ary 1, 1894. His father, August Bressani, and his mother, who was Mary Del Piero before her mar- riage, came here in 1889, and both are still living. Richard went to school like all the other boys of the neighborhood and in course of time he was gradu- ated from St. Joseph's School. Then in 1913 he was given his Bachelor of Arts degree at Santa Clara University and two years later, the Santa Clara in- stitution conferred upon him the coveted LL.B. de- gree. For three years he was a deputy in the county clerk's office, where his knowledge of local affairs was decidedly enlarged; and on August 1, 1919, he commenced to practice for himself. From the start he was more than fortunate, and it is evident today that his chances for a brilliant future are such as would inspire any young man. He is a member of the Democratic County Central Committee, but is broader in his view of civic problems, and favors

J. F. Porque

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

the endorsement of men and measures rather than any form of partisanship.

A patriot professing the greatest devotion to coun- try and state, Mr. Bressani is particularly interested in Santa Clara County and its rational and rapid development. His own record of service in the re- cent World War will always give him status and influence in urging upon others the performance of simple, uplifting duty. He joined the U. S. Army when his nation needed him, and spent one year and three days in France and Italy.

Mr. Bressani is a member of the Dante Alighieri and the Loyal Italo-American clubs. He is also a member of the Y. M. I., the Knights of Columbus, of which society he served as grand knight; the Elks and Observatory Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, as well as the Universal Order of Foresters. At San Jose Mr. Bressani was united in marriage with Miss Emma Nicora, born in Santa Clara County, a daughter of Rolando Nicora, who settled in San Jose in the early '80s.

JAMES LEE OGIER .- A native son, James Lee Ogier was born on the Ogier ranch north of San Jose on August 27, 1874, the son of James H. Ogier, who was a Marylander and came to California via Panama in 1852, settling in Santa Clara County, where he engaged in ranching and horticulture until his death in 1885. He had married Miss Margaret Branham, and they had eight children, seven of whom are living; Elizabeth Ogier, the eldest, resides in Boston Mass .; John B. is ranching at Morgan Hill; Frances G. is a teacher in the Oakland high school; James Lee of this sketch; Adelaide has be- come Mrs. Wilmot and lives at Indio, Cal .; Walter T. is a rancher at Agnew; Margaret is Mrs. Wynne of Berkeley; Florence died in infancy. Isaac Bran- ham, Mrs. Ogier's father, was a member of the Don- ner party, until they reached the Cut-off, when he said that he intended to take the regular route to California, and invited all the others to join him. He reached San Jose in safety in the fall of 1846, while disaster met those who went the other route.

Isaac Branham settled on a ranch southwest of San Jose, on the Branham and Almaden roads, the former of which was named after him, and he bought con- siderable land from the Spaniards, but in the dis- putes over land titles that ensued, he lost title, and it was thrice necessary to repurchase the land. Mrs. Ogier was one of the first to attend the Convent of the Notre Dame when it started, and she lived to be seventy-six years old, passing away in 1917.

James Lee Ogier attended the old Orchard school on Coyote Creek, and in 1889 he entered the Univer- sity of the Pacific, attending there until 1896, and then entered Stanford University, continuing his studies there for a year. In 1897 he returned home and worked on the Ogier ranch until 1900, when he took up stock raising for himself. The next year he pur- chased some range land northeast of Milpitas, and from time to time he added to his acreage until he now controls 15,000 acres of range land. He ranges from 800 to 1,000 head of stock on his ranch a season, all depending on the amount of feed the land produces. He belongs to the California Cattlemen's Association.

On April 17, 1902, Mr. Ogier was married to Miss Florence Ayer, daughter of S. F. Ayer, the well- known pioneer, who had married Miss America Evans. Mrs. Ogier was born on the old Ayer ranch

at Milpitas, and attended the grammar school and later the University of the Pacific. One daughter has blessed this union-Florence, a student at the San Jose high school. In national politics Mr. Ogier is a Republican.

JEROME B. THOMAS, M. D .- Occupying a place of prominence among the leading physicians and surgeons of Santa Clara County is Jerome B. Thomas, a specialist in eye, ear, nose and throat diseases. A man of superior ability and force of character, with a well-earned stock of medical knowl- edge, he has gained, during his eight years' residence in this locality, the confidence of the people in an eminent degree, and is rapidly building up a sub- stantial and lucrative practice. A native of Kansas, he was born April 30, 1867, in Wyandotte County. When he was a small child his parents moved to Ohio, where his father, Dr. Jerome B. Thomas, was an army surgeon in the employ of the government, with the rank of colonel; later he became governor of the National Military Home at Dayton, Ohio, and at this place the early years of our subject's life was spent. His mother before her marriage was Miss Harriet N. R. Tasker, a native of Massachusetts and born in New Bedford. They were the parents of six children, of whom our subject is the third.

Jerome B. grew up at the National Military Home and attended school in the grammar and high schools of Dayton, and was prepared for college at private and preparatory schools in Ohio. He then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Harbor and was graduated from that institution in 1887 with the degree of A. B. He then went to Europe and stud- ied for fifteen months in the universities of Leipzig and Munich. Upon his return to the United States he entered the Long Island College Hospital at Brooklyn, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1892. He then served for a year as interne at the hospital of his Alma Mater in Brooklyn, and at the end of the year established his own office in Brook- lyn and was thus engaged until he entered the Fili- pino War in 1900. He was sent to the Philippine Islands as acting assistant surgeon and later was promoted to a captaincy in the United States Volun- teers. He resigned from the army and was ap- pointed surgeon in charge of the Civil Government Sanitarium at Baguio, Province of Benguet, and there met Governor-General Taft, General Wood, and other civil and military officials. For three years he remained in charge of the sanitarium and helped to build it up. The sanitarium is located on a moun- tain at an altitude of 5000 feet above sea level and the government spent about three millions of dollars in building up the place with good roads, etc. He then came back to New York and entered the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and took a post-gradu- ate course of one year and again opened an office in Brooklyn practicing his specialty.

While residing in Brooklyn Dr. Thomas married Miss Mary Denison Wilt, of Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Thomas remained in Brooklyn until 1910 when, on account of failing health, he was obliged to change climate and removed to California. Settling in Santa Cruz, he opened offices and was occupied for three years; in 1913 he moved to Palo Alto and opened offices in the Frazer Building, located on University avenue; for two years he served as a member of the

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clinical staff of the University of California. Dr. Thomas entered the service of his country during the late war in May, 1918, and was commissioned a captain of the medical corps and put in charge of the eye, ear, nose and throat section of the base hospital at Camp Fremont. He was honorably discharged on December 10, 1918. At the present time he is con- sulting surgeon in the United States Health Hospi- tal at Palo Alto, and well deserves the reputation which he enjoys of being one of the most skillful and faithful physicians and surgeons of this section.

WILLIAM G. RHOADES .- Fortunate in his early training in the East's most noted technical school, William G. Rhoades, who is the proprietor of Rhoades Ranch on Cochrane Road, Morgan Hills, Santa Clara County, is managing the 160 acres with efficiency and capability. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira O. Rhoades, he was born at Omaha, Nebr .. August 21, 1889. He attended the public schools, finishing his elementary education at Berkeley in 1907, and in that year entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston. With but a few months until his graduation, he left school to ac- cept a position in the department of electrical engi- neering of the Westinghouse Electric Company at Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1909 Mr. Rhoades came back to San Francisco, joining his parents who had located there in 1905. His father started life for himself as a railroader at the age of sixteen, with the Union Pacific R. R., was then purchasing agent for the Southern Pacific at San Francisco, and well known in railroad circles through his successful career in this field, and with his wife is now living retired in San Francisco.

Early in August, 1917, W. G. Rhoades enlisted for service with the U. S. forces and entered the officer's training school at the Presidio at San Francisco. He received a commission as second lieutenant and was assigned to duty with the 63rd Infantry, serving un- til January 2, 1919, when he was given his honorable discharge. Since returning from the service, Mr. Rhoades has had complete charge of the Rhoades ranch, a fine tract of 160 acres, a part of the old Laguna Seca grant and lying about three miles east of Morgan Hill. This property had been pur- chased by Mr. Rhoades and his father in 1911 and the improvements made on the ranch have been super- intended by our subject, who has managed the place ever since its purchase, except the time he was in the service of the government. In its primitive state it was covered with oak trees and a dense growth of poison oak, but extensive improvements have trans- formed the property into a fairy land ranch, and now its acres are a mass of bloom every spring, 125 acres being in orchard, while the balance will be planted in the near future. Mr. Rhoades uses horses and tractor power on the ranch, and his modern and ef- ficient methods are bringing him unqualified success. In 1917 Ira Rhoades erected the handsome residence on a knoll overlooking the orchards, and the beauti- ful view from its vantage point, particularly in blos- som time, will ever be an inspiration. In 1920 Mr. Rhoades bought out his father's interest in the place. and now is sole owner. He has installed a fine pumping plant, with a thirty-two horse-power en- gine which pumps the water from the creek and car- ries it through underground pipes from Coyote Creek. The plant has a capacity of from 1500 to

2000 gallons per minute. Mr. Rhoades is one of the progressive and public spirited "boosters" of Santa Clara County and can always be depended upon to do his full share to help build up the county.

At Santa Cruz Mr. Rhoades was married to Miss Katherine Garnett, a talented young woman, who was a student at Miss Head's School, Berkeley, be- fore her marriage. Her grandfather, the late J. S. Garnett, was widely known as one of Solano County's sturdy pioneers, where he had extensive holdings which he left to his descendants. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades are the parents of two boys, William G., Jr., and David Garnett. Mr. Rhoades is a Repub- lican in his political preferences, and is a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, and an enthusiastic member of the California Prune and Apricot Association.

MATHIAS STOCKLMEIER .- A worthy repre- sentative of the type of citizen that has made Cal- ifornia a great state was the late Mathias Stock !- meier, whose strong and earnest manhood, forceful character, and business ability have been given to- ward the development of his home place located on the bank of Steven's Creek. He was born on June 21. 1861, in Amberg, Bavaria, and there grew up and received his education in the public schools of his native land. At the age of sixteen, he left Bavaria and came to the United States and almost immediately enlisted in the U. S. Army serving un- der General Shafter in the Indian warfare. He entered the service as corporal and was advanced to the position of sergeant and was studying for the position of a lieutenant, but before he had at- tained to that commission while stationed at Angel Island, he met Miss Adelaide Irmlear in San Fran- cisco, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. He then took his honorable discharge and quit the army to settle down and they chose Los Gatos as their home. Purchasing forty-five acres he engaged in the poultry business, but the hard times of 1893 and the burning of their house took away their chances of success. During the first great rush to the gold fields of Alaska, Mr. Stocklmeier was among the first to go. Going over Chilcoot Pass, he made his way to the Yukon and there he con- structed two boats with which to carry supplies down the river. On the trip one boat sank with everything on board, and besides suffering the finan- cial loss he suffered terrible hardships of intense cold and lack of food and sufficient clothing. The period of his first trip to Alaska covered two years, during this tinie he followed mining, then he re- turned to Oakland where his home was located. but again the charms of the frontier life called to him and he set out for Alaska, this time for Nome, but misfortune again overtook him and he lost everything, a tidal wave sweeping his mine; and he returned to California. The family were then living at Oakland, and they removed to Santa Clara County, where Mr. Stocklmeier purchased three acres on the Stevens Creek Road, his residence being located on the banks of the Creek. It is particularly well located for the purpose he had in mind, that of making it a show place, in the already beautiful and attractive Santa Clara Valley. However, he was not inclined to set- tle down until he had made one more trial for a fortune in that new and wonderful country of Alaska.

WSophoade 2

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so he made another trip to Nome and after spend- ing a few months there returned to his home and took up the work of beautifying and improving his home place, now comprising six acres. He did not long enjoy his home, however, as he passed away January 17, 1919, from influenza. Mr. and Mrs. Stocklmeier were the parents of three children: Louis E., a civil engineer, was a first lieutenant in the U. S. Field Artillery and served overseas; Adel I. is a teacher in the College of Notre Dame; and Al- phonse J. is a civil engineer, and was a second lieu- tenant in the Field Artillery. Mr. Stocklmeier was a man of artistic temperament and had carried out many of his plans and ideas in the construction of their home, so it is indeed a beautiful spot, and Mrs. Stocklmeier being in accord with her husband's ideas is steadily improving it until in time Mr. Stockl- meier's plans and ideas will have materialized. The family are held in high esteem in the community and their beautiful home is an example of what in- dustry and perseverance will accomplish.

WILLIAM A. WHITEHURST .- In the rural district at Lexington, near Los Gatos, William A. Whitehurst was born February 25, 1864, a son of the pioneer lumberman and banker of Gilroy L. A. Whitehurst who was born in Princess Ann County, Va., June 4, 1834. His parents moved to St. Louis, Mo., when he was six years old and there resided for four years. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California and for a time mined in Butte County, but met with poor success and returned to Missouri in the winter of 1852. He once more returned to Cali- fornia, in 1859, and located in Sacramento, but re- mained there only a short time, when he moved to Santa Clara County on the Santa Cruz toll-road and engaged in lumbering. In 1869 he went back East for a visit but returned the following year and took up his residence in Gilroy. In 1875 he became con- nected with the Bank of Gilroy and served as its president for about three years. He had married Miss Hettie A. Logan, a native of Missouri, on Janu- ary 31, 1860. William A. was reared and schooled at Live Oak and Gilroy, later supplementing with a business course at Heald's Business College in San Francisco. In 1884 he took active charge of the lum- ber yards at Gilroy for his father, who had organ- ized the old bank of Gilroy and was employed in its management. For twenty-two years he operated and successfully managed the lumber business, and was succeeded by his brother, Logan L. Whitehurst.

In 1891 Mr. Whitehurst was united in marriage to Miss Mae V. Bradbury, a daughter of the pioneer Hiram Bradbury, now deceased, who was a fore- man on the Miller & Lux ranch. They became parents of five children: Thelma, G. R. N. of Queen's Hospital, Hawaiian Islands; Albert, has been an in- valid for sixteen years; Hettie, in training at St. Luke's Hospital, San Francisco; Ed, a student, and Charles, also a student. Mrs. Whitehurst passed away at the home place in Gilroy December 11, 1911. The second marriage of Mr. Whitehurst occurred September 30, 1914, and united him with Mrs. Mable E. (Heyman) Owen, who has two children, Harold Owen and Ruth Owen, both of whom reside in San Francisco. Mrs. Whitehurst passed away in San Francisco January, 1921.

For eighteen years Mr. Whitehurst worked in the old bank of Gilroy as bookkeeper and assistant cashier. He has also served two terms on the city council of Gilroy. Fraternally he has been a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows since 1886 and has passed all the chairs. Politically he is a stanch Democrat Many have been the reverses in the loss of his first wife and the rearing of his children, and then in the loss of his second wife, but his courage and deter- mination have never failed him. The beautiful Whitehurst ranch, which consists of some 3000 acres, is situated on the summit of the Santa Cruz moun- tains, overlooking the wonderful Santa Clara Valley. One hundred acres have been cleared and set to apple trees, which are just coming into bearing, and a more beautiful sight would be hard to find. Mr. Whitehurst owns a residence in Gilroy, but spends most of his time on the ranch. He enjoys the esteem and goodwill of a large circle of friends and ac- quaintanees and gives freely of his time and means towards the development of his community.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 222

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