History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 223

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

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ERNEST C. ZICKENDRATH .- The city of Palo Alto is fortunate in having a most complete and up-to-date veterinary hospital, owned and ope- rated by Ernest C. Zickendrath, which is complete and modern in every detail. He was born at Greens- burg, the county scat of Decatur County, Ind., Febru- ary 15, 1877. His father was Frederick William Ziekendrath, a German by birth and a baker and con- feetioner by occupation. His mother passed away at the Indiana home in 1900, when our subject was twenty-three years old, and the father makes his home with our subject. They were the parents of two sons: William M., succeeding to his father's business in Greensburg, Ind., and Ernest C., grew up in Indiana and graduated from the Greensburg high school with the class of 1895; in the fall of 1907 he came to California.

The marriage of Mr. Zickendrath occurred in Berkeley during his second year as student in the San Francisco Veterinary College, and he and his wife lived in Berkeley until the fall of 1911, when they moved to Palo Alto. Mrs. Zickendrath before her marriage was Grace T. Jones, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of Evan Winthrop Jones, a native of Wales; her mother was Maria Thursfield, born in Ireland of English parentage. Mrs. Ziekendrath was reared and school in Ohio; later she took a course at Denison University majoring in musie; she is a fine pianiste and has held the position of organist in the Baptist Church of Palo Alto; she took a two- years' post-graduate musical course in Berlin under the great German pianist Prof. Oscar Raif.

Immediately upon arriving in Palo Alto Dr. Zick- endrath opened an office on Hamilton Avenue and practiced for two years and a half before their pres- ent residence was built in 1913. They purchased three-quarters of an acre and erected a beautiful residence, Mrs. Ziekeidrath drawing the plans her- self. The hospital was built in the rear and Dr. Zickendrath specializes in the care of household pets, and has built up an exclusive and lucrative patron- age. He is a frequent contributor to the American Veterinary Journal and a stockholder in the Grow- ers Bank of San Jose, while both he and Mrs. Zickendrath are active members of the Baptist Church of Palo Alto.

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J. E. AZEVEDO .- Among those whose labors are contributing to the development of the dairy industry in the Santa Clara Valley is numbered J. E. Azevedo, an enterprising, wide-awake and progressive young man, who is acting as foreman of a large dairy farm near Lawrence Station and is proving fully equal to the responsibilities of this important position. A native of California, he was born in Marin County, on January 12, 1900, his parents being Andre and Anna (Silvera) Azevedo. The father, a prominent dairyman, is operating the Vendome Ranch, in the Santa Clara Valley, one of the finest agricultural properties in Northern California.

In the public schools of Marin County J. E. Aze- vedo acquired his education, and when not busy with his textbooks his time was spent in his father's dairy, so that he obtained a thorough knowledge of the business under the capable instruction of the latter. When a young man of eighteen the son came to Santa Clara County, and although but twenty-one years of age he is now foreman of one of the largest dairy farms in the entire valley. The ranch, which con- tains 550 acres, is situated near Lawrence Station and is owned by J. B. Enright, of Santa Clara, who leases the property to F. A. Machado, a prominent financier and expert dairyman and head of the Milk Producers Association of San Francisco. The build- ings are thoroughly modern and the dairy, under the capable management of Mr. Azevedo, is operated along the most progressive and efficient lines, so that the enterprise is proving a most profitable one. Careful training has given him a comprehensive knowledge of the dairy industry and he is thus well able to direct the labors of his four assistants. Mr. Azevedo puts up a large quantity of hay each season in order to supply the stock, which is of high grade and consists of forty-eight young cattle, four regis- tered bulls and 182 milch cows.

On January 26, 1921, Mr. Azevedo was married to Miss Mary Machado, a daughter of F. A. Machado, and they are popular in social circles of the com- munity. Mr. Azevedo has inherited much of his father's business ability and acumen and is rapidly forging to the front in dairy circles of the Santa Clara Valley. He is yet a young man, and judging from what he has already accomplished, his future career will be well worth the watching.

L. W. GIBSON .- Continuously associated with the commercial life of Palo Alto for over thirty years, I .. W. Gibson is a pioneer blacksmith and machinist of the city, his place of business being at Emerson Street and Palo Alto Avenue. His partner, and brother-in-law as well, is G. L. Evans, the son of a Milpitas farmer and among the leading pioneers of Milpitas. Our subject comes from a prominent pio- neer family of Santa Clara County, and he settled in Palo Alto in the carly days when there were not more than fifteen families living there.

Mr. Gibson was born at Milpitas, Cal., on October 3, 1877, a son of the late Edward O. Gibson, well- known pioneer farmer and stockman. His father, who was extensively engaged in grain farming and did threshing throughout the Santa Clara Valley, was a man of sterling characteristics and very successful in his operations. Several years before his death, he was totally blind, having met with an accident which caused the loss of his eyesight. He continued to do business, however, until he passed away in April, 1915.

He was a native of Canada and came to California in the early days where he married Miss Annie Burnett, a native of Mountain View, Cal., and a relative to California's first governor. Grandfather Burnett, who died while crossing the plains to California, married a Miss Jaynes and settled in Mountain View. When the Southern Pacific railroad was surveyed through that city, the right-of-way passed through the Jaynes' house. Our subject is one of six children, three boys and three girls, all living in Palo Alto, where his mother also resides. When he was two years old his parents removed to Santa Clara and settled on a farm and there he grew up and received valuable ex- perience in farm work, driving the big harvesters, and mowers. His father always maintained a black- smith shop in connection with his extensive farming operations and there Mr. Gibson learned to do black- smithing, repairing machinery, etc. He settled in Palo Alto in 1891 and soon thereafter opened a shop and has been in business continuously since that time, at one time being associated with George W. Harms, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. For a long time Mr. Gibson knew every person in Palo Alto and he is justly popular here. Mr. Gibson's mar- riage, which occurred in 1920, united him with Miss Elsie Lippincot, and they are the parents of one child, Phyllis. The family resides at Mayfield.

PETER J. PETERSEN .- An experienced dairy- man who is much interested in the progress of Santa Clara Valley is Peter J. Petersen, who was born in Silkeburg, Denmark, on March 26, 1869, the son of Christian Petersen, a native of the same province, who died at the age of fifty-six, after a very strenu- ous life in the Danish forestry service. He had mar- ried Miss Sarah Nisson, a native of the same pro- vince, and on Ocober 3, 1921, she was eighty years of age, happily residing at her old home. Peter was reared in the home of his parents, and until he was fourteen years of age, he went to school. Then he secured work on a dairy farm in Denmark, where he had plenty to do, but learned a great deal. In 1890, he decided to come to America, and in company with an older sister he reached New York in October, 1890. In a short time, they made their way westward to San Francisco; but four years later, the sister re- turned to her mother.

In the meantime, Peter Petersen had removed to Sonoma County, and for ten years he was in the employ of R. A. Linebaugh, who had a dairy near Petaluma, and for whom our subject was cheese- maker. He also worked as butter-maker on the J. R. Denman ranch at Petaluma, where he remained for four years. He engaged in the poultry business at Tworock Valley for a few years, and, on disposing of his property in 1918, he removed to Santa Clara Valley and located on the Shepherd Dairy, near Old Gilroy. He operates a farm of 275 acres, with its own irrigation system, keeps 115 head of high-grade stock there, and has made much improvement since 1918. His cheese factory is No. 26.

At Petaluma, in 1902, Mr. Petersen was married to Miss Elizabeth Fisher, who had been reared at Tomales and is the daughter of Judge A. L. Fisher of Marin County; and they have four children-Earl, Clifford, Kenneth, and Norman, who are at school. Mr. Petersen belongs to the Masonic lodge and is a standpat Republican.

J. E. azevedo

P. Castillon

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JAMES CASTILLOU .- Among the worthy pio- neers whose useful lives are pleasantly recalled by all who were fortunate to know and profit from them, was the late James Castillou, a prominent citi- zen of the Morgan Hill section. He was born in Basses-Pyrenees, near Iloron on October 25, 1852 and attended school in his native province. Early in 1869 he came to America and located first in San Francisco; he then went to what is now San Benito County and was foreman of a large ranch when only eighteen years old, but later removed to Santa Clara County. In 1884 he settled on the Catherine Dunne ranch near Morgan Hill and the first year worked as a wood cutter; the second year he farmed and the third year he leased a portion of the ranch on the east of Morgan Hill consisting of 3,600 acres and farmed extensively to grain and stock; at one time owning 1,000 head of Angora goats.

The marriage of James Castillowoccurred on Sep- tember 4, 1886, and united him with Miss Anna Bor- denave, also a native of Oloron, Basses Pyrenees, who was born October 12, 1866. Her parents, Jean and Mary (Barillies) Bordenave were both natives of Oloron. Miss Bordenave came to America in 1884 with a sister, now Mrs. Clavere, who resides at Gilroy, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Castillou are the parents of one daughter, Jennie, now the wife of M. Batcabe and they reside with Mrs. Castillou. Mrs. Batcabe was a graduate with the first class of the Live Oak Union high school. For many years Mr. Castillou was a successful rancher and dairyman and in 1909 purchased 105 acres on Tennant Avenue, where he erected a fine residence and where Mrs. Castillou still resides. Forty acres of his ranch were sold to Charles Kellogg, the naturalist, and he and Mr. Cas- tillou became boon companions. The last three years of his life were spent in retirement on account of his failing health. Mr. Castillou received his United States citizenship in Hollister and was the ninth person to receive citizenship in San Benito County. Besides being a successful rancher, he was active in financial matters, holding stock in the Bank of Italy at Gilroy and at one time was a stockholder and director in the Morgan Hill Bank.

After a useful, well-spent life, Mr. Castillou passed away at the family home September 28, 1920, leaving many friends to mourn his loss. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him for his genuineness of character and high ideals of citizenship.

JOHN M. CAMP .- One of Palo Alto's most pop- uiar young business men is John M. Camp, the effi- cient and genial local representative of Sherman Clay & Company's piano store, at 340 University Ave- nue. Genial and accommodating of disposition he takes pleasure in assisting teachers, musicians and concert people in advertising, printing programs and furnish- ing Steinway and other high grade instruments for public performances. He particularly aims to co- operate with local educational institutions in furnish- ing the best of pianos for their public recitals, school and concert work as occasion arises, thereby further- ing his company's business interests and at the same time doing valuable services to the community.

A native of Holland, he was born at Amsterdam, June 10, 1892. Having completed the course of pub- lic instruction provided in his native country, he entered the employ of Holland's largest piano house, the firm of C. C. Bender at Amsterdam, who repre-

sent the Steinway and Aeolian Companies in Hol- land, serving as an office boy and gaining sales knowl- edge and a general familiarity with the piano business. He arrived in America in 1909, and coming to Chicago, he first worked in the factory of the Schultz Piano Company, for two and a half years; then he worked in the factory of the Kimball Piano Company for four years. While he received a liberal education in his native tongue, when he came to America he at- tended night school and in this way obtained a good business use of the English language. In 1915 he removed to California and went to work for George Birkel of Los Angeles and in 1917 returned to Chi- cago and again entered the employ of the W. W. Kim- ball Company working in the repair department. He was then sent out on the road as a salesman for the Kimball Piano Company through southern Michigan. When the late war broke out Mr. Camp enlisted and was sent to the Presidio at San Francisco and served in the Coast Artillery. After his honorable discharge he went to San Jose and accepted a position with Sherman Clay & Company, as a salesman, and was with them until they opened their new music store on August 20, 1920 at Palo Alto; he was then solic- ited to take charge of their new store and he became the local representative and is making good in every way. The business is steadily growing and Mr. Camp is one of the most promising of all the young music dealers in California. His efforts are ever toward the advancements of all movements calculated to enhance the general welfare of Palo Alto, and his fel- low-townsmen esteem him highly for his many ex- cellent qualities.

GUSTAF M. LILJENSTEIN .- An ambitious uni- versity student who is combining business and stu- dent life as one of the proprietors of the California Restaurant at 530 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, is Gus- taf M. Liljenstein. He gives his personal attention to the operation and management of this business, which is one of the most popular and best patronized eating houses of the city. A young man of high moral character and lofty idcals, he is resolved to make the most of himself, and keeps up with his classes at the same time that he is shouldering the responsibilities of a successful restaurant business. He was born at Frederickstad, Norway, August 8, 1896. When one year old he was taken by his parents, the Rev. Jonas P. and Augusta (Hendricksen) Liljenstein, both na- tives of Sweden, back to Sweden, where the father became the pastor of a Swedish Congregational Church. He was seven years old when his parents left their native land and removed to the United States and settled in New London, Conn., where his father has since been the pastor of the Swedish Congrega- tional Church.

G. M. was educated in the public schools of New London and was graduated from high school with the class of 1916. Of the seven children in his family, our subject and a sister, Mrs. Carlson, the wife of Emil Carlson, a naval officer residing in San Diego, are the only ones in California. In 1918 Mr. Liljen- stein enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served at the submarine base at New London and on the U. S. S. Fulton. He was in the service fourteen months and was honorably discharged as yeoman of the first class at New London in 1919. He was determined to get a higher education, so he came to Palo Alto dur-

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ing 1919 and entered the Stanford University, pursu- ing the chemical engineering course. So keen was his determination to go through college that he began working as a waiter; then the opportunity came in February 1920 to buy an interest in the California Restaurant with W. C. McCombs and they have been successfully conducting it ever since. Mr. Liljenstein is a member of the professional fraternity known as the Alpha Chi Sigma.

ROLLER & HAPGOOD .- Prominent among the up-to-date, indispensable establishments of Palo Alto may well be mentioned that of Messrs. Roller & Hapgood, the undertakers, of 430 University Avenue. Arthur Roller, the senior member, was born in San Francisco, the son of J. W. Roller, a native of Michi- gan, who married Miss Elizabeth Pfaff, of San Fran- cisco. Her father came to the Coast as early as 1851 and ventured across the continent in doing so, meet- ing and overcoming all of the perils and hardships of the overland route. J. W. Roller came to Califor- nia in 1863, and having established this business, he managed it until he sold out to his son and Mr. Hap- good in 1912. Arthur Roller attended the public schools in San Francisco and also in Palo Alto, and at Palo Alto, in 1909, married Miss Lealı Arlene Duncan. She was born in Mayfield, Santa Clara County, and grew up an accomplished young woman. Two children, Willis A. and Robert Lewis, have been born to them.

Frank A. Hapgood, the junior member of the enterprising firm, was born in Nebraska, and his father, Alfred A. Hapgood, was a native of Ohio. His wife was Miss Ella Frost before her marriage, and she was born in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Hap- good came to California about 1900, and Mr. Hap- good is with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as its agent at San Jose. Frank went to the public schools of Santa Cruz and then was employed in the Bank of Palo Alto until 1912; since which time he has been in this firm. He married Miss Eva Kerr, a native of Iowa, and they have one son, Rob- crt. Messrs. Roller & Hapgood enjoy a wide and enviable reputation for the perfection with which they operate their service in behalf of afflicted human- ity and according to the last word of science.

ROBERT P. GOBER, M. D .- A physician and surgeon of thirty-eight years' experience in Los Gatos and a native son of California, is Robert P. Gober, M. D., who was born in Sacramento, November 24, 1858. His father, Rev. W. R. Gober, was born in DeKalb County, Ga., in 1824, and was a minister in the Methodist Church South; he married Nancy Porter Beasley, a native of Lynchburg, Va., of a prominent old Virginian family, and an own cousin of General Robert E. Lee. In 1851 Rev. Gober, with his bride, came to California, coming via Panama to San Francisco. After preaching there for some time he took up his work in Sacramento, and then from 1864 to 1868 was stationed in Santa Clara, and after- wards his work was in various parts of the state. As presiding elder of the San Francisco District he rode horseback on his journeys from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. In 1872 Rev. Gober joined the Meth- odist Episcopal Church North, and his first appoint- ment was at Kingsley Chapel, Sacramento. He was presiding elder of Sacramento District for several years, then of the Napa District, and was a delegate

to the General Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Omaha, Nebr. He was chaplain at Folsom Prison for some years before he retired. Rev. Gober was one of the founders of Pacific Meth- odist College, located at Vacaville, and was its pres- ident for some years. In the early days he was a member of the State Legislature, and still later he was chaplain of the State Senate. This noble and grand old pioneer died at his home in College Park in March, 1908, being survived by his widow until December of the same year, when she, too, passed away, at the age of seventy-eight.

This worthy pioneer couple had six children, three of whom are living, Robert P. being the only son. Reared as an itinerant Methodist minister's son, he attended the public schools in various places until 1878, when he entered the University of the Pacific, now the College of the Pacific, where he was gradu- ated in 1882 with the degree of A. B., and then, hav- ing chosen the profession of medicine, he entered the Medical College of the Pacific, afterwards Cooper Medical College, for a year, then entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, where he was graduated in 1884 with the degree of M. D., and immediately returned to Santa Clara County, locating at Los Gatos, where he took up the practice of his profession, in which he has been so univer- sally successful, and he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him for his kindness of heart and philanthropy. He has seen the country round about grow from mustard fields to a garden spot of or- chards, and the city of Los Gatos from a hamlet to a city. He has built a beautiful residence on Santa Cruz Avenue and Bean Street.

Dr. Gober was married in Los Gatos June 17, 1886, to Miss Annette Bean, who was born at Hudson, Mich., a daughter of John Bean, a native of Maine, who settled in Michigan and was an inventor. While in Springfield, Ohio, he invented a force pump and also a turbine windmill. He came to Los Gatos in 1883, and was the inventor of the Bean spray pump. and organized the Bean Spray Pump Company, be- ginning their manufacture in Los Gatos. The plant was afterwards moved to San Jose, where he built up a large business. After years of activity, wishing to retire, he resigned and spent his last days in Los Gatos, which had always been his home in Califor- nia. Mrs. Gober was educated in Springfield, Ohio, and was a cultured woman whose esthetic influence was felt in the community, where she was much loved and appreciated. Dr. Gober was bereaved of his faithful wife May 12, 1921, leaving two children: Helen Porter, a graduate of Stanford, class of 1914. married David Coleman, also a graduate of Stan- ford, and she passed away February 21, 1922, leaving a daughter, Nanette Coleman. Nancy Cornelia is a graduate of St. Luke's Hospital Training School for Nurscs. She enlisted in the U. S. Navy as a nurse, was sent overseas and served at Guam for one year, when she returned and was mustered out of service. She now presides gracefully over Dr. Gober's home.

Dr. Gober was prevailed upon to serve as school trustee for four years. His time is taken up with his profession and he will not consider political preferment of any kind, but is a believer in the prin- ciples of the Republican party. Fraternally Dr. Gober was made a Mason in Los Gatos Lodge No. 292, F. & A. M., of which he is past master. He is

F. Ceribari

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

a member of Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., San Jose, and of San Jose Commandery No. 10, Knights Templar, of which he is past commander. He is also a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., in San Francisco. Dr. Gober is influential in medical circles and has served as vice-president of the Santa Clara County Medical Society. He is a vestryman of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

FIORE CRIBARI -A worthy representative of his family, Fiore Cribari, of San Jose, is ably car- rying on the work of producing and shipping Cal- ifornia products as manager of B. Cribari & Sons' interests in Santa Clara County. He was born at Cosenza. Italy on January 21, 1890, a son of Benja- min and. Josephine (Abruzzini) Cribari, both born in that same community in Italy where their son first saw the light. In 1899, with their four children, they came to America and located at Trinidad, Colo., where the father mined and worked in the coke ov- ens. He had followed the transfer business in his native country and this decided change gave him an insight into many angles of American life. In 1903 the family came on to California and made set- tlement in the Santa Clara Valley and ever since they have followed ranching and orcharding. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Cribari had seven children: Fiore. of this review; Angelo G., lives in San Bruno; Stani- slaus is deceased; Anthony also resides at San Bruno. These were born in Italy. Erma, born in Colorado, is a graduate from the State Normal at San Jose; Mary was born at Morgan Hill and is a student at Notre Dame; and Helen, also born at Morgan Hill, is a student in the San Mateo high school.

When his sons became of age, Benjamin Cribari formed the copartnership known as B. Cribari & Sons, and working together they have accomplished much good and aided materially in developing prop- erty in this part of the state. The first parcel of land they bought was forty acres at Morgan Hill, and starting on a small scale in 1904, they increased their operations until they owned and had under lease some 3,000 acres of land in various locations. They have developed orchards and vineyards; raised hay and grain; developed a fine dairy with 225 head ot cows from the Mills herd, this latter at San Bruno, in San Mateo County, where they lease 800 acres of land. They own ninety-five acres and a winery at Madrone; have eighty acres in the Lion tract, which they will set to grapes and fruit. In 1922 they bought 330 acres near Hollister, which they expect to put in vines and orchard. For several sea- sons they have raised, bought, packed and shipped wine grapes to markets in the East, specializing in their brand-Sonnie Boy. In 1921 their shipments reached 3,000 tons and they expect to increase that amount in 1922 They use only the most modern methods and appliances to save labor, although they keep twenty-five head of horses on their ranches. Eight men are employed regularly and in busy sea- sons they have from forty to fifty.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 223

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