History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 225

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

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himself aloof from any particular party, seeks to do his full duty as a public-spirited citizen, and lends a hand, whenever it is needed.

NICHOLAS BORDENAVE .- A representative French-American in Santa Clara County, particular- ly well-known in and around Gilroy, is Nicholas Bordenave, who is both highly esteemed and pop- ular. He was born at Oloron, in the Basses-Pyren- nees, France, on August 12, 1872, the son of John and Pasqualle (Barreilles) Bordenave, both natives of the same beautiful French village. His father, who was a tanner of hides, died at the early age of forty-two. The lad was reared and taught at home, and at twelve years of age became an em- ploye of a wholesale and retail merchandise estab- lishment at Oloron. On October 10, 1888, wishing to push out into the world for himself, Nicholas Bor- denave left home for California; and having arrived safely here, he located at Gilroy. He soon learned some English, and he got a job working for the Miller & Lux estate. Two brothers, John P. and Joseph Bordenave, of Gilroy, and a sister, Mrs. Clavere, now of Morgan Hill, had preceded him to the Golden State, and of the nine children in the domicile, one brother, Estanislaus, had gone to South America from France before our subject was born.

In 1897 Nicholas Bordenave and his brother, Jo- seph, leased 160 acres near Gilroy from the Spring Valley Water Company and farmed that land until 1905 when they bought and conducted the French Hotel at Gilroy, only retiring a few years ago. They also acquired, from Miller & Lux in 1920, the Lewis Place, on Bodtish Road, which is set to prunes. In July, 1898, Judge Hyland of San Jose admitted all of the brothers to United States citizenship, and since then Mr. Bordenave has been a Democrat. He has always been public-spirited and patriotic, a natural quality of his fellow-countrymen, and ever since Oc- toher, 1888, he has been a member of the French- American Benevolent Society, of San Francisco.

ANTONE ALVES .- One of the finest vineyards of its size in the Santa Clara Valley is that of Antone Alves at San Martin, where he maintains his own packing house, shipping his fancy fruit to all parts of the United States. A native son, Mr. Alves was born at Hayward, Alameda County, February 17, 1876, the youngest son of Manuel and Isabel (Nevis) Alves both natives of the Azores and now deceased. He entered the public schools at the age of six, but when he was twelve he started out in life . for him- self, entering the employ of J. C. Alves at Moun- tain View, working as an orchardist for three years. The following four years were spent as a teamster on the Delmas ranch and then as a driver in the livery barns at Mountain View. He gave up this work to become assistant clerk of the Mountain View Hotel, and also became the owner of five acres of land there, which he afterward disposed of.

In January, 1917, Mr. Alves came to San Martin, where he located on thirteen acres of land which had been considered almost a failure in producing crops, but by special work and study with Professor Boletta of the agricultural and viticultural depart- ment of the University of California, Mr. Alves and his wife have turned the ranch into a splendid pay- ing proposition. Fancy Tokay and Black Emperor - grapes of the finest stock are grown exclusively, and the reputation of the Alves vineyard has gone

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throughout the country. Mr. Alves has exhibited his fruit on a number of occasions and each time it has taken the blue ribbon.

Mr. Alves' marriage in 1907 united him with Mrs. Lela M. (Voorhees) Barnes, who was the mother of three children: Alice, the wife of William Boag of San Francisco, has one child; Vera, Mrs. Frank Gurries of Morgan Hill, has two children; Eva mar- ried A. Karner of Oakland, and they have three children. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alves, Isabel and Arthur, both attending school. A Republican in politics, Mr. Alves has always taken an active interest in civic affairs, and while at Moun- tain View acted as deputy sheriff. Prominent in fraternal life, he is past president of Mountain View Parlor, N. S. G. W., past chief ranger of Court Rose Hill, Foresters of America, past president U. P. E. C., and the first president of the I. D. E. S. of Mountain View.

BAPTISTE BORDI .- An old settler of Califor- nia, Baptiste Bordi was born at Parma, Italy, Janu- ary 24, 1841, where his father Augustin was a farmer. Baptiste Bordi was left an orphan at nine years of age, his father passing away .in 1845 and his mother in 1850. Thus the little lad was thrown on his own resources and naturally had a hard time of it in his hattle for a livelihood. For a short time he was a soldier, then he became a traveler visiting France, Spain, Portugal, making his own way. Then he went to Brazil, next to South Africa and later on to Morocco. Then we find him in England, where he was employed in London and Liverpool until he decided to come to California in 1869. After work- ing a short time at gardening in San Francisco, he made his way to Calaveras County, where he fol- lowed prospecting, but with indifferent success. He then went to Oregon and mined for a time near Canon City and next was in business in Portland for a short time, until he made his way to British Columbia, where he engaged in mining about two- hundred miles north of Victoria. On his return to San Francisco he had a fruit store for a short time. He came to Mountain View July 15, 1871, and leased a farm and raised vegetables, meeting with sufficient success to enable him to purchase the place. He purchased lots in Mountain View and built the Grand Hotel, of which he was proprietor for many years In 1881 he bought 1671/2 acres of his present ranch on Stevens Creek, later on purchasing an ad- joining ranch of 120 acres, making 2871/2 aeres in all, which he has cleared and improved. About 100 acres of the ranch are under cultivation, devoted to orchard and vineyard, being pronounced one of the finest ranches on Stevens Creek, where Mr. Bordi enjoys the quiet and contentment of his own home.

In Mayfield occurred the marriage of Mr. Bordi and Dossolina Grazzor. She was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, coming with her parents to California via New Orleans when she was only a child. Of the nine children born to them four are living: Isabella, Mrs. Tillman, resides near Mayfield; Placido P. is a deputy sheriff under Mr. Lyle and also assists his father on the ranch; Stephen is a carpenter in San Francisco, and Antonio P. is a stockman in San Mateo County. Mr. and Mrs. Bordi have been very energetic and indefatigable in their efforts, and have been successful in gaining a com-

petency. For many years he was a member of the Eagles and Druids.

MORRISON & WALLACE .- The firm of Mor- rison and Wallace, confectioners, 1012 Franklin Street, Santa Clara, California, known as the Wallace Candy Store, is one of the most popular and best patronized business places in its line in the Santa Clara Valley. This firm is composed of L. J. Mor- rison and Mrs. A. C. Wallace-brother and sister, being a son and a daughter of the late J. D., and Mary Morrison, who were both of Scotch ances- try and born at Glengarry, in the province of On- tario, Canada, where they were married and reared a family of ten children. In the early '90s their oldest son, John Cameron Morrison, came to Santa Clara. Soon thereafter he was joined by his two younger brothers, Kenneth and Angus, and then, a little later, came Norman D., and in 1902 the parents and the rest of the family came to Santa Clara, and have played an important part as leading citizens. The father passed away in 1908, but the mother still lives at Santa Clara, in comfortable circumstances, close to the homes of several of her children, who are all most highly respected. The ten children are: John Cameron, the well-known and able draftsman for the Pacifie Manufacturing Company, resides in Santa Clara; Donald, is a rancher at Milestone, Saskatch- ewan, Canada; Kenneth, and Angus, comprise the firm of Morrison Brothers, leading contractors and builders at Santa Clara where they both reside; Sarah, who is now Mrs. Jewell, and resides with her hus- band at Chicago, Illinois; Dr. Norman D. Morrison is a physician and surgeon of San Mateo, California; Catherine is the wife of Angus J. Bradley, an exten- sive rancher at Milestone, Saskatchewan, Canada; Annie is the wife of A. C. Wallace, the shipping clerk for the Pacific Manufacturing Company at Santa Clara and a partner in the firm of Morrison & Wal- lace; Louis J. Morrison also of the said firm resides in Santa Clara, and Lolla, is the wife of L. Brown, a rancher at Modesto. This large and remarkable family, comes from some of the oldest and most noted families of Scotland, and are a most valuable acquisi- tion to Santa Clara's social, business, industrial and professional life.

The Wallace Cady Store is a first class place, with an elegant ice cream parlor and lunch room, candy store and kitchen, where confections of the best quality are manufactured. The place is also provided with an up-to-date soda water fountain, where syrups and crushes made from choice Santa Clara Valley fruits are manufactured and served. This place is growing in trade and popularity, since both of the partners, give it their best personal attention.

Louis J. Morrison is a draftsman of note, having been employed as such for many years by the Pacific Manufacturing Company before he entered in the confectioner's line by starting his first store at Gilroy. He had moved to Mountain View, where he was en- gaged in the same line when the World War broke out. He lost no time in enlisting in the Canadian army, serving in the aviation department for two years. He was born in Canada August 24, 1880, and came to Santa Clara a young man, where he has by hard work and square dealing reached a prominent place among its prosperous business men.

Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Wallace are the parents of two talented daughters: Catherine, who is a student in

E. B. Barde.

Dussolina Bordi

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

the Teacher's College at San Jose, and Margaret, who is in high school. They reside in their pleasant home on Monroc Street. Mrs. Wallace is a Sunday School teacher and with the rest of the Morrison family be- longs to the Presbyterian Church and is consistently Republican in politics.

PETER J. PETERSON .- An honorable, hard- working man who long ago became well-to-do, and who now, as a result of fortunate investments in an oil company, is about to become wealthy, is Peter J. Peterson, the well-known pioneer, who resides at 220 Palo Alto Avenue. He was born at Loit Kirkeby in Denmark, on June 17, 1860, and brought up in the Lutheran Church, where he was confirmed at the age of fourteen. His parents were Christian and Maren Peterson; his father, who was a sailor, was finally shipwrecked and drowned, when our sub- ject was a mere lad. From his ninth year, therefore, the boy had to make his own way in the world, and his grandfather being a bricklayer and builder in Den- mark, trade activity was expected from the child. German rule had begun to make itself felt in Den- mark, and Peter resolved that he would not remain at home and serve as a soldier. Fortunately, just at that time, a friend, Lewis Johnson by name, had returned from Sonoma, Cal., on a visit to his home in Schleswig, and he agreed to take Peter along with him to America. An uncle Jep, called Charlie Pc- terson, was in California, a farmer in San Joaquin County; and hither the ambitions youth made his way. He sailed from Hamburg for New York, and landed in August, 1874, but by that time his uncle had sold out and removed to Napa. Peter reached his home, however, and for two years worked for his uncle at Napa and then he worked around for other farmers. He worked by the month until he reached his majority; and when twenty-one he struck out a second time for himself. He preempted 160 acres in Alameda County, and he also homesteaded 160 acres; and he rented 1280 acres in addition, and there pastured stock belonging to other people, and in this manner got into the stock business. He was suc- cessful as a teamster, ran headers and different ma- chincry, and worked with thresher gangs. From Napa he went to Dublin, Cal., and then to Sunol. and after to Milpitas, and then to San Jose.

Mr. Peterson came to Palo Alto in 1901, soon after the town was started; he bought lots, built upon them, and contracted to haul sand and gravel from Mountain View to Palo Alto for the foundations of buildings at Palo Alto, among them the Nevada Building, the only building that escaped serious wreckage during the 1906 earthquake. He was elect- ed president of the Teamsters' Union and was a delegate to the Teamsters' Labor Unions' conven- tions at Stockton, Los Angeles and San Jose. About ten years ago, Mr. Peterson sold most of his teams and wagons, went into the oil business in Palo Alto and under the name of the Peterson Oil Company. he ran an oil tank and made a great success. At the end of seven years, having built up the business which was run-down when he took hold of it, he sold out, and then he bought heavily of the stocks of the California and Marine Oil and Refining Company in the West Side Oil Fields, in what is known as the Devil's Den Country, between Coalinga and Bak- ersfield. Many well-known Californians joined him,

and they have succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations. Now they have thirty-two wells pro- ducing high gravity oil, and they are contemplating putting in a refinery. In all his arduous years of experience in the business world, Mr. Peterson was careful to earn and justify the reputation he enjoyed of being a square dealer; and this enviable repute has followed and even preceded him, to his great advantage in every way.

Mr. Peterson has been twice married. On the first occasion, when he was twenty-seven, he was joined to Miss Elizabeth Pfiefle, now deceased, who be- came the mother of one child, Ernest Peterson, the aviator, who was a lieutenant in the late war. He is married and resides in Texas. On the second oc- casion, eleven years ago, Mr. Peterson became the husband of Miss Ellen Bloom. He has two sisters and a mother in Denmark, the latter being past eighty. Mrs. Peterson, who is a native of Stockholm, lost her father when she was two months old, and her mother less than two years later. She was taken into the family of Captain Bjorkman, who was in the Swedish military service, and was thus reared in a good home. When a young woman, she came to San Francisco; and now she presides over their excellent home at 220 Palo Alto Avenue, built by her husband, in 1902, and she assists him to dispense there true California hospitality.

CHARLES STEVENS .- A well- known and en- terprising rancher of Santa Clara County, who is also a native son, is Charles Stevens, born near Coyote, Santa Clara County, March 3, 1868. His father, Orvis Stevens, was born in Chittenden County, Vt., 01: November 11. 1830. In 1852, at the age of twenty- one, he came to California via Panama, and proceeded at once to the mines on the Yuba River, remaining there for one year; then he went to Camptonville, and from there to Sacramento, then to the mines in Sierra County; two years later he removed to Nevada County and conducted a dairy for one year; then he engaged in stockraising in Solano County; he then returned to Sierra County and resided there for a ycar and a half, when he made a visit to the eastern states, returning in three months to Sierra County, where for several years he conducted a meat business. In 1868 he came to Burnett township, Santa Clara County, and engaged in farming until 1875, when he rented the "Twelve-mile House," where he had a store, blacksmith's shop and hotel. He served as post- master and school trustee. On December 7, 1866, he married Miss Louisa Leonard and they had ten chil- dren. The first child died in infancy; Charles, the subject of this review; Lee died when he was three years old; Orvis died at two years old; Frank is an orchardist at Coyote; Bert is a rancher at Coyote; Jim is a rancher and resides at Coyote; Warren re- sides in Alaska; Patti is an artist in San Jose; and Sam, an auto-machinist, living in Cleveland, Ohio. The mother was a native of Illinois and was born in 1842. She crossed the plains with her parents in 1852 and her father mined in Sierra County, after which he came to Santa Clara County and bought a farm at Coyote. Orvis Stevens passed away in 1916 and Mrs. Stevens in 1920.

Charles grew up in Santa Clara County and ob- tained what education he could in the district schools; and has been intimately connected with orcharding

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from its very beginning in Santa Clara County, as forty years ago he helped his father plant a large family and commercial orchard, and Charles helped to plant and care for it.

Mr. Stevens' marriage occurred in 1892 and united him with Miss Fannie Fisher, who was born on the old Fisher ranch at Coyote, being a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Hanks) Fisher, pioneer farmers and stockraisers of this county. After his marriage Mr. Stevens engaged in farming and orcharding on his wife's twenty-acre ranch at Coyote. In 1919 they seld it and bought the present place of ten acres, on Pastoria Avenue, near Sunnyvale. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are the parents of one son, Lawrence O., who assists his father on the ranch. At the outbreak of the World War, Lawrence volunteered in the service of his country and served for two years in France as a mechanic in the aviation corps, being among the first to go to France. He married Miss Ceda Evans of San Francisco. Mr. Stevens is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and of the Prune and Apri- cot Association, and cooperates in every measure for the good of the community.

STEVE SCORSUR .- A resident of California since 1887, Steve Scorsur was born in Dalmatia, Austria, August 14, 1861. His father, John Scorsur. followed the sea for many years until he retired to his farm. He had married Miss Mary Lopizich and they were blessed with six children-four boys and two girls-and two sons and two daughters are still living. One brother, John Scorsur, is a fruit buyer and lives on Pine Avenue, The Willows. The parents both passed away on the home farm in Dalmatia.

The fourth child of the family, Steve Scorsur, grew up on the farm and as there were no public school advantages in those days did the best he could to pick up an education, though most of it was obtained in the great school of experience. When sixteen years old he went to sea, first in the Mediterranean trade, and then in the transatlantic, touching at Phila- delphia, Boston, New York, Providence, and Gal- veston, Texas, his first trip to the United States be- ing when he was nineteen years old, when he landed in Philadelphia. He continued his seafaring life until 1887, when he came to Galveston on a three-masted schooner, Martin L. Smith, and there he left the ship and came to San Jose, Cal., where he had uncles and cousins living. He found employment in the fruit business, working for James Scorsur, but soon went to Los Angeles, where he was employed for two years. Thence he removed to Madera, where he be- came proprietor of a restaurant, being in business there when Madera County was organized, and was a warm friend of Judge Connelly. After eight years in Madera, Mr. Scorsur sold out his interests there and returned to San Jose, purchasing his present place of one acre on San Antonio Street, where he erected a residence, built a dryer and engaged in buying and selling fruit, in which he has been very successful. He also owns a ranch on Foxworthy Road, where he is engaged in raising prunes and apricots.

Mr. Scorsur's marriage took place in San Jose, March 12, 1901, uniting him with Miss Mary Geno- vich, who was born in Dalmatia, and came to Amer- ica that same year. Their union has been blessed with five children: John, a graduate of Heald's Busi- ness College, is now a bookkeeper in the Bank of

Italy at San Jose; Mary was educated in the San Jose high school and Heald's Business College and assists her mother in presiding over the home; Peter, Stephen and Anthony are attending the grammar school. Mr. Scorsur is a member and former vice- president of the Austrian Benevolent Society of San Jose. A man of affable manner and kindness of heart, he has established an enviable reputation as an enterprising and progressive citizen, and is well and favorably known and held in high esteem througout the community. The family are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and take a generous part in its benevolences.

BROUSEN P. LAUSTEN .- An able and trust- worthy city official of Palo Alto who has been identi- fied with the business life of this city since 1901, is Brousen P. Lautsen, Palo Alto's pioneer and leading merchant tailor. A native of Denmark, where he was born April 9, 1868, he came to America with his par- ents, Laus C. and Marie (Nielsen) Lausten, in 1874, scttling at Oakland, Cal., where Brousen P. attended the public schools and supplemented his education with a business college course. He then served a regular apprenticeship with one of the best merchant tailors in Oakland, after which he worked for ten years in the leading tailoring shops in that city.

Mr. Lausten then opened up a shop of his own in Oakland, which he conducted for five years, and in 1901 he removed to Palo Alto. Here he established the business that is now the oldest in its line in the city, and the succeeding years have brought him un- qualified success. His workmanship is expert in every particular and his shop, at 109 The Circle, is the head- quarters for the latest and most authoritative fashions. He has a large patronage among the university pro- fessors and students, who appreciate his fine taste and craftsmanship.

In Oakland, Mr. Lausten was married to Miss Rose Ohair, a native of Iowa, and they have become the parents of five children: Roy, Marie, Doris, Eliza- beth and Jack. Mr. Lausten some time ago erected the attractive home at Hawthorne Avenue, where the family make their home. In the development of the civic life of Palo Alto, Mr. Lausten has taken his full share of responsibility. He was a member of the city council fifteen years ago and is again serving on that body, and holds the important post of chairman of the committee on public works. Prominent in Ma- sonic circles, Mr. Lausten is a member of Palo Alto lodge No. 346, F. & A. M. is past high priest of Palo Alto chapter, R. A. M., and belongs to Commandery No. 47, Knights Templar.

-GEORGE W. HARMS .- An enthusiastic advocate of municipal ownership who did much to further this civic development in the days of its adoption at Palo Alto, George W. Harms is also well known through- out the vicinity as a pioneer blacksmith of this city, though he has recently entered a new field, being pro- prietor of the Palo Alto Soda Works. He is a native son of California and was born February 22, 1874, at Pleasanton, Alameda County. His father, Theodore August Harms, was born in Germany and came to California when a young man, and in Alameda County he married Louise F. Hauschildt, also a native of Germany, who came to California when she was eighteen years old. She died May 3, 1922, at the age of seventy-cight, but the father passed away more

Steve Scorsur

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than thirty years ago. They were the parents of six sons and four daughters, two of the daughters having passed away.

The seventh child of the family, George W. Harms, grew up on his father's farm at Pleasanton, and at the age of sixteen began his apprenticeship in the blacksmith's trade, serving for four years in the shop of C. B. Steane at Pleasanton. On January 16, 1906, he came to Palo Alto and immediately opened up a biacksmith's shop of his own at the junction of The Circle and Alma Street, where the La Paloma res- taurant now stands. Then he located at 426 High Street, and in 1909 he removed to 601 Emerson Street, where he continued until he disposed of his business in 1921. On March 1 of that year he became the proprietor of the Palo Alto Soda Works at 942 High Street, and has complete charge of its business. The products of this growing concern are sold all the way from Mountain View to Millbrae.

Mr. Harms' marriage united him with Miss Ethel Mckenzie, a native daughter of California, and they are the parents of two children, Lloyd and Elizabeth, both in the Palo Alto high school. Mr. Harms has built two residences in Palo Alto and the family home is now at 680 Homer Avenue. When the plan ot municipal ownership was in its early stages, Mr. Harms was one of its ardent supporters and a stout champion of the advantages during the days when the idea still met with considerable opposition. For three and one-half years Mr. Harms had charge of the collection department of the municipal water and light bureau, a post he filled faithfully and well. He has always been prominent in fraternal circles and is a past master of Palo Alto Lodge No. 346, F. & A. M., past high priest of Palo Alto Chapter, R. A. M., was first consul commander of the Woodmen of the World, past chancellor, Knights of Pythias, and for more than twenty years has been master of finance of the latter order. In politics he is a Republican.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 225

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