History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 234

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

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Dr. Gray's marriage, which occurred December 25, 1917, at Waco, Texas, united him with Miss

Florence I. Little of Detroit. Dr. and Mrs. Gray are the parents of two children, Jane Tyhurst and Wm. Thomas. Dr. Gray is a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association, California State Medical Society, Santa Clara County Medical Society. He is a member of the staff of the Santa Clara County Hospital and the O'Connor Sanitarium of San Jose. He belongs to Palestine Lodge No. 357 F. & A. M. of Detroit, Mich .; Signa Alpha Epsilon literary fra- ternity and Alpha Kappa Kappa Medical fraternity; Santa Clara County Commercial Club and the Army and Navy Club of Washington, D. C. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

WM. E. SIGLE .- Broad experience and expert mechanical ability well qualify W. E. Sigle for his responsible position as superintendent of the plant of the Bean Spray Pump Company at San Jose and his services are proving very valuable to the con- cern. He was born in Cassopolis, Cass County, Mich., January 20, 1880, a son of W. E. and Mary Sigle, both of whom are now deceased. The father was long connected with the Michigan Central Rail- road Company.

When W. E. Sigle was four years old his parents removed to Elkhart, Ind., where he attended the public schools, later completing an academic course at the Elkhart Institute, and during vacation periods he secured employment in order that he might de- fray the expenses of an education. When seventeen years of age he started out in the world on his own account, serving an apprenticeship with the Buescher Manufacturing Company, where he learned the art of making brass band instruments, and during this time he also completed a technical course with the International Correspondence Schools of Scranton. Pa. In 1898, following the outbreak of the Spanish- American War, Mr. Sigle enlisted in the U. S. Army. becoming a member of the One Hundred Fifty- seventh Infantry, under command of Capt. J. E. Graves, with which he went to Cuba, there remain- ing for a year. After receiving his discharge from the service he returned to Indiana and for a short time was in the employ of the National Manufac- turing Company. His next position was that of tool and die maker with the Stimpson Computing Scales Company, of Detroit, Mich., after which he went to Quincy, 111., as foreman for the H. F. Dayton Book Bindery. On severing his connection with that firm he returned to Indiana and became tool designer for the Amplex Motor Car Company of Mishawaka, that state, filling that position for eightcen months. From there he went to Findlay, Ohio, as superintendent of the motor truck department of the Adams Manu- facturing Company, in which he was identified for two years. His next removal took him to Dayton, Ohio, where as master mechanic he had charge of the Maxwell plants Nos. 1, 2 and 3 from 1913 until 1915. He then became manager of the factory of the Allen Motor Car Company at Bucyrus, Ohio, re- maining with that corporation for three years, and then became connected with the Grant Motor Car Company of Findlay. He assisted in the work of transforming the old factory into a munitions plant, of which he was made master mechanic, serving in that capacity throughout the war. In this connection he had charge of very important work, the plant turning out 1.500-155 millimeter shells per day for

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

the U. S. Government. At the termination of the war, Mr. Sigel came to California, accepting a posi- tion with the Bean Spray Pump Company of San Jose, and since April 1, 1921, has been plant superin- tendent. He gives careful oversight to all phases of the business and is capably directing the labors of those under him.

In Hannibal, Mo., on May 14, 1907, Mr. Sigle married Miss Minnie Sherman, a native of that city and a daughter of John Sherman, a boatman on the Mississippi River. Mr. Sigle gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows, belonging to Hancock Lodge No. 17, at Findlay, Ohio. His busi- ness career has been one of continuous advancement and ability and energy have constituted the materials with which he has constructed his success.

JOHN H. FRENCH .- A progressive rancher and one who is decidedly successful is John H. French, the owner of a fourteen acre ranch on the Oakland Road, five miles north of San Jose. His career has been somewhat varied, but whatever he undertakes he carries on to a successful end. He was born in San Jose, November 2, 1884, the son of Mortimer D. French, a native of Wisconsin, who married Miss Mary Gallagher, a native daughter of California. She is the daughter of Andrew Thomas and Mary (Mar- tin) Gallagher, and the granddaughter of Andrew T. and Mary (Siskron) Gallagher, of New York. In the fall of 1848 her father, the late Andrew T. Gal- lagher, embarked on the schooner Jolin W. Cater and sailed around the Horn for California. He

reached San Francisco the following March and took up farming in Tuolume County, and upon removal to Santa Clara County, went to work in the redwoods. He was later engaged in the transportation of freight between Alviso and San Francisco. Eventually he settled down to farming on a 160-acre tract in the Alviso district. Mrs. French died in 1915, at the age of fifty-one years, while Mortimer French passed away in 1906, aged sixty-six. He was a farmer, a cattleman, and also a grain and hay farmer, the eldest in a family of seven children, and he was thirteen years old when his father died. His mother was a native of New York, and crossed the plains from the Empire state with her parents.

John H. French started out on his own way while still a young man and went into railroading. He first handled baggage and freight at San Jose and then took to the road. He worked at firing on a switch engine in the yards at San Jose; later firing a freight engine on the coast division and finally was trans- ferred to the passenger service. During 1907, he gave up the road and took a position as stationary engineer at the pumping plant of the San Jose City Water works. For the next year and a half he was one of the foremen on the Gallagher ranch near Alviso; then for a time he was with the Standard Oil Com- pany at San Jose; then with the American Express Company. In March, 1920, he purchased a part of the old Selby ranch on the Oakland road, consist- ing of fourteen acres, three acres of which are set to pears and the balance is in alfalfa. He irrigates his orchard by means of an electric pump.

On December 25, 1907, Mr. French was married to Miss Ethel Kerr, a native of San Jose, the daugh- ter of John and Jane Kerr. John Kerr came to California in the early days and was first occupied in

doing carpenter work, later ran a store in San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. French are the parents of five children; William Gallagher, Deboria, Rose Marie, Mary Jane, and Jack who died at the age of five and one-half years. In his political affiliations, Mr. French is a Republican. Since starting out in life on his own account he has made steady advancement, through his industry and diligence, and his life record proves what may be accomplished through perseverance.

JOHN R. FREITAS .- Passing his early years in the land of his birth across the Atlantic, and later spending eight years in Honolulu, John R. Freitas has never regretted that his travels brought him to the beautiful valley of Santa Clara thirty years ago. He was born in Madero, Portugal, January 15, 1877, his parents being Joseph and Paulina Freitas. When John was a lad of seven years, his parents made the long journey to the Hawaiian Islands and the succeeding eight years were spent at Honolulu. In 1892 they came to the United States, locating in Santa Clara County, and here Joseph Freitas was engaged in dairying until his death, which occurred in 1918. Mrs. Freitas is still living.

John R. Freitas received his schooling in Hono- lulu, helping his father for a time on the dairy farm after coming to California. When he was twenty- one he started out on his own account, however, and bought his present place of twenty acres on Doyle Road on May 9, 1903. He set to work at once to develop it, by finishing setting out his trees and erecting the buildings, and in this he has met with unqualified success, and his well-kept orchard now ranks among the profitable orchard properties of the Cupertino neighborhood.

Mrs. Freitas is a native daughter, born in Wat- sonville, and before her marriage April 27, 1901, to Mr. Freitas, she was Miss Kate Focha. Six chil- dren have been born to them: Clara, Harry, Frank. Adaline, Edward and Beatrice,-and attending the public schools of the county. Mr. Freitas has al- ways been identified with the Republican party and served as deputy constable under Thomas Maloney. He is prominent in fraternity circles and is a mem- ber of the U. P. E. C., the 1. D. E. S., the S. E. S., and served on the finance committee for three years; and A. P. U. M., and served as a grand president, 1919-1921, of the latter lodge for two terms and at- tended the Grand Lodge at Honolulu and in Boston, Mass. He is public spirited and enterprising and ready to support all progressive methods.

LOUIS SMAUS .- Among those who have found poultry raising a profitable field for the direction of their energies is numbered Louis Smans, who has hecome well known throughout the Santa Clara Val- ley in this connection, and his well devised plans and systematic methods have resulted in the attain- ment of a gratifying degree of success. A native of Czecho-Slovakia, he was born July 22, 1885, his parents being John and Marie Smaus, and in the public schools of that country he acquired his edu- cation. After his school days were over he worked as a landscape gardener from 1900 to 1904. Then when nineteen years of age, he sought the broader oppor- tunities for advancement offered in the United States and after arriving in this country remained for two years in New York, where he followed landscape gardening with a large firm that laid out private and commercial grounds, after which he spent four years

John H. Funch

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

in New Jersey in the same line. He then came to California in 1910 and worked as a landscape gar- dener at Stanford University, and subsequently had charge of the Lathrop grounds for one year. He afterward entered the employ of A. B. Spreckels, for whom he worked in San Francisco for two years, while for five years he was in charge of Mr. Spreckles estate at Napa, Cal. In 1919, in associa- tion with Herman Hohn, he purchased a farm of thirteen and a half acres on the Los Gatos and Sara- toga roads, in Santa Clara County, the property be- ing at that time in a badly neglected state. They have supplied the place with the most modern equip- ment and added many improvements, converting it into one of the model poultry farms of this part of the state. When they acquired possession of the plant it was stocked with about 700 fowls, while they now have 8,000, shipping most of their product to the San Francisco markets. They have added three new buildings, 20x300 feet, the latest and most modern in their line. Their business is conducted along the most modern and progressive lines and is enjoying a remarkably rapid growth, due to the enterprise and close application of the men at its head. On account of a large pine tree in the front of the farm their place is known as the Pine Tree Poultry Farm and in its operation they employ three assistants.

Mr. Smaus married Miss Marie Muller, a native of Schleswig, Germany, and a daughter of Louis J. Muller. In his political views Mr. Smaus is a Re- publican and he finds recreation in motoring, spend- ing as much time as possible in the open. He is deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his community, county and common- wealth and his close study and unremitting indus- try have brought him to the front in his chosen work.

ANTONE K. HANSEN .- Living in his attractive home on the San Jose-Saratoga Road, Antone K. Hansen has taken his place among the capable and progressive orchardists of the Cupertino district. A native of Denmark, a land noted for the industry of its people, Mr. Hansen was born there at Langland on September 24, 1872. His parents were James and Carrie Hansen, members of highly-respected old families of that country and there they have always lived, although the mother has now passed away.

Fortunate in a good education in the public schools of Denmark, supplemented by private study, Antone K. Hansen left his native land for the shores of America when he became of age, arriving here in 1893. He soon came on to San Jose, Cal., and here he worked at various occupations for a time. He then removed to Salinas and for the next fifteen years he engaged in farming on the Cooper ranch on his own account, accumulating a goodly fund of savings through his years of industry.

In 1911 Mr. Hansen returned to Santa Clara County and bought a tract of eighteen acres on the San Jose-Saratoga Road. Later he erected his com- fortable home there and since 1915, this has been his place of residence. He was married in San Jose to Miss Minnie Christiansen, a native daughter of Santa Clara County, and the daughter of an old- time family here. In his ten years here Mr. Hansen has spared no time and effort to bring his place up to a high state of cultivation and the work of these years has been amply rewarded. In political mat- ters he is a Republican, and while essentially a home

man, he keeps up some of the ties of his native coun- try by membership in the Dania. He belongs to the California Prune and Apricot Association.

LELAND HENRY WAKEFIELD .- Among the solid and substantial orchardists of Santa Clara County, Leland Henry Wakefield occupies a promi- nent position. A native son of California, he was born in East Oakland, September 30, 1881, the son of Leland Howard and Mary R. (Warren) Wake- field, the father a native of New Hampshire, born July 9, 1823, and the mother a native of Oakland, Cal. The father lived with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, and attended the public schools of Cornish, N. H., the New Hampshire Academy, and the Academy at Rudolph Center, one of the oldest academies in Vermont. He then went into business as a traveling salesman for his brother, Charles A., an inventor, and remained with him for two years. He then went to Boston and engaged in the daguerreotype business for himself, and con- tinued there for two years, when he went to Kenosha, Wis. There he remained for three years following the same line of work. In the spring of 1852 he removed to the coast and opened a store in Albany, Ore. During the year 1856 we find him in San Francisco as a buyer of goods for three different houses, his own and two houses in Hono- lulu. However, he only remained in San Francisco for one year, when he returned to Oregon and opened another commercial house under the firm name of Wilson, Wakefield & Company, at the same time continuing his business in Albany. In 1864 he represented Multnomah County in the Oregon Leg- islature, which passed the amendment abolishing slavery. He had stores in the mines at Lewiston and Orofino in 1864. He was a director in the First National Bank of Portland; was postmaster of Port- land for four years; was instrumental in getting sub- scriptions for the Portland Mercantile Library, and was its president most of the time before his re- moval to San Francisco. In 1873 he removed to Oakland, Cal., and maintained an office in San Fran- cisco, doing a commission business, mostly in lum- ber. In 1883 he purchased 104 acres on Fruitvale Avenue, near Saratoga and planted it to prunes, apricots and grapes and for size and quality it was the banner vineyard of Santa Clara County. In 1872 he married Miss Mary R. Warren of Oakland and they were the parents of two sons and two daughters. The mother passed away in 1908, aged seventy-two, and the father in 1914, at the age of ninety-one.

Leland Henry Wakefield was educated in the grammar and high schools of Oakland, later taking a business course in Oakland Polytechnic. His first business venture was the manufacturing of mat- tresses under the firm name of the Wakefield Manu- facturing Company, and he followed this line for three years. In 1906 he removed to the Wakefield Ranch at Saratoga, where hic managed the 104 acres, until after his father's death, when it was divided and he then continued to raise fruit on his portion, a beautiful ranch on Fruitvale and Allendale ave- nues, devoted to prunes and apricots. The ranch is highly improved and is counted among the most beautiful homes in the Saratoga district.

The marriage of Mr. Wakefield united him with Miss Eva Thompson, a native daughter of Santa

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Clara County, born at Saratoga, the daughter of W. J. and Emma Thompson of Saratoga, and they are the parents of two daughters, Harriet and Evelyn. In national politics Mr. Wakefield is a Republican and fraternally is an Odd Fellow. Mr. Wakefield has contributed in large measure to the material, social and moral progress of the community and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends.

JOHN W. NELSON .- Of Swedish birth and parentage, John W. Nelson has continuously resided in California since he was nineteen years old. He was born in Southern Sweden, May 10, 1882, a son of Nels and Christine Nelson, both living in their native land. He was educated in the schools of Sweden and upon arrival in California came to the Santa Clara Valley and worked on various ranches throughout the county; then he was employed on the street cars in San Francisco. Later he removed to Santa Clara County and permanently located on a ranch of fifteen acres on Miller Avenue, south of Cupertino, which he had purchased in 1918, and from the time of taking possession, to the present he has been rewarded for his thoroughness and in- dustry and today his ranch is a productive and profit- able investment.

The marriage of Mr. Nelson united him with Miss Anna Nelson, bearing the same name, but no rela- tion, and they are the parents of four children: Milton, a student in the Campbell high school; Clar- ence; Lloyd; and Anna Jane. In his political con- victions he supports and votes for the candidate best fitted to serve the community. In Mr. Nelson the community has a broad-minded, earnest, and con- scientious citizen, and a man who embodies the safe and reliable characteristics of the Swedish people.

ERNEST O. BILLWILLER .- Of prime impor- tance in any country is the development of an ample supply of pure water, and this is especially true of California, and among those whose constructive work have made possible the fertile valleys and plains in this section is Ernest O. Billwiller, who, in his pro- fessional work as a hydraulic engineer, has been iden- tified with Santa Clara County for a number of years in irrigation and reclamation work, and in developing its water supply.

Born on August 29, 1885, in Brooklyn, N. Y., Mr. Billwiller is a son of Charles James and Henrietta (Steinhauser) Billwiller, natives of Switzerland and New York, respectively. Fortunate in receiving a splendid education, he attended the famous St. Paul's school, picturesquely located near one of New Eng- land's most attractive old cities, Concord, N. H. Hc was there from 1899 to 1904, when he entered Cor- nell University at Ithaca, N. Y., and began an en- gineering course. The first real work along these lines was in Idaho, locating the lines for the Oregon Short Line Railroad. Then he decided to complete his training at Stanford University and accordingly came to California in August, 1907, entered Stan- ford and completed his engineering studies. In January, 1910, he located in San Jose and became connected with the Bay Cities Water Company in developing the water supply until 1912; then re- moved to Stockton where he established himself as a consulting engineer and engaged in irrigation and reclamation work. On January 1, 1918, he returned to San Jose, and since that time his time has been occupied as a contracting and consulting engineer.

Mr. Billwiller's marriage, which occurred January 30, 1912, united him with Miss Grace Elinor Flem- ing, a native daughter of California, having been born in San Jose, and they are the parents of one son, James Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Billwiller are very popular in social circles in San Jose and in business circles and fraternal orders, Mr. Billwiller is both active and prominent. He is a member of the Masons, the Rotary Club, the Elks, the Stanford Club of San Jose, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Waterworks Associa- tion. He is also an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, having been vice-chairman of the members' forum; he is secretary of the Rotary Club and president of the Stanford Club. In national politics, he is independent in his views, voting on the side of the man with the highest character and sup- porting the best measures.

CELESTINE J. GRISEZ .- A kind-hearted and interesting Christian gentleman, who numbers his friends by the hundreds will be found in Celestine J. Grisez, who has more than passed the three score years and ten and is the father of the genial Father John C. Grisez, of St. Joseph's Parish, San Jose. Born in Stark County, Ohio, November 12, 1840, he is of French descent. His father was Xavier Grisez, and his mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Kalmalau, died when our subject was a child of four years. Both father and mother were born and reared in France and their families lived neighbors in that far away land. The father was married three times, the mother of our subject being the second wife; she had seven children, Celestine being the fifth child. His school days were very limited, and the time spent in school was three months out of each year for three years. His marriage occurred in Ohio and united him with Miss Mary Maudru, (or Maudraux, as it is spelled in French), also a native of the Buckeye State, and they became the parents of eleven children. Peter died at the age of eleven months and the second son was also named Peter, and is now living in Oregon; Mary, is Sister Don; Ida keeps house for her father and presides graci- ously over the Grisez household at Santa Clara; Clara died when six years old, while Willie passed away at the age of twenty-nine and a half years; Jennie died at nineteen; Father John C. Grisez, aforementioned priest at San Jose, whose portrait and biography appears elsewhere in this work; Frank C. is the manager of the lumber mill at San Bruno; Charles James is in the real estate business at San Francisco, and is a twin brother of Aloysius, who resides upon subject's ranch at near Campbell in Santa Clara County and is salesman for Normandin-Campen Company, at San Jose.

In 1874 Celestine Grisez made his way to Califor- nia and settled in Siskiyou County and followed the occupation of farming; also owned and operated a thresher as a business from 1884 until 1915, in which year his wife died in Santa Clara, whither she had preceeded Mr. Grisez a number of years, in order to place her children in school in the University at Santa Clara, and where, since Mrs. Grisez' death Mr. Griscz has resided. While engaged in the threshing business, Mr. Grisez became very efficient in running stationary engines and he is now at the age of eighty-one filling creditably the position .of engineer at the University of Santa Clara. He is

Celestine I quires

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

justly proud of the record which his son, Father Grisez, has made, and takes pride in the fact that his whole family of children are respected and honored by the community in which they reside. Mr. Grisez is highly regarded for his efficiency and sterl- ing characteristics and his genial manner has won for him many true and admiring friends.

GEORGE A. NICHOLSON .- Among the worthy representatives of the legal profession in Santa Clara County, George A. Nicholson has taken a place in the front rank. A native of Alviso, Santa Clara County, he was born July 13, 1894, the son of George E. and Minnie (Lorigan) Nicholson. Grandfather George Nicholson came to California in 1856, and soon after he sent for his wife and family; they en- gaged in farming for a livelihood. George E. Nichol- son is still living, but his wife passed away on Feb- ruary 8, 1899. They were the parents of two chil- dren, George A. and Edward L.

George A. Nicholson's early education began in the Alviso public schools, later he graduated from the San Jose high school. In 1916 he received his A. B. degree from the Santa Clara College and his LL. B. in 1917 from the same institution. He then took a post graduate course at the University of California. After completing his education, he en- tered the law offices of the late C. M. Lorigan, and where he had full charge of the large and lucrative practice. At the opening of the great war, he enlisted for service in 1917, saw service in France and was discharged in July, 1919. Now he is practicing law in partnership with his brother, Edward L.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 234

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