History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 238

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

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rica and landed in New York in April, 1898. Mr. Lusher worked for the Studebaker people at first. but Mr. Huber could not find work there, so the two young men started for Philadelphia afoot and walked all the way. In Philadelphia he worked for the Swartz Wheel Works for one year; then the two young men went back to New York and sailed for Buenos Ayres. He worked for the Parisian Coach building works at Buenos Ayres for ninc months; then they went back to London and worked there for one year at their trade. Mr. Huber re- turned to Switzerland on a visit to his folks, but Mr. Luscher returned to New York City in 1900; there he worked for a year for Healy & Company, coach builders. In the meantime Mr. Huber had joined him and in the fall the two young men took a vessel for Galveston, Texas, reaching there just after the great flood. Arriving in San Francisco about the first of October, 1901, they soon came to Palo Alto and within a week purchased the first carriage painting shop in Palo Alto. Their business grew and prospered until they were forced to build larger and more commodious quarters at 251 High Street. In 1920 Mr. Luscher bought a beautiful bungalow at 258 High Street and there the family reside in comfort.

Mr. Luscher's marriage, which occurred in Palo Alto in 1911, united him with Miss Marie M. Kap- peler, born in Canton Zurich in the village of Diels- dorf. They are the parents of two children, Ferdi- nand and Marie. Mr. Luscher belongs to the Fra- ternal Aid Union of Palo Alto and is a naturalized citizen of the United States.

ROY I. JACKSON .- An enterprising, likable young business man of Palo Alto who has readily demonstrated his capacity for success in commercial circles is Roy I. Jackson, the cleaner, dyer and hatter located at 452 University Avenue, Palo Alto. He was born near Shelbyville, Ind., on November 18, 1886, where his father S. S. Jackson was engaged in farming pursuits; later his father entered the clean- ing and dyeing business at Anderson, Ind., and is now living retired on his farm in that state. Roy grew up on his father's farm and followed the plow, and when he could, attended school in the district; later he was graduated from the Anderson high school with the class of 1906; soon thereafter he entered De Pauw University and completed three years of the liberal arts' course. When he was ready to enter upon his senior year, his services were needed in his father's business at Anderson and so he left school and remained with his father for five years; he then went to St. Louis and was foreman for two years in one of the leading cleaning and dyeing establish- ments of that city; thence to Louisville, Ky., where he was foreman for the Schoppenhorst company. Mr. Jackson studied the theory as well as the practice of his chosen vocation and became a contributor to the "Cleaning and Dyeing World." Next he went to South Carolina, where he worked as foreman. When the World War broke out he became foremail of a large Government reclamation plant at Mem- phis, Tenn. While there an explosion occurred in which he was seriously injured and he was confined to the hospital for a month. Later on he held im- portant positions at Muscle Shoals, Ala., and Denver.

Always having in his mind a determination to finish his college course, he got in touch with the

Oli Bariteaw

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appointment secretary of Stanford University and learned from her that Palo Alto afforded an open- ing; consequently he arrived in Palo Alto in Sep- tember, 1920, and bought out an established cleaning and dyeing business. Mr. Jackson's extensive ex- perience makes him one of the most practical men in his line in Santa Clara County. He is building up a good business and is keeping up his studies, and will eventually complete his university coursc with an A. B. degree. He is an athlete of note and is still very much interested in football. While at De Pauw . he played full-back on the University team for four years, during one year of which, in 1908, he was captain. His playing attracted general attention and drew forth much favorable newspaper comment, upon several occasions being accredited with carry- ing off the honors of the day.

ELI BARITEAU-A brief story of the progress of Eli Bariteau, a prosperous laundryman living in San Jose, is interesting, showing what may be ac- complished by steady application and industry. Born in St. Paul, Minn., September 17, 1890, Eli Bariteau received his education in the grammar and high schools there. He is the son of Joseph and Bertha Bariteau, natives of Canada, but who migrated to the United States in early days, settling at St. Paul. Joseph Bariteau followed the occupation of contrac- tor and builder for thirty years, aided materially in the building of St. Paul. When Eli Bariteau was but sixteen years of age, he came with the family to San Jose. Being the eldest of the family, he felt that it was his duty to start life for himself, and he entered the employ of the Tucker Studio in 1906, re- maining with them about eight months; then he be- came driver for the old St. James Laundry; he served them in this capacity for five months, when the union called the laundry workers out on strike; at this time the union established a small hand laundry and Mr. Bariteau became a driver for them; then for seven years he was employed by the Temple Laundry. However, he was not satisfied to remain a mere em- ployee, so at this time he entered into partnership with Reuben Walgren in the laundry business known as the St. James Laundry. Within a short time he sold his interest to his partner and spent one year traveling. Upon his return to San Jose he purchased an interest in the Consolidated Laundry and became a partner with S. M. Saunders in the year 1915. This business is the consolidation of the old St. James Laundry and the United States Laundry. The business has grown to such proportions that at the present time they employ nine drivers and cover the territory as far south as San Juan, Gilroy and Los Gatos, and on the west to Santa Clara, Campbell and Morgan Hill.

Fraternally, Mr. Bariteau was made a Mason in San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Sciots; he is also a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Redmen, and the Lions Club of San Jose and the Post of the American Legion at San Jose; the Laundry Owners Club of San Jose, of which he is vice-president, State Laundry Owners Association and the National Laundry Owners As- sociation. Politically, he adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of the Republican party.

Mr. Bariteau entered the service of his country December, 1917, receiving his first training at Camp McArthur as a mechanic in Company 7, First Regi-

ment, Aviation Corps, training at Rich Field, near Camp McArthur; remaining there but a short time, he was transferred to Company 823, just organized, and sent to Camp Mills, N. Y. On April 10, 1918. he started overseas, and landing at Liverpool, Eng .. was sent to Winchester with his outfit. While there he visited many places of note, among them the great Hall and Cathedral; and was there. at the time that General Liggett and his staff made his visit. From Winchester, Mr. Bariteau was sent to Camp Yates, in the vicinity of Bristol, England, training there for six months; from there to Chipping-Sod- bury, and then to Salisbury Plain for training, and it was here that he was transferred to Company 210. Aero Squadron, for active service at the front; the company set sail for France and landed just before the armistice was signed, and his company returned to Camp Knotty, near Liverpool, where they went aboard the Minacada, the first troop ship returning to the United States, but their ship was destined to be the second ship to arrive at New York, the Levia- than being the first to land on the home shore. Mr. Bariteau was sent directly to Camp Kearney, where he was discharged December 23, 1919, and arrived in San Jose on Christmas day, immediately taking up his business life with renewed energy.

WALTER A. GRAEB .- A New Yorker with typical Empire State enterprise who has demon- strated the highest efficiency in one of the widely- patronized industries is Walter A. Graeb, the pro- prietor of Graeb's Candy Store at 32 West Main Street, one of the real attractions of Los Gatos. He was born in New York City on July 22, 1895, the son of Adolph Graeb who came West to California in 1902. Mr. Graeb was manager of the Stroheimer candy store in San Francisco and then was engaged in the confectionery business in San Jose for five years, when he built the building and established the Graeb candy factory and salesrooms in Los Gatos. In February, 1919, he passed away, mourned by the many who had for years been his appreciative pa- trous. His devoted wife, who was Miss Ida M. Frank before her marriage, and a native of New York City, continued the business until July, 1921. when our subject took charge of the concern. She also built the Automotive Machine Shop Garage on East Main Street.

Walter A. Graeb had been educated in the schools of Los Gatos and the Montezuma mountain ranch school, finishing his studies with a thorough commer- cial course, and after that he went to the Oakland Polytechnic Engineers College, where he learned to re- pair automobiles. He next worked for Carl Rogers in the Gem City Garage, and from there passed to the service of Campbell Collins in the auto supply trade.

In 1917, in the same month that war was declared by the United States, Mr. Graeb enlisted in Com- pany A, 3rd Engineers, U. S. A., and he was sent to the Philippines until March, 1919, when he was discharged, after having performed his patriotic duty in defense of his native land. In April he returned to Los Gatos and for a while joined his mother in the manufacture and sale of candy; and after that he once more undertook work for Mr. Main in automobile repairing and later became his partner, as Main & Graeb until he sold out. In July, 1921, Mrs. Graeh

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presented the old-established candy business to her son, and he at once left automobile work to follow in the footsteps of his esteemed father. He main- tains a first-class soda fountain, makes his own can- dies and ice-cream, likes his work and is devoted to the best interests of his increasing list of patrons.

In national politics a Progressive Republican, Mr. Graeb belongs to the American Legion, and he is also a member of the Odd Fellows and the Wood- men of the World. He is deeply interested in Santa Clara County and determined to do what he can to contribute toward this section of the Golden State that is rapidly and permanently coming to its own.

LOUIS JOSEPH BONNET .- A native son of California, Louis Joseph Bonnet was born near Sara- toga, February 9, 1885, the son of Adrien Bonnet, a pioneer of Santa Clara, whose interesting life history is on another page in this work. Louis J. was only five years of age when his mother died, and he then went to live with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Corpstein, so grew up on their ranch while he at- tended the Lincoln School, which was supplemented with a course at the Pacific Coast Business College, San Jose. He then leased the Corpstein ranch for one year. In 1911 he leased Mrs. Elizabeth A. Doidge's orchard on Pierce Road for two years, and in 1913 he purchased his present orchard of seventeen and a tenth acres on Mt. Eden Road, about four miles northwest of Saratoga, which he has given much care and is now a full-bearing orchard of prunes and apricots. He also leases the Campbell orchard of twenty acres and the Kennedy orchard of like amount, where he also grows prunes and apricots. All this keeps Mr. Bonnet very busy, for he gives them the best cultivation and care.

Mr. Bonnet was married in San Jose, August 8, 1913, to Miss Carrie Thompson of Saratoga, a daughter of William J. Thompson, an old settler of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnet have three chil- dren, Frank, Caroline and Marie. Mr. Bonnet is lib- eral and enterprising, aiding and giving his influence to all movements that have for their aim the build- ing up of the community. He is a firm believer in cooperative marketing. so he is a member of the Cali- fornia Prune and Apricot Association. In political preference he is a Democrat.

J. P. DE SILVA .- Numbered among the success- ful young business men of Palo Alto is J. P. De- Silva, the enterprising automobile-top manufacturer, located at 247 High Street. A native Californian, he was born in Sonoma County, December 18, 1898. When he was two and a half years old he was taken by his parents, J. P. and Mary Silva, to Marin County, and located at Waldo, where the father was employed by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company. His father passed away six years ago, but the mother still lives at Waldo. They were the parents of six children, all living in California. On finishing the grammar school in Sausalito, Mr. Silva took the electrical engineer's course at Heald's Col- lege in San Francisco; then entered the employ of Don Lee, the Cadillac agent, as top-maker, and after an apprenticeship of two and a half years was made assistant foreman in the anto-top department; he then worked six months for J. Mendes, body-builder in San Francisco, and then became foreman for Bowen & Berrios, auto painters and top builders,

where he remained for eight months. He then re- moved to Palo Alto and opened up a shop at 251 High Street, removing in 1920 to 247 High Street.

The marriage of Mr. Silva in 1917 united him with Miss Clara Pabst, of Mill Valley, Marin County, Cal., and they are the parents of two children, Paul V. and Dolores M. Mr. Silva early in life exhibited considerable initiative and ability; when only a lad of twelve years, his father, who had charge of the oil department of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, became severely ill and the company employed our subject to fill his father's place, which he did credit- ably and well. Since the organization of his busi- ness in 1918, Mr. Silva has built up a good trade and is recognized as a capable business man.

SIMONE CALCAGNO .- Prominent among the business houses of San Jose are the establishments operated by Simone Calcagno, the owner of two meat markets, the Tripoli Market, located at 701 North Thirteenth Street, and the American Meat Market at 40 Post Street, and having learned the butcher's trade thoroughly, he is very capable and has attained splendid success. Simone Calcagno was born in Trabia, Palermo Province, on the Island of Sicily, on August 29, 1891, and is the son of Joseph and Marina Calcagno, who came from their old home to America to spend the rest of their days in the Golden State. The father was a prosperous merchant in his native land, having.owned and con- ducted a retail and wholesale meat shop, where he had the good fortune to become successful.

Simone was the eldest son and from a boy as- sisted his father in the business as well as attaining a good education in the local schools; and when he was in his seventeenth year he came to the United States. Having worked at the butcher business at home he followed it in Philadelphia for six months, attending night school in the meantime, where he learned to read, write and speak English. Going to Cleveland, Ohio, about six months later, he stopped there a short time, then came to San Jose and entered the employ of an uncle, who was engaged as a meat dealer. Being a very steady lad and willing to work, in April, 1913, he purchased the shop from his uncle and has become very successful.

Mr. Calcagno's marriage in San Jose, on September 15, 1912, united him with Miss Ida Bondi, who came to California with her parents, Thomas and Sal- vadora Bondi, in 1899, and settled at San Francisco. Both parents passed away in San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Calcagno are the parents of two children, Joseph and Anthony. Mr. Calcagno has a brother who has a very brilliant war record, having served five years in the national army of Italy in the World War. Mr. Calcagno is very much interested in the welfare of San Jose and sanctions all good movements that are for the advancement of this thriving city.

CHARLES O. CARLSON .- The owner and pro- prietor of the plumbing establishment at 318 High Street, Palo Alto, Charles O. Carlson is a man of real mechanical ability. He comes honestly by his genius, his father and grandfather having been expert machinists, mechanics and inventors of Sweden. He was born in Sweden, April 21, 1882, and his father, C. J. Carlson, is still living, but his mother, whose maiden name was Charlotte Johnson, has passed away. Charles grew up in Sweden and was educated in the excellent public schools of that country and

Jours Joseph Bonnet

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was brought up in the Lutheran faith. There were six children in his family, of whom he is the fourth, viz., Gusta, died when twenty years of age; Frank, A., is engaged in the real estate business in Min- neapolis, Minn .; Atilia, is the wife of Gust Holm- gren, of Duluth, Minn .; Charles Oscar, of this re- view, was christened Karl Oscar, but changed to Charles Oscar at the time of his application for citizenship at Duluth, Minn., and so recorded upon being admitted to full citizenship at San Jose by Judge Welch. The two youngest were twins: Gerda, at home in Sweden, and William N., who died when six months old. When Charles was twenty years old he came to America. Having learned the black- smith's business at his father's forge he had little trouble in securing employment in a shop at Duluth, Minn., where his ability was soon recognized, and the local telephone company offered him an excel- lent position as foreman of their construction depart- ment. He came to Palo Alto in 1904 and took up the plumbing trade, having previously been engaged in this trade in Minneapolis, Minn.

Mr. Carlson's marriage occurred in Palo Alto and united him with Miss Helen Engstrom, a neigh- bor's daughter and a childhood friend of our subject from his old home, Lidkoping, Sweden. They are the parents of three children, Esther, Agnes and Carl O. Mr. Carlson was associated with James E. Naldret for several years until the partnership was dissolved. In 1917 Mr. Carlson established his own business and is meeting with well-merited success, and is now counted among the best plumbers and business men of Palo Alto. He is a prominent mem- ber of the Master Plumbers of Palo Alto and Moun- tain View, also a member in good standing of the State and National Associations of Master Plumbers. He stands well in the Odd Fellows and Woodmen circles of Palo Alto, is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church of that city, and in his political views he is a stalwart Republican.

E. E. BARNARD .- Los Gatos is to be congratu- lated on having within its confines such an excellent establishment as that of E. E. Barnard, the experi- enced and enterprising jeweler, who is a native of Australia, where he was born at Sydney, March 29, 1895. His parents were I. M. and Edith (Hollander) Barnard; and in 1913 Mrs. Barnard and our subject migrated to California and settled at Eureka, Cal., where Grandfather S. F. Hollander was already en- gaged in the jewelry trade, and has been active and prominent in that field for the past forty years.

After graduating from the Sydney high school, E. E. Barnard learned the jeweler's trade at Sydney, having been apprenticed there for five years, and having paid $500 to be initiated into one of the old- est and most widely-recognized arts in the world; so when he reached Eureka, Cal., he was able to enter his grandfather's establishment and take hold as an expert journeyman. At the end of five years he came to San Jose and accepted a position at Both- well's, which he filled to everyone's satisfaction for two years, making many friends and also learning more of the details peculiar to the American and the California trade.

In 1919, Mr. Barnard removed to Los Gatos and bought the jewelry store at the corner of Main and University streets; and since taking hold he has more than doubled the volume of trade, making it of real

importance in the local commercial and art worlds, and the trade is constantly increasing, in that respect keeping pace with the interesting growth of the promising town. He carries a complete and costly line, with enough of variety to meet everybody's demands, and he also manufactures for those who wish special, original work. Mr. Barnard is a live wire in the Merchants' Association and Chamber of Commerce, and as an adopted citizen, he is an equal- ly live leader in the local councils of the Demo- cratic party.

At Eureka, in December, 1916, Mr. Barnard was married to Miss Aurea Carlin, a native daughter of enviable accomplishments, who has entered into his ambitious plans and joined him in extending a hos- pitality worthy of the Californian. They have one child, Harold. Mr. Barnard belongs to the Wood- men of the World, Odd Fellows and Red Men.

AUGUST WILLIAM BARON .- The proprietor of Baron Mineral Springs, one mile above Alma on the Soda Springs Road, Albert William Baron was born at Estenos, Haute-Garonne, France, April 19, 1870, the oldest of seven children born to Francis and Anna Baron. He received a good education in the public schools of his native place after which he learned the cement worker's trade. In 1896 he came to San Francisco, Cal., and soon afterwards located in Los Gatos where he worked at his trade. After the big fire, 1906, he worked for a time in San Fran- cisco and San Jose. His brother, A. J. Baron, was a cement contractor in Los Gatos and he worked for him until his death. Then he continued the trade working for others until he quit to improve his ranch which he had purchased in 1904. Discovering a mineral spring Mr. Baron improved it with a cement basin and he now has a most excellent soda spring, efficacious and pleasant to the taste. In political preferences Mr. Baron is an independent prefering to vote for men and measures rather than party.

WILLIAM E. RIKER .- A native son of Califor- nia, born at Oakdale in 1873, William E. Riker's father, Dan Riker, had crossed the plains in pioneer days and settled at Oakdale. William E. was reared and educated in the public schools of Oroville. After his school days were over, he became a general mechanic. Coming to San Francisco he followed electrical mechanical lines and later traveled over various portions of the East in that line of work. Returning to San Francisco in 1915 he came to Santa Clara County in 1917. As manager for the P. C. D. W. he purchased seventy-five acres on the State Highway, above Alma, where they built a large, well-equipped garage, as well as a store and dining room, together with a number of cottages. During the coming twelve months they are planning to build an auditorium with a free and open platform, also a motion-picture studio as well as a printing plant. Their store, dining room and garage are a great con- venience, located as it is ncar the Summit, with these accommodations at the same or even less than city prices, and is much appreciated by the traveling pub- lic. Mr. Riker was married in St. Paul, Minn., being united with Miss Lucile Jensen, and they have one child, Willis. Mr. Riker stands firmly for American- ism and the upholding of law and order.

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CARL A. LARSON-Coming here when a lad of eleven years, Carl A. Larson has been a resident of San Jose for more than thirty years, and his years of connection with the commercial interests of the city give him a place among its substantial business men. Mr. Larson is a native of Colorado, born in Black Hawk, Gilpin County, January 26, 1879, the son of B. A. and Carrie (Bengston) Larson. His father was an experienced foreman in a quartz mill at Black Hawk, Colo., until the family migrated to Templeton, San Luis Obispo County, Cal., in 1890, where they engaged in farming, and there the mother passed away. Afterwards the father removed to Fresno County and improved a farm of fifty acres on Madera Avenue to orchard and vineyard. A few years ago he sold out and retired from active busi- ness cares and now makes his home in San Jose. There were seven children born to this worthy couple: Carl Alfred, the subject of this review; Elmer, William, Waller, Mrs. Lillian Palmquist, and Harry. Clarence died in his first year. Of the above, Elmer Walter, Mrs. Palmquist and Harry are ranching in Fresno County, while William is with the California Club in Los Angeles.

Carl Larson was reared in Black Hawk, Colo., un- til he was eleven years of age, when he came to Tem- pleton, and where he attended school and assisted his parents on the farm until after his mother's death. He was then nineteen years of age and he started out to make his own livelihood, coming to San Jose in the fall of 1898. He assisted in the con- struction of the electric railway in San Jose and then was in the employ of Renzel & Co., wholesale com- mission merchants. In 1908 he accepted the po- sition of manager and distributor for the Mu- tual Biscuit Company and has continued in that capacity ever since. By close application, un- ceasing energy and hard work, as well as by display- ing much native business ability, he has built up a large and satisfactory trade in Santa Clara County. their location being at 127 North Market street, from which point they distribute their high-class goods to the trade. He has built a comfortable residence at 48 Singletary Street, where the family reside.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 238

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