History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 244

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

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Will G. Lidley enjoyed the advantages of both the grammar and the high schools of Kansas, and in

that state and in San Francisco obtained his phar- maceutical training. He came to Los Gatos as man- ager of Wulzen's Drug Store, at that time a branch of a concern with which Mr. Lidley had been as- sociated in San Francisco, and he continued to man- age the business for three years. Then, in 1919, he purchased the establishment, and since then he has directed his efforts toward making it the leading drug store in Los Gatos and one of the best stores of the kind and size in Santa Clara County. He has been president of the Chamber of Commerce of Los Gatos for the past three years and also served as president of the Merchants' Association for a year; these responsibilities speak for themselves.

At San Francisco, in 1917, Mr. Lidley was married to Miss Blanche Arnold of San Francisco, a lady of accomplishment deeply interested-as he is-in both the present and the future of Los Gatos. Mr. Lidley belongs to the Elks and the Woodmen of the World.

VINCENT B. STONE .- One of the well-known painting contractors of San Jose and Santa Clara County is Vincent B. Stone, of San Jose. He has been identified in this line of work for many years and is now located at 22 Colfax Street and conducts business under the firm name of Stone & Curry Company. He was horn at Topeka, Kan., on July 3, 1886, the son of Alonzo and Mary (Burton) Stone, the latter dying when Vincent was a child. The father reared him, doing the best he could at all times and giving him every advantage possible. He is now residing on a farm near Pittsburg, Kansas.

Vincent attended the public schools of Cherryvale, Kans., and being ambitious, studied at night school, and later in a technical school, where he took up the work of a draftsman. When he was only twelve he had started to learn the painter's trade, and this call- ing has engaged his entire time and attention ever since, with the exception of two years he spent as a salesman. In 1907 he located in San Francisco and was employed on many of the buildings erected there until he came to San Jose in 1919. Arriving here on April 15, he organized the firm of Stone & Curry Company and has since been doing the leading con- tracting business in his lines in this county, and has executed contracts for many of the leading residents of both city and country, and the leading business concerns, among them the Carl Horn Dancing Acad- emy; Dreamland Dancing Pavillion; La Molle House; Swedish Lutheran Church; Lewis Building; Congregational Church; Elks Hall. All of the As- sociated Oil Company's stations from San Mateo to Gilroy; the Cooperative Cannery; the A. J. Hart, Dr. Dorothea Lee, and V. T. McCurdy residences, and the McCoy and Allen apartment houses.

The marriage of Vincent B. Stone united him with Miss Mildren Egan, a native of California and daughter of William and Lena (Mitchell) Egan. The Mitchells, William and Elizabeth (Gray) Mitchell, were pioneers and the latter, still living, is a native daughter. Her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, is also alive and a resident of San Jose, hale and hearty at the age of eighty-six. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have two children, Florence and Herbert. He is a Mason, active on the coaching committee; an Elk and mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce, and is a Repub-

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lican and a Methodist. He is always ready to help any movement for building up the city and county, and is a successful man.

CHARLES O.' DEAN .- Varied experiences and associations, with diversified occupations, have given to Charles O. Dcan a broad knowledge of the great West, and have deepened in his mind a conviction that Santa Clara County offers, to energetic settlers with keen business judgment, opportunities unsur- passed by any other section of the great empire by the sunset sea. He was born in New Salem, Armstrong County, Pa., on December 8, 1877, the son of Calvin W. and Amanda (Lankard) Dean, both natives of Pennsylvania. Calvin Dean was an engi- neer and is now a resident of Los Angeles.

Charles Dean received a good education, having attended the public schools of Pennsylvania. After his school days were over he took up structural cn- gineering with the American Bridge Company, re- maining with them for several years constructing bridges and buildings. He came to California in January, 1907, and located at San Francisco, where he was superintendent of construction of steel build- ings for three years; then began his career as a contractor of steel structures, in which he made a splendid record, his building operations extending from San Francisco to Prince Rupert, B. C .; and at the latter place he constructed a 20,000 ton float- ing dry dock, the largest dry dock in the world. Among some of the Class A buildings in San Fran- cisco of which he was the contractor of steel con- struction, are the First National Bank, Mills Build- ing, Mechanics Institute, Commercial Building, Richelieu Hotel, the Alcazar, Columbia and Cali- fornia theaters; he rebuilt the steel work for the new Emporium and later did the steel work for the addition to the Emporium. He also did many other buildings, in fact twenty-four Class A build- ings in the city, probably having more Class A buildings to his credit than any other contractor on the Pacific Coast.

In 1917 he came to Santa Clara County and bought a sixty-acre ranch east of San Jose and after improving it and building a good, substantial resi- dence on the place, he sold it and purchased a twenty-acre orchard on Williams Road, which he also sold at a profit, and then bought another place near by which he turned at a profit and then pur- chased his present place of twenty-three acres on the Santa Clara-Los Gatos Road where he resides with his family. This orchard is full bearing and devoted to raising cherries, apricots and prunes. Mr. Dean is the local distributor of the Cletrac tractor with offices and show rooms at 269 West Santa Clara Street, and in connection has a complete serv- ice department. His territory includes the best por- tion of Santa Clara, Alameda and San Mateo coun- ties, and he also carries a line of agricultural im- plements to go with his tractor, among them the Knapp disk plow, Oliver mold board plow and the McAdam disk harrow.

In Butler, Pa., Mr. Dean was first married to Miss Myrtle Covert, who passed away leaving two children, Raymond and Richard. Mr. Dean's sec- ond marriage occurred at San Jose, when he was united with Miss Mattic E. Sheffer, a native daugh- ter of Santa Clara County, born at Lexington, whose parents were pioneers of the county. Mr. Dean is

considered among the most enterprising, capable and resourceful men of his county, and he is the type of citizen whose presence in San Jose has been most helpful to the permanent welfare of the county. He is a Mason of the Royal Arch degrec, as well as a member of the Sciots and of the Maccabees. In national politics he is a stanch adherent of the Republican party and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, taking an active part in advancing the commercial importance and prestige of the county.

MRS. MADELINE STRALLA .- Born in the province of Cuneo, Italy, Mrs. Madeline Stralla is the daughter of Judge Antonio Pirra, who was born in Nissa, France, of an old French family. He was a prominent attorney-at-law and served as judge at Lequio, Tonaro, for thirty-six years until the time of his death. He was a splendid man and left a most excellent record, his memory being still revered by the citizens of his district. Mrs. Stralla's mother was Catherine Abona, who was also born in the province of Cuneo and comes of an old and distinguished Italian family who were wealthy land owners. Her uncle, Capt. Carl Abona, was captain in the Italian army until his death. In his youth he studied for the priesthood but went to war, serving in the War with Austria in 1848, being twice wounded. Mrs. Stralla's mother was a well educated and cultured woman, loved by all who knew her. She died at the age of forty-two years leaving two children, Madeline and her sister Marina who still resides in Italy.

Madeline Pirra received a good education in the schools of Lequio, residing with her father, her inother having died when she was only eleven years old. In 1894 she was married to Louis Cornero, a native of Italy, but of Spanish descent. He was the owner of a good farm and after their marriage they engaged in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture. They were well situated but came to California the result of a dare which was accepted and carried out. Leasing their lands and residence they came to Santa Clara County. Mr. Cornero was employed at Los Gatos when he was accidently killed by a live electric wire on January 14, 1908. A year later his widow moved to San Francisco and engaged in busi- ness. In San Jose, January, 1911, she was married a second time, being united with Giacomo Stralla, who was born in the same part of Italy. They were proprietors of the Monviso Restaurant, 2124 Polk Street, San Francisco, continuing for five years, when they sold out. In 1901 she located in Los Gatos and soon afterwards she bought out Ripkins Bakery and established the American-French Bakery. It was a small affair, but she remodeled and enlarged it and installed up-to-date machinery. By the use of two auto delivery wagons, bread and pastry is delivered all over the adjoining country.

By her. union with Mr. Cornero she was the mother of six children: Catherine; Antoniette, Mrs. North of San Francisco; Frank; Antonio; Louis, and Esther. Mrs. Stralla still owns her father's old farm and residence in Lequio, Italy, where he held his court and where she was born and spent her youth. She is a member of the Catholic Church in Los Gatos and is an American citizen, enjoying her fran- chise as a Republican.

Chas. O. Dean

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ANGELO BERTELLI .- One of the most pro- gressive and well-known young business men of San Jose is Angelo Bertelli, who has been a resident of this city for several years. He was born in Milano, Italy, June 4, 1886, the son of Giovanni and Cecilia (Negri) Bertelli, both natives of Italy, the father being a merchant in his native country. Angelo re- ceived his education in the schools of Milano, and having early determined on the line of work he wished to follow throughout his life, when but six- teen years old he took up the trade of a mechanic and for about ten years followed this line. In 1913 he decided to leave his native land, and on arriving in America he went on to Evanston, Ill., and later, with the small capital he possessed he opened up a garage, known as the Dempster Street Garage, and in connection therewith he had a large storage and general repair shop, employing twelve men. He was meeting with much success, when the severe cold, which made serious inroads on his health, made it necessary for him to seek a warmer climate. He dis- posed of his business and came to California in 1916, and for five months was proprietor of a garage in Dixon, Solano County. When the garage was sold, he came to San Jose, arriving here January 1, 1917. He found the wagon shop at Market and Pierce streets for sale, with the rent only twenty-five dollars a month, so he bought it for $750 and took over the lease. Later he sold out the stock and made a profit of $3800, besides retaining some of the tools and ma- chines, and then opened up a garage which he called the San Jose Auto Repair Shop, and also engaged in the buying, selling and exchanging of machines. His business soon assumed large proportions and he took in a partner, Peter Figone, continuing under the same name. Both worked early and late and their patrons soon learned the value of their services, find- ing that they could always find Mr. Bertelli on hand to attend to their wants immediately. He took over the agency of the Texan and the Loraine automobiles and then bought the property, 186 by 192 feet.

In 1919 Mr. Bertelli took the agency for the Moon automobile and dropped his other agencies to give all of his time to distributing the Moon car over North- ern California, changing the name of the business to the Moon Automobile Company of San Jose, Ber- telli & Figone, owners. In 1920 he opened a large show room in San Francisco at 1125 Van Ness Avenue, but finding that the two places took too much of his time, he sold the San Francisco agency in 1921, keeping the six counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Luis Obispo, having seven sub-dealers in these coun- ties, with service stations for the Moon car. In the meantime business had grown so that it was neces- sary to have larger quarters, so he rented his place and bought the Locurto Motor Company. Here he has a modern, up-to-date plant, equipped with electric power, completely fitted for service and battery work of all kinds, and with a fine display room for all types of Moon cars. He is also the owner of other valuable property in San Jose.

On September 22, 1914, Mr. Bertelli was married to Miss Naomi Berttolani, a native of Lucca, Italy, and the daughter of Attilio and Ersiglia Berttolani. One daughter has been born to them, Elsie. Mr.

Bertelli is a member of the Italian-American Club and of the California Auto Trades Association. In politics he is a Republican.

LUCIAN M. BEALL .- Among those who are contributing to the commercial development of Campbell through the capable management of their business interests is numbered Lucian M. Beall, pro- prietor of the leading drug store in the town. A native of Michigan, he was born in May, 1859, and his parents, S. N. and Celesta J. (Harrington) Beall, are both deceased. In the acquirement of an educa- tion he attended the grammar and high schools of Michigan and in 1896 came to Campbell but did not take up his permanent residence in the town at that time, going to Los Gatos, where he remained for eight years. For thirty-seven years he has been en- gaged in the drug business, having been connected therewith previous to coming to California in 1895. On July 5, 1900, he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at San Francisco, re- ceiving the first certificate as a registered pharmacist ever issued by that institution and being offered a chair therein, but did not accept. In May, 1914, he purchased a drug store in Campbell and this he has since successfully conducted, broad experience having given him an expert knowledge of the business, and his reliability in filling prescriptions, combined with his reasonable prices and courteous treatment of patrons, have won for him a large trade.

Mr. Beall was united in marriage to Miss Cora Miner, also a native of Michigan, and they are well and favorably known in Campbell, where they have many friends. In his political views Mr. Beall is a Republican and a Knights Templar Mason. In the management of his business affairs he has been pro- gressive, energetic and capable and in the discharge of his duties as a citizen he has at all times been actuated by a regard for the public welfare.

CARL A. JOHANSON .- A resident of California for over forty years, Carl A. Johanson, who is famil- jarly called by his many friends Carl Grant, was born near Gothenburg, Sweden, August 12, 1849, where he was reared on his father's farm and re- ceived a good education in the public schools of his locality. When twenty years of age he went to sea. After being in the coasting trade for a while he came around Cape Horn to San Francisco in 1874. The vessel was out 144 days and ran out of vegetables and he suffered great hardship. After arriving in California he followed the coasting trade for several years until he quit the sea and went to Gilroy Hot Springs where he was employed for five years, after which he came to San Jose in the employ of Thomas S. Montgomery, manager of the Phelan property in San Jose, having charge of the Martin Block and the Phelan Building for several years. Resigning he located at Wrights, where he was proprietor of Wright's Station Hotel for two years. He then pur- chased the present ranch of thirty acres where he built his home and has made his residence with his family ever since. He cleared the land and set out a vineyard of Tokays which is well cared for. For years he has been engaged in hauling fruit from the ranches to Wrights and now has a two-ton truck for that purpose. Aside from his farming he has been the roadmaster of his district for over thirty years,

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seeing that the roads are kept in good condition, a matter in which he has had much valuable experi- ence.

At Wrights, October 14, 1894, Mr. Johanson was married to Miss Bertha Kuhn, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., coming here with her parents, George and Kate (Faber) Kuhn, when she was in her first year. Her father was a tailor and he died at Wrights, June 24, 1894, fifty-three years old. Her mother now lives in Redwood City, aged seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Johanson have five children: Carl August, Jr., served twenty-one months in the U. S. Army, and fifteen months of the time overseas; he is now at McKittrick; Herman is in Watsonville; Josephine is in San Francisco; Edward is assisting his father; Jack is attending Los Gatos high school. Carl Johanson is a Republican and fraternally is a member of Ridgely Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 294.

GEORGE C. WELTZ .- A native son of Santa Clara County George C. Weltz was born near Alma, July 28, 1891. His father, Xavier, a native of Alsace, France, came to New York, and made his way across the continent to California. After working for some years in San Francisco, he located in Santa Clara County, and since then has been a farmer in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He was married in Cali- fornia to Miss Louise Buron, a native of San Fran- cisco, of whom he was bereaved a few years ago. They were the parents of twelve children. George C., the third oldest, received his education in the pub- lic schools of his district. When seventeen years of age he began his apprenticeship under Charles H. Pierce, but later went to San Francisco, where he worked at his trade for fourteen months and then returned to Alma and worked for H. O. Smith as blacksmith; later he worked at his trade in Gilroy for C. H. Pierce, who had moved there from Alma. During the World War he was rejected for service in the army on account of physical disability, so he went to work in the shipyards at Baypoint on the building of transports, continuing until July 20, 1919, when he returned to Alma and purchased the black- smith shop at that place. In October, 1921, he built the present shop on the State Highway, at Lexing- ton, where he is engaged in general blacksmithing.

Mr. Weltz was married at Alma to Miss Irene Van Loane, who was born at Ukiah; her father, George T. Van Loane, now resides in Alma. Mr. Weltz is a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Los Gatos Lodge of Odd Fellows, and with his wife belongs to the Rebekahs.

BERTEL BERTELSEN .- A native of Den- mark Bertel Bertelsen was born in Holstebro, Jut- land, February 5, 1883, a son of Jens and Marie (Fulg) Bertelsen, who reside on the farm in Den- mark. Bertel was the third oldest of their eight liv- ing children and after completing the excellent schools, for which Denmark is famed, he apprenticed as a blacksmith in his native place for three and a half years, after which he followed his trade in dif- ferent parts of Denmark until twenty-three years of age, when he entered the Third Company, Fourth Regiment, of the Danish Army, serving the required time and received his honorable discharge. After this he engaged in blacksmithing on his own account for a while, until he concluded to locate in California.

Selling out his belongings he arrived in the Golden State in March, 1913, and worked at his trade in Davis for four months. Locating in Los Gatos in July, 1913, and in 1915 purchasing an interest in a shop in Los Gatos, he sold out six months later and located in Saratoga on February 9, 1916, buying out Wilson's blacksmith shop. He continues the busi- ness of general blacksmithing and horseshoeing, his place being equipped with power drills, lathes, etc.

Mr. Bertelsen was married in San Jose to Miss Laura Jorgensen, who was born in this city, a daugh- ter of P. T. Jorgensen, a pioneer contractor and builder in San Jose. They are the parents of one child, Viola May. Mr. Bertelsen is a member of the American Order of Foresters, the Saratoga Lodge of Odd Fellows, and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Saratoga Improvement Club, and is past president of the San Jose Lodge of Dania.

JOAQUIN J. PASHOTE .- A member of the firm of Pashote Bros. of Milpitas, Joaquin J. Pashote is identified with the commercial and social life at Milpitas. Pashote Bros. own several business inter- ests and houses in Milipitas and operate a store, auto truck business, restaurant, ice-cream parlor and meat market. At present the firm is composed of Joseph, Frank and Joaquin J. Pashote and their mother, Mrs. Marian Pashote. Joaquin J. Pashote was born at Irvington, Cal., September 29, 1887, a son of the late Joseph Pashote, who was born on the Island of Fayal, in the Azores, and came as a young man to California, where he became a farmer and crchardist. He was married at San Leandro to Miss Marian Prairie, who was likewise a native of Fayal. Through frugality and industry they prospered, devoting their attention to farming, stockraising and horticulture.

The Pashotes' advent to Milipitas dates back to 1908, when the father came here and bought the property which comprised a store and barber shop, and placed his sons in charge of the various business affairs, while he himself went back to his farm and orchard. In 1909, a disastrous fire burned them out, but their present enlarged premises were soon built. The father located in Milpitas in 1912, but died the year following at the age of fifty-four. To the par- ents were born eight children: Joseph, who runs the ice-cream parlor and restaurant at Milpitas; Lena, who is the wife of J. R. Carlo, a merchant at Mil- pitas; Frank, who is in charge of Pashote Bros.' store and auto truck business in Milpitas, also helps run the restaurant; Manuel is a barber in San Jose; Joaquin James has charge of the meat-market inter- ests of said firm at Milpitas; Tony, who was inter- ested in the auto truck and restaurant business and a member of Pashote Bros., died at Milpitas in Feb- ruary, 1922, leaving a widow, whose maiden name was Eva Dingham, and two children, Albert and Clarence; Mary is the wife of Joe S. Nunes, who helps run the meat market; Johnny Edward died in France; he was wounded in the Battle of Argonne Forest and died two weeks later.

Joaquin J. Pashote was married at Milpitas in 1911 to Miss Augusta McNamara, a daughter of Jeremiah McNamara of San Jose. They have three children: Edward Joseph, Dorothy Marie and Gertrude Marga- ret. Mr. Pashote is a member of the W. O. W. and of the Catholic Church. He is a deputy sheriff of

Josephit hugin

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Santa Clara County and a member of the board of trustees of the Milpitas schools. Active and popular, he did much to make a splendid success of the Fourth of July celebration at Milpitas in 1922, as head of the barbecue and riding committee, 2100 pounds of choice beef being barbecued.

JOSEPH A. CHARGIN .- A patriotic American whose associations from birth, leading him to look back with fondness toward the Old World and for- ward with eagerness and faith toward the land of his adoption, have made him much interested in the welfare of foreigners, is Joseph A. Chargin, of San Jose, who was born in Mirca Brac, Dalmatia, Jugo- Slavia, on April 10, 1865, the son of Anthony and Frances ( Lebedina) Chargin, vineyardists in Dalmatia. He was educated in part in his native country, and continued his studies in America, at night schools and through private teachers. In 1881, he first came to California, and for a while he was active in Ama- dor County. Then he removed to San Jose, but not until he had tried restaurant management in San Francisco, and somewhat similar work in Hollister. For a quarter of a century he has been in San Jose, and he is probably the oldest merchant in his line here, and Chargin's Grill, through his enterprise and affability became one of the most popular restaurants in the city. However, catering was not the limit of his capabilities, for Mr. Chargin had become in- terested in horticulture and owned several ranches, which began to take so much of his time that in 1920 he turned the management of Chargin's Grill over to his brother Jeremiah, so as to give all of his time to the management and development of his orchards in which he is ably assisted by his sons. Associated with his sons he owns thirty acres in Evergreen dis- trict devoted to raising prunes and apricots and with his son-in-law, another ranch of twenty-four acres in the Quito district, where he grows prunes, and with his brother Jeremiah, he owns still another eleven acres a short distance south of Morgan Hill, devoted to walnuts and prunes. Mr. Chargin is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Growers Asso- ciation in which he has taken an active and prominent part, not alone for himself, but particularly on ac- count of the solicitation of his Jugo-Slav friends, who insist on his acting as trustee to look after their inter- ests. This trusteeship is for seven years. Mr. Char- gin is also a member of the California Walnut Growers Association as well as the Cherry Growers Association of California. He was one of the organizers and has been a director of the Growers Bank of San Jose since its incorporation, and is also interested in other financial and manufacturing establishments

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 244

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