History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 245

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

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In 1890 Mr. Chargin was married at Plymouth, Cal., to Miss Josephine Smith of Amador County. A daughter, Frances, is a graduate of both the San Jose Normal and Notre Dame College and is now the wife of Dr. W. H. Lawrence of San Jose; Victor A., a graduate of Santa Clara University is an attorney- at-law practicing in this city; Joseph A., Jr., is also a. graduate of Santa Clara University as a civil engineer. He was with the county surveyor and during the World War was commissioned a first lieutenant in the U. S. Army and served overseas for two years. He is now engaged in ranching; Law- rence J., a graduate of Santa Clara University, is now engaged as a horticulturist here; the younger mem- bers of the family are Madeline J., Gerald J., Maryon

and John M., Maryon passing away at the age of eight years. Mr. Chargin resides with his family at his comfortable residence, 167 Vine Street, and they attend St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He belongs to several fraternal orders and civic organizations and was for several years president of the Slavonian- American Benevolent Society. He is a Democrat in national politics.

HARRY ULYSSES BALL .- Among the old and highly respected residents of Los Gatos is numbered Harry Ulysses Ball, the pioneer blacksmith of the town, who has made his home in Los Gatos for a period of forty-six years. A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, he was born April 10, 1844, a son of Orlando Ball, whose demise occurred in the Buckeye state. His education was acquired in the public schools of Ohio, and on starting out in the business world he served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade in Portsmouth, which he followed in that state for four years. In 1863 he started for the West, drove a mule team across the plains and first located in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained for one and a half years in the employ of Ben Holliday on his various stage lines in Utah. Ten years were spent in Idaho as a horseshoer, and he then came to California, arriving in Los Gatos in 1876. For six years he was employed by Mr. Seanor, whose black- smith shop he purchased at the end of that time, at first having a partner in the enterprise, but is now conducting the business independently, being the pioneer in this line of activity in Los Gatos. He 110w owns his shop and building on Main Street. He is an expert farrier and blacksmith and the superior quality of his work, combined with his well known reliability in all business transactions, has won for him a large share of public patronage.

Mr. Ball was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jenkins, a native of Canada, who passed away in 1911. In his political views he is a progressive Re- publican, supporting the platform of that party where national issues are at stake, but at local elections he votes for the candidate whom he regards as best fitted for office. He has never dissipated his en- ergies over a broad field but has continued in the line of work in which he first engaged, and his pres- ent success is largely attributable to this fact. In business circles of Los Gatos his standing is of the highest and as a citizen he is loyal, progressive and public-spirited, his upright life having won for him the unqualified esteem of a large circle of friends.

GEORGE RAGGIO .- A native son of California and a member of one of the old families of San Jose, George Raggio is numbered among the leading busi- ness men of the city, being well known as a cement contractor, in which connection he has built up a large business. He was born on Twelfth (now Thir- teenth) Street, San Jose, September 15, 1876, a son of Antone and Mary Raggio, who reared a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. The father was a native of Italy and by his first marriage, which occurred in that country, lie had two children. As a young man, in the early '50s, he emigrated to the United States, and making his way to California, he settled in Tuolumne County, where for a few years he was employed in the mines. He then came to San Jose in about 1867 and purchased property on what was then Twelfth Street but has now become Thirteenth Street. He became a successful horticul-

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turist, purchasing twenty-one acres of land on the Northern Road, which he devoted to the raising of fruit, developing one of the finest orchards in this section of the state. He passed away when fifty-four years of age, but the mother survives and is now residing at 151 North Thirteenth Street, just across the street from the old family homestead. With the growth of the city the property has increased in value and it has been divided into lots by the Rucker Realty Company, constituting one of the attractive residential sections of San Jose.

George Raggio attended the public schools of his native city till the age of sixteen years. However, during vacations, as early as twelve years, he secured the position of water boy with a cement crew, thus gaining his initial experience in a line of business which he has since continued to follow. When six- teen years old he began working for Brookbanks & Kelley, pioneer cement contractors, and continued with them for many years. His ready adaptability and close application soon won him promotion, and before he had reached the age of eighteen he was made foreman of a crew of men. Through industry and economy he accumulated sufficient capital to establish a business of his own, and he now ranks with the leading cement contractors of San Jose. Owing to the excellence of his work and his straight- forward, reliable dealing, he has been awarded many important contracts, among which may be mentioned the cement work on the Montgomery Hotel, the Twohy Building, the Y. M. C. A. Building, the Alum Rock Bath House, the hall for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Hall of Records Building.

In San Jose, November, 1901, Mr. Raggio was married to Miss Jennie Corotto, who was born near Hollister, Cal. Her parents were pioneers of San Benito County but now reside in San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Raggio have become the parents of a daughter, Genevieve, who is attending the San Jose High School. The family reside in a fine home at 139 North Thir- teenth Street. For recreation Mr. Raggio turns to hunting, trapping and fishing, going to the Sierras on hunting and fishing expeditions, both all over California and into Oregon each year and is very successful in securing lots of game and fish. He is a Republican in his political views and for many years he has been a prominent member of the San Jose Builders Exchange. He has thoroughly identified his interests with those of the city in which his entire life has been spent and his progressiveness has heen a potent clement in its upbuilding.

PICCHETTI BROTHERS .- Ranchers on the Montebello Road, Anton and John Picchetti or Pic- chetti Bros. are successful horticulturists and viticul- turists. They were both born in San Jose, Anton on April 15, 1884, and John on September 12, 1886. Their father, Vincent Picchetti, was born in Novara, Italy, and came to California when a young man in the early days, locating in Santa Clara County, where he followed dairying for a while until he became foreman of the Villa Marie for the Jesuit Fathers, and while there he purchased 160 acres on the Monte- bello Road, the nucleus of the present Picchetti Ranch. He made a trip back to his old home in Italy and there married Theresa Chicoletti and immediate- ly brought his bride to Santa Clara County. Locating

on his ranch he began clearing and improving it, setting out vineyard and orchards and built a winery, adding to it from time to time until it comprises 500 acres; about half of the acreage is in orchard and the balance is vineyard and grain land. He had com- pleted a new residence, with everything well improved when he was called by death in 1904 at the age of fifty-six years; his widow now makes her home in San Jose. She was the mother of five children, four of whom grew to maturity: Anton and John of Pic- chetti Bros., operating the Picchetti Ranch, and At- tillio and Hector, engaged in the automobile business in San Jose.

Anton and John Picchetti, after completing the schools in their home district, entered the San Jose Business College where they were graduated after which they returned to the ranch and actively as- sisted their father until his death, when they took up the management of the ranch, continuing the im- provements, clearing more land and setting out fruit trees, mostly prunes and apricots. Anton was mar- ried to Miss Anita Pecchorini, and they have two children, Hector and Virgil. He is a member of the N. S. G. W. John was married first to Emma Grosetti, who died leaving one child, Alda. He was married the second time to Miss Josephine Prattini. Politically they are firm believers in protection for Americans, and are stanch Republicans.

JOSEPH C. PROVENZANO .- Among the many desirable citizens whom Italy has contributed to California is Joseph C. Provenzano, who dates his residence in San Jose from 1907. He has built up a large business as a plasterer contractor during the intervening period of fourteen years, owing to his thorough knowledge of the trade and known relia- bility. His birth occurred at Corleone, in the prov- ince of Palermo, Italy, on December 9, 1880, his par- ents being Mariano and Frances Pauline (Corti- meglia) Provenzano, the former a contractor.

In the grammar and high schools of Corleone, Joseph C. Provenzano pursued his education, later completing an engineering course, but he has never followed that profession. When seventeen years of age he left his native land, arriving in New York City with one Italian penny in his pocket. He possessed the confidence in the future characteristic of those who are just starting out on life's journey, and, after serving an apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade, had no difficulty in securing work along that line. For five years he remained in New York City and in 1902 made his way to California, first locating at Los Angeles, where he secured work as a plasterer with a prominent building contractor of that city. His employer was much pleased with the work done hy Mr. Provenzano, who had received thorough instruc- tion in his trade under Gustave Lucchesi, a leading contractor of New York City. While a resident of Los Angeles he worked on the Bank of Italy Build- ing and many other large structures of that city, but in 1907 he came to San Jose, where he has since made his home. He entered business circles here as a plasterer contractor and has been very successful in the undertaking, having done the work on the Hippo- drome Theater, the Catholic Church of East San Jose, and many other large buildings in the city, in addition to a number of homes, and his excellent

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work and straightforward dealing have won for him the confidence and support of the public. His busi- ness has now reached large proportions and he ranks with the leading plasterer contractors of the city.

In Los Angeles, Cal., on July 31, 1905, Mr. Pro- venzano was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Can- zoneri, a native of that city and a daughter of Giro- lamo and Leoluchina Canzoneri, the former a promi- nent fruit merchant of Los Angeles. To this union six children have been born: Frances Pauline, Mari- ano, Bessie, Mary Antoinette, Jennie Lillian and Girolamo. Mr. Provenzano gives his political alle- giance to the Republican party and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Masonic Lodge at San Jose. His fel- low townsmen attest his sterling qualities and per- sonal worth, as well as his business ability, and he has gained a wide circle of friends during the period of his residence in San Jose.

JULIO ARGUELLO .- A member of the famous Arguello family, intimately connected with the early history of San Jose, Santa Clara, Monterey and San Francisco, Julio Arguello was born at the old Ar- guello home at Santa Clara on December 9, 1870, one of the first mansions built there. It was later sold to Senator James W. Phelan and now it is the property of the University of Santa Clara and one of the col- loge buildings will be erected on its site. It was the center of much of the social life of its day and its razing removes another landmark reminiscent of the past generation. The Arguello home was built by Don Jose Ramon Arguello, for many years the lead- ing citizen of Santa Clara, being the son of Gov. Luis Antonio Arguello, first governor of California under the Mexican regime and now buried at the Mission Dolores, San Francisco. His father was Comman- dante Jose Arguello, a Castilian soldier, who was in charge of the Presidio at San Francisco and also at Monterey during the days of the Spanish rule. Our subject's mother was Isabel Alviso before her mar- riage, a member of the famous old Castilian family for whom the town of Alviso was named.

Julio Arguello lived at the Arguello mansion until he was seven years old, when the family removed to the Blake farm of 320 acres on Quito Road at Los Gatos, now the property of P. J. Walker. There he was reared until his fourteenth year, when he entered St. Mary's College at San Francisco, from which he was graduated at the age of eighteen. Don Jose Ra- mon Arguello died in 1876, when Julio was six years old, the father of fourteen children, and the mother later married again. Of these children only three survive: Isabel, the widow of Nicholas Denne, of Santa Barbara; Quito and Julio. Don Jose Arguello was at one time the most extensive landowner in the Santa Clara Valley, and he was the pioneer who do- nated the right of way to the Southern Pacific Rail- road through his large holdings.

Mr. Arguello's marriage united him with Miss Sarah Maud Jones, who was born in Wisconsin, but was reared in Minneapolis. She came to California about fifteen years ago and her marriage to Mr. Ar- guello occurred at San Jose in 1911. By his first marriage Mr. Arguello had a daughter, Claire, now the wife of James Cortelyou. For some time Mr. Arguello was successfully engaged as a real estate broker, his specialty being the handling of vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley. He closed some of the

important deals in this section, among them being the sale of the American vineyards at Del Rey and Han- ford, the two bringing $525,000, the William Neu- mann vineyard at Belmont Avenue and Del Rey Road, which sold for $210,000, and many others. Mr. Arguello died from pneumonia, after an illness of only eight days, on February 14, 1922, and was buried at Santa Clara.

CHARLES A. PEARSON .- Among the younger generation of business men of Mountain View Charles A. Pearson has won a place for himself in the commercial activities of his native town. Born in Mountain View, February 15, 1888, he is the young- est son of Charles and Hildah (Peterson) Pearson. The father's sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Charles Pearson attended the grammar and high schools of Mountain View. He entered the employ of Rogers and Rogers, in the general merchandise business, and remained with them until his father established his own grocery business in 1905, the members of the firm being the father and son. The business grew to be the largest and most up-to-date grocery establishment in Mountain View, employing fourteen men; and seventeen horses were used in the delivery department. The business was later sold to good advantage and Charles A. bought a half inter- est in the Junction Garage owned by Charles C. Skinner.

The marriage of Mr. Pearson on April 18, 1911, united him with Miss Bertha J. Etzkorn, a native of Missouri, who came to Mountain View to join her parents, who had already settled here. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are the parents of two children-Edward and Carl Pearson.

The business of the Junction Garage grew to such proportion that the proprietors realized the need of a larger building more centrally located and Mr. Platt agreed to build an adequate garage at the cor- ner of California and Castro streets. It is one of the finest and most modern garages in the Santa Clara Valley, up-to-date in every respect. They deal in Chandler, Packard and Cleveland cars, Cletrac trac- tors, Kelly-Springfield tires, and auto accessories, and employ as many as twelve men in the machine shop. Mr. Pearson is a capable executive and as such is contributing his full share to the success of the growing business.

CHARLES PEARSON .- A pioneer citizen of Mountain View, who has spent many active years in business and ranching is Charles Pearson. He was born July 15, 1855, at Sylvesborg, Sweden, near the Baltic Sea. His father, Peer Brukson, was a house and ship carpenter, and his mother, before her mar- riage, was Kjorsti Jenson, and was born in the same place as her husband. Charles Pearson grew up in Sweden and received what education he could in the common schools of his native land. When he was fifteen he began work in a leather store connected with a tannery, thoroughly learned the leather trade, and by the time he was nineteen, he was head man. The best hides for sole leather came from South America and Mr. Pearson's employee had built a new three mast bark for the hide trade with South America. Being of a venturesome disposition, Charles Pearson interviewed the captain and became one of the crew of the new bark bound for South America. They sailed from Sweden via England

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taking on a load of coal there, touching again at Montevideo, they took on a load of salt for salting the hides. When they had secured a load of hides they set sail for the home town in Sweden, having been gone eleven months. Mr. Pearson immediately en- gaged with another Swedish sailing company and for six years was occupied on sailing vessels from Swe- den, Norway, England and America and thus ac- quired a fluent knowledge of the Scandinavian and English languages. In his voyages, he visited Denmark, Germany, Finland, Russia, England, Scot- land, Ireland, France, Portugal, Italy and Sicily. For three years he was engaged in the orange shipping trade from Sicily to St. Petersburg. Finally ship- ping as a sailor on an American sailing vessel, the Big Bonanza, from New York City with a general cargo of merchandise, he came around Cape Horn to San Francisco, arriving May 8, 1881, after a stormy voyage of six months, seven weeks of which was spent in rounding the Horn, where the most terrific storms were encountered. After arrival in San Fran- cisco, he learned that he had a cousin by the name of Andrew Johnson, at Mountain View. He was induced to take a job working in a vineyard, so he gave up his idea of becoming a master navigator or ship captain, which for many years had been his ambition. He continued to work for his cousin until his death in 1883 and then rented a vineyard. The first year proved disastrous, and he took a job as foreman on the Swain ranch.

The marriage of Mr. Pearson occurred in 1883 and united him with Miss Hildah Peterson, a resident of San Francisco, who was born and reared in the same town in Sweden. For fourteen years he was fore- man of the Swain ranch, and on the ranch being sold, he removed to Mountain View and engaged in busi- ness. While employed as foreman, he purchased a home in Mountain View at the corner of Villa and Bryant streets, and Mrs. Pearson and the two boys resided there in order that the children might have the advantage of the best school facilities. The first ranch which Mr. Pearson owned was in the moun- tains, which he disposed of and purchased a six-acre piece of the Murphy ranch, which he also sold. In 1909 he purchased his twelve-acre piece on the Alviso Road near Sunnyvale, on which he raises corn, sugar beets and garden truck. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are the parents of two children: Alfred W., a structural engineer, residing at San Mateo, married Miss Isabel Williamson and they have one child, Alfred W., Jr .; Charles A. is in business in Mountain View, the junior member of the firm of Skinner and Pearson. In national politics Mr. Pearson is a Republican.

ED. SCAGLIOTTI .- A highly-esteemed orchard- ist and vineyardist whose success and prosperity have been attained largely in the vicinity of historic Gilroy, is Ed. Scagliotti, who resides three and a half miles from town on the Bodfish Road. He was born in Italy, in the province of Lisandria, on October 23, 1881, the second son of Peter Scagliotti, a well-to-do farmer and vineyardist, who had married Miss Laura Savio. Both parents were from the same province.

In 1900, Ed. Scagliotto reached California and located at Gilroy; and being willing to work, he soon found employment with Miller & Lux on the Glenn ranch, and was paid from the start fifteen dollars per month. The second year, he was promoted to be foreman of the field men; and during the next four

years of his employment by the Miller & Lux estate, he had entire charge of the Lewis Place ranch near Gilroy, then was transferred to the Lomas vineyard, and from there to the Bannister place, where he was superintendent of the dried fruit department of all of the Miller & Lux ranches in the vicinity of Gilroy.

In 1915 he resigned and, in partnership with three brothers, acquired a tract of 120 acres of land known as the Farmer Ranch, and he immediately commenced developing it as a fruit orchard and vineyard, although it required much hard work and expense to clear the land. In 1920, he bought his brothers' interests and assumed sole control, and he has since further improved the farm by a beautiful and comfortable home. For years he has also dealt in fruit and grapes, being an independent buyer in other parts of the state beyond the Santa Clara Valley, and manufactured wine until prohibition was declared.

At Gilroy, on June 9, 1903, Mr. Scagliotti was married to Miss Amelia Reale, a daughter of Joseph and Vina Reale, both of whom are now deceased, and three children have blessed the union: Lillian, Wil- liam and Peter, all attending the Gilroy high school. Mr. Scagliotti was made a citizen at San Jose in 1915, and since then he has supported the Republican party.

CHAS. H. MUIR .- A popular official whose exec- utive ability is much appreciated is Charles H. Muir, the manager of the San Jose Country Club, who was born in Scotland, a native of Glasgow, where he first saw the light on November 6, 1881, the son of Joseph and Robina (Blake) Muir. His father was a mer- chant, and he is still alive; the devoted wife and mother, however, passed away in 1905. They had six children, among whom our subject was the young- est, the elders being John, Alexander, Anna, James and Grace. Charles attended the high school at Glas- gow, and then was apprenticed to an architect, whom he served for five years at Glasgow. He then left for Durban, in South Africa, and there identified him- self with the firm of Greenstreet & Aldwinchal, in whose service he remained for one and a half years. On his return to Europe, he joined his father in con- ducting hotels and a wine business in various parts of Ireland, but after three years, he decided to come to America. In 1906, therefore, he reached San Francisco, just after that city had been laid low by earthquake and fire, expecting to take up architec- tural work again in the rebuilding of the town; but, as conditions were not promising, for three years he managed the Menlo Park Country Club. At the end of that period, he came to San Jose and took charge of the newly-organized San Jose Country Club, and this he also conducted with success for three years. He then opened a restaurant in Alum Rock Park, and ran it as a summer concession. He provided accommodations for 500 people, and with an enviable experience, often catered to 1,000 and more people at barbecues. In July, 1921, he again took the man- agement of the San Jose Country Club. He is a member of the Commercial Club of Santa Clara County, and is a Republican.

At San Diego, on January 20, 1909, Mr. Muir was married to Miss Saloma Cedelia Kimberlin, the dangh- ter of James and Estella Kimberlin, and on the ma- ternal side of Scotch-Irish descent. Miss Kimberlin was born in Louisville, Ky., and when yet a girl accompanied her parents to Kansas, where she at-

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tended the grammar school. In her eighth year, her mother died; but her father was spared to her until 1921. Mrs. Muir is a charter member of the San Jose Y. W. C. A, and Mr. Muir belongs to the San Jose Masons. He is also a life member of the Blythwood Lodge No. 817. S. R., and is a member of the Elks.

EARL REEVE .- A native of California, (Earl Reeve was born on the old Martin ranch south of Gilroy, August 9, 1874, the son of Oscar A. Reeve, born in Ohio in 1836, whose father, Henry Reeve, was a pioneer of Santa Clara County. Henry Reeve was a native of Albany County, N. Y., but his par- ents moved to Lake County, Ohio, and there his education was completed. In the year of 1849 he farmed thirty miles west of Chicago, Ill., remain- ing there until 1853, when he crossed the plains to California, bringing with him his wife and seven children. On September 15 of the same year he ar- rived in San Jose, and embarked in farming and dairying until 1854, when he removed to Gilroy town- ship, and settled on his ranch one mile south of town, comprising three hundred acres, and on this old home place the father of our subject was reared. He married Mary Jane Fine, who came around Cape Horn in 1855 with her father, S. P. Fine; they had six children, one being deceased.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 245

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