History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 246

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

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Earl Reeve was educated in the schools of Gilroy and spent his spare time working for his father on his ranch west of Gilroy, known as the Fine Estate, where they moved in 1896, and here he laid the foundation for a thorough training in horticul- ture and agriculture. A number of years ago Mr. Reeve entered the fruit raising industry and de- veloped sixty-six acres of the Fine Estate on the Bodfish Creek Road, bringing them to a high state of productivity and there his mother resides with him. He belongs to the Farmer's Union and is a charter member of the California Prune & Apricot Growers, Inc. He is also a member of the Live Oak school board of trustees, and politically he casts his vote for the Democratic candidates.

OSCAR BENSON .- An orchardist who has pros- pered during the years of his residence in the Golden State, Oscar Benson has done his share toward the wonderful progress made by Santa Clara County in the past twenty years. Mr. Benson is a native of Sweden and was born there on March 22, 1867, his parents, Ben and Petronella (Ebbeson) Anderson, now both deceased, having lived and died there. The father, who was by trade a ship's carpenter, spent many years as a seafaring man, in the line of his work. After his schooling was completed in the public schools of his home vicinity, Oscar Benson became interested in the meat business and dealt in cattle until he crossed the ocean to the United States, arriving here May 1, 1892. Locating first at Mayfield, Cal., Mr. Benson later came to San Jose, and there he established Benson's Market. He conducted this enterprise with good success for eighteen years, when he sold out and came to the Pioncer school district, where he purchased forty acres on Kooser Road. Here he has an orchard of prunes and apri- cots and a vineyard, and all of his time is spent in giving his orchard and vineyard careful and scientific attention, with results that amply justify his labor.

Mr. Benson was married in this district to Miss Caroline Malech, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Malech, pioncer settlers here, and three children have

been born to them-Elmer, Frederick Oscar, and Olga D. In performing his political duties, Mr. Benson votes the Republican ticket, and he gives in- telligent cooperation to all that will help in the com- munity's welfare, serving for twelve years as a school trustee. In fraternal life he is prominent in the ranks of the Woodmen of the World, having been a mem- ber for twenty-four years.

EDWARD G. KEEBLE .- Operating on an exten- sive scale as an orchardist, Edward G. Keeble has become closely identified with the horticultural inter- ests of Santa Clara Valley, since coming here to make his home, nearly twenty years ago. Mr. Kee- ble's native state was Tennessee, and there he was born at what was known as Miller's Cove, Blount County, on April 4, 1872, his parents heing Marion and Jane (Clark) Keeble, both born and reared in Tennessee. Marion Keeble, who was a well-known resident of this part of Tennessee, was postmaster at Miller's Cove, and also served as justice of the peace there; he passed away on May 5, 1890, the mother surviving him only until December of that year.

In 1891 Edward G. Keeble made a trip to Cali- fornia and was so much impressed with what he saw that he determined to some day make this his home. He returned to his old home in 1892 and was mar- ried in 1894 to Miss Mary Hatcher, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hatcher, old residents of Blount County. He again came to California in 1903, re- turned the following year and in 1905 brought his family to Santa Clara County, with the intention of making this their permanent home. He first entered into partnership with his older brother, R. P. Keeble, but after a short time sold out his interest and acquired the orchard of Judge Lewis at Edenvale, taking up his residence there in 1906. In 1918 he sold this orchard for $95,000, and as an evidence of the rapid increase in values of orchard property in the Santa Clara Valley, in two years it was resold for $150,000. In 1910 Mr. Keeble took a lease on the Fisk orchard on South Monterey Road, this running until 1930, and this fine property of 114 acres of choice fruit requires his entire time in superintending its care, a position for which his long training and thorough experience has eminently qualified him.

Mr. and Mrs. Keeble are the parents of five chil- dren: Annie P. married John Lannin of San Jose, and they have one child; Rebecca lives at San Jose; E. G., Jr., is a rancher; Florence and Martin are attending school. Capable and enterprising, Mr. Keeble has taken his place among the progressive men of this district, and has served three years as trustee of the Oak Grove school.

GASPARE GRECO .- Among the Italian-Ameri- can business men of San Jose, Gaspare Greco occu- pies a prominent place. He was born in Italy August 16, 1877, the son of Fortunato and Josephine Greco, who immigrated from their native land of Italy and settled first in New Orleans, later at Redwood City, Cal., where the father established the Greco Salt Works, owning and operating it up to the present time. Gaspare Greco was educated in the public schools of New Orleans, where the family located upon their arrival in the United States. His first in- dependent venture in the business world was as a manufacturer of macaroni in New Orleans, where he owned and operated the largest bakery there for ten

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years; then for ten years he was engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business; next he became extensively interested in the brewing business, organ- izing three companies and being connected with four others, among them being the Dixie Brewing Com- pany. In 1917 he came to California and with his brother, Anthony, organized the Alba Canning Com- pany and served as its president for two years. In 1920 he engaged in the canning business on his own responsibility and organized and erected the plant of the Santa Clara Valley Canning Company, of which he served as president. Owing to his initiative, con- pled with unlimited energy, he helped to start the big boom in the canning business which has resulted in a complete reformation of the methods employed

The marriage of Mr. Greco united him with Miss Marie Sparicio, and to them three children have been born: Joseph G., vice-president of the Greco Salt Company, at Redwood City, owned by his grand- father, Fortunato Greco; Josephine, Mrs. Philip Bar- baccia, and Fortunato. Capable and industrious, Mr. Greco is well deserving of the prosperity he has enjoyed, and he is a loyal supporter of his adopted city of San Jose.

WEIR C. LOSSE .- An enterprising, experienced and successful business man, who is the worthy rep- resentative of one of the most influential, because most progressive men of affairs in the California commercial world in his day is Weir C. Losse, of the well known firm of Losse Bros., of San Jose. He was born at Indianapolis, November 7, 1887, the son of Henry E. Losse, a native of New York City, where he was born in 1853. He migrated West to St. Louis as a young man; there finished his education, and married Miss Caroline Keogh, of St. Louis, but really also a native of New York City; then he returned to New York City, and entered the service of Austin, Nichols & Co., the wholesale grocers; then came back to St. Louis, and going to Indianapolis, he assisted in forming the firm of Losse, Kuhn & Larger, wholesale grocers of that city. This firm sold out in 1890, and all three of the business asso- ciates came out to Santa Clara County, Cal. H. E. Losse was the first to visit the Coast, coming here in 1889, to buy prunes and dried fruit for his Indian- apolis wholesale establishment. He was so favor- ably impressed with the Santa Clara Valley that he induced his partners to say good-bye to the Hoosier State, come to San Jose and build the packing house near the Southern Pacific Depot, for which they were famous from 1890, since it was one of the first wholesale dried fruit packing houses in the city.

H. E. Losse soon bought a ranch of 1100 acres at Visalia, and later it was sold to California Packing Corporation. Later Mr. Losse's San Jose packing house was burned in 1911, and he then made his head- quarters in his Santa Clara packing house, continu- ing until he sold it to Rosenburg Bros. Mr. Losse, in 1909, had purchased the great Delmas Ranch of 504 acres, near Sunnyvale, which once belonged to the well known criminal lawyer of that name, and Mr. Losse continued setting out orchards and to manage it until his death, April 11, 1918, at his home in Sunnyvale. Mrs. Losse died at Santa Barbara in the spring of 1921, leaving this valuable ranch to the three children surviving her: A. N. Losse, who was

born at Indianapolis and married on June 23, 1881: W. C. Losse, the subject of our story; and a daugh- ter, Vivian Losse, now the wife of Dr. Blair, who also resides in San Jose.

Messrs. Losse Bros. own the largest apricot orchard in the state, consisting of 150 acres, orchards of peaches, pears and prunes. Although plentifully endowed with this world's wealth, Mr. Losse and his brother, after recently selling 164 acres to Mr. C. Schlessinger, continue to visit the Fruitvale district every day, and to do their full share of labor in the orchard. H. E. Losse was president of the old Santa Clara Valley Bank of Santa Clara, which was later sold to the Bank of Italy, and the sons inherit his exceptional business ability.

At Santa Clara, in June, 1917, Mr. Losse was mar- ried to Miss Anita Riordan of San Jose, and they reside at 50 Hanchett Avenue, in that city. Mr. Losse is a prominent member of the Country Club. A sister of Mr. Losse, Mrs. Blair, lives at 7 Martin Avenue, and has two children: Beatrice L. and Caroline. Santa Clara County has been developed largely through such men of rare foresight, optimism. courage and aggressive enterprise as the late H. E Losse and his equally public spirited, gifted sons.

JOSEPH MARION BRIMSON .- A native son of the great Golden State, Joseph Marion Brinson has won for himself a prominent place in the com- mercial life of Los Gatos. He was born at Gilroy. Santa Clara County, February 15, 1872, a son of Thomas H. and Louise (Stayton) Brimson, the father a pioneer of California of 1866. Thomas H. Brim- son was born in England and came with his parents to New York City when four years of age. After his father's death his mother married a second time, and he ran away from home when twelve years old, pad- dling his own canoe until the Civil War. When eighteen years old he volunteered and enlisted in an Illinois regiment and served until the close of the war. Immediately afterward he came to California, crossing the plains in an ox-team train to Gilroy. He was married in Gilroy to Miss Louise Stayton, born in Nevada. Her father, Robert E. Stayton, crossed the plains in 1849 to California and was afterwards a miner in Nevada and then later became an early settler of Gilroy. Of the eleven children of Thomas Brimson, six of whom are living, Joseph Marion is next to the eldest. The father passed away in San Jose in 1919 and the mother in 1900.

Joseph Marion Brimson was educated in the public schools of Gilroy. He helped his father on the ranch until he was nineteen years of age and then worked at various occupations. During the year of 1906 he removed to Dallas, Ore., and was in the butcher and cattle business until 1914, when he disposed of it and removed to Eureka, Cal., engaging in the butcher and cattle business at Mckinleyville until 1916; then he sold out and located near Soquel, where he farmed and conducted a hay business in Soquel. In Decem- ber, 1917, he located in Los Gatos, where he engaged in the dairy business, serving the townspeople with an excellent quality of milk. In November, 1920, he sold out and established his present real estate busi- ness on Main Street, Los Gatos.

Mr. Brimson's marriage in Salem, Ore., united him with Miss Nellie Hardy, born at Aromas, Cal., and they are the parents of one child, Edith Jane. Polit-

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ically he is a Republican and he belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Yeomen of America and the Chamber of Commerce. Liberal and kind-hearted, this generous spirit, combined with his tireless habits of industry, makes him one of the community's dependable citizens.

JOHN M. ZOLLARS .- Among San Jose's live wires is John M. Zollars, who is now engaged in the business of paints and contractor for paperhanging, painting, etc., his place of business being located at 52 South Second Street, where he carries on a large volume of business. Mr. Zollars was born at Mt. Orab, Ohio, on September 29, 1857, and is the son of Charles and Caroline (McMillan) Zollars; the father is a native of Germany, while the mother was born in Pennsylvania. John M. Zollars received his edu- cation in the public schools of Ohio, and at the early age of twelve years he was thrown on his own resources, so he began working at odd jobs and then learned the general carriage trade and later the black- smith trade. In 1876 he entered the employ of Hall and Locke at Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining there until 1885, when he removed with his family to the Pacific Coast, locating at San Jose, Cal., and here he invested in real estate in the Hyde Park Tract. As it advanced a great deal in value, he disposed of this property to a good advantage and in 1892 established a carriage and wagon business, locating at Third and East San Fernando streets. Disposing of this in 1906, he en- gaged in the paint business and as a contractor for paperhanging. He built up a very profitable busi- ness and continued at 30 West Julian Street until 1918, when the plant where the paint was manufac- tured was destroyed by fire. He then located at 37 South Second Street, and in 1921 came to the present location, where he has been even more successful. He is now building his own plant and will be able to move into it before long. Mr. Zollars is also the owner of a forty-acre orchard at Livingston, Merced County, Cal., which is also proving a profitable invest- ment, in producing the finest fruits.

LESLIE E. SAMPSON .- Among the younger business men of Palo Alto, Leslie E. Sampson is making a name for himself as the junior partner of the firm of Mathews & Co., enterprising grocers of Palo Alto. A native son of California, he was born in Redwood City, San Mateo County, September 28, 1894, a son of E. H. and Ella (Fisher) Sampson, the former a native of Washington, D. C., and the latter of Ohio. His father was mayor of Redwood City for eight years and is now the chief engineer of the S. H. Frank Tanning Company in Redwood City, where both parents reside. Leslie is the younger of two children; his brother, Eugene, lives in Fresno and is employed by the Standard Oil Company.

Leslie E. grew up in Redwood City, and after fin- ishing the grammar grades, he entered the Cogswell Polytechnic College at San Francisco, from which he was graduated in December, 1914, after pursuing the regular four years' course in mechanical drafting and the general polytechnic work, including survey- ing, which he followed in 1915; then he was employed by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company at San Mateo, Cal., until the time of his enlistment, April 28, 1917, in the Aviation Corps. He went to Dayton, Ohio, and there learned to fly and had charge of a

hangar. At the time of his discharge, March 1, 1919, he was a sergeant, first class. On January 1, 1922, he purchased the interest of Mrs. E. D. Clark in the grocery firm of Mathews & Co. and the partnership has proven both pleasant and profitable. He belongs to the American Legion at Redwood City; is a mem- ber of the Masons in Redwood City, of the Scottish Rite bodies in San Jose, and belongs to the Sciots of San Francisco.

WILLIAM A. RICE .-- A rancher whose assidu- ous application to the problems of intensive agri- culture and consequent success have entitled him to the satisfaction in retirement, is William A. Rice, now living at Morgan Hill. He came to California to reside about twenty years ago, and since then he has been more and more identified with the develop- ment of the Golden State's resources. He was born at Delton, Wis., on August 3, 1857, the son of Jacob and Nellie (Morrison) Rice, both natives of Ohio; and his father served with credit in the War of the Rebellion. He went as a volunteer from Wisconsin, returned home in 1864, but died soon after as the result of the hardships in his lot as a soldier warring in defense of the Union. All who ever knew him testified to his sterling character, and he thus be queathed to his family the priceless legacy of a good name. Mrs. Rice died at her home in Minnesota in 1918, at the age of eighty-four years.

Handicapped through the necessity of having to work for others when he was a mere boy, William Rice nevertheless acquired a fair public school edu- cation; and then he entered the employ of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway and for eight years served as section foreman in Monroe County. Wis., where he had charge of construction and road building. He then removed to Lyon County, Minn .. and acquired by purchase 160 acres of railroad land near Marshall, in that state. He farmed there for nineteen years, served as school trustee for many years and was also treasurer of his township. In 1902, he came out to California; and inasmuch as a son-in-law, M. R. Beach, had preceded him four months to Morgan Hill, he too located there with his family. He has since improved several very desirable ranches, and he now owns twenty-five acres of fine prune orchard. He belongs to the Cali- fornia Prune and Apricot Association, and for six- teen years has conducted a neighborhood drying ground and yard, handling as high as 300 tons of fruit in one season.

At Black River Falls, Wis., in 1882, Mr. Rice was married to Miss Minnie Bement, who was born at Madison, Wis., by whom he had one son, Arthur Rice, now married and living with his wife and two children at St. Paul. Mrs. Rice passed away in Wisconsin thirty-eight years ago. Mr. Rice again married in 1888, taking for his wife Miss Mary Johnson, who was born near Marshall, Minn. Five children have been born to this second union: Ella is the wife of E. A. Johnson, the contracting team- ster who resides at Morgan Hill, and they have one child. Alice is Mrs. M. R. Beach, of the same locality. William A. Rice, Jr., saw faithful service in the late war, and now, married, has a ranch near Morgan Hill. Earl and Robert are at home.

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EMILIO SCAGLIOTTI .- A patriotic Italian- American now residing near Gilroy, is Emilio Scag- liotti, major in the National Army of Italy, from 1914 to 1918, and the progressive vineyardist operat- ing near the Adams school on the Watsonville road. He was born in the district of Roncaglia, Casale, Monferato, Italy, on January 29, 1876, the eldest son of Peter Scagliotti, a well-to-do farmer and vineyard- ist who gave his family such advantages that he was sent to the public school amid delightful sur- roundings, near the home of his father. Two broth- ers had already come out to California when Emilio arrived in 1907 with another brother, and since then two more have come here

Seven years later, in 1914, Emilio returned to Italy and entered the army of his native country where he was made an instructor and for forty-two months served with the great armies in the commissary de- partment and doing guard duty. He was promoted to major, and won his spurs in actual warfarc. Upon returning to California, full of patriotic fervor for the best things Italian, but more than ever deter- mined to espouse the still better, or broader stand- ards of the Americans, he acquired in 1918 some sixty-five acres of choice land near Gilroy, and since then he has been developing it into a vineyard.

At Fiano Natta, Italy, on November 2, 1901, Mr. Scagliotti was married to Miss Anna Porro, a native of Italy; and their fortunate union has been blessed with the birth of five children. Louis graduated from school in Italy, and August, Edward, Angelo and Laura are still pursuing their studies, August attending Gilroy Union High and the others the Adams school. Louis, August and Laura were born in Italy; Laura, while Mr. and Mrs. Scagliotti were back there during the war. The other two were born in this country. In 1922, Mr. Scagliotti complet- ed a beautiful, modern home on this ranch, and he is settling himself permanently next to the Adams school house, seven miles from Gilroy. Santa Clara County is to be congratulated upon such citizens as Emilio Scagliotti, devoted to his adopted country, loyal to the State, and a great "booster" of the lo- cality in which he lives and thrives. Assisted by his neighbors he worked to get the electric line through this district to supply lights and power. The family belongs to the Catholic Church.

CHARLES THIEL .- A thoroughly progressive and efficient business man of Palo Alto, Charles Thiel is the enterprising proprietor of the Chatterton Bak- ery, located at 527 Ramona Street. He is a native of Germany and was born December 14, 1861, and when very young learned the baker's trade in Saar- brucken, Lorraine. When seventeen years old he left for the United States and landed in_ New York City and was occupied with his trade. He lived in several cities and either worked for others or operated bakeries of his own, but all the time he kept working toward the Pacific Coast, being employed in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Fort Smith, Ark., Scattle, Wash., and Portland, Oregon.

Mr. Thiel's marriage occurred in South Manches- ter, Conn., and united him with Miss Julia Lachat, born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, and they are the parents of three children, Harriet Elizabeth, book- kecper for the Winchester Arms Company in San Francisco; Frieda Alice, a senior in the Palo Alto

high school; William J. died at the age of thirteen years. In March, 1919, Mr. Thiel sold his bakery business in Ferndale, Washington, and the family removed to Palo Alto and purchased the Chat- terton Bakery. Mr. Thiel is an expert in his line; and sanitation is strictly adhered to and his bakery is modernly equipped. Mrs. Thiel is a true helpmeet, assisting in the store besides attending to home dutics and the care and education of her chil- dren. Mr. Thiel has prospered in his adopted coun- try and has ever striven to give back from that which he has thus bountifully received.

GIACOMO MALATESTA .- One of the success- ful enterprises of Mountain View is the business known as the Ratto Gardens, Inc., and which re- quires an amount of skilled labor, daily and constant attention, and a business management that would do credit to a more pretentious corporation. One of the three owners is Giacomo Malatesta, popularly known among his friends as "Jack" Malatesta. A native of Italy, he was born at the seaport town of Genoa, on November 6, 1876, the son of Antonio and Teressa (Torre) Malatesta, and the latter was born, lived and died at Genoa. She reared a family of seven children, all living except Maria, who passed away in Italy. Emilio and his sister live in Genoa; Giacomo, of this sketch; Frank is a merchant on Laguna Street, San Francisco; Harry lives ou Autumn Strect, San Jose, and is the owner of a twenty-four acre orchard near Santa Clara; Luigia is the wife of Bernadette Crovo, a partner with Frank Malatesta in the mercantile bus- iness in San Francisco. The father, who was a chef, left his Genoa home many years ago and came to America; for some time he was chef at the Casto and Europe hotels in San Jose and was well known here; later he returned to Genoa and passed away there. After attending the public schools of Italy, Giacomo Malatesta learned the bricklayer's trade and also worked on farms in his native country. He served in the Italian army for twelve months, and when the term of his service expired, he crossed the ocean to New York, coming on to San Jose, reaching here January 1, 1878. Here he met his father and soon he went to work on ranches and orchards in Santa Clara County, and later at Lindsay, in Tulare County : for three years he was employed on the ranch of Charles Swall near Mountain View.

In 1910 Mr. Malatesta, with V. Casalegno and John Gamello, as partners, incorporated the Ratto Gardens, for the raising of all kinds of garden produce. They operate a tract of twenty acres one mile northwest of Mountain View, the land being owned by John Ratto, Mr. Malatesta's father-in-law, who has been a resi- dent here for a third of a century. The company employs from nine to twelve men and supply fresh garden products to Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Stanford, Mayfield, Cupertino, Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Each of the three managing stockhold- ers drives a three-ton truck, and go from place to place until the load is disposed of.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 246

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