History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 251

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

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IRVING E. HARRUB .- Among the successful business men and valued citizens of Los Gatos is num- bered Irving E. Harrub, who is well known as the proprietor of the Dashaway Stable, which he has conducted for over a decade. He was born at Scit- uate, Mass., on May 31, 1881, his parents being Wil- liam and Mary (Randall) Harrub. They came to California in about 1887 and the father was with the firm of Miller & Lux at Gilroy. An uncle, Wal- ter B. Harrub, purchased the Hernandez place on the Quito Road, in Santa Clara County, residing thereon tor sixteen years, while subsequently he established his home in San Jose. He has passed away and his widow resides in San Francisco. Wm. B. Harrub is now in business in Honolulu.

In the acquirement of an education, Irving F. Harrub attended the public schools in San Tomas district while residing on the Hernandez ranch and afterward completed a course in the Garden City Business College, paying for his tuition by trading a promising standard bred colt to Mr. Webber, one of the proprietors. He became a member of the National Guard, enlisting at the breaking out of the Spanish- American War and being mustered out at the Presidio at San Francisco in 1898. Following his discharge he secured employment on a fruit ranch in this county and went went to Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1899, being for five and a half years in charge of the stable of one of the leading clubs of that city. He returned to California at the time of the St. Louis Exposition and about 1910 opened the Dashaway stable at Los Gatos, which he has since successfully managed. He specializes in fine saddle, livery and draft horses, of which he has thirty head, and has built up a large business, the Dashaway Stable being known through- out a wide section of the state. Owing to the many beautiful trails leading from Los Gatos to the Santa Cruz Mountains, Mr. Harrub has a large demand for his saddle horses, drawing his patronage from resi- dents of all parts of California, who are attracted here by the exceptionally fine opportunities presented for horseback riding.

Mr. Harrub was united in marriage to Miss Flo- rence Carrel, born at Victoria, B. C., but reared in Santa Clara County, and they have become the par- ents of a son, Carrel. Mr. Harrub's political allegi-

ance is given to the Republican party. He has at- tained success by strict integrity, the conscientious discharge of all obligations and unremitting attention to a business in which he takes a great interest and which he thoroughly understands.

CHESTER E. HERSHEY .- Commercial activity of San Jose finds a worthy representative in Chester E. Hershey, engaged in electrical engineering in San Jose. Born at Hanover, York County, Pa., August 12, 1897, he is a son of Edward B. and May Hershey. The Hershey family originally came from Holland and are represented by three brothers who settled in Pennsylvania. The father, Edward B., was a farmer in Pennsylvania, but removed to California in 1907 and settled in San Jose. Later the parents moved to Live Oaks, Cal., and engaged in ranching.

Chester E. Hershey took a University of California extension course in electrical engineering and on com- pletion of the course, was employed by the Guilbert Electrical Company, first as a shop boy and gradually working up until he became foreman. He has been with them continuously since 1914, with the exception of a period of. six months when he worked in the shipyard of the G. M. Staniford Company. He holds a responsible position with the Guilbert Electrical Company, doing all the estimating for the company.

The marriage of Mr. Hershey occurred in Live Oaks, August 4, 1918, uniting him with Miss Edith Flash, a native of Red Bluff, Cal., and a daughter of Theodore and Delia Flash. Mrs. Hershey received her education in the schools of San Jose. Her father passed away in 1908, but her mother is still living, a resident of San Jose. Fraternally, Mr. Hershey is a Mason, and politically is a a Republican.

In 1919 Mr. Hershey purchased the Laton apart- ments in San Jose, which he has since sold. Al- though a young man, he is a trustworthy and highly respected citizen, and can be counted on to aid all movements for advancement in the city and county he has chosen for his home.

CHARLES L. BURRIGHT .- The opportunities which Santa Clara County offers to men of energy are many, and Charles L. Burright, numbered among San Jose's dependable citizens, has been far-sighted enough to take advantage of them. Born in Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa, October 4, 1880, he is the son of Cornelius and Alice Burright, owners of a large farm at Harlan, where he was born. The father was a locomotive engineer and was with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, covering the central west division of this system. When Charles was six years old, his father was killed, and the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where they lived for four years, Charles attending the grammar schools but a short time, as his services were required to help support the family. At the age of ten, he accompanied the family to Washington; there his mother took up a homestead, but the development work was so arduous that she could not make a living off of it, so she engaged in the hotel business at Oakville, Wash., while Charles worked as a pressman at a printing establishment there.

When he was nineteen years old, Mr. Burright left Washington and went to Butte, Mont., and worked in the quartz mines there; he was a natural mechanic, and through his practical experience, steady applica- tion and observation, he rose to the post of mining engineer. On his return to Washington he became

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master mechanic for the Evans Creek mine at Monte- zuma, Wash., working there for a year and a half, later taking a similar position with the Whatcom Coal & Coke Company at Bellingham, Wash. In 1906 he and his brother took a contract to produce 100 tons of coal per day at Chehalis, Wash., and engaged in mining there for over two years, but at the end of this time misfortune stared them in the face and they were compelled to discontinue this business. With his brother-in-law, he next engaged in the building' and contracting business at Richmond and Oakland, Cal., being there for four years, from 1913 to 1917.

On May 5, 1904, at Butte, Mont, Mr. Burright was married to Miss Jennie Barnaman, born in Sedalia, Henry County, Mo., the daughter of J. L. and Lizzie Barnaman. They have four children: Melvin, Stanton, Genevieve, and Robert. Mrs. Burright's parents re- moved from Sedalia to Butte, Mont., a number of years ago, and there her father engaged in the furni- ture business, later moving to Richmond, Cal., where he followed the same line for twelve years.

When the recent war broke out, Mr. Burright could not leave home to enlist on account of his family, so aided in backing up the government's program by working in the Hercules Powder Mill at Pinole, Cal., during the war. At the termination of hostilities, Mr. Burright and his brother-in-law, Melvin J. Snyder, came to San Jose and embarked in the furniture business, in which they have been most successful, their trade extending as far south as Gil- roy and Salinas, and covering the entire Santa Clara Valley. In 1913, Mr. Burright purchased a small tract of land in San Jose, and here he and his family now make their home. Mr. Burright adheres to Re- publican principles in his views and takes a lively interest in the affairs of his party.

EUGENE I. BENOIT .- Among the rising young men of San Jose is Eugene I. Benoit, who has been identified with the Century Electric Company for the past twenty years. Mr. Benoit is a native of Cali- fornia, having been born on September 20, 1889, a son of Charles H. and Clarinda (Pellot) Benoit. The father and mother, who came to this state many years ago, were married in California; both parents are living, and enjoying the sunshine of the Golden West.

Eugene was educated in the St. Joseph's school, where he completed the regular high school course, being fortunate in receiving a good training. His first entrance into business life was in the capacity of office boy in the Century Electric Company, and he continued with this company, filling various offices, in due time being promoted to assistant manager and at the time of the death of Frank J. Somers, he be- came manager, in which position he is serving with the same steadfast efficiency as he has shown in the other positions he filled. This company does work all over the county, thirteen people being employed to carry on their extensive installation business. Some of the work that has been done is found in the T. & D. Theater, the Hippodrome, the Prune and Apricot Growers' plant, the Pacific Manufacturing Company, many of the packing houses and some of the fine residences of San Jose and near-by towns.

Mr. Benoit is very popular in the fraternal organiza- tions of San Jose, being a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Young Men's Institute, and is a mem-

ber of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and in national politics is a stanch adherent of the Republican party.

D. RUTLEDGE SPOONER-Having been a resi- dent of California almost three score years, and a resi- dent of San Jose since 1902, D. Rutledge Spooner, specializes in the building of first-class houses and bungalows, a line of work for which he is exception- ally fitted. He is a native of Oregon, born in Oregon City on January 30, 1860, and was the son of Rev. A. B. and Roxana (Gilmore) Spooner. His mother's people were from Ohio and they migrated from the Buckeye State in the early days to Oregon while his father's family came here from Maine in the late fifties and settled in Oregon. A. B. Spooner was a Methodist minister and D. Rutledge Spooner lived the life of a frontier minister's son. In the year 1864, the father came to Chico, Cal., and took a charge for a short time and then was located in Humboldt County at Eureka. During the year 1868, the family moved to Morro, San Luis Obispo County, and here the father was the pastor until he passed away eight years later, leaving a widow and six children.

At the time of his father's death, D. Rutledge Spooner was only sixteen years old and thrown upon his own resources, he began making his own liveli- hood. He but little opportunity for schooling and at the age of sixteen he went to sea and spent three years on the ocean and after many thrilling experiences he became the pilot of a steamboat at Morro, and in this capacity he served for the following ten years. In 1883, having saved his earnings, he had enough to go into business for himself and so purchased the gen- eral merchandise business at Morro and conducted this store for a period of about nineteen years, from 1883 to 1902. He also held the office of postmaster at Morro, from 1883 to 1892. In 1902 he disposed of this business and came to San Jose and entered the building contracting business in partnership with P. L. Huntley, who later removed to Stockton, Cal., so that Mr. Spooner is now operating the business alone. He has specialized in the building of first- class cottages and homes and has been exceedingly successful. When he first came to San Jose he made his home on a six-acre ranch which he had purchased just east of San Jose and here he lived for four years. During the year 1906, he disposed of the ranch and moved to San Jose, where he built a home on South Seventeenth Street, the second house erected on that street, and here he has resided since, although now the street is considerably built up.

On May 8, 1889, Mr. Spooner was married to Miss Emma K. Halstead, the ceremony having been per- formed in Morro, Cal. Mrs. Spooner was a native of Indiana, having been born in Clinton, Vermillion County, and was the daughter of W. H. and Sabra J. (Lee) Halstead. When but a child, Mrs. Spooner came with her parents to Marin County, Cal., thence to Sonoma County and in 1877 they moved to San Luis Obispo County, Cal., where her father was a stock and dairyman. Mr. and Mrs. Spooner are the parents of two daughters: Nadien, who became the wife of P. F. Pettigrew, and since his death has been teaching the Hester School, San Jose; Roxana is also a school teacher at Priest Valley, in Monterey County, both being graduates of San Jose Normal. Mr. Spooner is very popular as a member of the Garden City

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Lodge No. 142, I. O. O. F., San Jose, where he has made many friends. In national politics, he is Re- publican. He is very talented musically and plays the cornet, violin and the bass viol, having since the age of fourteen played the cornet. He has been the director of the East San Jose Band, an organization of twenty-two men, for a number of years. This band is very popular and during the summer months it has many engagements to furnish music through- out this part of the country.

VICTOR V. GRECO .- One of the prosperous business establishments of Santa Clara County was that organized in 1913 by Victor V. Greco, when he formed the Greco Canning Company, Inc., of which he is the president. The company does a general canning business, their plant being on Howard and Autumn streets in San Jose. Victor V. Greco is a native of Louisiana, having been born at New Or- leans on November 25, 1875, and is the son of For- tunate and Josephine Greco, natives of Italy, who settled in New Orleans, but who came to California in 1897, locating in Redwood City. Here the father started a salt plant, in which business he is still en- gaged, now being the owner and president of the Greco Salt Plant. The mother passed away in 1917.

Victor received his education in the schools of Louisiana and in the Soule College, and in all ob- tained a good training. When he began making his own livelihood, he engaged in the pastry and bakery manufacturing business in New Orleans until coming to California in the year 1905. He went to Redwood City, where he had charge of the Greco Salt Plant until 1913, when he came to San Jose and organized the company of which he is now the president and manager. He was chosen president of this com- pany upon its organization and has been the guiding hand in the rapid development of the business. Dur- ing the canning season 'employment is given to 450 people and the business is growing larger and larger each year. This establishment now occupies one whole block and is still growing, and it is needless to say that they have been very successful, for when they began they occupied only a small building, and they have expanded until they cover several acres of floor space. They installed the most up-to-date and modern machinery, also all the latest and most sani- tary methods are to be found in the putting up of the high grades of canned goods that find a ready market, as they believe sanitation means everything in this line of work. In 1920 the Greco Canning Company branched out into agricultural lines, buying seventy acres of land off the Brokaw Road, near Santa Clara, and set out the tract to Bartlett pears. While these are maturing they grow vegetables, etc., between the trees, to use in their establishment, the policy of the company being to grow all of the ma- terial to meet the requirements of their plant.

Mr. Greco's marriage in June, 1897, united him with Miss Margaret Giacomarro, a native of Italy, and they are the parents of ten children: Josephine, Catherine, Fortunate, Gaspare, Laura, Edward, Marie, Vincent, Margaret, and Robert.

Mr. Greco is very popular in both social and business circles. He is an active member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce; the San Jose Commer- cial Club; the San Jose Traffic Bureau; the Loyal Italo-American Club of San Jose, of which he is the

president (1922); the Italian Chamber of Commerce of New York City; the Italian Chamber of Com- merce of San Francisco; the Canners' League of California; the National Canners' Association, and the Old Colony Club. Mr. Greco is a live wire in these organizations and always favors those movements that elevate the standards of social and commercial activity that make for a better city. In national politics he is a Republican.

CHARLES A. LARSON .- Prominent among the representatives of the younger generation of business men of San Jose is Charles A. Larson, one of the proprietors of the De Luxe Restaurant, the only all- American restaurant in San Jose, located at 266 South First Street. A son of John L. and Sophia Larson, he was born in Kansas City, Mo., June 10, 1887. He comes of good old American stock, his father, also a native of Kansas City, was a thrifty merchant there for many years, and resided there until his death.

Charles A. Larson received his education in the public schools of Kansas City, but the practical edu- cation gained through experience was the most valu- able to him. At the age of seventeen, he began to earn his own way, and his first employment was in a restaurant. With a determination, backed by energy and industry, he worked in every department, in the kitchen, as a waiter, and in time became thoroughly conversant with the restaurant business. In 1906 he came to California, and coming direct to San Jose was employed in various restaurants and learned the advantages of various parts of the city for business, and in 1914 he, with M. F. Bader, established the business known as the De Luxe Restaurant. They were pioneers in this part of the city, but had implicit faith in the future of South First Street and located one of the first eating houses south of Santa Clara Street.

At the outbreak of the World War, Charles A. Larson offered his service to his country, entering the army in February, 1918, and training at Camp Fremont in Company D of the Three Hundred Nine- teenth Engineers, under Capt. D. W. Smith. When this company left Camp Fremont there was some- thing like $3,000 in the mess fund, and Mr. Larson was custodian for this money. This company was fortunate in securing cooks who had had at least seven years experience, and the outfit was noted for the fine meals served. Mr. Larson's regiment sailed for England, landing at Liverpool, thence to Morn Hall, Winchester, then on to Southampton, thence to Havre, France. His regiment of engineers was employed in the erection of the barracks for the American soldiers at Brest, France. Returning from France in September, 1919, he was honorably dis- charged at the Presidio in San Francisco the same year. The experiences and hardships of the World War served to increase his patriotism to such an extent that he employs only Americans. His business requires the services of eighteen men, sixteen of whom served in the World War, and six of them are overseas men. He has purchased five acres adjacent to San Jose, and intends to raise produce to supply his needs.

He prides himself on serving his patrons with only the best and freshest of everything, and the apprecia- tion of the general public is demonstrated by the fact that his business is steadily increasing. Mr. Larson is a member of the American Legion of San

Victor V. Greco,

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Jose and is affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows. As a citizen, Mr. Larson is interested in all measures that tend to promote the welfare of this section of Santa Clara County and his example of industry and sobriety may well be followed by the seekers of success.

On February 25, 1922, Mr. Larson was united in marriage with Miss Grace V. Larson, of the same name but no relation, born in Oakland, Neb., whose father was a pioneer in Oakland, Neb. She came to San Jose and here met and married our subject.

NICHOLAS LOCICERO-An enterprising factor in the solution of the problems of local transportation, Nicholas, better known as "Nick," Locicero, the pro- prietor of the Pacific Auto Stage running out of the union auto stage depot on North First Street, has rendered signal service to the public and proven his capacity as both a citizen and a leader among pro- gressive men. He has done much to strengthen the ties between San Jose and the metropolis on the Bay, and how well the travelling public has appreciated these successful efforts, with what exceptional pros- perity his various ventures have been rewarded, may be seen in the handsome war-tax paid by his com- pany-$1000 and over for the month of April, 1921- for tickets sold the passengers between San Jose and San Francisco, the fare being one dollar and the tax eight cents.

Mr. Locicero was born in Palermo, Italy, on July 5, 1883, the son of Bartolo Locicero, a farmer, who had married Miss Lucia Mimeo, and he attended the grammar school at Palermo. When sixteen years old, he started to make his own way in the world, and for several years he worked at odd jobs. When he was twenty-three years old, he crossed the ocean to America, pushed on toward the West, and having chosen San Jose as his camping ground, he worked for nine years for wages; and after that, wishing something more definite as a goal, he learned the bar- ber's trade and as soon as possible, opened a shop for himself in San Jose.

In 1916, just after the Panama-Pacific fair, Mr. Locicero embarked in automobile staging; and he was one of the first to attempt an auto-stage between San Francisco and San Jose, calling the enterprise the Pacific Anto Stage, and the proposition was well received from the beginning; nevertheless, he suffered a loss of $6,000 the first season. He leased a garage, afterwards located at 199 North Market Street, San Jose, for his repair work and he has since maintained this well-equipped shop. He commenced with one car, an Overland of the old type; as the business in- creased, Mr. Locicero saw an opportunity to enlarge his operations and in 1917 formed a partnership with Floyd W. Hanchett, and they purchased twenty cars of the Pierce and Packard makes, with a capacity of fourteen passengers each. Mr. Hanchett attends to the San Francisco end of the business, with offices at 33 Fifth Street, and Mr. Locicero is the manager of the San Jose department; however, they each own, as individuals, ten stages. He used to maintain an hourly service between San Francisco and San Jose, and later he cut this to a half-hour schedule. In April, 1922, the business was incorporated under the name of the Pacific Auto Stage, Inc., with Mr. Hanchett as president and Mr. Locicero as vice- president, both managing their individual ends of the business. The stage station occupied by Mr.

Locicero's business is in almost the same location as was the stage station in the early '50s, when horse stages left daily for San Francisco. A Republican and a strong advocate of protective doctrines, Mr. Locicero has sought to support legislation favorable to the combined interests of capital and labor.

At San Jose, on February 4, 1913, Mr. Locicero was married to Miss Elsie Christina, a native of San Jose where she was born into the family of Joseph and Angelina Christina. Her father came from Palermo to New Orleans when he was fourteen years old, and there, establishing himself in business,, he lived until 1890, when he came to California. He embarked in the fruit trade in San Jose, where he still lives, and in this city Mrs. Locicero went to the city schools. Two children have blessed this union of Mr. and Mrs. Locicero; Richard and Lucille.

ADOLPH HEYMANN .- A skillful, progressive and capable young business man, who emigrated from his native country in France in 1903, Adolph Heymann is worthy of the regard in which he is uni- versally held, and who has been actively associated with the mercantile prosperity of San Jose since 1911. He was born in Beauvais, France, on July 31, 1884, the city made famous because of its connection with the trial and sentence of Joan of Arc. His parents were Andre Luis and Flore (Duporque) Heymann, also natives of France, and the father, who was an expert in the use of dyes, was employed in the woolen mills of Paris until he passed away at the age of forty- eight years.

Adolph Heymann removed to Paris with the family when he was two years of age, and his early educa- tion was obtained in the common schools of Paris. At the age of thirteen, he entered as an apprentice to a dyeing firm, and was thus engaged until 1903, when he felt the lure of America. Upon arrival in San Francisco, he entered the employ of F. Thomas, dyers and cleaners, whose manager was a friend of Mr. Heymann, and remained there until the year 1906; then for a time he was a resident of Los Angeles, but returned to San Francisco and entered the em- ploy of the Parisian Dye Works. In 1911 Mr. Hey- mann removed to San Jose and worked for Mr. Moody, who had established the firm in 1890 known as the Parisian Dyers and Cleaners located at Ninth and Santa Clara Streets. Desiring to own his own business he invested his savings in the De Luxe Imperial Dyeing and Cleaning Works, until he is at the present time a half owner and in charge of the dyeing and chemical end of the business, and his partner, Mr. Marten, is general business manager. In March, 1917, the company removed to the present location at 224-226 East Santa Clara Street, where a commodious and modern dyeing and cleaning plant, 42 by 1371/2, has been erected. They are members of the National Association of Dyers and Cleaners, and by their strict honesty, have established an envi- able position among the master dyers and cleaners of San Jose. They employ a force of fourteen people, with three autos for deliveries, their territory extend- ing as far south as Bakersfield and north to Redding, and covered by mail orders.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 251

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