History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 253

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

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His next removal took him to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was engaged in hotel work for two years, and in 1913 he came to California, first locating at San Francisco. After a short time, however, he left that city and went to Del Monte, working in the leading hotel of that place for about three months. He then purchased a ranch near Monterey, which he devoted to the raising of poultry, and for two years conducted that business, after which he took up a government claim, on which he engaged in breeding cattle, but was not successful in this venture and at the end of two years relinquished his claim and worked for a neighbor for three years. In 1917 he arrived in San Jose and in association with James Markelos opened a restaurant. That relationship was maintained until 1919, when Mr. Patterson pur- chased his partner's intrest and has since been sole proprietor of the business. His restaurant is situated at No. 18 West San Fernando Street and is a first

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class establishment in every particular, conducted along the most modern and progressive lines. Long experience has made him thoroughly familiar with the business and his cafe is one of the most popular in the city. He also has other interests, being the owner of a valuable fruit farm of twenty acres, situ- ated on the Trimble Road, near Milpitas, and is specializing in the growing of pears.

In San Jose, on the 26th of August, 1920, Mr. Pat- terson was married to Mrs. Anna (Sousa) White, who was born, reared and educated in Monterey, Cal., her parents being John and Mary Sousa. Mr. Patterson is a Democrat in his political views and fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Foresters at San Jose.

JOHN P. LACERDA .- A public-spirited citizen whose charitable disposition has made him highly esteemed among his fellow-citizens, is John P. Lacerda, a native of the Isle of St. George, in the Azores, where he was born in the village of Ribeira Secca on May 10, 1868. His father, Joseph A. Lacerda, was a well-to-do farmer who also conducted a large merchandise business, and he also enjoyed the reputation of being rather an accomplished mu- sician; he had married Miss Marie Augusta, also a native of St. George.

Anxious to share the greater advantages of Amer- ica, John P. Lacerda left home in 1882, at the age of fourteen, coming directly to San Francisco, Cal. A stranger in a strange land, he sought out a friend, Antone Amaral, who then resided in Marin County, and who later became a wealthy dairy farmer.' Mr. Lacerda found employment on a dairy farm near Pt. Reyes, at ten dollars a month. He was ambitious, however, to enter some other line of work, so studied at night, learning to read and write in English. At the end of six years he removed to Humboldt County to work for Manuel D. Mello, a dairyman at Fern- dale, but soon entered the employ of Joe Russ at one of his dairies at Bear River Ridge. Here he spent three years, meanwhile continuing to study. He was ambitious to attend school, so obtained a place in the Revere House at Eureka, and while at- tending to his duties there he attended night school at Phelps Academy, taking a business course. The proprietor of the hotel, Mr. Cramer, appreciated his services and perceiving his ambition, made him man- ager of the Revere House dining room, a position he held for four years. Then, in partnership with a friend, he undertook a cook camp at Camp Vance, on the Mad River, but after five months the partners abandoned the project.

During 1894-95 Mr. Lacerda was employed in the Western Hotel at Eureka, and learning of the Coffee Creek mine excitement in Shasta County, he went on a prospecting trip for gold. He did not succeed, and six months later he was back at the Hotel Para- gon in Eureka. For the next two years Mr. Lacerda and a Mr. Grober conducted a restaurant at Redding in Shasta County, where each saved $4,000, and in 1900 Mr. Lacerda sold out in order to take a trip back to his old home. He made a tour of five months, during which time he also visited the Paris Exposition.

On returning to California Mr. Lacerda located at Redding and there opened a grill called the Olympia Grotto, and at the end of five years, in which he con-

ducted the resort, he had become independent in finances. Once again he sold out and took another trip back to Portugal, visiting also in the nine months both Switzerland and Italy, and on his return to America in 1906 he located at San Jose. He leased the property known as Ivy Green, at the junction of Capitol and Alum Rock avenues. He remodeled the building and started a retail grocery and liquor store atid then he set up a large business. In addition he also established a wholesale commission market on his property, known as the East Side Foothill Veg- etable Growers' Association, where the early vegeta- bles were brought by the growers, and commission merchants from Bay Cities and San Jose came to purchase their produce. It was a success from the start and has grown to be an important business. In 1919 he purchased the property and the three acres of land with the building for $8,000 in cash. He changed the name from Ivy Green to East Side Park and laid out the park into beautiful grounds and erected a pavilion and necessary buildings for an amusement park, including a merry-go-round and a large auditorium which is popularly used for a box- ing arena. He has equipped the grounds with seats, tables and a barbecue pit and during the summer months it is rarely idle, for it is engaged ahead for the use of lodges and public parties. Mr. Lacerda has also acquired four acres across the road, some of which is set out to orchard, and crected a large garage, which he leases to others.

At Antioch, in Contra Costa County, Mr. Lacerda was married in 1912 to Miss Mary Texira, daughter of A. J. Texira, and they have one child, a daughter named Margaret. Mr. Lacerda has donated hun- dreds of dollars to charity, particularly to the churches, and he has been especially generous toward the Church of the Five Wounds in East San Josc. He is a member of the Exempt Firemen of Redding.

ATTILIO PICCHETTI .- Among the representa- tives of old pioneer families of San Jose who are carrying on, under more promising conditions, the work undertaken by their forebears, mention is due Attilio Picchetti, owner of the Plaza Garage, located at 222-230 South Market Street. He was born at San Jose, August 9, 1889, the son of Vincento and Teresa Picchetti, farmers of that district. The father settled in San Jose in 1874 and saw it grow from a small town to the thriving, prosperous city of today.

Attilio Picchetti grew to manhood in San Jose, received his education in the public schools and Santa Clara College, and later took a commercial course in the old San Jose Business College. For the first nine years on entering the business world he was engaged in the livery business and then answered the call of his country by giving his services in the World War, training at Camp Fremont, Camp Mills, N. Y., where he was made sergeant, and at Camp Stuart, Va. He was engaged in drilling recruits part of the time and was also supply sergeant and was two days on the ocean when the armistice was signed. After the armistice was signed and he re- turned home he established the business he is now engaged in, namely, the Plaza Garage; he employs eight men besides his office force. He has the ex- clusive agency for Hood tires in Santa Clara County and also is agent for the De Martini trucks and Reli- ance trailers in Santa Clara, San Benito, Monterey

SCIENCE HALL, NOTRE DAME COLLEGE

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and Santa Cruz counties. Mr. Picchetti makes his home with his mother, his father having passed away in 1905. He belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West, San Jose Parlor No. 22, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Chamber of Commerce, the Commercial Club, and the American Legion of San Jose. For recreation he enjoys automobiling and out-of-door life and all clean sports.

NOTRE DAME COLLEGE .- Nothing could be more appropriate considering the history of the early missionary work of enlightenment in California than that the great Roman Catholic Church should today be so well represented by the Notre Dame College at San Jose, unquestionably one of the best- planned, best-equipped and best-conducted educa- tional institutions of the Catholic Church, amply justifying its mottoes "Ora et labora" and "Ah! qu'il est bon le bon Dieu!"

Notre Dame, which aims to afford special facili- ties for the study of music, and has among its fea- tures a fine library and a valuable museum, is a monument to the energy and courage of the devout Sisters of Notre Dame at San Jose, who, by their intelligent work have built up this great institution during the past seventy years. It was founded about the time of the creation of the California common- wealth, and the story of its inception is of interest. In 1851, Sister Loyola and Sister Mary Catherine came to San Francisco to conduct a new colony of Sisters who were coming from Ohio to Oregon City; but on their arriving there, they found that a long wait of three months was before them. Rev. Father Langlois, who was familiar with conditions in Ore- gon, had discussed with Archbishop Alemany the advisability of inviting the Sisters of Notre Dame to the growing section of Central California. The Archbishop had already placed a community in San Francisco, but urged the Sisters to visit San Jose, then the state capital. At Santa Clara, the Rev. Father Nobili, S. J., was laying the foundations of the present Santa Clara University. Martin Murphy, already so interesting historically as one of the first white persons to settle permanently in California, conducted the visitors to their destination, and they journeyed by wagon along the historie Camino Real, and their hearts and eyes were delighted by the vision of the beautiful valley, as Bayard Taylor, the poet, who had been over the highway only a sea- son or two before, pictures it in his Eldorado. The diary of Sister Mary records her delight over our lovely mountains, as she first saw them on that glorious spring day, their full capital in her wallet, "two bits" or twenty-five cents, in nowise interfering with her ardor. The people of San Jose were press- ing in their demands to retain the Sisters, and both the Archbishop and Father Nobili were deep- ly concerned. At length, Sister Loyola decided to open a house in San Jose, while preserving the Ore- gon City foundation; and a spot outside the city limits, on the old road that ran from the Alameda, was secured. A single house was standing on the premises; Jack Townsend, aged three, was the first boarder, (with his nurse,) as he was the first and sole alumnus of the college; and the fees paid by Jack's guardian furnished the larder and provided the few indispensable articles of furniture. After three months, the colony from Cincinnati arrived,

quite astonished to learn, at San Francisco, that San Jose and not Oregon City, was their destination.

These Sisters were Catherine, Mary Alenie, Aloy- sius and Donatil, and they came by way of the Isthmus of Panama, then a nigh impenetrable wil- derness, apart from the trails. Drenched to the skin, with no opportunity of drying their garments, fear- ing the Indians, who, armed with long knives, infest- ed the jungle; camping by night on the dizzy trails, or along the uneven banks; riding all day on mule back, or fording the river in the frail canoes of the natives, they made the trip for five days, often at risk to their lives, always at risk to their garments, loose calico gowns and immense sunbonnets, as they did not dare to travel in religious garb. In the same party, was the Rev. Eugene O'Connell, later the venerated Bishop of Grass Valley. Another caravan, crossing at the same time, was that of Bernard Murphy, who met with Sister Aloysius in a very opportune manner. Her refractory mule balked at a puddle of water on the trail, struck off into the undergrowth and left her clinging for dear life to a bough, her azure gown and white sunbonnet looking like a magnified blue-bell, till Mr. Murphy plucked her from the bough, and someone recaptured the mule. Reaching San Francisco at length, they were entertained by the Archbishop, the French Con- sul and Judge Barry until Sister Loyola could reach them by slow travel over the rough roads.

Very different was the Notre Dame of San Jose that opened its doors to the little company from the present institution. The first building was an old adobe, fronting directly on the road, and between that and their next-door neighbor was an alley, the rendezvous of revelling rats. The Sisters raised po- tatoes and cabbages, then very valuable, as the Val- ley was scarcely under cultivation, and meat was a rarity. Potatoes, cabbages, the leg of a bear, these were the features of a feast-day dinner. The early frame buildings let in both sun and rain, and when something better was provided, the carpenter worked late, hammering the rude boards, while Sister Mary held the flickering candle. The 1851 building is yet standing, in which Sister Catherine had her millinery and dressmaking department. When Sister Loyola erected the present west wing, the first brick building in the town, the French Consul, visiting on "Exhibi- tion Day," asked how she ever dared to undertake such a work. "God is rich," answered the dauntless Sister Loyola. In those days, Exhibition or Com- mencement exercises lasted a week, and from all over California, as well as from Oregon and Nevada, and even further, guests came by wagon, requiring the erection of a court-yard tent, and dependence upon rather unsatisfactory Indian help. "Don Juan" was the man of all work, and it is chronicled that a crony of his, somewhat in his cups, one evening proved rather obstreperous in his demands to see the old Indian. The intrepid Sister Mary, issuing forth, pur- sued the invader as far as the river, and the fire- water feaster was not again heard from. From Father Nobili and his Jesuit colleagues the Sisters received continual marks of kindness; and these tra- ditions of good will are perpetuated today in the worthy successors at Santa Clara and San Jose.

In January, 1854, the first Holy Commuion of the pupils was received in the new chapel in the west wing; and the body of the present chapel is made up

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of this primitive structure. Since that date, the de- velopment of Notre Dame at San Jose has been the record of unwearied, unselfish service by the noble women who have come and gone, each adding a brick or a stone, as it were, to the superstructure. A red- letter day occurred in 1885, when the beautiful Lour- des grotto was constructed, and immediately became a place of pious pilgrimage. In October, 1910, was another red or golden-letter day, for then was cele- brated the coming of the Rev. Mother Marie Aloyse, Superior General of the Institute, the first visit to this country of a Superior General. A beautiful memorial of this visit is the heroic-sized statue of the Sacred Heart, modeled after the famous Montmartre, which stands on the knoll behind Notre Dame Vil- la, surrounded by the ampitheater of the wooded hills. "Occulos levavi in montes unde veniet auxili- um mihi." Within the reception room of the college hangs the certificate of incorporation dated San Jose. June 20, 1868, signed by H. H. Haight and a ma- jority of the State Board of Education, and attested to by H. L. Nichols, secretary of state.

The Museum also contains many exhibits of in- terest. There is the old melodeon or harmonium, with its two silver candlesticks, brought around the Horn in 1843, and there are most exquisite silk needle-work tapestries, the art of the pioneer Sis- ters, whose successors, each in her way, still con- tinues as indefatigible in their labors. There is also a collection of beautiful butterflies and another of mounted birds.

Notre Dame gives spiritual and intellectual hos- pitality to 160 boarding-school pupils, and 180 day high school pupils; and it also exercises supervision over the Notre Dame Academy, which is preparatory to Notre Dame College, and is located in Santa Clara. It was founded in 1864, and has four acres of grounds, in a beautiful grove, so that, with ex- tensive buildings, well ventilated and otherwise ju- diciously adapted to their various purposes, amuse- ment and outdoor exercise of the pupils are provided. The musical department is complete and every ad- vantage is afforded to those desirous of giving spe- cial attention to its culture. Like 'Notre Dame Col- lege, this important stepping-stone, the academy, takes rank among the first of its class-a fact ap- parently appreciated by its large number of patrons, increasing with each year.

BENJAMIN SCORSUR .- For many years Ben- jamin Scorsur has been prominently and successfully identified with the fruit industry in Santa Clara County and long experience has made him an author- ity on this line of work. He also ranks with the pioneer residents of this part of the state, having taken up his residence here in 1871. A native of Austria, he was born in Dalmatia, in the village of Aregosse, April 11, 1855, the fourth in the family of John and Cathrinia Scorsur, the father a well-to-do farmer of Dalmatia.

Although it was his parents' desire that he devote his time to his studies, Benjamin Scorsur preferred hard manual labor to the routine of the schoolroom, and hearing many favorable reports concerning Cali- fornia, he decided to locate there. When fourteen years old he went to sea, receiving five dollars a month as pay; however, he followed the sea for five years, when he quit the sea to come to California, arriving in September, 1871. His elder brother,

James Scorsur, had preceded him to the United States, arriving in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1866. In 1871 the two brothers started for California, but first made their way to the mines of Virginia City, Nev. Not meeting with success there, they packed all of their belongings, consisting of a few blankets and tools, and struck out for the Guadalupe mines in the Santa Clara Valley. They divided their time between min- ing and farming, preempting 163 acres of land ad- joining the mines, which were at that time owned by an English company, and at this period Benjamin Scorsur became a citizen of the United States. For eight years the two brothers devoted their attention tc mining, farming and stock raising, working labori- ously to gain a start in life, but their efforts were fruitless, for through a dispute in the title the land once more became the property of the English com- pany by decision of the Santa Clara County courts. Possessing the dauntless spirit of youth, Mr. Scorsur courageously faced the future, and removing to San Jose, he entered business circles as a fruit buyer, dryer and shipper. From a modest beginning the enterprise grew to one of large proportions and for thirty-five years he continued active along those lines. He also became a prosperous horticulturist, purchas- ing a good ranch of twenty-three acres on the Doyle Road and a valuable cherry orchard on the San Fran- cisco highway. During the World War, however, he sold both places as he was unable to operate them without the assistance of his sons, who were in the service of their country. In 1918, following the close of the war, Mr. Scorsur bought a sixty-acre pear and prune orchard on King Road, where he now resides, having erected a beautiful home here. He also owns an apricot ranch on the Mount Pleasant Road and with the aid of his two sons, John and Nick Scorsur, conducts two large drying plants, which are also proving a profitable scource of income. He carries on his labors scientifically and keeps well informed ott all modern developments pertaining to his line of work, in which he is an acknowledged expert.

In San Jose, Mr. Scorsur married Miss Kathrina Buak, a native of Dalmatia, and they have become the parents of six children: John, the eldest, who resides in a fine bungalow on the sixty-acre home ranch, is married, and has one child. He is a veteran of the World War, serving for eleven months over- seas as a member of the Ninety-first Division. He is a member of the American Legion and is also prominently identified with the Jugo-Slavian-Ameri- can Society of San Jose. Nick is also engaged in ranching, acting as assistant manager. Ben is mar- ried and resides in San Jose, being proprietor of one of the leading butcher shops in the city. He is also a member of the American Legion, was sent over- seas and for three months was confined in a hospital. Dominic is successfully engaged in business as a stock dealer. Kathrina married Mr. Scamperria, a wealthy merchant of Watsonville, Cal. Pauline, who completes the family, is the wife of Paul Lostellisto, of San Jose.

Mr. Scorsur attributes much of his success to the cooperation and able assistance of his wife, who is the possessor of many admirable traits of character and has ever been a faithful and sympathetic help- mate and a devoted mother, rearing her children to become useful members of society. He is a member

Ned B. Morgen

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of the Austrian-American Society of San Jose and in politics is a Democrat, being broad and liberal in his views. He has worked diligently and persistently, and success in substantial measure has crowned his labors, while at the same time his efforts have been an important factor in the development and improve- ment of Santa Clara County along horticultural lines.

NED B. MORGIN .- A highly respected and suc- cessful orchardist is Ned B. Morgin, who came to the Santa Clara Valley May 18, 1902, and has succeeded even beyond his expectations. He was born at Smok- kovljane, near Ragusa, Dalmatia, November 12, 1877, a son of Ned and Nellie Morgin. Both parents passed away in the old country. When Ned B. was twenty- five years of age, he concluded to try his fortunes in the New World, so embarked for the United States coming direct to Santa Clara County, Cal., first set- tling in Cupertino, but was compelled to leave there within six months to find work. He went to Stanford University and worked as gardener for six years; and while there he studied evenings and learned to read and speak English, which has since become so val- uable to him in his business. In 1908 he purchased an orchard of two and a half acres on Stevens Creek Road at Cupertino, which he still owns. Here he made his headquarters for twelve years, being engaged in buying, curing and selling fruit, in which he met with deserving success. In 1919 he purchased fifty acres on Mountain View and Saratoga avenues, which is devoted to prunes and apricots. He has continued to improve this property from the time he took pos- session, has a complete and modern drying and pack- ing plant, and is well equipped to care for all the fruit raised on his ranch. He also engages in buying and selling green and dry fruit. He counts his suc- cess not only from a monetary standpoint, but he has also used his best efforts to advance his community.

The marriage of Mr. Morgin at Cupertino, January 4, 1912, united him with Miss Annie Kalafatovich, who was also born in Dalmatia and came to San Jose in 1911, and they are the parents of four children: Ned B., Jr., Martin B., Nellie, and Mary. Mr. Mor- gan is proud of being an American citizen and exer- cises his franchise as a Republican. He finds his recreation in auto trips throughout the beautiful Santa Clara Valley and at all times he freely gives his sup- port to all progressive measures and is counted a worthy citizen of the county.

F. A. LINQUIST .- A thoroughly experienced miller whose success speaks well for the exceptional opportunities afforded by the Golden State is F. A. Linquist, the efficient and popular manager of the Alber Bros. Milling Company at San Jose. He was horn at Chelsea, Wis., on August 23, 1885, the son of Charles A. Linquist, the well-known contractor who came to California in 1887, and who had mar- ried Miss Lena Larson.

Our subject enjoyed all the advantages of both the grammar and high schools of San Jose, and he par- ticularly profited from a first-class business course. Then, for eleven years, he was with the Garden City Bank and also the Bank of Italy, in San Francisco, and after that he organized the Farmers' Grain & Poultry Supply Company, in San Jose, a partnership concern, in which he was active for a year. On January 1, 1920, he assumed his present responsibility. He threw himself enthusiastically into the undertak-

ing, mastered the details, and so built up an enviable trade that the company now operates within a radius of twenty miles and does an ever-increasing business. All America knows the excellence of any Alber's output, and the Alber Bros. Milling Company, under Mr. Linquist's expert and energetic management, bids fair to enjoy more and more popular favor and to increase each year, with the natural and healthy expansion and growth of Santa Clara County, in sound prosperity.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 253

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