History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 254

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

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches > Part 254

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At San Jose, in 1911, Mr. Linquist was married to Miss Elsie C. Keffel, a native of San Jose and the daughter of George Keffel, and their union has been blessed with one son, F. A. Linquist, Jr. Mr. Linquist is a Mason, and belongs to the Chapter, the Council and Commandery, and he is also an Elk and a Druid. He is fond of hunting and fishing, and so naturally has some very good stories to tell. Politically, he votes with the Republicans.

CHARLES E. LAURA .- A newcomer in San Jose who has brought to California a record of steady successes as a contractor in Detroit, is Charles E. Laura, of 580 South Eleventh Street. He was born about thirty miles from Detroit, in Michigan, on February 11, 1869, and his father was Joseph Laura, the well-known market gardener. He had married Miss Mary Warner, but her death, when Charles was beginning his teens, broke up the family life, and the lad made his way in the world ever since. It so hap- pened, therefore, that he had only four years of com- mon schooling in the country districts. The Warner family belongs to the circle of Michigan pioneers, and Mrs. Laura was the sixth child in a family of eleven. The father was in the Michigan Volunteer Infantry and served in the Army of the Potomac. He was wounded in the leg but recovered and is still living in San Jose. In 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Laura, Sr., came to San Jose, and here Mr. Laura still lives, aged seventy-six.

Commencing with odd jobs from the start, Charles Laura served an apprenticeship at basket-making and coopering, and then he took up the carpenter's trade and continued at it until he became a building contractor. He has put up many of the finest homes in the best residential districts of Detroit, where he continued as a leader in his field until 1919.

In October of that year he came to California and settled at San Jose, where he bought a home in the 400 block on South Eleventh Street. He soon sold it, however, and bought another residence at 580 South Eleventh Street, and there he is living today. He has been busy carpentering, and intends soon to launch out as a contractor able to erect the finest kind of homes. It is only a question of time, there- fore, and Mr. Laura may be counted upon to con- tribute his full share toward the elevation of the public taste in dignified, practical architecture.

At Detroit, Mich., on April 20, 1894, Mr. Laura was married to Miss Anna Deemer, a native of Yale, Mich., and the daughter of George and Sarah Jane (McGinty) Deemer, worthy farmer folks. Mr. Laura is a Republican in his political affilations.

WENDELL C. THOMAS .- A thoroughly enter- prising, efficient and successful representative of the widely-developed truck industry is Wendell C. Thomas, the manager of the Mack Truck Company at 173 South Market Street, and the agent of the

1648

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

popular Mack trucks. He was born in Pennsylvania on March 20, 1880, the son of Mark A. and Margaret (Eberhart) Thomas, and he came with his folks to Oakland in 1883. His parents, having completed years of hard and honest labor, are still living, in comfortable retirement. Wendell attended the com- mon and high schools of Oakland, and for three years he had a manufacturers' agency, selling west of the Mississippi and maintaining a home office at San Francisco. He went on the road as a commer- cial traveler for eight years, and he was president of the Vacations Homes Company, a real estate con- cern of Oakland, for four years.

In 1918 Mr. Thomas entered the service of the Mack Truck Company, and the following year he re- moved to San Jose, where he has since been more than successful and is more and more prosperous. The company handles only the Mack truck, and such is their steady trade that they employ two service men. Mr. Thomas has great faith in the future of Santa Clara County, and that means, of course, that he has increasing faith in the Mack truck in this part of the Golden State.

At Oakland, in 1901, Mr. Thomas married Miss Edythe A. Corwin, a native of Oakland and the daughter of Everett and Fredericka Corwin. He be- longs to the Chamber of Commerce, of course, and also to the One Hundred Per Cent Club, the Com- mercial Club, Auto Trades Assocation, the Elks, the Woodmen of the World, and the Odd Fellows, and he endorses the platforms of the Republican party. One son, Mark E. Thomas, has inherited his father's love for motoring and for ranch life-Mr. Thomas owning fifteen choice acres in Los Gatos section.

A. M. WEAVER .- Born in San Jose on Septem- ber 1, 1880, Arthur M. Weaver, proprietor of the Cali- fornia Cleaners, located at 10 South Morrison Street, is mentioned among the younger generation of men who are rapidly coming to the front in Santa Clara County. When he was a lad his mother moved to Fresno County and here he was reared and received his early education in the public schools and later took a course in the business college at San Jose. His first employment, after completing his business course, was with the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany at San Francisco and then he spent the next three years with his foster father at Selma. He then returned to Santa Clara County, selecting San Jose as a place of location and soon engaged in the insur- ance business, continuing in this line for seven years. He then disposed of the insurance business and on October 1, 1917, purchased his present establishment and he has spared neither time nor money in its improvement and upbuilding until the business has grown to such proportions that it is necessary for him to employ five men and two delivery wagons to handle the trade. The plant was built by Mr. Weaver for the accommodation of his business, and he has his home at the corner of Morrison and Alameda.

On February 25, 1906, he was married to Miss Charlotte E. Roese, the daughter of a well known family of San Jose, both parents having been born there. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Weaver, Armand and William. Mr. Weaver joined the ranks of the Redmen and Moose lodges and the Chamber of Commerce and religiously is a mem- ber of the Catholic Church. He is fond of out-of-

door life and sports and is held in high esteem in his community for his public spirit and the vital interest he takes in the welfare and development of San Jose.

L. W. WINKLESS, JR .- A representative of an old Eastern family who is meeting with success in San Jose is L. W. Winkless, Jr., president of the Model Extract Company, Inc., among the largest, best-equipped and most progressive enterprises of its kind in Santa Clara County. He is a native of Newport, Ky., where he was born on September 5, 1879, the son of L. W. and Rebecca (Ross) Winkless, the father surviving the mother, who passed away October 19, 1915. The grammar school education of our subject was supplemented by two years in the high school at Cold Springs, Ky., and after leaving school he followed the grocery line at first and then worked for a time in jewelry stores at Newport and Cincinnati.

On August 16, 1901, Mr. Winkless arrived in San Francisco, Cal., but soon went to Prescott, Ariz., where he engaged in the grocery business, and while living there was married on December 21, 1903, to Miss Meta Ralston, a native of Bentonsport, Iowa. She was the daughter of Dr. Joseph and Lida B. (Keck) Ralston, born in Springfield, Ill., and Greens- burg, Pa., respectively. They located in Iowa and later came to San Jose, Cal., where Mrs. Winkless was educated, graduating from the San Jose high school in 1896 and from the San Jose State Normal in 1898. She taught school in Nevada a year and in Montana for a like period, then in Heald's Business College in San Francisco until her marriage.

In July, 1905, Mr. Winkless located in San Jose and followed the grocery business until the earth- quake, when he bought an interest in the Model Ex- tract Company, Inc., and has gradually acquired the entire capital stock. In the management of the com- pany he is assisted hy his wife, who has charge of the office. The up-to-date plant is located at Delmas and San Carlos streets and is equipped with auto- matic machinery for the manufacture of soft drinks. Fraternally Mr. Winkless is prominent in Masonic and Maccabee circles and takes an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his home city.

AL COMPTON .- Among the foremost contractors and builders in San Jose is Al Compton, who has been identified with the larger concerns in this city for more than eighteen years and he has contributed much to the development of the city. Mr. Compton was born in Burlington, near Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio on November 29, 1877, and was the son of Spencer P. and Ruth E. (Immal) Compton, born in Burlington and Mount Healy, Ohio, respectively. The father was a contractor and builder in Ohio. At Jacksonville, Ill., he enlisted for the Civil War in an Illinois regiment, serving from the start until the close of the war. He was wounded in battle and held a commissioned office. He returned to Ohio, married, and there engaged in farming at Burlington, Ohio, and later sold and located in Hamilton and followed the building trade till he retired.

Al Compton's young manhood was spent at the old Ohio home in Hamilton, there he received his education in the public schools, where he gained a good training, then learned the carpenter trade under his father, for which he had a decided bent. He worked at his trade in Ohio, coming to San Jose in

a. Zarevich

1649

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

1902. Here he began to build houses to sell and soon his services were sought and he began contracting and in that line he has been occupied for the past eighteen years. He has just finished the high school at Cupertino, a structure of which he may well be proud. He has done work at the County Hospital, also at the Isolation Hospital, and the Morgan Hill high school and has built some very fine residences throughout the city and county. He keeps a good force of men, and as he supervises practically all details of his building operations, he has built up a reputation for artistic and dependable workmanship.

Mr. Compton's marriage in San Jose, February 26, 1906, united him with Miss Katherine Davis, who is a native of Dubois County, Indiana, and came to San Jose in 1906, and they have made many friends since taking up their residence in San Jose. Mr. Compton is a member of the Observatory Lodge No. 23, Odd Fellows, and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs.

ANTONE ZAREVICH .- A very successful hor- ticulturist, who has been a resident of Santa Clara County since June, 1886, and has established a rep- utation for industry and square dealing, is Antone Zarevich. He was born near Ragusa, Dalmatia, September 18, 1867, and is one of six children, four living, born to the parents, Antone and Mary (Kilunak) Zarevich. Both parents are now de- ceased. Antone as a lad had the advantages of the public schools and was brought up on the home farm. In 1886, when he was eighteen years old, he came to the United States and immediately came across the continent to San Jose, Cal. He had no funds, so he immediately went to work in orchards and on farms, and in time became foreman on the same ranches where he had worked as a farm hand. For five years he was foreman for Simowich, then foreman for Blake for three years, after which he worked on the Kraker ranch, first as foreman, then as man- ager of the ranch until 1916. Meantime, as early as 1892, he had purchased land on Homestead Road, where he had fifteen acres planted to orchard, and when it reached full bearing he sold it at a good profit. He had also bought land on Stevens Creek Road and Saratoga Avenue, adding to this adjoining land until he now owns forty acres, the entire cor- ner, which is mostly in prunes, the balance being in peaches, now in full bearing and very valuable. He has built a garage on the corner, making a splen- did improvement as well as a source of income. He owns a home orchard of ten acres on Stevens Creek Road, all in prunes, and there he has built a large, comfortable residence.

In 1916 he resigned as manager of the Kraker ranch to devote all of his time to the management of his own properties. He was first married in San Jose. in 1892, to Miss Micholetta Miglias, who died six years later, leaving two children, Antone, now deceased, and Mrs. Mary Klichin, who resides on a ranch near San Jose. His second marriage occurred in San Francisco and united him with Miss Annie Josich, also born in Dalmatia, and they are the par- ents of one child, Annie. Mr. Zarevich has been a member of the Austrian Benevolent Society since 1887, and of St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, and the Goodfellows Lodge of San Jose. He is an active member of the California Prune and Apricot Grow- ers' Association and is an example of what industry

can accomplish. Starting only with his two hands, with no friends to back him, he has become inde- pendent and well-to-do, as well as influential.

CHARLES S. ALLEN .- A retired lawyer, was born in Michigan June 14, 1864. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1886 with the degree of A. B. Subsequently he received the degree of A. M. from the same institution. From 1903 to 1914 he was a member of its board of regents. He prac- tised law in Lincoln, Nebr., from 1889 until he re- moved to San Jose in January, 1914. In his adopted home he has shown an interest in civic affairs and has served as a member of the Board of Education, the Good Cheer Club, The Welfare Federation, and other public service organizations.

HENRY C. ARTANA .- An enterprising business man, a progressive and helpful citizen, Henry C. Artana is making a record for himself which places him among the successful business men of San Jose. A native son, he was born at San Francisco, Sep- tember 15, 1881, a son of Louis and Louise (Lavotti) Artana. His father was an early settler of San Fran- cisco, where he was established as a blacksmith and carriage maker. In 1902 the family removed to San Jose, and associated with his son he opened up a blacksmith and carriage shop, and soon they branched out into automobile repairs at the present location. In 1919 Louis Artana retired from the business, and with his wife makes his home at Del- mas and San Salvador streets.

The eldest of six children, Henry C. Artana, at- tended the public schools of San Francisco, later taking a course at St. Ignatius College. On finish- ing his education he learned the machinist's trade at the Risden Iron Works and when the family removed to San Jose he started in with his father as Artana & Son, a business which has grown to large propor- tions. In 1915 a modern structure was erected at Santa Clara and River streets, on a lot 130x190, fully cquipped as a modern machine shop and woodwork- ing plant. The firm is now Artana & Geoffrey, and they are agents for Haynes automobiles, Fageol trucks and tractors, and Vim trucks in Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, besides a full line of tires and accessories, being the largest dis- tributor of Goodrich tires in the county. It requires the services of twenty-five people to care for their profitable and growing business, the reward for con- stant application and first-class service. Mr. Artana is also interested in horticulture and with his partner owns a 100-acre pear orchard north of Santa Clara.

On January 27, 1910, Mr. Artana was married to Miss Aurelia Guinasso and they have two children, Velda and Leo. During the World War Mr. Artana was actively engaged in war work, enthusiastically supporting all Government programs. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally a third degree Knight of Columbus; he is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the San Jose Progressive Club and a charter member of the Commercial Club, the Santa Clara County Auto Trade Association, and belongs to the State Automobile Association. Fond of out- door sports, he takes his recreation in hunting and fishing, and is keenly interested in all that pertains to the development of the community.

1650

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

NICKOLAS ZAREVICH .- A successful and pro- gressive rancher who has been a resident of Santa Clara County since June 2, 1889, is Nickolas Zare- vich, who was born in the village of Majkovi, near Ragusa, Dalmatia, February 18, 1871, a son of An- ton and Mary (Klunak) Zarevich, farmers who were representatives of very old farmers in that country, their lives having been devoted to husbandry. Nick- olas was the youngest of their five children and he and his brother Anton, also of Santa Clara County, are the only ones in the United States He was brought up on the home farm, having the advantages of pub- lic schools of his section. Having decided to cast his lot with California, of which he had heard as well as read favorable reports, he started for New York when eighteen years of age, arriving in San Jose June 2, 1889. He immediately found employment in or- chards and began studying horticulture, thus obtain- ing the knowledge and experience in this branch of agriculture that has been so valuable to him in later years. During this time he was six and one-half years in the employ of Capt. Blake of Cupertino. Having accumulated some means, he invested his money in a ranch which he was fortunate to sell at a profit and in this way owned four different places before he purchased twenty-five acres, the nucleus of his present place.

At St. Mary's Church, San Jose, April 24, 1898, the ceremony uniting Mr. Zarevich and Miss Annie Simonitsch, was performed by Rev. Joseph Miller. Mrs. Zarevich was born at Richmond, Minn. Her father, Jacob Simonitsch, was a native of Kranska, Austria, and came to Minnesota when a young man, becoming a prosperous merchant in Richmond. There he married Gertrude Stockard, of German descent. On account of his wife's health, Mr. Simonitsch re- moved to Oregon, where his wife died in 1889. In 1891 he came to Santa Clara County and began fruit raising, becoming a large orchardist. He passed away September 11, 1897, leaving two daughters, Mrs. Mary A. Ladner of Cupertino and Annie, now Mrs. Zarevich, who was educated in Notre Dame Academy, Santa Clara.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Zarevich en- gaged in fruit raising on their orchard place, which they have given great care. Meeting with success, from time to time have purchased additional acreage until they now own 112 acres, all in a body and con- veniently located on Stevens Creek Road; ninety-five acres of the place is devoted to a prune orchard and the balance is in apricots, the place being operated with the most modern machinery. Mr. and Mrs. Zarevich have two children: Teresa is a graduate of Notre Dame high school, San Jose, class of 1919, now attends the State Teacher's College in San Jose. Ivan was edu- cated at Santa Clara College and Heald's Business Col- lege, San Jose, and is now assisting his father Mr.

Zarevich is a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, the Austrian Benevolent Society, the Slavonian-American Benevolent Society of San Jose and with his family is a member of St. Joseph de Cupertino Catholic Church Mrs. Zare- vich is an active member of the Altar Society of the above church and of the Catholic Daughters of San Jose. Mr. Zarevich is a believer in and supporter of Republican principles, and is a member of the California Prune & Apricot Association.

JOSEPH A. ABREO .- A native son of Santa Clara who is now residing in San Jose and the owner of a business establishment, is Joseph A. Abreo, who is the owner of a motorcycle and bicycle repair shop known as Joe's Repair Shop and is located at 236 West Santa Clara Street, and here he has had a splendid business and is making good. Joseph A. Abreo was born in Santa Clara, on October 11, 1889, the son of Manuel and Anna Abreo, who were early settlers of California, having come to this country in the year of 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Abreo became the parents of ten children of whom Joseph was the fourth. The father, who was a railroad man, passed away on December 23, 1900, but Mrs. Abreo is still living in Santa Clara.

Joseph received his education in the St. Joseph's school and the Santa Clara University, where he re- ceived a good education and upon becoming a young man and making his own livelihood, he was employed in various occupations, first in the Pacific Manu- facturing Company for two years, then in the em- ploy of the Agnew distillery for eight years. Be- coming interested in the motorcycle business, he worked for four years in this line and on August 1, 1917, he established his own business, taking the agency for the Columbia bicycle, and he has since been engaged in general repairing of motorcycles and bicycles, carrying a full line of supplies. Hc has been very successful in all of his undertakings, giving the best of service.

Mr. Abreo's marriage united him with Miss Laura Limas, who is also a native of Santa Clara, and they are the parents of one child, Pearl Anna. Mrs. Abreo conducts the Milady Shop at 41 South Second Street, exclusively devoted to accessories for women; and she also makes frocks for little children and so attractive are they, that they find a ready sale. She employs five people in her establishment. Mr. Abreo is a popular member of the Foresters of America, being past chief ranger, and also the Druids, in which he is past arch druid, and the Woodmen of the World. In politics, he is liberal, giving his vote to the best men and the most progressive measures, and in religious faith he is a member of the Catholic Church.

JOSEPH DAFT .- Among the thriving industries of Santa Clara County, the automobile has had a leading part in helping in the development of many other lines of business in San Jose and vicinity and one of the early-timers who have aided in this new industry is Joseph Daft, who is vice-president of the Nash Sales Company, Inc., on South Market Street, San Jose. Mr. Daft was born in Butte, Mont., on May 15, 1889, and is the son of Joseph and Emma Frances (Butcher) Daft. He was educated in the public schools and the high school of Salt Lake City, and after graduating he engaged in automobile shop work for several years.

In 1911 Mr. Daft came to San Jose and was for a time driver for Congressman Hayes, then, becom- ing a partner of H. C. Hayes in the Hayes Motor Car Company located at 393 South First Street; con- tinning in this line until the year 1919, when he sold his interest, and four months later the Singleton, Daft Company was organized, with Mr. Daft as vice- president, and were located at 270 West Santa Clara Street, handling the Marmon and Nash lines and they met with splendid success from the start. When Mr. Singleton sold his interest in December, 1920,

Nick Barevich

annie Ml. Janevich.

1651

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Mr. Daft formed a new company, taking over Single- ton's stock, and organized the Nash Sales Company, Inc., handling the Nash and La Fayette lines. Inas- much as the La Fayette, a very high-grade car, is a production of the Nash Motor Company, they re- placed the Marmon with the La Fayette. Their territory consists of Santa Clara County.

Mr. Daft's marriage, which occurred in Salt Lake City, Utah, united him with Miss Hazel Clare Grose, of that city. Mr. Daft is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and also belongs to the Merchants' Association and the Automobile Associa- tion. He is a lover of such sports as hunting and fishing and is very active in athletic work, being instructor at the Y. M. C. A. in wrestling, in which sport he takes great interest. In national politics he is a Republican.

LUTHER A. BATES .- Since coming to the Santa Clara Valley with his parents who located here in the early '80s. L. A. Bates has been actively interested in the agricultural development of the county. A native of Blue Earth County, Minn., he was born on July 14, 1877, the son of Cary B. and Calista (Acker- man) Bates, who arrived in Santa Clara County in December, 1884. The father was at first engaged in the grocery business in San Jose and later purchased a considerable acreage, and became a rancher, con- tinuing until his deth.

L. A. Bates received his education in the gram- mar and high schools of Santa Clara and received a good training, one which has qualified him to meet the problems of the world. He remained on the ranch until he was twenty-two years old, then learned the carpenter trade and followed it for the next five years as a journeyman and then engaged in con- tracting for another six years. After spending two years in the real estate business, he became an em- ploye of the American Dairy for two years, and since then he has been engaged in the carpenter business.

The marriage of Mr. Bates occurred in San Jose in 1900, and united him with Miss Annie J. Sutherland, a representative of an old family of pioneers who settled in this state in 1852. Her father, James Sutherland, was well-known to all early settlers as a man of sterling worth. Mr. and Mrs. Bates are the parents of three children, Francis, James and Lucille. Fraternally Mr. Bates is an Odd Fellow, and is a past noble grand of the Garden City Lodge No. 142. In national politics he is a stanch Republican.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 254

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