History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 257

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

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At the beginning of the World War, Mr. Baiocchi offered his services to his adopted country, and on June 30, 1918, he entered training at Camp Kearney, remaining there for only twenty-five days, when he was sent overseas to France, serving in Company G, One Hundred Fifty-seventh Infantry, Fortieth Divi- sion; remaining with this Division but three weeks, he was transferred to Company I, Three Hundred Twenty-third Infantry, Eighty-first Division. His first service at the front was at the Vosges, after which he took part in the Meuse-Argonne drive, where he with others went over the top again and again and kept going for three days without stop- ping, and he was very fortunate in not being wounded. After the armistice he remained overseas until early in June, 1919, when he set sail from St. Nazaire for America, arriving at Newport News, Va., and thence to Ft. Russell, Wyo., and on to the Presidio, San Francisco, where he was honorably discharged June 28, 1919, after which he returned to his home in San Jose and resumed his old position, which had been kept open for him. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Foresters of America, and is a past officer; also member of the Yeomen. He is an active member of the Italo-American Club of San Jose and politically he is a Republican.

A. Baiocchi

John Scorsur.

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JOHN SCORSUR .- A man who was highly es- teemed for his splendid traits of character and the warm friendships he made was the late John Scor- sur, who was born in Dalmatia, Austria, in 1873, a son of James and Thomasine Scorsur. The father was a pioneer fruit man and a prominent and successful horticulturist, having an orchard on the Homestead Road. He died July 6, 1915, his wife surviving him until August 16, 1916. Of the union of this worthy couple, two children were born, name- ly, Kate, Mrs. Felicich of San Jose, and John, the subject of this sketch, who came to the United States with his mother, joining his father, who was then residing at Guadalupe. Some years later the family moved to San Jose and here John attended the public schools, as well as the business college. He excelled in penmanship and received a diploma for penmanship from the American Pen Art Hall. After his school days were over he assisted his father in the care of the orchard as well as the fruit business.

In the fall of 1900 Mr. Scorsur made a trip back to his old home in Dalmatia, and there on February 9, 1901, he was married to Miss Annie Genovich, also a native of Dalmatia, the daughter of Peter and Mary Genovich, farmer-folk in that far-off country. He immediately returned to his home in San Jose with his bride, arriving in March, 1901, and they began housekeeping in the residence at 1398 East San Fernando Street, where Mrs. Scorsur still lives. John Scorsur was engaged in the fruit busi- ness with his father, looking after the orchards on the old homstead, and became a well-posted and progressive orchardist. He was in ill health sev- eral years before his death, which occured April 6. 1915. He was a man of pleasing personality and had a host of friends, being a member of the Austrian Benevolent Society and St. Joseph's Benevo- lent Society. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Scorsur was blessed with five children, Thomasine, Marie, Anna, James and Jennie, who all reside at home. They are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

H. IRVING LEE .- Few departments of activity pertaining to the financial world are of greater im- portance than that represented by H. Irving Lee, the well-known investment broker, with offices in the Tuahy Building at San Jose. He has made a careful study both of past and present conditions, and in his extensive operations ably demonstrates the value of thorough scientific treatment and the high- est of cthics. His work has long contributed to sta- bilize that which has so much to do with giving sta- bility to other things, and also to protect the inex- perienced. More than that, he has done much to en- courage the public to invest where and how they should. Frank H. Lee, the father of our subject, was a native of Portland, Maine, and came to Port- land, Ore., with his parents and later south to Santa Clara County in 1865 and here he married Miss Elizabeth Kidder, a native daughter of the county, whose parents were Charles S. and Sarah F. (Owens) Kidder. Sarah F. Owens was a native of Indiana. Her father, Rev. Isaac Owens, came from Indiana across the plains at the head of an immigrant train drawn by oxen in 1849. He was the first superintend- ent of missions sent out by the Methodist Episcopal Church. After his arrival he gave his time to Chris- tian work and was one of the founders of the Uni- versity of the Pacific, of which he was a trustee for 68

many years and he was also a presiding elder. He owned a farm at the corner of Stevens Creek and the Los Gatos-Santa Clara roads where he resided at the time of his death, a much loved and highly esteemed man well known over all of Northern Cali- fornia, after devoting his life to the spreading of the Gospel and moral uplift of the people. He had five children, four of whom grew up, but now all are deceased. Frank H. Lee was engaged in farming and stockraising in this vicinity for many years. The mother passed away January 18, 1921, while the father is still living.

H. Irving Lee having finished the courses of both the grammar and high schools, graduated from the Pacific Coast Business College and in 1913 organized the National Cleaning & Dyeing Company, which, in 1915, was consolidated with the Golden West when he became president of the new organization and in that responsible position he remained until Decem- ber, 1919, when he disposed of his interest and be- came associated with the General Securities Com- pany of San Jose, of which he is the manager, having offices in the Tuohy Building. Mr. Lee is devoting much of his time to the study of automobile financing and to plans that will make it easier for automobile men to obtain financial assistance, at the same time making it safer for bankers to do business with auto- mobile men. Mr. Lee is much interested in civic and social affairs, is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce and a charter member of the 100 Per Cent Club and is an active member of the Progressive Business Men's Club and charter member of the San Jose Commercial Club. In national politics he is a Repub- lican. He is a member of the San Jose Lodge No. 522 of Elks, the Native Sons of the Golden West, was made a Mason in Fraternity Lodge No. 399, F. & A. M., San Jose, and is also a thirty-second degree Scot- tish Rite Mason and a member of Islam Temple. A. A. O. N. M. S., in San Francisco. He has two married sisters, Mrs. Myra D. Ingram of San Jose, and Mrs. Daisy V. Watson.

GEORGE M. COSTA .- A very successful dairy farmer who owns one of the best ranches of 123 acres in Santa Clara County, the old George Small place, is George M. Costa, of Charleston Road, about three and one-half miles northwest of Mountain View. He was born on the Island of Pico, in the Azores, on June 22, 1873, and grew up on a fair-sized farm owned by his parents, who were among the moderately well-to-do people of that country. He learned dairying; and he also followed, to some ex- tent, the life and hard work of the seafarer. Grow- ing to young manhood, he was married while at home to Miss Monna Joseph, also a native of that section in which she had been reared; and with his devoted companion he came out to America in 1900. They have resided in California ever since, working with intelligent and unremitting industry.

For some time Mr. Costa was engaged on the Leland Stanford stock farm at Palo Alto, and he become a good teamster and could handle two, four, six, eight, or even sixteen horses at one time under the rein. He next engaged to work for Tom Cordoza, and at the same period Mrs. Costa served as cook for the company. They saved their earnings and were thus enabled to rent the George Small dairy farm, where he has succeeded beyond his expecta-

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tions. This is in the pear section of the country, and in ten to twelve years, if this farm be planted to Bartlett pears, it will be worth $1,500 per acre. As it is, he considers that he has a property worth $100,000, and even at a somewhat lower estimate, it will be seen that he is enviably situated. After having rented the land for three years, he purchased it in 1918 from Mr. Small and thus obtained one of the most beautiful farms, with good buildings, drives, etc., affording him and his family an excellent home. He is a member of the California Milk Producers' Association, and inasmuch as he is conservative and doing well as a dairyman, he will continue in that field. Mr. and Mrs. Costa have three children. Man- uel and Joe, who render valuable assistance on the farm, and Mary, all are favorites with those who know them.

JOE JOAQUIN .- A successful rancher who has accomplished much since he was fifteen years of age is Joe Joaquin, the owner of the famous Frank Huff Place, one mile to the north of Mountain View, on the Charleston Road. He was born on the Island of St. George, in the Azores, on July 31, 1892, being the son of a carpenter who died in the Azores at an age of forty-seven years, when Joe was only one and one-half years of age. When he was four years old the widowed mother and her two children came to California, where she married Joe Joaquin and set- tled down to farm life in San Mateo County. The two children by the first husband took the stepfather's name and there they grew up on the extensive Joaquin dairy ranch. A daughter, a full sister to Joe Joaquin, named Mrs. Mary Azevedo, and a brother, Manuel B. Joaquin, a gardener, also residing in San Mateo County, make up the rest of the surviving family.

Ambitious and a hard worker, Joe Joaquin began business operations for himself when he was fifteen years old, by renting a dairy farm and engaging in the dairying business. He was married at San Gre- gorio to Miss Eva Terra and they have two chil- dren, Joseph and Helen. They belong to the Roman Catholic Church, and Mr. Joaquin does his duty as a citizen under the banners of the Republican party. When he first began to rent, Joe leased the great 1,200-acre farm known as the Old Garn ranch, and until the past year he has usually had at least ninety milch cows. He has recently bought his present ranch of 140 acres, and has continued to run the ranch he rented until the past year, when he sold all his stock to the Silva Bros., who are renting his place and will hereafter run the dairy.

Mr. and Mrs. Joaquin will be more and more an asset to Mountain View, and will find in that de- lightful corner of Santa Clara County the largest returns for any investment of industry and optimism they may there care to make.

J. W. CHAMBERS .- The manager of the Peter- son-Kartschoke Brick Company of San Jose, a native son of California, is J. W. Chambers, born at Oak- land, October 2, 1898, a son of G. R. and Adeline H. (Hood) Chambers, the former born in Chicago, Ill., and the latter in San Francisco. His paternal grand- parents came from England to Illinois, while Grand- father Hood was a native of Scotland and an early settler of San Francisco. G. R. Chambers is a mem- ber of the firm of Gladding McBean & Company of

San Francisco, manufacturers of clay products, being vice-president of the company. J. W. is the young- est of three children born to the above marriage and was reared in Oakland, being graduated from White's School at Berkeley, after which he went to sea as a junior officer on one of the Standard Oil Company's sailing vessels for a period of ten months. His father, having become owner of the Peterson-Kart- schoke Brick Company at San Jose, J. W. left the sea August, 1919, and came to San Jose, where he began at the bottom as truck driver, working his way up until February, 1922, when he was made manager of the company. The plant dates back many years to a time when the elder Dreischmeyer ran a brick plant on this site; he was succeeded by Mr. Peterson who made bricks for the building of Lick Observa- tory. Later Gust Kartschoke joined him and they in- corporated the Peterson-Kartschoke Brick Company, the present owner being G. R. Chambers, who is president, while J. W. Chambers is manager. They manufacture machine-made brick by the stiff mud wire-cut process and all the product is handled on elec- tric trucks. The capacity of the machine is 50,000 bricks a day, while there is a 30,000 a day kiln capacity. The yards and factory are located at Third and Keys streets, while their clay bank or mines are on Coyote Creek, three-fourths of a mile away, carrying a deposit of loam clay which makes an excellent brick, their product being shipped to different cities on the coast between San Francisco and San Luis Obispo. Mr. Chambers is a very enterprising young man and is a member of the San Jose Builders' Exchange and Chamber of Commerce, and is also a charter mem- ber of the San Jose Commercial Club.

WILLIAM R. BIAGGI .- The family to which William R. Biaggi belongs has been identified in a substantial way with California's early history, his parents being Anibale F. and Mary (Bradley) Biaggi. Mrs. Biaggi was a member of the Bradley family of Mendocino County, while the father was a passenger on the first train over the Union Pacific Railroad, and has the distinction of helping to lay the last rail, on that memorable occasion when East and West were linked. He planted the famous olive orchard known as the Palo Alto Grove on Julian Street and built the first modern olive oil mill on that property. He is now a well-to-do orchardist of Santa Clara County, and with his wife is now enjoying the fruits of their early toil.

William R. Biaggi was born at San Jose and at- tended the public schools of his native county. Upon leaving school he accepted a position as third stew- ard at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, remaining there but one year, however, as he had always been anxious to engage in the practice of law. With this goal in view he went into the office of William A. Bowden, a prominent attorney of San Jose, and on October 28, 1910, he was admitted to the practice of law, in which profession he has since continued. His practice has grown to such proportions that he is considered one of the most successful lawyers of San Jose; he is an authority on tax title laws, and has prepared a book on this subject.

His marriage in March, 1919, united him with Miss Rebecca J. Johnson, a native daughter resid-

Cappa

Joseph

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ing at Gilroy, Cal., and they have one child, Nyla Jane. In political views Mr. Biaggi is independent and believes in the fitness of the man for the office rather than party affiliation. At the beginning of the recent war, he entered the service of his country, but on account of physical disability, was discharged. He is a trustee of the Italo-American Club of Santa Clara County and is an active member of the County Bar Association, taking an active part in all civic reforms, and is ever ready with plans for the ad- vancement of his community. An up-to-date and enterprising lawyer, Mr. Biaggi is to be congratu- lated upon the success he has made of his life.

JOSEPH CAPPA .- A self-made man in the best sense implied by the term, Joseph Cappa is justly entitled to the success which he has achieved in the past thirty years. In the year 1890 he came to this state with nothing but his own ability to pre- sage the success which should one day be his, and through the intervening years has worked with a patience, energy and perseverance unsurpassed, and today is the prosperous owner of many acres of the finest orchard lands in Santa Clara County. Born at Castellamonte, Italy, July 16, 1870, he is the son of Dominic and Mary Cappa, both natives of the same province. His early education was obtained in the public schools of his native province, but the family having only the meager earnings of his father as a common laborer, Joseph Cappa became depend- ent upon his own resources, and with the spirit of independence and thrift, characteristic of his race, sought to make his own way in the world. Realizing the opportunities offered by America, he sailed from his native land August 9, 1890, and reaching San Francisco September 20, with fifty cents in his pock- ets he went to work as a dishwasher at the meager wage of eight dollars per month; a year later he en- tered the employ of Louis Caffero, proprietor of the Roma Hotel in Sacramento, and was with him for three and a half years. While thus employed, he was attacked by malarial fever, and his doctor ordered him to go to Santa Clara Valley, and he came hither, his resources having diminished to a last two-bit piece; here he so fully recovered that he has since enjoyed perfect health.

Having learned the trade of potter in the old country, Mr. Cappa was employed by the Steigger Pottery Works of San Jose for two years; then he began working for J. C. Merithew, the owner of the Santa Clara Wine Depot. With the practice of economy and thrift he was able to save considerable money, and in 1899 he bought out Mr. Merithew. In 1919 this business was discontinued, and his re- sources have been invested in orchard and vineyard lands, and he now owns a fine property of 160 acres sixteen miles from San Jose in the Cupertino dis- trict, one of the finest orchard districts of Santa Clara County; Mr. Cappa also owns a fine residence property on East St. John Street, besides the busi- ness block formerly occupied by the Santa Clara Wine Depot, on the corner of Third and San Fer- nando Streets, but now leased to the Orlando Meat Packing Company.

Mr. Cappa was married in San Jose in 1900, be- ing united with Miss Mary Baduini, also born in Italy, and they have been blessed with two sons,

Victor E., a graduate of San Jose high school and now a student in the Department of Law, University of California, class of 1923, and Joseph D., a gradu- ate of the San Jose high school, who is assisting Mr. Cappa on the ranch. Politically a stanch supporter of the Republican party, Mr. Cappa is an active mem- ber of the Druids, having passed through all the chairs; also a member of the Italian Benevolent So- ciety of San Jose. He has been a firm believer in the prosperity and development of Santa Clara County and with the interest of a loyal citizen has watched its advancement and growth until it has reached its present high standard of civilization. He has always been a good friend, a generous neighbor, and bears modestly and confidently a success which might well be the inspiration of the toilers of today.

MIGUEL H. NARVAEZ .- The family of which Miguel H. Narvaez is a member has been con- nected with the history of Santa Clara County for the past century. A native son he was born April 13, 1879, in San Jose, where his parents, Joseph and Maria (Alviso) Narvaez, were born and reared. Grandfather Narvaez came from Spain to California over one hundred years ago and acquired vast hold- ings by Spanish grants. The courage which promp- ted the grandfather to leave the parental roof in old Spain and seek a home in a new country, is the kind that is the foundation of the civilization of the West, and makes the pioneer and upbuilder of the West a man of more than historical moment. In history we find that a Narvaez was the chief lieu- tenant with Columbus on his discovery of America. Grandfather Joseph Alviso was born in this valley as was his forefathers for several generations, and all were prominent in their respective times. Joseph Alviso was the local judge as well as a trader. He traded tallow and hides for English cloth and silks which were brought hither around Cape Horn. His was one of the most prominent and aristocratic families here.

Miguel H. Narvaez received his early education in the public schools of San Jose, later taking a course in St. Joseph's College and was, for a short time, a student at Santa Clara College. Imbued with a roving spirit, inherited from his grandfather, he spent many years traveling extensively throughout the country. After satisfying his wanderlust, he took charge of a laundry in Santa Cruz; then was a mem- ber of the San Jose Fire Department for fourteen years, serving as captain for twelve years. In July, 1918, he became district manager of the National Ice Cream Company at San Jose and is capably filling this position. As such he opened the business for the National Ice Cream Company in San Jose. He per- sonally went into the field, extending along the Coast from San Mateo to San Luis Obispo County, and has succeeded in working up a business that has grown to such proportions it is conceded to be the best paying of any of the branches of the company whose headquarters are in San Francisco. The local branch has grown to be a plant with a value of $150,000 in three years with a capacity of 6000 gallon storage and the National Ice Cream Company has grown to be one of the largest in California. Mr. Narvaez is a stockholder in the company and naturally takes pride in the part he has taken to make it a success.

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The marriage of Mr. Narvaez, November 20, 1907, united him with Miss Mabel G. Cox, also a native of California and a resident of Saratoga. To them have been born three children, Creelman, Wilma, and Marie. Politically, Mr. Narvaez is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Independent Order of Foresters and also of the Loyal Order of Moose. Whenever possible, he finds recreation in outdoor life, and is an ardent admirer of our national game of baseball. Mr. Narvaez is a highly respected member of the community, and is ever ready to cooperate in progressive measures.

W. C. McCOMBS .- Occasionally one meets a young man who, while pursuing his college course has the courage and determination to establish and oper- ate a business of his own, as has W. C. McCombs, who conducts the Stanford Cafe and the California Restaurant located on Emerson Street, Palo Alto, and is making good in both undertakings. He was born in Texas, February 25, 1895, and came with his parents, Henry and Mary Gertrude (Windsor) Mc- Combs, to California and settled in Orange County, where they still reside.

W. C. McCombs grew up at Fullerton and was educated in the grammar and high schools, grad- uating from the Fullerton high school in 1915; he then entered Stanford University and is taking a course in mechanical engineering. The Stanford Cafe, of which he is the proprietor, caters to a good trade, a first class quality is maintained throughout and he is making a good profit year by year. Mr. McCombs is a football player of note; he is large, muscular, active and powerful, weighing 215 pounds. He is possessed of a fine intellect and an optimistic spirit, and is likely to succeed in all that he under- takes. He is not afraid of hard work and his intel- ligently directed efforts in his business affairs are bringing him merited reward. A young man of strong and forceful character, he is enterprising and public spirited, and worthily enjoys the respect and esteem of the residents of Palo Alto and vicinity.

ERMENEGILDO CALANCHINI .- A resident of California since 1905, Ermenegildo Calanchini, now an enterprising business man of Los Gatos, was born in Linescio, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, November 25, 1891. His father, Baptiste Calanchini, married Miss Albina Bolli and was a farmer in the Alps region, where the mother died in 1893. The father came to California while our subject was still a little child, and became a dairyman near Petaluma, where he now lives retired. Of the two children born of this union, Er- menegildo is the youngest and the only one to grow to maturity and was carefully reared by his Grand- mother Bolli, receiving a good education in the local schools. When he reached the age of fourteen he de- termined to try his luck in California, and although he regretted leaving his grandmother he responded to the desire to join his father, arriving in Petaluma November 4, 1905. For a while he assisted his father in his ranching and also attended one term of public school. He spent some years in San Francisco and Petaluma, being employed in resaturants and hotels. In 1913 he came to Santa Clara County, locating in San Jose, where he was in the employ of the Swiss- American Hotel for a period of four years, until he enlisted in the United States Army November 4, 1917.

He trained at Camp Lewis, then at Camp Kearny, and later at Camp Hancock, Georgia, until he was ordered overseas. Leaving New York April 1, 1918, he duly arrived in France, having stopped in Liverpool en- route. After training for three weeks they were sent to the front and he was at Chateau Thierry, July 15 to 20, when he went over the top with others of his comrades; and afterwards in the Battle of the Marne, on July 26, he was gassed and wounded, be- ing carried from the field, necessitating his remaining in the hospital for more than thirty days. Rejoining his regiment he was in active service until the Armis- tice. He was among the first of the troops ordered home, and returning to New York he received his honorable discharge in December, 1918, when he im- mediately returned to San Jose.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 257

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