History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 258

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

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Two weeks later he was married to Miss Edith Bonzani, born at Pescadero, California, who has proven to he his able assistant. Mr. Calanchini then spent a little more than two years as a boiler maker with the Southern Pacific Railroad, resigning October 20, 1921, to engage in business in Los Gatos. He purchased the Italian Star Restaurant on East Main Street and changed the name to the Liberty Restau- rant. He also bought a half-interest with S. E. Guiglielmoni in the Liberty Cigar Store, at the same time selling a half-interest in his restaurant to Mr. Guiglielmoni, continuing the business together, and they are meeting with deserving success. Mr. Calan- chini understands the restaurant business and leaves nothing undone to make it a popular as well as a profitable business place, dispensing the best of foods and giving excellent service. He has a host of friends in the county that go out of their way to patronize him and wish him well. He is a member of the Druids and the Los Gatos Camp of the American Legion.

LEWIS DAN BOHNETT .- A San Jose attorney enjoying wide esteem, whose scholarly knowledge and strictly ethical practice of the law has conferred additional distinction on the California Bar, is Lewis Dan Bohnett, of the well-known firm of Bohnett & Hill, whose offices are in the Bank of San Jose Building. He was born in Santa Clara County on March 1, 1880, the son of Joseph Bohnett, a native of Michigan who came West to California in 1871 and settled as a farmer in Santa Clara County. He married Miss Tamer I. Barker, a native of this county, and their happy union was blessed with eleven children, among whom Lewis was the third. He was able to go through both the primary and the secondary schools, and was graduated from the high school at Campbell in 1902, although he was compelled for six years to drop out of school. In 1906, he was also graduated from the law school of the University of California, when he received the degree of Bachelor of Letters.

Thus well-equipped for actual work, Mr. Bohnett was admitted to practice at the Bar in California in 1907, and on March 1 of the following year he opened on office for himself, at San Jose. From the start, his services were in demand, and as each year went by, he enjoyed more and more patronage of the kind that every young lawyer likes to see com- ing his way; and in the fall of 1916 he and Henry G. Hill formed the partnership noted above in which Mr. Bohnett is the senior member. Before practic- ing, he had been deputy county clerk, and in that

CarlBlack

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responsible position he had added much to his ex- perience. In 1908 he was elected to the State Legis- lature from Santa Clara County, and from 1909 until 1915 he discharged that considerable responsibility with credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of all who had official relations with him.

At San Jose, on November 9, 1910, Mr. Bohnett was married to Miss Ivadelle Bevens, a native of Michigan, and the daughter of Edgar A. Bevens; and their union has been blessed with two sons, John Bevens and Lewis Dan, Jr. In national politics a live-wire Republican, but in local affairs a good non- partisan "booster," Mr. Bohnett lends a hand in the work of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, and the Commercial Club, and takes a healthy interest in public affairs generally. He is a 32d degree Scot- tish Rite Mason, and a Shriner, and belongs to the Odd Fellows, Native Sons of the Golden West, and Woodmen of the World-an interesting list of social, political and eivie commercial activities.

CARL BLADH .- A good education and practical experience have enabled Carl Bladh to make a strik- ing success of his life's work. A recent acquisition to Palo Alto business circles, he is thoroughly versed in all branches of the creamery business. Born in Holmsjo, Sweden, April 3, 1880, he is the son of Carl and Hildah Bladh, who were born, reared and mar- ried in Sweden. His father was a farmer, and here the son had his first lessons in agricultural pursuits. The family consisted of one son and seven daughters. The daughters are all married and live in Sweden.

Carl Bladh obtained his preliminary education in the public schools of his native town; when he was fourteen years of age, he went to Denmark to attend the dairy school at Bogebjerg. Here he received theoretical as well as practical training in cheese and butter making, remaining there for a three year course. After finishing school, he was employed as manager for various dairies and creameries through- out Denmark, covering a period of ten years. En- thused by the stories of the wonderful land across the seas, after a short visit with his parents in Swe- den, he set sail for America on the steamship Oscar the Second, landing at Ellis Island April 30, 1907. Coming direct to California, he went to Humboldt County, where he obtained employment with the Sunset Creamery Company of Loleta. He was later employed by different creameries in Humboldt County for several years. Going to Fresno, he be- came local manager and later sales agent for the Cali- fornia Central Creameries. He next removed to San Luis Obispo County and was engaged in the same line of work. Later still he removed to San Fran- cisco, where he continued in the employ of the Cali- fornia Creameries and later assumed the manage- ment of the Russell Creamery Company, in San Francisco, for two years, after which for the next two years, he handled the products of the Marin County Milk Producers Association as manager. His next move was to Stockton, where he became man- ager for A. B. Stowe of the Stockton Creamery; a short time later he purchased an interest in the Valley Creamery Company, and a little later in 1915. he be- came the proprietor of the Royal Ice Cream Company at Stockton, which he successfully operated until he sold it. He also purchased a creamery at Lodi, which he afterwards disposed of at a fair profit. During

the year of 1919, he spent three months on a visit with his parents in Sweden; returning to America in 1920 he settled in San Jose. On May 1, 1921. he purchased the half interest of Geo. Gulmon in the Royal Ice Cream Company, at 54 South Second Street. Disposing of his interests in San Jose Feb- ruary 1, 1922, he came to Palo Alto and bought out the Palo Alto Dairy, located at 314 University Ave- nue, which he has remodeled and refurnished at an expense of $6,000, paying particular attention to sani- tation, in which respect it is the foremost plant of its kind in the Santa Clara Valley. He also purchased the beautiful new bungalow at 151 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, where with his wife and three children he is happily domiciled. The marriage of Mr. Bladh oc- curred in Fresno and united him with Miss Con- stance Gardini, a native daughter of Oregon, whose father, Joe Gardini, is a retired business man of Fresno. Mrs. Bladh was reared and educated in the schools of Fresno. Mr. and Mrs. Bladh are the par- ents of three children; P. Leonard; Dorothy Ann and Selma Maxine. The optimistic spirit which he pos- sesses, coupled with natural resourcefulness, has brought him to the present era of prosperity and progress. He has taken out his first papers, and gives his loyal support to his adopted country.

MRS. ELMYRA T. PURVIANCE .- Prominent in the social and civic life of Los Gatos, Mrs. Elmyra T. Purviance is a native of Peru, Nebr., a daughter of John C. and Margaret Wyne, who moved from Wabash. Ind., by teams and wagons in 1856 and were among the first settlers of Peru, Nebr., where the father opened the first blacksmith shop. He served in the Civil War as a member of the Nebraska regi- ment and was an honored member of the G. A. R. He retired from the pioneer business he had estab- lished when he was seventy years of age, and lived to be eighty-four, his wife having preceded him many years before at the age of forty-seven, leaving him nine children, eight of whom are living: Dora, Mrs. Hazeltine, lives in Colorado; Elmyra, Mrs. Purvi- ance; Mary, Mrs. Craig, died in Canada; Isabell, is Mrs. Adams of Peru; Mrs. Annie Hawley of Brock, Nebr .; Mrs. May Jones of Clarkson, Nebr .; Mrs. Lena Huston of Neligh, the same state; John V. Wyne of Kenesaw, Nebr., and Lola, Mrs. Bishop of Kearney, Nebr.

Elmyra Wyne, after completing the public schools, attended the State Normal at Peru, Nebr. She was married in that city in 1879 to Warren C. Purviance, a native of Eaton, O., a graduate of Notre Dame College, Chicago. He engaged in teaching and came to Peru, Nebr., in 1875, where he engaged in the mercantile business. Later he was appointed post- master at Peru and held the position to the satis- faction of all concerned for seventeen years. During these years he was also interested in farming in that vicinity. Resigning as postmaster in 1892 he re- moved to Los Gatos, Cal., with his family, purchas- ing a ranch on Santa Cruz Avenue and engaging in horticulture. He died in Los Gatos in 1910, having made many friends, who with his family mourned his loss. Besides his widow he left four children: George A., of Lemon Cove: John Marshall, a rancher at Los Gatos; Mrs. Sarah L. Alford of Watsonville: and Warren Dorsey of Los Gatos, an electrician who served in the World War. Mrs. Purviance continues

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to make her home in Los Gatos, looking after her interests which includes an apartment house on Uni- versity Avenue. She is an active member of the Christian Church and is ex-president of the Ladies' Aid Society, as well as a member of the W. C. T. U. Fraternally she is a member of the Rebekahs, Royal Neighbors, Fraternal Aid, the Order of Pocahontas, the Woman's Relief Corps, and Woman's Auxiliary of the American Legion.

JONATHAN PIKE .- An interesting couple who are happy in helping others and particularly those who have not been fortunate in obtaining a start are Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Pike of Los Gatos. Mr. Pike was born in Delaware County, Pa., August 30, 1850, a son of Jonathan and Louise (Umble) Pike. The father was born in New York state and migrat- ed to Ohio, where he was a farmer, later removing to Paris, Iowa, where he also followed farming. The mother passed away in 1857, and the father some years later. Jonathan was next to the youngest of their four children, having removed with his parents to Iowa in 1854, making the journey by team and wagons, and there he was reared on a pioneer farm. After his mother died, though only seven years of age, he started out to paddle his own canoe, and from then on made his own way. He naturally had a hard time of it, for the pathway of the orphan boy was not strewn with roses. He worked for his living on farms as best he could and attended the local schools when opportunity afforded, which was usually limited to winters. When fifteen years of age he began working at ten dollars a month, con- tinuing for the same man for three years; after- wards his industry and willingness to work brought him raises of wages to eighteen dollars, twenty dol- lars, twenty-one dollars, the highest wages paid in that section for farm work.

On January 8, 1872, Mr. Pike was married to Sarah Lander, a native of Iowa. In 1873 he re- moved to Hamilton County, Nebr., where he took a homestead twelve miles from Aurora, which he improved and proved up on; later he purchased an eighty-acre tract adjoining and had a splendid farm with a good residence. This he sold and pur- chased another farm nearer Aurora, and there his wife died, leaving him seven children: Charles Ed- ward resides in Fresno; Hattie B. and Zelma both deceased; Arthur William resides in Hanford; Robert E. lives in San Jose; Mrs. Edith Ellen Foster of Spreckels, Cal .; Fred of Arlight, Cal., served four years in the U. S. Navy.

In 1895 Mr. Pike came to California and superin- tended a ranch for Mr. Jamison at Los Banos for eight years, then he purchased a ranch at Dos Palos, and while living there he married Mrs. Jen- nie Luenhouse, who later passed away. Next he removed to Pacific Grove where he had a wood yard for twelve years. At Salinas in 1917, he was mar- ried the third time to Mrs. Carrie A. (Van Wart) Maynard, who was born in New York, a daughter of William Van Wart, who was with the side-wheel steamer, New World, that came through the Straits of Magellan, with 900 passengers to San Francisco in 1851. Her mother was Sarah Mongeir, born in New York of French descent. She passed away in 1858. In December of that year, Mrs. Pike came with her father to San Francisco where she was married to

Harry Maynard, who was born in London, England, and was a prize fighter in his younger days and an engineer by trade. Coming to California, he was employed at his trade in San Francisco. He or- ganized the California Athletic Club, later the Pacific Athletic Club. Later he took up ranching at Santa Cruz and afterwards in Tehama County. He was a talented musician and they travelled in musical comedies for sixteen years. Mr. Maynard played thirty-six different instruments. Mrs. Maynard was a gifted singer, having a wonderful voice with a range of three octaves and with her playing, singing and dancing, was his able assistant. There they were both converted and entered into evangelistic work in the Baptist Church, being located at Sac- ramento, where Mr. Maynard was gardener at the state grounds when he died September 23, 1908. She then joined the Volunteers of America and as captain traveled in her work over two states, later doing prison work in different parts of California. She made her home in Pacific Grove and it was there she met Mr. Pike. She then quit her work with the Volunteers to devote her time to their household. About a year later while Mr. and Mrs. Pike were out riding they were ran down by a speeder and she was crippled for life. In 1921, on account of Mrs. Pike's health, they located in Los Gatos, purchasing their present residence on East Main Street, where they make their home; so here in this beautiful foot- hill city this interesting and kindly disposed couple are spending the evening of their life doing what they can by their upright life to use their influence for good. Mr. Pike is a member of the Free Methodist Church and they are both strong for temperance and civic and moral righteousness.

FRED PETER .- Coming from an excellent Swiss-American family and a native son of Califor- nia, Fred Peter is becoming very successful in his business as proprietor of Peter's Cheese Depot, lo- cated at 39 South Market Street. He was born in San Jose on January 30, 1892, the son of Rudolph and Louise (Banman) Peter; the father is a native of Switzerland, having been born in Canton Aargau and educated in the public schools there. He came to San Jose in 1887, and purchased a home. Later he was with Larkins and Company for ten years, as a carriage and automobile painter, but he is now as- sisting his son in his business. The mother is also a native of Switzerland, and she and her husband came to America, when he was twenty-one years old, landing in New York City in May, 1882. They came to California and, going to Visalia, Mr. Peter engaged in ranching near that city, later coming to San Jose, where the family established their home at 781 McKendrie Street. They are the parents of four children: Rudolph Walter is manufacturing dental and shaving cream in San Jose; Werner mar- ried Miss Alice Harrington of San Jose, and is a machinist in the employ of Hendy Iron Works at Sunnyvale; Fred, of this review; Erna is a graduate of the San Jose high school, class of 1920, and is now taking a post-graduate course.

Fred attended the public schools of San Jose from which he graduated, and then he began clerking in a store of R. Blauer, where he was steadily em- ployed from the age of seventeen until in 1915. He then purchased the business from his employer and

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began operating under his own name and has proven this to be a very successful undertaking. He makes a specialty of full-cream cheese, both domestic and imported; also has a well selected stock of delica- cies. Mr. Peter's place in San Jose's business cir- cles and his success are the result of having the best goods obtainable and by courteous treatment to his customers. He is popular in social and business cir- cles of San Jose, is a member of the Yeomen Lodge. Mr. Peter is much interested in the affairs of San Jose and Santa Clara County and gives his aid to all projects that will better the community. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

FRANK GIARDANO .- Although foreign-born, Frank Giardano is a loyal American citizen and is proud of his adopted country. Born at Filadelfia, Cantanzaro, Italy, March 23, 1875, he is the son of Mikel and Veronica (Rendinelli) Giardano. The father, a flour miller by trade, passed away in 1894, but the mother still lives in Italy. They were the parents of five children, Frank being next to the old- est. Although having very little opportunity for schooling, yet he studied by himself and has made his way successfully. He worked for his father until he was twenty-three years old, then came to America, landing in New York City. He then went to Morgantown, W. Va., and worked there for a while and took out his first citizenship papers. He then removed to Kentucky and later to Ohio where he took out his second papers at Xenia, Ohio. He worked for various railroad companies in the Eastern and Middle West states, for some time for the B. & O. Railroad, and also for the Santa Fe in Missouri. In April, 1906, he removed to California and worked for two years at Sacramento in the Southern Pacific Railroad yards and then as a me- chanic in the ice-making department of the Buffalo Brewing Company. Then he removed to San Jose and became the foreman of a construction gang on the San Jose, Santa Cruz branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad with sixty men under him. Not being satisfied with this kind of work, he went into the shoe-repairing business, having a shop on North San Pedro Street and soon after opened a shoe store at Tenth and Santa Clara streets and was thus engaged until the outbreak of the last war. He sold out his business and bought property on White Road just south of Alum Rock Avenue. He built the first store in that section and started a shoe-repairing business. He then added a line of groceries and since that time has built an addi- tion which has more than doubled his store space and has a thriving business, wholly devoted to gro- ceries. He also has a feed business and oil filling station in proximity to his grocery.

On June 14, 1908, Mr. Giardano was married to Miss Virginia Palermo, a native of Louisiana, born at New Orleans. Her father was a native of Paler- mo, Italy, born at Santa Christina, and on coming to Louisiana engaged in farming. The family re- moved to San Jose when Mrs. Giardano was a small girl. The family are members of the East San Jose Catholic Church, and Mr. Giardano is a member of the I. D. E. S. lodge of San Jose. They are the parents of eight children: Madeline, Mike, Martin, Lena, Mario, Katherine, deceased, Manuel and Katherine. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Giardino

had only $2.50 in his pocket and had no property. After he was married he rented two rooms, bought $175 worth of furniture, all on credit, and went to house keeping. He went to work at ten dollars a week and began paying off. Two months later an automobile ran over him and broke his leg. While convalescing he sold the only property he had, his bicycle, for $5.00. The same day he found a small place on San Pedro Street, rented it and started in at shoe repairing. He had a sign painted for him: "Shoe Repairing, All Work Guaranteed." It cost him three dollars but he did not pay for it for two weeks. He went to the Eberhard Tanning Com- pany, got a quantity of leather on sixty days' credit, paid his debts and cleaned up $250.00. Later he bought this property and built his store building which he later enlarged to 40x60 and also built a warehouse adjoining, 20x30. He now conducts a large business, discounts his bills and is worth in the neighborhood of $21,000.

CARLETON JAY HINDS .- One of the most enterprising and liberal hearted business men in San Jose who always had the interests of Santa Clara County at heart was the late Carleton Jay Hinds, who was born in Midland, Mich., May 6, 1864, where he received a good education in the grammar and high school of his native city. After his school days were over he entered the store of his father, Wm. Hinds, known as the Pioneer Drug Store and there he studied pharmacy and later was associated with his father in business until he was appointed post- master of Midland, a place he filled acceptably and well for a term of four years. He then engaged in the confectionery business in the same city, meet- ing with success, and he became one of the pros- perous business men. During this time he travelled considerably in the East and South, spending sev- eral winters in Florida. Wishing to locate in Cali- fornia, he came to San Jose in 1892, where he estab- lished himself in the confectionery business.

In this city, on December 31, 1896, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Bessie (Darlington) May, a native of Liverpool, England, who when fourteen years of age, came to Toronto, Canada, with her sister and there she completed her education in the public schools. There too, she was married to George May, their union resulting in the birth of two chil- dren, one of whom is living, Victor D., who is now associated with Mrs. Hinds in business. In 1891. Mrs. May came to San Jose, and it was here she met and married Mr. Hinds. Mr. Hinds disposed of his first confectionery establishment and later started the Victory Candy Chop, on North First Street, where he built up a large business, their shop being ex- quisitely furnished and artistically arranged. They soon had a large business as manufacturers, whole- salers and retailers of fine confectionery. Mr. Hinds' affability and pleasing personality won him hosts of friends, who all regretted his unfortunate and un- timely end, August 14, 1921, when he was murdered, being shot down in cold blood by three assassins.

Mr. Hinds was progressive and enterprising and was much interested in the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, of which he was a member. Very promi- nent in fraternal organizations, he was a member of the Woodmen of the World, and was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, as well as a

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member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Amaranth, and the White Shrine. A protectionist, he was nat- urally a very strong Republican in his political prefer- ment. After her husband's death, Mrs. Hinds as- sumed the management of the Victory Candy Shop and with the aid of her son, Victor D., who is asso- ciated with her in the enterprise, she is building up the business on the same plan outlined and followed so successfully by her husband, a business in which she is showing remarkable ability and tact. Mrs. Hinds is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is also a member and has been an official in the Order of Eastern Star, the Amaranth and the White Shrine, and the San Jose Woman's Club.

LOUIS A. SCAGLIONE .- Business enterprise in San Jose finds a prominent represntative in Louis A. Scaglione, a successful contractor of this city. He is progressive, energetic and capable in the man- agement of his interests and with the passing years his business has constantly increased in volume and importance. He is a native of Italy, his birth hav- ing occurred in the Aprigliano, Cozena, on April 1, 1884. His parents were Phillip and Louisa (Pino) Scaglione, the former a merchant tailor. In their family were six children, three sons and three daugh- ters, the subject of this review being the third son. Louis A. was reared in the city of Aprigliano, where he received a good education, and after his school days were over he apprenticed himself at the car- penter's trade for three years, and then continued carpentering there until he was nineteen years of age, when he decided to cast in his lot with the Land of the Stars and Stripes. Leaving the Mediterranean port of Naples in the Steamer Weimer, he arrived at New York in May, 1903, being a friendless youth with no knowledge of the English language and cus- toms of this country, and not being able to speak English, he was unable to find employment in this city. Undismayed by these obstacles, he fearlessly faced the future and gladly accepted any employment which would give him an honest living. So he made his way to Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada, where he worked hard with pick and shovel for eight months. Having picked up a little English, he returned to New York City and obtained a job as a carpenter from a builder named John Fredel, and he showed his ability as a builder to the extent that Mr. Fredel was so well impressed with him in six months' time he made him foreman of jobs, and during the next few years he had charge of the construction of some large buildings, continuing in that position until 1911, when he resigned, having decided to come to Cali- fornia. During this eight years he devoted his leisure hours to the mastery of English, a matter that has been of great assistance to him. Arriving in San Jose in January, 1911, friends having preceded him to this locality, his worth and ability were soon rec- ognized, and he was made a foreman of a crew of carpenters. In 1912 he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to embark in an independent venture and he engaged in business as a contractor and builder. In the execution of contracts he is prompt and reliable, and with the passing years his business has grown in volume and important until it has now reached extensive and profitable propor- tions. He also has other interests, being the owner of a fifty-five-acre orchard in East San Jose.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 258

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