History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 84

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 84

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).

In 1879, Mr. Crawford was married at Sedalia, Mo .. to Miss Claudia Blair, the daughter of Milo Blair, deceased, a prominent newspaper man and a politi- cian, of Sedalia; and she died at Gilroy, mourned by a wide circle of devoted friends, in 1913. The next year, at San Francisco, Mr. Crawford married Miss Lillian Hilton, a native daughter of Gilroy, whose father was Thomas Hilton, a prominent and well-to- do orchardist of Santa Clara County. One child, Miss Esther Crawford, now a pupil of the Gilroy school, blessed this second union. The family enjoy a very desirable estate, with a fine residence and a well-improved orchard of about twenty-five acres of rich creek-hottom lands, and other acreage, situated in the Bodfish Creek district, west of Gilroy, and there, to a large circle of devoted friends, they dis- pense a generous hospitality. Mr. Crawford is not only prominent as a Mason, but he enjoys the esteem of all who admire him for his ambition to do the work he sets out to do.

Wärmer Hutton

515

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

WARNER HUTTON .- A resident of California for almost three score years and ten, Warner Hut- ton came to California with his parents in 1854. Born in New York City, March 9, 1842, he is the son of Henry and Eleanor (Foster) Hutton, also born in New York City, who on coming to the Coast first settled in San Francisco. During the year of 1870 the father bought a ranch on the Quito Road in the vicinity of Saratoga and improved it to orchard and lived there in peace and plenty until he passed away in his eightieth year, while his widow survived him and died at almost 100 years old. Warner's preliminary education was obtained principally in the schools of San Francisco. As a boy he was always interested in engineering and his desire was to run a locomotive, but to learn it thoroughly in those days meant for him to go back to New York and his mother would not consent to his going away. He was employed in San Francisco until his parents moved to the ranch at Saratoga, when he also came here and assisted in setting out the orchards and caring for them.

When Mr. Hutton's father passed away, the home place became his and he has developed it to such a degree that it brings him a good income each season. Mr. Hutton is a Republican in his party affiliations and spends much time in the great out- doors hunting and fishing when opportunity affords. He has always been interested in the growth and prosperity of Santa Clara County and especially in Saratoga and vicinity, and aids in progressive move- ments looking to the upbuilding of the community which has so long been his home.

RICHARD GALLAGHER,-Widely known as a highly respected citizen of Santa Clara County, Rich- ard Gallagher is among the prominent pioneer farm- ers of the valley, contributing much to the growth and prosperity of his native county and state. He was born in Santa Clara County, August 10, 1863, the son of Andrew Thomas and Maria Remonda (Martin) Gallagher, the former a native of New York and the latter of Scotch descent. An- drew Thomas Gallagher was the son of Andrew Thomas Gallagher, a native of Ireland, but came to America more than a century ago. The boy- hood of Andrew Thomas was spent in New York where he was educated and where he learned the trade of tailor. During the year of 1848, he em- barked on the steamer John W. Cater, for a voy- age around Cape Horn to California. Arriving in San Francisco on the 14th day of March, 1849, he soon made a purchase of the launch Mary and Catherine. After making a few trips to Sonoma, he sold the vessel and entered the mines in Tu- olumne County, but only remained there for a few months, when he began teaming between Alviso and Santa Clara, at the same time transporting freight between San Francisco and Alviso, having pur- chased the schooner Catherine Miller, using her in this trade, and a part of the time commanded the vessel himself. He spent some two years in this line of work, and then made a complete change, taking a clerkship in one of the warehouses in Alviso. Meantime he had purchased a half-section of land in the Alviso district and devoted it to the raising of hay and grain; later forty acres were planted to orchard. He also excelled in the culti- vation of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries,

having at one time some thirty-six acres devoted to the raising of small fruits. The mother was the daughter of John and Vaclecia Bernal (Ortega) Mar- tin, her father, a native of Scotland, coming to Cali- fornia in 1829 as ship's carpenter in the English naval service. Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are now living. Both parents have passed away.

Richard Gallagher was educated in the public schools of Santa Clara County, and during vaca- tion time assisted his father on the ranch and thus became well versed in agriculture, and he and his brothers still farm the old homestead near Alviso.

The marriage of Mr. Gallagher united him with Miss Elizabeth Stelzer, and they dispense hospital- ity at their comfortable home at 146 South Four- teenth Street, San Jose. Politically, Mr. Gallagher is a Republican, but locally gives his support to progressive, constructive legislation, regardless of party lines, supporting the best men and measures.

GRANVILLE L. SAVAGE .- An orchardist whose life-story of persistent, intelligent industry, is Granville L. Savage, who lives in Sunnyvale and operates an orchard one-half of a mile to the south of said city. Coming as a mere boy to the Golden State, even as a boy he had a rich pioneer ex- perience such as many seeking adventure might envy, and which others, wishing to know life as it really is, might desire. He was born at Ottawa, Ill., on March 29, 1855, the son of Captain William E. Sav- age, of Bangor, Maine, who made many a trans- atlantic trip from New York to Liverpool with the best steamers of his day. He married at Povidence, R. I., Miss Elizabeth E. Kennedy, after which, with his wife, he migrated westward to Ottawa, Ill., where he took up farming. The worthy couple had eight children, among whom our subject is the fourth in the order of birth and the third son.

When five years old Granville accompanied his father and two brothers to California, leaving their farm of 700 acres, and outfitting with mule-wagons, horses and cattle at Ottawa, from which place they set out. They had mule-wagons, also horses and cattle, and joined a train made up of fifty-six wagons, captained by William E. Savage. On their way they had several battles with the Indians, but they pulled up at Sacramento at the end of a six months' jour- ney, in the early winter of 1859. They remained at Sacramento for a year, and then moved into San Joaquin County, where they settled about two and one-half miles from Lodi, and there Captain Savage became an extensive raiser of wheat. He also en- gaged in freighting, owning and operating many teams in freighting, and he drove thirty-two mules on freight wagons all through the mining country.

Meanwhile Granville attended the school in the Houston district until he was fifteen, when he left off studying and went to San Francisco for his first tussle with the busy world. He obtained a job as clerk in Bowen Bros. grocery store on Pine Street, where he worked from six a.m. until five p.m., and then he attended evening school until ten o'clock at night. In addition, he took a couple of hours of lessons on Sundays. Then he entered the service of a San Francisco commission house, handling general produce, and at the end of two years, he became a commercial drummer, traveling up and down the

516

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

coast, and at times representing as many as five dit- ferent wholesale houses. He worked very hard, at- tending strictly to business, and saved his earnings. and he made as much as $12,000 per year. Naturally gifted as a salesman, Mr. Savage had no difficulty in entertaining his patrons with stories from actual life. In crossing the plains, for example, the emi- grants found the Indians not only hostile, but very artful. Their game was to stampede the trains, and then to rob and steal the cattle, horses, mules and wagons. Captain Savage was equal to the emer- gency, however, he engaged two trappers, who formed the wagons into cireles, when the emergency arose, kept them moving, and thus stood off the In- dians and saved the train. After the battles they found that several Indians had gone to more distant hunting grounds. Getting established in the Golden State, Mr. Savage saw the completion of the Central Pacific Railway, now the Southern Pacific Railroad, from Stockton to Sacramento, with all the interesting incidents growing out of the great, momentous un- dertaking. He made his first trip to San Jose with his father in 1862, and he was at Gilroy in 1868, at the time of the earthquake.

After an experience of ten years as a traveling salesman, Mr. Savage went to New York City in 1890, and commenced the manufacture of brass goods such as valves, faucets, etc., and these he shipped to all parts of the United States,' Canada, Europe and South Africa. He succeeded so well that he became well-to-do, but his health broke down, and his life was even despaired of. Then he acted on the reso- lution to come back to California, and once more in this salubrious climate, he bought a twenty-acre orchard devoted to the growing of prunes, peaches and walnuts, which is under a high state of cultiva- tion. There he leads the outdoor life, and applies the same intelligence and energy to the management of his orchard that he formerly spent in his manu- facturing enterprises. He has regained his health. and has been materially rewarded for all his efforts.

At Pt. Arenas, in Mendocino County, in 1877, Mr. Savage was married to Miss Emma V. Antrim, a native of Healdsburg, and a charming, gifted woman, and their union has been blessed with the birth of three children, one of whom, Gertrude, grew to maturity. She graduated from the high school in New York City, then attended the Horace Mann School, and afterward pursued the courses of the Pratt Institute at Brooklyn and the Art Institute in Chicago, and also the Hopkins Art School at San Francisco. During the World War Mr. Savage served on the Federal Grand Jury for the Eastern District of New York from January 6 to May 8. 1918, and assisted in investigating several noted bomb plots, and indicting various spies and the criminals involved in blowing up the Welland Canal, or at least trying to destroy that waterway. From youth to manhood inspired with patriotic zeal, Mr. Savage has never shirked the duty of a citizen having confi- dence in the future and being ambitious of seeing the land or locality of his choice come, and come speedily and richly, to its own.

It is a matter of congratulation to Sunnyvale that Mr. Savage selected that favored spot for his resi- dence, after his extensive business experience and wide travels. He has seen and transacted business

in every state of the Union, Europe, Canada and Alaska. He is the orchardist member of the San Francisco Rotary Club from Sunnyvale, and is al- ways ready to boost and make a concerted pull for Sunnyvale and California.

MRS. CATHERINE F. BRATTAN .- Since the entrance of women into the active civic life of the community during the past generation, so gradually and naturally have they worked to bring about much-needed reforms, that only by comparison with another day can one judge of the forward strides that have been made. Especially is this true in the hundreds of cases that come under the jurisdiction of the courts, particularly where the lives and fu- tures of young people are concerned. Numbered among San Jose's public-spirited women whose in- terests are ever on the side of the community's welfare is Mrs. Catherine F. Brattan, who has been connected with the probation work of Santa Clara County since its inception.

Catherine F. O'Donnell, as she was known in maid- enhood, was born in Northern Pennsylvania, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (McCarton) O'Donnell. She was educated in the public schools of her native state and Ovid Academy, N. Y. Com- ing to California in about 1886. she entered the Sac- ramento Business College, where she was graduated, after which she continued with the institution as a teacher and then served as a court reporter. In Sacramento she became the wife of G. J. Brattan, a native of England. During the year of 1895, Mrs. Brattan came to San Jose where Mr. Brattan was associated in business with the Globe Carriage Works and was thus engaged for thirteen years. During this

time Mrs. Brattan did much volunteer social serv- ice work and particularly in the line of children's welfare work. This brought her into prominence, so that when the probation commission for the coun- ty was named by the judge of the Superior Court she was appointed a member. In 1910 she was ap- pointed probation officer and since then has served continuously. She is probably the first woman pro- bation officer in California and has served under six judges. It is a difficult matter to estimate the amount of good she has accomplished along these lines; her love for the work and the interest she takes in the welfare of the children who come un- der her supervision has horne good fruit and her influence and efforts for the betterment of mankind places her to the front as a county official. Since her appointment no less than 5000 children and 300 adults have passed through the court and all the children have been made better by having known her for she takes great joy in the work of help- ing the unfortunate catch a vision of the higher plane of living.

Mr. and Mrs. Brattan are the parents of one son. Joseph G., a graduate of St. Joseph's high school; he also attended Stanford for a time, Santa Clara College and the University of California agricultural school at Davis, and is now a rancher and packer in Chico. Mrs. Brattan is well fitted by training and temperament for this important post, and has been the means of accomplishing untold good. While deeply interested in her work, she is publie spirit- ed in all that concerns the upbuilding of the com- munity and ever ready to lend a helping hand. She is a regular communicant of St. Joseph's Church.

Catherine H. Brattau

Nils Johnson

519

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

NILS JOHNSON-A public-spirited citizen of San Jose who dates his residence in Santa Clara County since 1879 is Nils Johnson. He was born on the southern coast of Sweden, near Engelholm, Skane, on April 6, 1860, and is the eldest son of Johannes Swenson and Christina Johanson, both na- tives of the same place, who were successful farmers. In younger days the father was a ship carpenter and a cabinet maker.

Nils Johnson received his education in the public schools of his native land, and at the age of fourteen was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He continued working in the farm for his maternal grandfather until nineteen, and in 1879 started out to make his own way in the world and set sail for America. the Mecca of his ambitions. Upon his arrival he made his way to San Jose, California, where he located. He immediately went to the ranch of his Uncle Nils, and was employed there for a short time; then he removed to Bisbee, Ariz., and spent two and a half years in the mines. This was in early days when things were wild and woolly. Then he made his way to Socorro County, N. M., engaging in prospecting, but did not find any pay streak. When his money was gone he returned to Bisbee and continued working in the mines two years, and then returned to San Jose. He then started then in the hotel business.

In 1893 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Hilma L. Peterson, also a native of Sweden, who had come to San Francisco with her sister. Mr. Johnson then continued in the hotel business in San Jose, operat- ing the Scandinavia Exchange on Post Street for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of five children; Hilding is an ex-service man, serv- ing overseas in the World War; Helen is the wife of Charles Kelley, and they reside in San Jose; Nar- rine is the wife of Charles J. Freedman, of Palo Alto; Eben Bertel served in the California National Guard on the Mexican border and now resides in San Jose; George is deceased. Mrs. Johnson passed away Sep- tember 26, 1900.

Soon after arriving in America, Mr. Johnson com- pleted his citizenship and his loyalty to his adopted country is a matter of pride to him. For over thirty- five years Mr. Johnson has been a member of the Odd Fellows, being initiated in Bisbee, Ariz. He is now a member of Observatory Lodge I. O. O. F .. San Jose, and his political affiliations are of the Re- publican platform. He owns valuable real estate on the Almaden Road and is now living retired from active life on this ranch. He is planning still more improvements and will build additional houses to rent. Living retired as he does now, he can look hack upon a clean, industrious, well-spent life, and whenever or wherever possible has given his aid toward the pro- gress and building up of his locality.

WALTER L. BACHRODT .- Active among the educators of California fortunate in an excellent record in the past and now giving the greatest promise for the future may well be numbered Walter L. Bachrodt, the newly-appointed superintendent of schools of San Jose. A native of the great Hawkeye State. Walter Bachrodt was born at Des Moines on April 22, 1890, the son of H. C. Bachrodt, a substantial merchant and assistant postmaster at Des Moines. who died when our subject was a mere boy. Four children made up the family, and three are still liv- ing: the others being a sister, Frances, who has be-

come the wife of Fred Doerr, dealer in electrical supplies at San Jose, and a brother, A. L. Bachrodt. who resides in Nevada, where he is the manager of the Pilt Mill & Elevator Company.

On Washington's Birthday, 1892, Mr. Bachrodt came to San Jose with his mother, and there at- tended the Lowell Grammar School; and later he entered the San Jose high school, from which he graduated in 1907. His next four years were spent in Nevada, where he worked for both the South- ern Pacific Railroad Company and the Verdi Lum- ber Company; and on returning to San Jose he entered the Normal School in 1911, and was grad- nated with honors from that excellent institution in 1913. For five years he was a teacher in Fresno County, and during that time he became principal of the Oleander School.

In 1918. Mr. Bachrodt, responding to naturally patriotic sentiments, enlisted from Fresno County for service in the World War in defense of his country; and he was made sergeant of Company G., Thirteenth Ammunition Corps, and in February, 1919. he was honorably discharged.

Once more enabled to take up the occupations of peace, Mr. Bachrodt entered Stanford University, where he majored in pedagogy and followed educa- tional courses; and in December, 1920, he was granted the Bachelor of Arts degree, and the following year was made a Master of Arts. His standing en- titled him to Phi Bata Kappa, and he was also made a Teaching Fellow of Stanford University. On May 24, 1921, Mr. Bachrodt was appointed superin- tendent of the city schools at San Jose and his juris- diction extends over the nine elementary and the one high school in the city. In national political affairs an independent, Mr. Bachrodt is essentially non- partisan when it comes to supporting heartily the best local measures and men.

In August. 1916, at Fresno, Mr. Bachrodt was married to Miss Edna M. Clark. of Fresno, who is, with him, a member of the Congregational Church. He belongs to the Blue Lodge No. 10. F. & A. M., of San Jose, and he is also a member of Selma Chapter No. 119, R. A. M., at Fresno. Mr. Bach- rodt's grandfather died from wounds received while he was a soldier in the Mexican War, and he keeps up his military associations by membership in the American Legion. He is a man of fine presence, a winning personality, and will not fail to carry on to high attainment the far-reaching work in which he is so successfully engaged.

GEORGE A. LEVIN .- Among the successful dairy farmers of the Mountain View district is George A. Levin, who owns sixty-one acres on the Charles- ton road two and a half miles north of Mountain View. A native son of California. he was born March 19, 1882, the son of Joel and Mary Elizabeth (Swall) Levin, early settlers of Mountain View. The name was originally spelled Le Vine, but several generations ago was changed to Levin. Joel Levin was born in 1824 in Calhoun County, Ill., the second child and only son in a family of eight children. The paternal grandfather, George Levin, was a native of Germany and immigrated to the United States at an early age, and engaged in farming pursuits in Calhoun County, Ill. In 1852. Joel Levin was induced to remove to California, and the start was made on May 7. overland with ox teams, and the following August the party arrived in California.

520

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

On account of his health, he removed to Santa Clara County and engaged in farming pursuits and within two years was able to save enough to pur- chase the land which he had previously rented. His marriage occurred in Mayfield, California, and united him with Miss Mary Elizabeth Swall, who was born in Illinois, and she passed away in 1901. There were four children in the family, Anna, Ulysses. Mamie and George, the subject of this review.

George A. attended the Whisman grammar school, and later the San Jose Business College. He helped his father on the large ranch, which contained half a section, but since the father's death has been divided up among the heirs. His marriage occurred Sep- tember 6, 1904, and united him with Miss Anita Kifer, and they have one child, Shelby. Mr. Levin is the daughter of Shelby and Isabella (Smith) Kifer, the father born in Kentucky and the mother a native of Nova Scotia. In 1853 Shelby Kifer came over- land with his parents to California and as two of his sons had preceded him to the Golden State, he made his home with them for a while, but afterward located on the Murphy ranch, later settling on a farm of seventy-five acres, two and a half miles south of Mountain View. Mr. and Mrs. Kifer were the parents of five children. The Kifer Road, in Santa Clara County, was named after this early and esteemed pioneer.

Mr. Levin has 100 head of cattle on his ranch, with fifty-four milch cows, and has a lucrative and growing business. A conscientious Republican, he casts his vote for the candidates selected by that party. He and his family are popular residents of the Whisman district and have the esteem and confidence of the entire community.

CORNELIUS Y. PITMAN .- All who have had to do with the assessor of Santa Clara County and have come to be familiar with the almost perfect organization of that office at San Jose, will realize to what an extent Cornelius Y. Pitman, the present incumbent, has contributed toward the enviable repu- tation enjoyed by California as a model state for the transaction of public business. This gentleman was horn in Santa Clara County on June 16, 1859, the son of Andrew Jackson Pitman, an American pos- sibly of English extraction. He first came to Cali- fornia by way of the Horn in 1848, and settled at Marysville in the '50s. having previously been mar- ried in the East to Miss Armenia Lewis, whose forebears came to America with the French Hugue- nots. Mr. Pitman was a farmer, and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. They had seven children, six boys and a girl, and our subject is the third of the six still living. He attended the local public schools in Santa Clara County, and then pur- sued an excellent course at a business college in San Francisco, after which he embarked with his father in the milk business; and having spent his early years on the home farm, he did not find it difficult to make a success of the enterprise. Next he took a position as purser on a steamboat plying between San Francisco and Alviso, and so enjoyed a change from his land experience.

In 1914 Mr. Pitman was elected, on the Demo- cratic ticket, assessor of Santa Clara County, and from the first it was evident that he could not fail to make good. The truth is that, by his conscien- tious application to duty and his interest in and de-

sire to help all having occasion to communicate with his bureau, Mr. Pitman gave such satisfaction that he was reelected to the responsible post and is now serving his second term. He has made numerous improvements in the matter of up-to-date, economic methods; and being a good student on conditions pertaining to his field, he is in the best position to render the public the most efficient yet saving service.

At Alviso Mr. Pitman was married to Miss Nellie Martin, the daughter of Captain John Martin of Al- viso, one of the early pioneers; and having come of such excellent American stock, Mrs. Pitman has proven of great aid to her husband. Two children blessed this union-Daphne E. is now Mrs. D. En- triken of San Jose, and she is a graduate of San Jose high and the State Normal; Hayden, who graduated from the San Jose high school, and a student at Santa Clara University, enlisted as an officer when he was only eighteen years of age and served for three months in the World War. The family have always been Presbyterians. Mr. Pitman is an Elk. and proud of his birth in the Golden State he also belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West.

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 84

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