History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 85

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

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CHARLES DOERR .- A highly-esteemed citizen of San Jose who, after a strenuous, successful and most useful life, has been able to retire in comfort, is Charles Doerr, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, where he was born on February 2, 1840. He attended the schools of his city, and when eighteen years of age he left home, to fight his way alone in the world. Depending solely upon himself, he gradually rose to affluence and independence -- a splendid example of what a young man handicapped in various ways may do when blessed with courage and determination.

The city of Baltimore was the landing place of our subject, the day before Christmas in 1858, and there Charles remained for one year, during which time he learned the bakery trade. In 1860, he came to San Jose, and for three years worked as a baker for his brother, Philip Doerr, who came here in 1853; and then, in almost the same location where he later conducted for years the New York Bak- ery, he established himself in business. He came to know just what folks wanted, and he took the trouble not merely to give they what they asked for, but to anticipate their needs; and so he grew in popularity, and his modest business expanded until he retired in 1915.

In San Jose on March 13, 1870, Mr. Doerr was married to Miss Minna Bertlesman, also a native of Germany, and their union was made happier by the birth of four worthy children, all sons-the late Henry C. Doerr and Carl, who died in infancy. and Frederic and Louis Doerr. Mr. Doerr belonged to the San Jose Turn Verein, and he is also a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Red Men, and a charter member of the Germania Verein. He was a Democrat in politics but for several years has been independent, voting for the best men and measures. He served in the city council 1895-96.

Progressive and public-spirited to a commendable degree, Mr. Doerr has done good work in the Cham- ber of Commerce, and he also served in the Fire Department for ten years, so that he is now an exempt fireman. San Jose cannot fail to feel very kindly toward this estimable pioneer couple, Mr. and Mrs. Doerr, and this esteem and good will flow

ASaich

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very naturally toward their family. Mrs. Doerr passed away at the family home on August 19, 1920, aged seventy-two years. They had lived to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary before she was called to her final rest.

ANTON SAICH .- Through industry and a natural intuition to foresee the progress that Santa Clara County was destined to make, Anton Saich, by buy- ing and improving orchards at the opportune time, has been very successful and thus he has become in- dependent financially and a man of influence. Born October 11, 1863, he is a native of Golubinica, Dal- matia, the son of Anton and Mary (Anticevich) Saich. The senior Saich was occupied with farming, and was a seafaring man, making trips on sailing vessels to different portions of the world. The family consisted of three children, John, Peter, and Anton, the subject of this sketch. Anton attended school in his native town and worked on farms at home until he was twenty-five years old. then in July, 1889, he came to Philadelphia and immediately came to California. He worked in San Francisco in the hotel business for one year, but that kind of work was not to his liking. so he again took up farm work. For about one year he worked on ranches near Watsonville and Capi- tola; then came to Santa Clara County and settled near Cupertino, working for wages for a time; then in 1900 he bought twenty-two and a half acres, all set to prunes, on the Stevens Creek Road. From time to time he has purchased additional acreage until he now owns 110 acres of fine orchard, set to prunes, peaches, apricots, cherries and grapes. His ranch is well equipped with wells for irrigating and the water is piped to all parts of the ranch. He has rebuilt his house and farm buildings and all are now in fine shape; he has pulled out and reset about forty-five acres, so it is now one of the valuable or- chards in the district.

For many years Mr. Saich was engaged in buying and drying fruit, which he sold to packers, while he was also engaged in shipping cherries to the eastern markets. However, about three years ago he found the management of his large ranch and the curing and sale of the fruit on his place occupied all of his time, and he discontinued the business of fruit buyer to devote all his time to his own place. Mr. Saich was first married in Santa Clara in 1901, being united with Miss Annie Kucer, a daughter of Steve and Kate ( Kristicevich) Kucer; the father, a contractor and builder in Dalmatia, was accidentally killed by a fall while working on a building. She was born near Mr. Saich's native place and came to Santa Clara with her brother. Their union, however, was broken by her passing away, August 5, 1902, leaving him her infant son, born thirty-five days before his bereavement, whom they had named Anton, Jr., and whom the father tenderly cared for and reared, and he is now his father's right-hand man and able as- sistant in his horticultural enterprise.

Mr. Saich some time afterwards married a second time, to Miss Teresa Brajenvich, who was born in the same vicinity as her husband, a daughter of John and Frances Brajenvich, the father being a farmer in his native Dalmatia. By his second marriage Mr. Saich has four children, Mary, Frances, Anna and John, all under the parental roof, dutiful and obedient children, a credit to their parents. A believer in pro- tection for Americans and proud of being a natural-

ized citizen of his adopted country, Mr. Saich is a stanch Republican. A substantial and successful man, he is enterprising and liberal and can be counted on for support to worthy movements and progressive measures that have for their aim the upbuilding and improving of the county and enhancing the com- fort and happiness of its people.

JAMES SUMNER McGINNIS .- An attorney of San Jose whose career as a successful practitioner is of exceptional interest is James Sumner McGinnis, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on October 31, 1863. His father, John F. McGinnis, a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer there, had married Miss Susannah Dotts, also born in that state. When James S. was six years old his parents removed to Lucas County, Iowa, and there the mother passed away in 1871. John F. McGinnis served in the One Hundred Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry during the Civil War and was prominent in the ranks of the G. A. R. in Iowa, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1895. Besides James S., the eldest of the family, Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis were the parents of a daughter, Minerva, who became the wife of Clem T. Smith and now resides at Steam- boat Springs, Colorado.

In the pursuit of an education, James S. McGinnis attended the public schools of his locality and later studied at Western College, at Toledo, Tama County, Iowa, and when he was well equipped for such work he taught school, and also farmed for a couple of years. In 1886 he entered the office of McMillan and Kindall at Onawa, Iowa, where he studied law, and four years later, in Nebraska, he was admitted to the bar, having removed to that state a short time before. Being ambitious, he had acquired much facility in the use of shorthand entirely through his own study, while attending school, so that when he began the study of law he found it very helpful to him. After practising a short time in Nebraska, he came to California in 1891, and a few months later he located in San Jose, where he established himself in the legal profession, in which he has made such a success, enjoying a large clientele and a highly lucrative practice. Not being an office seeker, he has devoted all his energies to the interests of his growing body of clients, with consequent satisfaction to all desirous of unselfish, watchful service.

At Santa Cruz, on September 1, 1891, Mr. Mc- Ginnis was married to Miss Edith Forrest of that city, an accomplished and charming lady, and they have had two children, Viola Forrest, a graduate nurse of St. Francis Hospital, San Francisco, where she now holds a responsible institutional position, and Sumner D. McGinnis, a student at Stanford University. The quiet of domestic life and the pleas- ures of gardening have alway attracted Mr. Mc- Ginnis; and when wishing a change, he has found it in the mountains, along the streams, or in the circles of the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and other societies. He is a Master Mason and has belonged to the Knights of Pythias for thirty-six years. A Republican in his preference for national party plat- forms, he is independent in his devotion to the in- terests of his adopted state. During the American participation in the World War, the president of the County Bar Association, of which Mr. McGinnis is a member, appointed him to assist drafted soldiers in preparing their questionnaires, and he gave much of his time in fulfilling this patriotic service.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

DE PHONZO GIBSON PAUL .- Among the old settlers of Santa Clara County whose industry and business judgment have aided in the community's progress, is De Phonzo G. Paul. who resides at the old family homestead in San Jose, established over thirty years ago. Born in Delavan, Wis., October 24, 1856, he is a son of Sylvanus S. and Sophia (Gibson) Paul. Sylvanus S. Paul came to Califor- nia in 1881, settling at Berryessa, where he pur- chased land and planted to apricots and prunes. He was born near Rochester, Monroe County, N. Y., March 4, 1828, the ancestors coming to America in colonial days and members of the family served in the Revolutionary struggle. The Paul family came from Scotland to the U. S .; John Paul Jones, the founder of the American Navy, was from the same family as history tells how John Paul's name was changed to John Paul Jones after he came from Scotland to Virginia. Sylvanus S. Paul was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools. When but nineteen years of age, he started in life for him- self, and located in Walworth County, Wis., upon land which his father had purchased and given to him. For a number of years he followed the occu- pation of farming, and by industry and good man- agement succeeded in his undertaking. In 1853. while on a visit to Ohio, he met and married Miss Sophia Gibson, the daughter of Prof. John Gibson and Sarah (Cushman) Gibson, natives of Massa- chusettes. Professor Gibson was a prominent mu- sician and composer and Sophia Gibson was a tal- ented vocalist and a well-known lyric soprano, and with her sister, George Baker and others, traveled, giving concerts throughout the eastern cities. Hav- ing a pleasing personality and a beautiful voice, she gave much pleasure to her audiences. Two sons were born to her union with Mr. Paul, De Phonzo G. alone growing to maturity. Mrs. Paul passed away April 4, 1860. The second marriage of Mr. Paul occurred in 1862, uniting him with Miss Elizabeth Green, a native of New York. In 1881, Mr. Paul leased his Wisconsin farm and made a visit to California, and was so well pleased with the coun- try that upon his return to Wisconsin he sold most of his interests and returned to the Santa Clara Valley and purchased the home which is now the residence of his son, De Phonzo G. Paul. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church and fraternally a Mason. In his political views, he was a strong Republican. He passed away at the fam- ily home December 12, 1896, and Mrs. Paul died in 1914. A sister of Sylvanus S. Paul, Charlotte Paul, became the wife of Henry G. Smith and they had six children, the next to the youngest of these is Frank Smith, known as "Borax Smith" of Oakland. Frank (Borax) Smith and De Phonzo G. Paul have been warm friends since their boyhood.

yard of the Livermore Valley. He sold out his holdings in 1891 and spent one year in San Jose. Removing to Fresno January, 1893, he purchased land near Fowler, which he improved to orchard and vineyard and was engaged in raising fruit and grapes, owning two ranches. He was one of the char- ter members of the first raisin growers' association and continued to give his support to each successive attempt, until the present successful California Raisin Growers' Association. He finally sold his ranches and located in Fresno where he engaged in general contracting for several years. In 1905 he built the canal for the Consolidated Canal Company, connect- ing the Fowler switch and the Church system, build- ing a canal through solid rock 131/2 feet deep, thus connecting the two big irrigation systems of the county. When he sold this business, he purchased a ranch of 240 acres near Turlock, which he im- proved to alfalfa and engaged in dairying. In 1914 Mr. Paul removed with his family to the old home place in San Jose from Fresno and made this his home. Lately he traded his Turlock ranch for an apartment house located at Eighth and Grove streets, Oakland, which brings him a fine income; he also owns a 325-acre ranch at El Nido near the San Joaquin River in Merced County. Here he sunk wells and installed two pumping plants that are sufficient to irrigate each one-quarter section on each place. Mr. Paul in his land deals has held property which has become very valuable. The 160-acre piece twelve miles south of Tulare Lake, some years ago he sold for a few head of cattle; ten years later he was through there and found the 160 acres worth $2500 an acre, oil having been found on this prop- erty. There are eight wells about five miles from his present holdings and this may mean much to him.

The marriage of Mr. Paul occurred at Durham Hill, Wis., March 4, 1880, uniting him with Miss Eva E. Tenney, a native of that place. Mrs. Paul's father, Samuel A. Tenney, was born in Monroe County, N. Y., descended from the old Moss family of Mayflower stock. He was a graduate of Lima College, N. Y., and was married in Monroe County to Lydia F. Lytle, a native of that county, who also traces her family back to the Mayflower and Pil- grim Fathers. The ancestors on both the Tenney and Lytle sides served in the Revolutionary war and Grandfather Daniel Lytle was in the War of 1812, enlisting when eighteen years old. Charles Foster, ex-governor of Ohio and ex-secretary of the treas- ury of the United States, is a cousin of Mrs. Paul. Her parents came to Wisconsin, then known as the Far West, in 1846 located near Waukesha where they were pioneers, turning the first furrow in the virgin soil on the farm and there they spent the remainder of their days. They had five children, three of whom are living. Mrs. Paul is the oldest of these and was educated at Carroll College, Wau- kesha, Wis., and was engaged in teaching for two years. The young people had become acquainted before Mr. Paul moved to Nevada and the friend- ship resulted in their marriage.

De Phonzo G. Paul received his education in the public schools in Delavan and Janesville, Wis., sup- plementing with a commercial course in Fellows and Kings Commercial College in Janesville. He later, in 1878, removed to Nevada and was employed in a general merchandise store. While a resident of Mari- Five children have been born of this union: Wal- ter. a realtor of Fresno, is married and the parent of two children; Frank A., a farmer, residing at El Nido, Merced County, has three children: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Leonard Boot, of Orland, Cal., is the moth- er of four children; Lloyd A. is married and resides on his father's ranch near El Nido. He entered the service of the U. S. Army, enlisting with the Three etta, Esmeralda County, Nev., he served as post- master and also as mining recorder and notary pub- lic; he was also telegraph operator and express agent on the California and Nevada line of railroad. He removed to San Jose in 1880, but only remained for a year, removing to the Livermore Valley, he en- gaged in the grape industry, owning the Banner Vineyard, named so because it was the banner vine- Hundred Sixty-fourth Infantry of the Ninety-first

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Eva E. Paul

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Division, Company M, went overseas and saw serv- ice in the Argonne, suffering great hardships and privations; Ethel Marion is a graduate of the San Jose high school, now taking a commercial course, and makes her home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Paul are active members of the First Christian Church in San Jose, both serving on the official board. Politically they are staunch Prohibitionists and Republicans. Mr. Paul gives much of the credit for his success to his devoted wife, who has been his ready helpmate, assisting him in every way, always encouraging him in his ambition and carrying her share of the burden. Mr. and Mrs. Paul have given much attention to the rearing and education of their children, believing that higher education is the foundation for the nation's progress and welfare.

GRENVILLE C. EMERY, A.B., Litt.D .- The teaching profession has ever attracted to itself the leading men of every age and generation, and will doubtless continue to do so. The splendid oppor- tunities offered for men of unusual capabilities, and the ever-increasing need for men of superior ability and strength of purpose, make this field one of un- usnal interest and opportunities. Among the most prominent educators of the secondary schools in the state of California must be mentioned the name of Grenville C. Emery, the headmaster and proprietor of the Seale Academy (Military), located at Palo Alto. Doctor Emery is also the headmaster emcritus of the Harvard School (Military) of Los Angeles. Cal., of which he is the founder. In collaboration with William F. Bradbury, headmaster of the Cam- bridge Latin School, he edited a series of algebras which are still used, not only in Boston schools, but in many other important educational centers of the East. also in the Harvard School of Los Angeles, and in the Seale Academy.

He was born in Ripley, Maine, July 19, 1843, a son of John G. Emery, of English descent and of Welsh extraction on his mother's side. His father married Miss Mary Stanley Jones, born in New Hampshire, and was from prominent pre-Revolution- ary stock; he came around the Horn to California in 1849. As early as 1847 he had constructed the rail- road through Lewiston, Maine, and was a prominent and active business man. He returned to Maine from California and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness; farming also engaged his attention. Mr. and Mrs. Emery were the parents of four children, of whom Grenville C. Emery is the youngest, and the only survivor. He began his education in the public schools of his native town; later attended the Corinna Union Academy, of which his father was a trustee; upon graduating from this institution he became one of its teachers, and remained in that capacity for several terms. He then became a student in the Maine State Seminary; later attended Bates College and received his degree from the latter institution.

Doctor Emery's first marriage united him with Miss Ella Pike, of Livermore Falls, Me., and they were the parents of seven children, of whom only two are living, Laura J. Emery and Mrs. Ellen Emery Downing of Los Angeles, Cal. Mrs. Emery passed away December 22, 1913, at Los Angeles. His second marriage occurred December 22, 1920, when he was united with Mrs. Katherine D. Monroe, nee Dold, a native of Kentucky, born, reared and edti- eated in the schools of Louisville. She is the parent of one son by her first marriage, Charles Mattison

Monroe, a student at Seale Academy. After gradu- ating from Bates College. Doctor Emery accepted a position as teacher in the Boston Latin School, founded in 1635, while Harvard University was founded in 1636, making the Boston Latin School the oldest school in America with a continuous his- tory. Doctor Emery was master in this school for fifteen years and rose to be head of the department of mathematics.

Doctor Emery is the founder of the Harvard School ( Military ) of Los Angeles. The history of the school really began in 1849, when the father of its founder mounted the stage-coach in Maine, and finally reached California around Cape Horn, to mine for gold, and to drink in the wonderful possibilities and beanties of the state for the pleasure and enchant- ment of his family on his return to the East two years later. The cornerstone was laid in 1900. The founder, cherishing and treasuring up this boyhood knowledge, had come at last from the oldest and most renowned school in the United States, the fa- mous Boston Latin School, to build up in Los An- geles a school which might have the right to claim, in general, not only equality with the old school, but also, perhaps, in many things. superiority. Its motto, carved on the proscenium arch of the handsome as- sembly hall, which is, as it were, the heart of the Harvard School, is:

"To thine own self be true.

And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."

In the words of Doctor Emery are found the true aim of the founder: "My aim was to found a decent school. I like that word 'decent'; it means a great deal and is a favorite adjective of President Roose- velt." The Harvard School is intended to fit boys for college, for technical school, and for business careers. Its legal name is "The Harvard School Upon the Emery Foundation."

During the year of 1920 Doctor Emery removed to Palo Alto. under the eaves of Stanford Univer- sity. for the purpose of establishing the Seale Acad- emy, a school of like aims and character as that of the Harvard School. The old Seale mansion and estate, with its beautiful lawns, quiet pathways and avennes. and wealth of old trees and beautiful shrub- bery and flowers, was selected as a desirable site for the school. The buildings consist of Seale Hall. Colonial Hall, Gymnasium Hall, the Chemical Build- ing, and the Gymnasium proper. It is the policy of the school to make physical training quite as thor- ough as mental training. Of the fifteen-acre campus. eight acres are a wooded park and the remaining seven acres are clear, and wholly given over to the drill. the sports, and the games, the municipal swim- ming pool being at an easy distance. All the games and sports, and the drill, are taught by competent men. Military drill is the best form of exercise that has been discovered, which can be practiced by the whole school all the time with so much physical and all-round educational gain for each individual boy.

The Seale Academy has become an accredited school, and its graduates are admitted to the Univer- sity of California and to Stanford University without examination upon the recommendation of the head- master. The courses of study conformi in all essen- tials to those of the best high and grammar schools of the state. There is an enrollment of about fifty lads, and a bright and prosperous future is predicted

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for the Seale Academy, which is creditably filling a long-felt need.

Doctor Emery is one of the ablest teachers of mathematics in the secondary schools of the state, as well as one of the best-known and most success- iul instructors of boys in the country. Mrs. Emery is an accomplished, cultured woman, who enters heart- ily into the work of building up the school and occu- pies the important position of treasurer. Doctor and Mrs. Emery have expended much energy and a large amount of money to increase the efficiency and in- fluence of Seale Academy, and what is more, they propose to give their lives to this work.

As a fitting close to this interesting biographical sketch of this noted instructor are his own words: "Perhaps the most potent elements in our efforts for the accomplishment of the training of boys is the memory of our own boy who has passed beyond, but whom we hoped to educate highly in all the essen- tials which go to make up true manhood. Being de- prived of this, we try to exercise just the same vig- ilance and care in the education of our neighbor's sons as we had hoped to bestow upon our own flesh and blood."

GEORGE S. RAWLINGS .- It is given to few residents of California to have had a record of living for more than fifty-six years on the same piece of land and to have actively engaged in its cultivation. To George S. Rawlings belongs this honor, as since 1866 he has been on his present place on Pearl Avenue, south of San Jose. He is a native of Clays- ville, Harrison County, Ky., and was born there April 21, 1843, the son of Ashel and Jane (Snodgrass) Rawlings, both natives of the Blue Grass State and pioneers there. The father was a machinist and en- gineer, and in 1853 the family removed to Quincy, Ill., where both of the parents passed away. A stanch defender of his country, Grandfather Rawlings lost his life in the Indian War in 1812.

His parents having both died by the time George Rawlings had reached his eleventh year, most of his education was gained in the school of experience, and at the age of twelve he was plowing and working in the corn fields. 1n 1863 he came across the plains to Nevada with mule teams, and during 1863-64 he mined at Austin. He made a short visit to California about this time and in the spring of 1866 he came by stage to San Jose. On May 10, that year, he went to work on the 190-acre ranch where he has since lived, being employed by its owner, John G. Roberts, for five years. He was afterwards married to Mr. Roberts' daughter, Florence Minerva Roberts, a native daughter, and at the death of her father she inherited one-third of the homestead.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 85

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